Questions tagged [plot-device]
An element introduced into a story, film, play etc. to advance the plot.
138
questions
32
votes
4
answers
7k
views
How does the magic in "Liar Liar" work?
In Liar Liar, Jim Carrey gains the superpower of not being able to lie for 24 hours. Wikipedia defines lying as
... a statement used intentionally for the purpose of deception.
The practice of ...
- 23.4k
12
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Why did Poe leave his jacket?
After they crash on Jakku, somehow Poe and Finn get separated while both surviving and then the TIE Fighter gets swallowed by the Sinking Sands and explodes. (Related)
There's a lot that lacks ...
- 59.8k
5
votes
2
answers
358
views
What prevents the tardigrade from escaping?
In Season 1, Episode 5, "Choose your pain" we see the tardigrade enter survival mode by expelling almost all the water from its body.
Later, we see the it ejected from the USS Discovery into space, ...
- 71
6
votes
3
answers
173
views
Why do wizards like Martin keep transporting back to the exact moment in the future from whence they came in Off to be the Wizard?
In Off to be the Wizard the characters like Martin keep returning to the same point in time from where they traveled back to Medieval England when they need something from the future.
In Martin's ...
- 7,199
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How did The Founders make Odo sick?
In Deep Space Nine episode S04E26 "Broken Link", Odo found himself suddenly afflicted with an illness that caused his shape-shifting abilities to destablize. He eventually went to the Founders for ...
- 63.5k
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Why is she looking at her hands in the end in movie Morgan?
In the last scene of Morgan we see Lee looking at her hands. During her evaluation, Morgan also looked at her hands (palms up, palms down) in same way.
Is there connection between Lee and Morgan? Why ...
- 1,207
0
votes
0
answers
109
views
Why does Alys' death make Taverner exist again?
In Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick, the protagonist (a celebrity named Jason Taverner) spends the majority of the novel in a society where there is no record of his having ever ...
- 141
4
votes
1
answer
641
views
In The Andromeda Strain what was the thing in white that approached the satellite retreival team?
At the beginning of The Andromeda Strain a few military guys were sent to retrieve a downed satellite before it was apparent that there was an airborne virus killing everyone. They were just in a Jeep ...
- 7,199
1
vote
0
answers
395
views
Why did the 'Reality Dysfunction' book series end with a Deus ex Machina?
Why did the 'Reality Dysfunction' book series end with a Deus ex Machina? I mean he runs across a sentient super computer black hole with limitless power acting as a wish granting genie? I ...
- 213
8
votes
3
answers
13k
views
Why did Imhotep think Evie was Anck-Su-Namun reincarnated?
As we see in The Mummy Returns (2001), Evelyn Carnahan is the reincarnation of Princess Nefertiri, who is Seti I's daughter and the rival of Anck-Su-Namun. However, in the first film The Mummy (1999), ...
- 63.5k
25
votes
1
answer
5k
views
How did Data not know what Aldebaran Whiskey was?
In the TNG episode "Relics" where Scotty returns, Data serves Scotty a glass of a green liquid which he cannot identify. The drink is later identified by Picard as Aldebaran Whiskey, which seems to be ...
- 63.5k
4
votes
0
answers
51
views
Effect of alien shrine on Armando
In the short story "The Familiar" by author David Farland (released as part of the short story collection "Alien Artifacts"), protagonist Armando encounters an alien artifact on the surface of Europa.
...
- 141
3
votes
0
answers
546
views
Who actually nuked the Karakum?
Warning: Contains spoilers to "The Expanse" Season 2.
In "The Expanse" Season 2, the Martian Ship "Karakum" apparently carries out some black ops mission on Ganymede. It gets destroyed while at or ...
- 1,109
7
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Why didn't Newt Scamander just release the Thunderbird the moment he arrived in New York City?
We only learn of Newt Scamander's purpose in going to New York City when he and Jacob enter the suitcase. His entire purpose is to bring a Thunderbird named Frank to Arizona.
Newt says in a bit of ...
- 38.7k
6
votes
2
answers
15k
views
Did the Obliviate-in-the-rain spell with the Thunderbird at the end of Fantastic Beasts affect those who were indoors?
Did the Thunderbird and rain and Obliviate spell at the end of Fantastic Beasts affect everyone in New York City? Or just those who were standing in the rain?
This video seems to imply anybody who ...
- 38.7k
8
votes
3
answers
537
views
In Kin-Dza-Dza! why are matches so precious?
Matches, aka Ketse, is the most valuable currency in the Kin-Dza-Dza universe, and even half a match is enough to buy a transportation device. The setting is dystopian/resource depleted ("we used our ...
4
votes
2
answers
152
views
What are Climbing Crescents as used in The Broken Eye
I am currently reading The Broken Eye by Brent Weeks. In one of the chapters the character Teia has to steal something from a tower. She uses something called climbing crescents to help her achieve ...
- 14.7k
1
vote
1
answer
193
views
In Greg Bear's "Slant," what was the conspiracy trying to accomplish?
In Greg Bear's novel Slant, what was the villains' conspiracy trying to accomplish? What was their goal?
There are several plot threads. One is about a young prostitute who visits a client, who winds ...
- 835
11
votes
1
answer
6k
views
When was the Illudium Q-36 Space Modulator first depicted?
The Illudium Q-36 Space Modulator was an explosive device meant to destroy the Earth, which was blocking Marvin the Martian's view of Venus. It may have also been mentioned with a different but ...
- 8,658
9
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Does Rogue One create a plot hole in Return of the Jedi re Hyperspace Radio?
In the Star Wars movie Rogue One, we see the Rebels communicating over the radio whilst at Light-speed. I don't recall seeing this in other Star Wars movies. (They pop out of Hyperdrive - and the ...
- 9,979
10
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How many people knew the Chamber of Secrets existed?
And of course I am asking about the time before the events of Book 2. Although we don't see Hermione quoting anything directly about the chamber from "Hogwarts: A History", from Prof. Binn's class we ...
- 23.4k
2
votes
0
answers
189
views
How much did Lucius Malfoy know about the workings of the diary? [duplicate]
From CoS (or was it from HBP?) we get a very vague hint at how much Lucius knew about the diary; Dumbledore tells Harry that Voldemort probably told Lucius that the diary would help open the Chamber ...
- 23.4k
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How did the telephone work and what was its role in Einstein's God Model?
In the movie Einstein's God Model sometimes a rotary telephone was used to receive messages from the dead or to exit the Matrix.
Other times it seems that the telephone was not involved, such as when ...
- 7,199
14
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Why is Ocarina of Time the splitting off point for the Zelda timeline?
I have read the other questions and answers related to the Zelda timeline on here. But my question wasn't answered there. A few years ago Nintendo finally released the History of Hyrule book. It, ...
- 379
3
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Can someone explain the Bleach ending to me? [spoilers] [closed]
I just read the last issue of Kubo's Bleach - and I must admit I don't get it. Maybe I've missed many subtle hints, maybe I'm just dense, but - it seems like no major question was answered by the ...
- 10.1k
6
votes
1
answer
876
views
Why did Cersei ask for Ser Balman's help?
In A Feast For Crows Chapter 24, We see Cersei having a dinner with Ser Balman Byrch and Falyse Stokeworth. Following conversation takes place:
“As I feared. Bronn is gathering swords for the dwarf....
- 48.1k
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Can Ant-Man solve world hunger?
Can Pym Particles be used to take an ordinary apple, blow it up to the size of a building and feed an entire town?
- 1,829
6
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Could Neville have picked up the prophecy in the Ministry instead of Harry?
Or to put it another way, why does the prophecy in the Ministry have a (?) sign in front of Harry's name?
This was the label on the prophecy
S.P.T to A.P.W.B.D
Dark Lord
and (?) Harry Potter
...
- 23.4k
1
vote
0
answers
150
views
Why did the Gallowwalkers need to reskin when Wesley Snipes did not?
Wesley Snipes
Why did the Gallowwalkers need to reskin when Aman (Wesley Snipes) did not?
- 63.6k
3
votes
0
answers
234
views
Why did the Meks in Vance's 'Last Castle' not revolt from the inside?
In the novella The Last Castle by Vance, the Meks leave the human castles and proceed to revolt against their former masters from the outside and siege the castles. The revolt proved difficult to win ...
- 363