What are the best and worst tropes in fiction?

The 'Found Family' trope is great. It shows that family doesn't have to be blood - related, like in 'Guardians of the Galaxy'. The characters from different backgrounds come together and form a strong bond. A bad trope is 'The Prophecy'. It can sometimes feel like the characters are just following a set path without much free will, and the story becomes too predictable.

One of the best tropes in fiction is the 'Underdog Triumphs'. It gives readers hope and a sense of satisfaction. We see it in stories like 'Rocky' where the protagonist, an ordinary boxer, overcomes great odds. On the other hand, a worst trope can be the 'Damsel in Distress' which often portrays women as helpless. It's overused and limits the female characters' agency. Another good trope is 'The Mentor'. Think of Dumbledore in 'Harry Potter'. He guides and helps Harry grow.

The best tropes can enhance the overall story. For instance, the 'Hero's Journey' trope provides a clear structure that readers can follow. It gives a sense of familiarity and comfort. In contrast, the worst tropes can detract from the story. The 'MacGuffin' when overused can make the story seem too contrived as it's just a plot device that doesn't really add much depth to the characters or the overall plot.

One of the best tropes is the 'Underdog Triumphs'. It's inspiring to see a character who starts with little chance of success overcome all odds. For example, Harry Potter was an orphan living in a cupboard, but he managed to defeat the powerful Voldemort. Another great trope is 'The Chosen One'. It gives a sense of destiny and importance to the character. Frodo in 'The Lord of the Rings' was the chosen one to carry the One Ring to Mordor. And 'The Redemption Arc' is also wonderful. Zuko from 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' had a great redemption arc where he went from being a villain to an ally.

Well, from the 'list of tropes in fiction', 'Redemption Arc' is quite prevalent. A character who has done wrong in the past tries to make amends. 'The Mentor' trope is also common. An older, wiser character guides the protagonist. Then there's the 'False Protagonist' trope. It tricks the audience into thinking a certain character is the main hero when in fact it's someone else.

One common trope is the 'Costume Porn', where the detailed and accurate period costumes are a major draw. For example, in shows like 'Downton Abbey', the elaborate dresses and suits add to the authenticity and visual appeal. Another is the 'Fish out of Water' trope, like a modern - minded character being thrust into a historical setting and having to adapt. This can create interesting character arcs and comedic or dramatic situations.

A man gambled away his entire life savings at a casino. He lost his house, his car, and his family's trust. He ended up in a deep depression and had to start from scratch.

One trope is the 'instant love' between characters from different universes. For example, in a crossover of 'Twilight' and 'Percy Jackson', Bella and Percy meet and fall in love immediately without any real development. It's unrealistic and just a lazy way to create a relationship. Another bad trope is the 'power - up' of a character for no reason. Say in a crossover of 'Dragon Ball Z' and 'Naruto', Naruto suddenly gets all of Goku's powers and can defeat any enemy with ease, ruining the balance of both series.

The best tropes enhance the story by creating familiarity. For example, the 'Hero's Journey' trope. Readers or viewers already have an idea of what to expect in terms of the character's growth and challenges. This makes it easier for them to engage with the story. Another way is by adding depth. The 'Redemption Arc' trope can add a lot of emotional depth to a character. When a villain starts to see the error of their ways, it makes their story more complex and interesting.

The best Bond novels usually are the ones that capture the essence of the character. 'Goldfinger' is a prime example. It has the iconic elements like Bond's gadgets, his encounters with a memorable villain, and the high - stakes espionage. Regarding the worst, some of the novels that tried to modernize Bond in a way that lost his classic appeal could be considered not as great. For instance, if they made Bond too much of a brooding, angsty character instead of the confident and charming agent we know. Each reader may have a different opinion based on what they expect from a Bond novel.