❗️Everyone being connected to the hero can feel contrived and make the story universe seem small.
💥Unearned skills undermine the hero's accomplishments and make the story feel rushed and unrealistic.
❓Stolen decisions rob the hero of agency and make them appear weak or indecisive.
⚖️No consequences for the hero's actions diminish the stakes and make the plot feel disconnected.
⚰️Resurrecting the hero cheapens the emotional impact of their death and lowers the stakes.
What is an example of everyone being connected to the hero?
—A classic example is in Star Wars, where Luke Skywalker is connected to major characters such as Darth Vader, Leia, and Obi-Wan.
Why are unearned skills problematic?
—Unearned skills make the hero's accomplishments feel cheap and the story unrealistic, as they master complex skills or technology with little or no training.
How do stolen decisions impact the hero?
—Stolen decisions take away the hero's agency and can make them appear weak or indecisive, robbing the story of drama.
What is the consequence of no consequences for the hero's actions?
—No consequences for the hero's actions diminish the stakes and make the plot feel disconnected, lacking a proper sense of cause and effect.
Why does resurrecting the hero cheapen their death?
—Resurrecting the hero undermines the emotional impact of their death and lowers the stakes, as death loses its meaning and future deaths feel less impactful.
00:00In this video, we discuss the top five hero cliches that need to be eliminated from storytelling.
07:35We provide examples from popular movies and TV shows to illustrate these cliches and explain why they are problematic.
