About: Author's Saving Throw   Sponge Permalink

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An especially brave idea is set forth to turn a character on his head and change the status quo in a big way... and the fans revolt. The writer then does a Retcon which seems openly apologetic. This is the saving throw. It assures the fans that the character either was not in control of his actions, or he was Actually a Doombot or events were not as they seemed. If the screwup stays prominently in the fandom's memory, it adds to that character's Dork Age. Contrast with Rescued From the Scrappy Heap, where an originally loathed character or idea is made serviceable.

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  • Author's Saving Throw
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  • An especially brave idea is set forth to turn a character on his head and change the status quo in a big way... and the fans revolt. The writer then does a Retcon which seems openly apologetic. This is the saving throw. It assures the fans that the character either was not in control of his actions, or he was Actually a Doombot or events were not as they seemed. If the screwup stays prominently in the fandom's memory, it adds to that character's Dork Age. Contrast with Rescued From the Scrappy Heap, where an originally loathed character or idea is made serviceable.
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  • An especially brave idea is set forth to turn a character on his head and change the status quo in a big way... and the fans revolt. The writer then does a Retcon which seems openly apologetic. This is the saving throw. It assures the fans that the character either was not in control of his actions, or he was Actually a Doombot or events were not as they seemed. Some "brave ideas" that have caused popular fandom backlash resulting in a saving throw have been depowering a Superhero for dramatic purposes and turning a good character evil. Depowering super-heroines, in particular, is a brave idea that is nearly always good for causing a fan revolt. Note, however, that not all Author's Saving Throws are necessarily a good thing; many authors try to "fix" things that didn't really need it. This can be a highly subjective thing; one fan's Jumped the Shark moment is another fan's Growing the Beard. If the screwup stays prominently in the fandom's memory, it adds to that character's Dork Age. Contrast with Rescued From the Scrappy Heap, where an originally loathed character or idea is made serviceable. If an Author's Saving Throw attempts to fix an episode-specific problem (typically within that episode) and fails, then it becomes a Voodoo Shark. Generally, the best tool for making such a save is to provide for the possibility of a Schrodinger's Gun. Often, clumsier tools such as the Cosmic Retcon or the regular Retcon are used instead. Compare Canon Dis Continuity, which just flat out ignores something instead of trying to Retcon or otherwise explain it. This is a subtrope of Pandering to the Base. Not to be confused with Only the Author Can Save Them Now, where the in-story characters are trapped into a corner and escape through contrived circumstances. Examples of Author's Saving Throw include:
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