About: Always a Bigger Fish   Sponge Permalink

An Entity of Type : owl:Thing, within Data Space : 134.155.108.49:8890 associated with source dataset(s)

The more primal equivalent of Bad Guys Do the Dirty Work. Our heroes are cornered or trapped by one scary thing or group, only to be saved by the other, bigger, scarier thing or group. Sometimes the "savior" has been introduced earlier in the plot, making this an instance of Chekhov's Gun. If the "savior" was previously the main antagonist, this may set up an unusual reaction in the viewer, who notes how his feelings about that antagonist are changed in this scene. The characters may notice the same; they may say, "I never thought I'd be so happy to see you!".

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  • Always a Bigger Fish
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  • The more primal equivalent of Bad Guys Do the Dirty Work. Our heroes are cornered or trapped by one scary thing or group, only to be saved by the other, bigger, scarier thing or group. Sometimes the "savior" has been introduced earlier in the plot, making this an instance of Chekhov's Gun. If the "savior" was previously the main antagonist, this may set up an unusual reaction in the viewer, who notes how his feelings about that antagonist are changed in this scene. The characters may notice the same; they may say, "I never thought I'd be so happy to see you!".
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dbkwik:all-the-tro...iPageUsesTemplate
dbkwik:allthetrope...iPageUsesTemplate
abstract
  • The more primal equivalent of Bad Guys Do the Dirty Work. Our heroes are cornered or trapped by one scary thing or group, only to be saved by the other, bigger, scarier thing or group. Sometimes the "savior" has been introduced earlier in the plot, making this an instance of Chekhov's Gun. If the "savior" was previously the main antagonist, this may set up an unusual reaction in the viewer, who notes how his feelings about that antagonist are changed in this scene. The characters may notice the same; they may say, "I never thought I'd be so happy to see you!". Generally the "savior" is not actively trying to save the protagonists. He's just there. And hungry. Summon Bigger Fish is a Sub-Trope. May result when the hero asking "Why Isn't It Attacking?" has the bigger fish behind him. Common form of Deus Ex Machina. See also Colliding Criminal Conspiracies when the "Bigger Fish" arrives early and threatens heroes and villains equally. Compare to Save the Villain, Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?, Exit, Pursued by a Bear, Self-Disposing Villain, and Eviler Than Thou. If it's a videogame, and you have to also fight the bigger fish, it's a Bait and Switch Boss. For actual bigger fish (and other things) see Sea Monster. Examples of Always a Bigger Fish include:
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