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HorrorMovieFan45 t1_iue3zju wrote

I’m not sure if this is the same as what you’re looking for, but The Terminator relies on circularity to work. If Terminator hasn’t been sent back to stop John Connor from being born, there would never have been a terminator or a John Connor.

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Many-Outside-7594 OP t1_iueakgn wrote

That's more of a causality loop, what I was looking for grope. example of a hero being in a place they would never be in order to make the plot happen.

Looks like I have successfully stumped Reddit and discovered a new trope.

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HorrorMovieFan45 t1_iueosa4 wrote

I don’t think there is a name for what your describing. So I suppose you have discovered a new trope.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan might fit the bill. The plot hinges on some members of Starfleet going to the planet Ceti Alpha V thinking it is the planet Ceti Alpha VI.

We, as the audience, are supposed to believe that at a time when we have mastered stellar cartography and space travel is routine, our expert explorers wouldn’t notice that a whole planet blew up and is now missing.

I, and most fans, forgive this since it is overall such a great movie. But nevertheless the whole plot rests on this oversight that realistically would never happen.

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Many-Outside-7594 OP t1_iuf6ao9 wrote

These are two of my favorite movies.

I only got thinking about this because of a recent thread about prologues, and remembered how those two nagged at me over the years.

Wrath of Khan is actually a great example though.

It is possible to enjoy movies and discuss patterns and mistakes at the same time, especially when it is an unusual trope.

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