With thousands of series available for consumption, it’s no wonder there are shows with beats that feel a bit familiar. Audiences will come to recognize recurring themes, character types, and plot points, especially if they are the central focus of a show. Depending on the viewer, these familiar themes can be tolerated or downright unbearable.
While familiar tropes don’t always make a series impossible to watch, it certainly makes it less memorable, especially if other shows deal with the same theme better. Also, unpredictability is far from the most crucial factor when crafting a satisfying conclusion, but if executed poorly, it can leave audiences with a disappointing and even forgettable finale.
ten Fry Finally Gets (and Keeps) Futurama’s Daughter
Futurama explores a plethora of new worlds and characters within its futuristic setting. Yet he also tends to fall back on a cliché that practically predates the dinosaurs, and which becomes the girl. For most of the series, protagonist Philip J. Fry relentlessly pursues spaceship captain and friend Turanga Leela, usually with lackluster results.
The two have a recurring romance throughout the series, a romance that most viewers have seen countless times. The series finale, “Meanwhile,” is no different, as the couple’s relationship must once again be tested under extraordinarily zany circumstances. While the latest episode of Futurama is widely deemed satisfying by fans, the ending also offers a future that they could easily predict.
9 Inuyasha is a feudal and very familiar fairy tale
adventure anime Inuyasha immediately tells its viewers that the story is a feudal fairy tale, which already hints that there will be a few hints of familiarity. The series delivers that, with everything from a hero who’s in over his head, Inuyasha, to a treacherous enemy, Naraku, to an ongoing love triangle between the two female leads, Kagome and Kikyo.
While the series is solidly fleshed out with excellent character development, it certainly doesn’t bring anything new to the table. The finale is heartwarming yet predictable as a storybook, as any other fairy tale ending would be.
8 Danny Phantom has no nasty surprises
The premise of Danny Ghost may already sound familiar to many anime watchers in that it centers on a hero who must harbor a colossal secret that is also the key to saving the day. Danny Fenton is just an average teenager with phantom powers who must live a double life to protect those he loves. The show, while entertaining and creative with its haters, is nothing viewers haven’t seen before in other stories with undercover locals.
The end of the Nickelodeon show follows this same trend. The series finale, “Phantom Planet,” has everything audiences have come to expect from this type of setup, including high-stakes battles, an evil adversary, and even confirmation of the romance between Danny and his love, Sam Manson. . The episode is a satisfying ending, but it probably won’t thrill viewers.
seven The end of the American dragon fades in a puff of smoke
The Disney Channel Series American Dragon: Jake Long has all the makings of a good adventure story, but it also stumbles upon a few annoying cliches that keep the series treading on its own heels. While the series features a variety of creative characters and situations, it’s not immune to common tropes. For example, protagonist Jake Long has to keep his identity as a dragon a secret for most of the series, which leads to the expected fanciful situations and possible big reveals between friends and family.
American Dragon: Jake Long also uses the trope of the forbidden romance between Jake and his high school crush. His love, Rose, happens to work for the Huntsclan, an organization specially designed to kill dragons. While the series finale offers a sweet resolution that fixes the issues, there are only a limited number of options for ending a series that, on the whole, didn’t cause anything new.
6 Totally Spies Squad Has Totally Inferior Premises
Despite the clever gadgets and daring missions in Totally Spies, the concept is one that viewers have seen dozens of times. Unfortunately, high school kids going on secret missions at night while dealing with typical teenage problems during the day is an all too familiar formula.
While protagonists Sam, Clover, and Alex all have unique and identifiable personalities, their day-to-day problems are anything but extraordinary from an adventure standpoint. The series finale, “So Totally Versailles!” is much the same, featuring typical villains, go-to fashion statements, and teenage girls gushing about their crushes. Despite the occasional fun adventure, even the most fashionable gadgets can’t save a show from being a little old hat.
5 Phineas and Ferb rarely strays from its formula
There are 104 days of summer vacation, and while the characters in Phineas and Ferb maybe doing something new every day, it’s the same for the public. While containing likable characters and abstract designs, the show relies heavily on its repetitive formula. The series also includes several familiar tropes, including Dr. Doofenshmirtz as the over-the-top villain foiling every episode and Candace, the character who always tells the truth but is never believed.
While most viewers agree the series is quite enjoyable, it’s also a show no one expects to deviate from its tried and true equation. The series finale “Last Day of Summer,” while grander than the typical episode and no doubt bittersweet, is still grounded in familiar ideas as seen in Bill Murray groundhog day,us as well as other time travel adventures.
4 Snow White With Red Hair Isn’t As Unique As Shirayuki’s Locks
snow white with red hair is often considered a feel-good anime among fans for its predictable and calm nature. The series takes an old tale and adapts it to new characters introduced while adding very few significant changes. Without watching from start to finish, most viewers can guess the arc of young girl and protagonist Shirayuki, who must carve out a new life for herself in a different realm.
From her expected growth as a palace herbalist to her forbidden romance with her love interest Prince Zen, it’s easy to see why many audiences view this story as safe. However, from start to finish, the most distinct thing about this Snow White is already there in the title.
3 WITCH pulls out the same old magic
Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia and Hay Lin can make up the team and spelling of WITCH, but they also spell the same regular characters in any other superhero team-up show. The plot relies on tired character archetypes that never see significant growth as the series progresses.
The main villain, Phobos, isn’t particularly memorable either, and his evil reign plays out much as it began, with minimal flair. As expected, the series ends with the day saved and most of the main characters in their desired romantic relationships. Honing the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Absolute Energy may sound daunting, but when placed in the hands of mundane characters, it proves to be anything but magical.
2 Sword Art Online must restart its scenario
Whereas Sword Art Online has a lot to offer with its dynamic characters and timely virtual reality premise, many watchers are continually frustrated with the anime’s hero, Kirito. Of course, the protagonists are expected to end up saving the day. Still, with a protagonist as seemingly invincible as Kirito, the average fan stands little chance of thrills or investment.
The cliché of the White Knight protagonist has been replicated many times and is only likely to be memorable for an engaging plot or dynamic personality. Kirito, while certainly noble and well-meaning, quickly loses the viewer’s interest when it becomes apparent that even the most dangerous situation poses no real threat to him. Sometimes a character that is too powerful ultimately cannot be saved from himself.
1 Everything about ReLIFE is truly predictable
the anime ReLIFE, though harmless, it has such a predictable premise that most viewers can foresee every step of the main protagonist’s journey. Arata Kaizaki is a 27-year-old man stuck in a dead-end existence before he gets the chance to go back to high school to gain a new perspective on life – and viewers can probably figure out the rest from there.
Arata’s changing outlook and softening heart are predictably paired with the precious new friendships he makes along his journey. The story is certainly touching at times, but it offers nothing new compared to a typical coming-of-age story or, in this case, a re-aging story. If audiences want a plot filled with new twists, ReLIFE is a little too comfortable to deliver the right kind of kick.