TV Tropes for String Theory MUX

Tropes are devices and conventions that a writer can reasonably rely on as being present in the audience members' minds and expectations. On the whole, tropes are not clichés. The word clichéd means "stereotyped and trite". In other words, dull and uninteresting. We are not looking for dull and uninteresting entries. We are here to recognize tropes and play with them, not to make fun of them.
— Taken from the TVTropes.org

The following is a list of TV Tropes that apply to String Theory MUX as determined by the game's playerbase. Players are always encouraged to continue adding to the list, but staff asks that you do not add tropes for other characters due to the fact that some tropes have a tendency to be self-depreciating and we'd like to avoid hurt feelings. There's also the fact that the creator of the character may disagree with your assessment, so in general it's a good idea to stick to your own stuff unless you get explicit permission from the other parties involved.

WARNING: Browsing the TV Tropes wiki in search of entries that apply to the game (or anything, really) can be incredibly addictive.

Peruse at your own risk.

In alphabetical order:

  • Abandoned Warehouse:
    • The Old Dispensary is somewhat inverse of the trope being associated with Bad Guys, but it does have a pier!
      • Technically, the Dispensary is an Abandoned Hospital if you want to get technical — though it does undoubtedly have a storage area somewhere on the property that might be trope-appropriate.
    • Eagle Electric, before Elias blew it up during the Volume Four finale.
  • Abusive Parents:
    • Eileen's (and Nick's) mother was an alcoholic nurse who beat her children and once attempted to burn her son's hands on the stove. Her father is a Disappeared Dad.
    • Huruma left her mauled twins for dead only a short time after having them as a teenager; one has scarring and disfigurement over more than half of his body, and the other is in an asylum.
    • Niki's alcoholic, violent father got so into his beatings that he killed big sis Jessica, something which contributed to Niki's later development of MPD.
    • Luke's father used to burn his arms with the butts of cigarettes.
    • Sable's father forced her mother to come to term before disappearing in a poof of plausible deniability and bribe money, and then the elder Ms. Diego dumped her newborn at a safe haven. Really, probably better she wasn't raised by these people.
  • Addiction Displacement:
    • In the Bright Future, Gabriel Gray took up the fixing and restoring of various mechanical items, from watches to gramophones, in order to take his mind off his Hunger.
  • Affably Evil:
    • James Muldoon was almost always unfailingly polite. Given that he continued to hold a day job as an investment banker working out of the city's Financial District when he wasn't busy with the Pancratium may also qualify him as a Punch Clock Villain.
    • There's also Mr. Linderman.
  • Art Initiates Life:
    • Kendall almost has this, but it was determined that they were merely illusions that affect four out of the five senses. (Although the holdout is taste… no one's tried biting what he drew.)
  • At Least I Admit It:
    • Bella insists, alternately, that she at least realizes how bad a person she is, and that everyone is actually just as bad a person, they just don't own up to it.
  • Attention Whore:
    • Luke would do anything for attention, mostly negative. He also brags about anything he's accomplished, ever. Including blowing up a bridge.
      • Slightly averted by the fact that not wanting to be locked up by the feds occasionally outweighs his desire for attention.
  • Badass Longcoat:
    • Sylar possibly has thirty of the same long swishy black woolen coat, come rain or shine. If not thirty, then one very sturdy long swishy black woolen coat has survived bullet holes, explosions, drownings and has been lampshaded on numerous occasions.
    • While not a badass longcoat, they were bad ass coats regardless. Conrad was always seen with a different sports jacket every time, of every baseball team imaginable and one had to wonder where he stored them.
    • Melissa rarely leaves the house without her ankle length black coat!
  • Badass Preacher:
    • Preaching and memorizing bible verses by day, and shooting up evil terrorists by night. Not totally ever fully okay with killing, Brian found some way to sleep at night while fighting for a cause he found more important than earthly matters.
  • Bad Dreams:
    • Bad dreams have plagued Lynette since she was a kid. These dreams are what prompted her manifestation, and they've reared their ugly head in the present thanks to Dr. Sheridan.
  • Battle Couple:
    • After spending several months abroad in Russia and South America while hunting Vanguard remnants so they might receive a government pardon, Eileen and Gabriel return to the United States and settle down in the alternate Sound of Thunder timeline. The part about being vulnerable to losing one half of this pairing in combat turns out to be true.
    • Totally applies to Cardinal and Elisabeth, too. They've each even been dead once!
    • Veronica and Brian fit this for a bit.
    • Colette and Tasha may not be be the most badass, but their young relationship has been fraught with conflict and was borne of gunfire.
    • Seamus and Lexington started their lives together as an IRA guerrilla and an arms dealer, respectively. They've been in more gunfights than they'd like to think of, usually caused by one or both of them. Then there was the years they spent running from Vanguard, avoiding being shot, ran over, blown up, etc. Not necessarily in that order.
    • Griffin and Nadira likely fall into this one. Griffin did, after all, bring Nadira into Messiah with him.
  • By The Book Cop:
    • Vincent is often uncomfortably caught up in the dissonance between what's right and what's legal.
    • Dante comes close to fitting this trope. Not because he has a strong devotion to the due process of law, but that he has no other moral compass or any motivations to act otherwise.
  • Clap Your Hands If You Believe:
    • Kendall's power actually works on this. He has to believe that his art would 'come to life' and if he doesn't believe it, nothing happens. In effect, he actually has to fool himself for his illusions to work. Also, if other people believe his illusions are real, they last longer, even to the point that he doesn't have to actually be present for them to stay. Inversely, if no one believes his illusions, they might not even manifest.
  • Complete Monster:
    • Between orchestrating the deaths of the Columbia Fourteen in Sound of Thunder, attempting to market a botched version of the formula to the government for their FRONTLINE project and murdering Brian Fulk in cold blood for his ability in front of his twin sister and children, Arthur Petrelli has zero redeeming qualities.
  • Cool Shades:
    • "Aviators", who first appeared in Argentina during a backdated scene in the Sound of Thunder timeline, is never seen without his signature sunglasses. They are so distinguishing that he has never been referred to by his actual name. He has a name.
    • Richard Cardinal is almost never seen without his pair of shades, and he pretty much lures all the women too!
    • Deckard Is almost never without them. How else is a guy to play x-ray peeping tom?
  • Crouching Moron Hidden Badass:
    • Never touching a weapon until he joined Phoenix, Brian remained mostly a joker and lighthearted guy until people such as Abby or Helena or his kids at the lighthouse were threatened. To which he responded with shootings, naked beat downs, running people over with cars, and more shooting.
  • Dark Is Not Evil:
    • According to Sylar, Eileen has "a scalpel for a tongue, interrogation torches for eyes and ice for skin." She also has the ability to command hordes of ravens and crows. Ever since the conclusion of Volume Four, however, she's been considered one of the good guys due to her apparent Heel Face Turn.
    • Most would assume the ability to turn into a living shadow and infiltrate anywhere, spy on anyone, would be rather dark… but most seem to consider Cardinal one of the good guys as well, despite occasionally moral lapses.
  • Despair Event Horizon:
    • Crippling emotional loss was Ghost's unrepentant excuse for turning into a thief, liar, rapist, and murderer. At some point before 2019, he perfected the ability to con people into maiming, hunting, or killing each other, and it's probably more inculpatory than exculpatory that he realizes that he is people too.
  • Donut Mess With A Cop:
    • In almost every NYPD HQ scene, Aude is near the donuts, bringing the donuts or otherwise consuming the donuts.
  • Dreaming Of Things To Come:
    • From a viral apocalypse in which most of the world's population is wiped out to nuclear holocausts, possible futures are almost always foreshadowed in this way by precognitive characters who receive their visions through dreams.
  • Drowning My Sorrows:
    • Helena's been on this train a few times, one of which is notable for Conrad taking her out to get her first tattoo.
    • Abigail's jumped on this train a few times too. Usually somewhere private where her good girl image can't be shattered. Not that it gets shattered.
    • Sonny went on a bender on Staten Island after the Ghost debacle.
    • Cassidy was introduced to Elisabeth's brain on alcohol in Han Solo For The Win — wherein a number of familiar faces turned up in Star Wars roles! A somewhat amusing little allusion that has reared its head in any number of scenes since!
    • Melissa has taken to using alcohol to make her feel better after her first kill.
    • Lynette has a long list of vices for this, from alcohol and cigarettes to the more dicey Refrain.
    • Nick tends to be found in bars more than is probably healthy, especially since he keeps getting hurt in them.
    • Ziadie seems to go to bars to get drunk because the fact that he is an alcoholic makes his roommate worry, so what does he do? He drinks more.
  • Dye or Die:
    • Abigail has been through a few choice hair colors thanks to kidnapping attempts and otherwise being noticed by the not so good guys. She's also a You Gotta Have Blue Hair.
    • Veronica has dyed her hair for a variety of undercover jobs, and once dyed Brian's hair blue, to his chagrin.
  • Family Business:
    • The Nakamuras have Yamagato Industries.
    • Peter has worked for both his mother's company (The Company) and his father's company (Pinehearst).
    • Our friendly local Triad faction, the Flying Dragons, is run by the Ye family.
    • Wendy Hunter's family owns Hunter Communications, a fortune 500 company that the entire family is employed with including Wendy.
    • Vietnam: It became exactly that when Delia and [[[Russo]] joined forces to find Ryans in the war.
  • Fiery Redhead:
    • Most of the game's natural redheads, such as Delilah.
    • Not exactly fiery in the personality department, Delia lets her hair do all of it for her.
    • Lexington. 'Nuff said.
  • Glowing Eyes of Doom:
    • The warning green that comes with Logan's eyes upon extreme power use has come to be iconic for those few who have played victim to his villain - it's a key symbol when it comes to dreamscape versions of himself as well.
    • Zoe's eyes glowed silver whenever she had her visions.
    • Gillian's eyes glow purple when using higher level augmentation.
    • A side effect of Deckard's x-ray vision is an eerie blue glow that emanates from his irises when it's active.
    • Griffin's eyes lose their iris and pupils, and glow bluish-white whenever he is using his telekinesis ability at its full power.
    • While holding a powerful charge, Nicole's usually dark cobalt eyes glow a brilliant shade of appropriately electric blue.
    • If Abby's eyes go all orange and flare, it's too late. Enjoy the third degree burns if you're too close.
  • Good Powers Bad People:
    • Mr. Linderman is the head of the Linderman Group, one of New York City's most powerful crime syndicates. Incidentally, he also has the power to heal.
  • Heel Face Turn:
    • Most of the Vanguard members who were still alive at the end of Volume Four turned against Kazimir around the same time Phoenix launched its attack.
      • Those who did not suffered Cruel And Unusual Deaths, including evisceration, being attacked by swarms of stinging insects and one incident where a character was bludgeoned to death with a metal pipe.
      • Veronica was a devoted Company agent, then worked against it for a time, then worked against it with the blessing of Company founders, "turning" on her colleagues in order to join Institute. Confusing?
  • Hell Bent For Leather:
    • Though by no means exclusive, Huruma qualifies most of the time.
    • Peter showed up in Edgar's bedroom dressed in leather pants and a tight fitting tank top. You just don't do that to someone who's been in prison.
  • Heroes Want Red Heads:
    • Teo is tremendously guilty in this regard as the majority of his love interests and protection interests are red heads or have at some point been redheads or he encourages them to be red heads. Red hair in his book is a +!.
    • Elaine seems to be the redhead love interest everyone wants to get with. She met Magnes when he saved her life.
  • Hot Librarian:
    • Zoe Porter suits this trope.
    • While Gillian is both a) a librarian and b) hot, she does not suppress her hotness.
      • In that case, she may count as a subversion.
  • I'm A Humanitarian:
    • Huruma's cannibalistic tendencies seem to stem from religious and 'waste not' perspectives; the fact that she enjoys doing it is secondary, but remains a contributing factor.
  • Just Before The End:
    • String Theory MUX is set in an alternate reality that runs parallel to our own but is infinitely darker.
      • Inverted in Sound of Thunder, an alternate timeline where everything turned out better than any of the characters could have imagined.
  • Kiss Of Death:
    • Dee could very well pull it off; one route for her power to take is through skin and saliva.
  • Knight in Sour Armor:
    • Teo is — was? — a non-Evolved co-leader of a pro-Evolved movement, a permanently rueful Catholic kid who carries guns like Tu-Pac despite that he hates guns because it's the right thing to do, befriends terrorists, serial killers, and cops because it's necessary. He thinks, if the world is going to change— and it won't, it can't be the likes of him. Yet he's here anyway!
    • Cardinal has that whole "I'm not a hero!" thing going on and figures he's going to hell no matter what. But how much good has he done the world?
  • La Resistance:
    • Both Phoenix and the Ferrymen qualify here!
      • Phoenix, definitely. Ferrymen might be kind of borderline since their goals have less to do with fighting back and more to do with keeping a low profile while helping those in need via an underground railroad. Your mileage may vary. Yeah, the Ferry too.
      • Endgame is the newest group on the block, working to subvert the future and keep things on an even keel.
  • Loveable Rogue:
    • Tony is a fairly typical example!
    • Arguably lovable, Nick seems to be in the running for this one.
    • Vincent's player seems to think Edgar is endearing … for an assassin.
  • Love Triangle:
    • It would probably be easier to list the folks on the MUX who aren't involved in one of these than those who are — needless to say, String Theory has more than a few love triangles… and a Love Dodecahedron or two.
  • Loyal Animal Companion:
    • Subverted when Eileen lost her avian telepathy and was abandoned by even her most faithful bird.
    • Pila is a blue budgie that belongs to Teo, but resides with Abigail and he's had her for a very very long time.
    • Scarlett is a black cat with a red velvet collar that resides with Abigail and often glares at visitors.
    • Alicia is a Newfoundland dog that Joseph picked up when he was supposed to be buying a cat. Live the dream. She now hangs out at his church and guards the place with her vicious sleeping.
    • Samson is a giant Molosser creature dog that Delilah adopted at the same shelter that Joseph found Alicia. Incidentally, she was also there for something else- a puppy, and left with Sam. He is now one of Dee's many guard dogs/hug targets.
    • Schrödinger is a Calico Persian, and possibly the one living creature Odessa cares most for in this world.
  • Mama Bear:
    • As Stanley learned the hard way, Eileen does not hesitate when it comes to dispatching threats against Bai-Chan's life. In an similarly dispassionate move, she also poisoned John Logan after he attempted to murder Teodoro.
    • What hasn't Niki/Jessica done for Micah?
    • "Stay away from my daughter!" - Jennifer Chesterfield. If she'd had an airlock, no doubt she would have thrown Arthur out of it.
    • Delilah had a hybrid bear-hen moment in Pinehearst when she shot Edward Ray; she did not know who he was at first, only that he threatened the wellbeing of her Home and the people in it. Not to mention threatening the peace she joined Phoenix to work towards.
    • Mess with any of those she considers hers, and Elisabeth is inclined these days to definitely make it not worth your life. She tells all the new guys not to screw with her people.
    • Melissa doesn't like any of her friends/charges getting hurt. Touch Kendall and you're signing your own death warrant.
  • Marshmallow Hell:
    • Not done in a particularly devious way, Dee's tendencies as a Mother Hen leave room for lots of affection. Airbag hugs included.
  • Missing Mom:
    • Helena's mother was murdered in front of her.
    • Sylar's mother was murdered in front of him.
    • Monica's mother died, Lynette's left when she was just a kid and Lexington's was just never around to begin with. Even Tania and Gin count, as Tania left her mother behind in Russia and Gin's died with the majority of her family quite some time ago. This player uses this trope a lot, apparently. >.>
    • Tess's mom died when she was twenty, and part of her blames her dad.
    • Delia and Lucille's beloved mother Mary died in the bomb… R.I.P.
    • Graeme's mom just left him in the hospital lobby. Definitely missing.
  • People Puppets:
    • Doyle is, of course, the stereotypical example of this. Plus, he's an actual puppeteer.
    • Lynette experienced a bit of this thanks to her use of Refrain and the invasion of Delia.
  • Perky Goth:
    • Melissa definitely dresses the part, but is rarely (if ever) seen acting the part.
  • PermaStubble:
    • Deckard is only briefly glimpsed without his trusty stubble collection for a few days in THE FUTURE. Also when he is in Paper Thin Disguise.
    • Coren is another who always seems to shave with beard trimmer just enough to have stubble in perpetuity.
    • Judah, too. On the rare occasions when he does shave, the result is usually blood in the bathroom sink.
  • Proud to be a Geek:
    • There's quite a few of them on the game. Magnes and Kendall are almost freakily similar, with Linus taking the stage as well for the sheer amount of geekiness they're capable of showing.
    • Alia's first scene involved her wearing a Fatal Fury cosplay, and is often seen wearing a space invaders scarf in winter, and loves her some comics and gaming.
  • Psycho Electro:
    • Y helo thar, Elle. Anyone up for a rousing round of Electric Torture?
    • Niles was fighting off the crazy ever since he returned to the past and ultimately had to be put down like a dog by Cat, lest he go on a further killing spree. He killed Elisabeth's neighbor, tried to kill and/or succeeded in killing several of his old friends as well as a half dozen electrocutions and collateral damage caused by an exploding power relay. His younger counterpart may or may not find a way out of electro insanity.
    • Lynette is the subversion for this trope, as she's usually quite sane, if jaded and cynical.
  • Retired Badass:
    • Ziadie keeps insisting he's retired, and then going and getting into situations anyway. And then promptly going to enjoy being retired again. Whatever that means. Then again, he's Morgan Freeman.
  • Rich Bitch:
    • Lucrezia is undoubtedly one of these. She even has rich bitch brunches with other awesome ladies who are equally rich and bitchy.
    • Nalani was also undoubtedly a Rich Bitch as well. Running her little empire that was PAUSE magazine, she tended to treat those below her in the structure of power, with varying degree's of ill treatment. Though when no one was looking, or even when they were, some nice behavior slipped in.
    • Angela Petrelli. She's a borderline Evil Matriarch as well.
  • Running Gag:
    • Quasi-accidental and a little bit legendary, the appearance of the Periwinkle Van has withstood the test of time and amuses at least some people each time it crops up - including an utterly improbable cameo after it had been auctioned off.
    • There is a little girl in the Ferryman network, not much older than 5, who seems to be present at almost every safe house and is far too wise for her age. And friendly.
    • Mean Heat
  • Sissy Villain:
    • Scathing though this trope may be, Logan sadly has some traits in common when it comes to the vainer aspects of his personality and general interior designing choices. The Depraved Bisexual also factors in.
  • Smoking Is Cool:
    • There are some characters who really don't seem to get that tobacco is a cause of cancer … Ethan, Nick, Griffin, Ziadie, to start with. Or maybe it's just that smoking causing cancer doesn't seem like as big of a deal with all the other shit going on.
      • Though, this does seem to be generally restricted to characters old enough to have started smoking before it was the most horrible thing in the world. Generally.
  • Sunglasses At Night:
    • Cardinal is often seen with sunglasses to protect his eyes from plain ol daylight.
    • Deckard wears them constantly, indoors or out, night or day to conceal the glow when his x-ray ability is turned on.
  • Technical Pacifist:
    • Monica, who doesn't mind kicking some ass, so long as she's not killing anybody. It mostly works out. >.>
    • Abby isn't one for violence, or creating it, or participating in it. Outside of this, this and…. this. Okay, a few times.
  • Teeth Clenched Teamwork:
    • Deckard has occasionally worked with Logan and Ghost among others he's thrown down with in the past. Usually out of necessity. Occasionally for profit.
    • Vincent has twisted to subtly help The Ferry and those it seeks to protect more than once. Despite his better judgment.
    • Pretty much every team on ST ever?

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  • The Man Behind the Man:
    • Recurring into infinity in string theory, but most recently represented with:
    • ???? was revealed to be the secret shadow-leader of the Institute above Broome.
  • Type Casting:
    • It is hard to say, but could anyone not Jude Law be Logan? There's a trace of commonality seen in many of Law's films with Logan's characterization - except for, perhaps, sociopathy - including but not limited to being a fashion whore, charming-when-he-wants-to-be, and unfair talent for sleeping with beautiful women.
    • Oh, hello, Monica Bellucci— I mean, Lucrezia! The character concept from career choice to age to temperament are all derived primarily from the actress herself as well as her oh-so-frequent femme fatale roles.
    • Sammo Hung has been cast in several films where he plays some manner of Triad boss/big-wig; this was, however, only realized by his player after casting the Played-By and happened to be coincidence.
    • Lena Heady plays bad ass gun toting Sarah Conner in the Terminator television series, with her leather jacket and her shaggy hair and lots of guns. Need we say more.
    • Michael Clarke Duncan as dixon. Once again, need we say more?
    • Liam Neeson play a bad ass agent, who will do anything to do the right thing. Oh also… don't mess with his girls. Cause it's all personal to him.
    • Veronica, played by Eliza Dushku, is a seemingly tough girl with a bit of an identity crisis — Faith? Caroline-slash-Echo? Take your pic.
  • Ugly Guy's Hot Daughter:
    • Stephen Tobolowsky spawned Kristen Bell? Either Elle took 100% of her looks from her mom, or she really is adopted.
  • Victoria's Secret Compartment:
    • Delilah has been known to do this. Dresses don't really have much in ways of pockets in the first place.
    • Melissa likes carrying her business cards here. If she could find a pistol that would fit, she would carry one there as well.
    • Bella considers both her lighters and her illegal psychotropics bosom companions.
  • Well Done Son Guy:
    • Mohinder and Elle both have this tendency to go out and do stuff for the sake of their father's approval.
    • So does Sonny. Mayor Bianco's expectations for his son affect many of his choices.
    • Russo is a successful television personality despite the lack of paternal influence.
  • What You Are In The Dark:
    • Not long after suffering some pretty grotesque disfigurement at Logan's hand (and discerning the details of Abby's torment as well), in Fear and Loathing Deckard managed to pin the pimp down alone in the dark of an alley one fine foggy morning. Just Flint, John, a sharp knife and a few pressing questions to be answered before sunrise.
  • Why Would Anyone Take Him Back:
    • Gabriel murdered Gillian's sister. He also almost killed her. The death of her sister and other things did eventually lead to their break up. Will they take each other back?
    • Peter has invaded Helena's mind several times, abandoned Phoenix more than once, and killed one of her friends in cold blood (even if he was just a replicant).
    • Deckard has punched Abigail a few times, nearly turned her over to the bad guys, and cut her open, all in the name of saving her life. Mostly. Usually.
    • Caliban dislocated Abby's ankle and tore a few tendons over a bit of a genetic change. They're now married and it confuses a lot of people.
  • You Killed My Father:
    • Veronica and Paulson had a variation of this confrontation.
    • Although it's arguable in whether or not Seamus succeeded in fulfilling his destiny in this trope, he did manage to kill quite a few people and destroy a Vanguard safehouse in the name of exacting revenge.
page revision: 177, last edited: 17 Feb 2018 16:09
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