Trope Talk: Fridging - Summary

Summary

This is a possible summary:

The video explains the trope of "fridging", which is when a character is killed or hurt only to motivate or upset another character. It argues that fridging is bad writing because it disrespects the fridged character, undercuts their potential, and fails to make the audience care. It gives examples of fridging from comics, movies, and TV shows, and contrasts them with better ways of handling character deaths. It also promotes World Anvil, a tool for worldbuilding and novel writing.

Facts

Here are the key facts extracted from the text:

1. The text is a transcript of a video about the trope of "fridging" in fiction.
2. Fridging is when a character is killed or brutalized only to hurt or motivate another, more important character.
3. Fridging is a bad trope because it shows disrespect for the fridged character and their narrative potential, and it undercuts the emotional impact of their death or suffering.
4. Fridging disproportionately affects female characters, often love interests or family members of male heroes.
5. Fridging can be identified by two tests: the offscreen test and the property damage test.
6. The offscreen test asks if the death could happen entirely offscreen and have the same impact on the story.
7. The property damage test asks if the dead character could be replaced by a prized possession and their loss would have the same or more emotional impact on the plot.
8. The text gives examples of fridging from comics, movies and TV shows, such as Green Lantern, Infinity War, Endgame, The Killing Joke and Supernatural.
9. The text also gives examples of non-fridging character deaths that are more respectful and impactful, such as Maes Hughes from Fullmetal Alchemist.
10. The text suggests that avoiding fridging is a matter of giving the character their narrative due and treating them like they are the hero of their own story.
11. The text is sponsored by World Anvil, a browser-based worldbuilding and novel writing software with various features and tools.