The Plot Demanded This Index

The events in a story ought to flow naturally as the consequences of prior events and the actions of the characters. However, sometimes the writer has an end result in mind, but no natural way of getting there. The writer has to kludge the story a bit to make it go where he wants to.

In other words: something exists or happens for no reason other than that the plot requires it to. See also Ind Ex Machina, which is more about clumsy ways of resolving plots as a whole and tying up loose ends.

Tropes:
Categories:
 * Contrived Stupidity Tropes
 * Suspiciously Convenient Index
 * Ball Index
 * Character Derailment and its subtropes (Characterization as the Plot Demands)
 * Conflict Ball (Conflict as the Plot Demands)
 * Conflict Killer (Ending of Conflict as the Plot Demands)
 * Drama-Preserving Handicap
 * Forgot About His Powers (Plot-Induced Stupidity)
 * Idiot Ball (Stupidity as the Plot Demands)
 * New Neighbours as the Plot Demands
 * New Powers as the Plot Demands
 * New Rules as the Plot Demands
 * Plot-Powered Stamina
 * Plot-Mandated Friendship Failure
 * Plot-Sensitive Items
 * Plot-Sensitive Snooping Skills
 * Railroading
 * Smart Ball (Intelligence as the Plot Demands)
 * Surveillance as the Plot Demands
 * Traveling At the Speed of Plot
 * You Can't Thwart Stage One (Heroic Failure as the Plot Demands)