Surprise Tropes

Tropes about characters not getting what they expected. (Hope that doesn't shock you too much.)

One of the most useful emotions in a writer's toolbox and so one of the commonest in all sorts of stories.

See also Betrayal Tropes, Plot Twist, Twist Ending. Tropes in those indices will not be covered here. -

Tropes

 * Big No
 * Big "What?"
 * Blank White Eyes
 * Blue with Shock
 * Color Failure
 * Conveniently-Timed Attack From Behind
 * Didn't See That Coming
 * Dramatic Curtain Toss
 * Dropping the Bombshell
 * Drop What You Are Doing
 * Dull Surprise
 * Eye Pop
 * Eye Take
 * Gay Bar Reveal
 * Gut Punch
 * "Hell Yes!" Moment
 * Heroic BSOD
 * Imminent Danger Clue
 * Instant Cosplay Surprise
 * I Think You Broke Him
 * Jaw Drop
 * Kewpie Doll Surprise
 * Lightswitch Surprise
 * Matchlight Danger Revelation
 * My God, What Have I Done?
 * No More Lies
 * Oh Crap
 * Explain, Explain, Oh Crap
 * Mass "Oh Crap"
 * Open the Door and See All the People
 * Personal Effects Reveal
 * Refrigerator Ambush
 * Scary Surprise Party
 * Smoking Gun
 * Spit Take
 * Stunned Silence
 * Superweapon Surprise
 * Surprise Jump
 * Surprise Pregnancy
 * Surprise Witness
 * The Picture Came with the Frame
 * These Hands Have Killed
 * This Cannot Be!
 * Thunder Shock
 * Two Rights Make a Wrong
 * Unsettling Gender Reveal
 * Waking Up Elsewhere
 * Wham! Episode
 * What Have I Become?
 * Why Won't You Die?
 * Wild Take
 * You Have Got to Be Kidding Me!
 * You Said You Would Let Them Go
 * You're Insane!