No Heroics: Difference between revisions
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The series is set in modern-day Britain, in what the opening describes as "a normal city with one small difference: there are superheroes". They're pretty much common-place, with powers ranging from super strength to controlling monkeys, and since the public knows about them, they just hang out in capes all day. Our main characters themselves are a group of "capes" who meet after work in The Fortress — the pub where superheroes go to unwind and where there are "No Masks, No Powers, No Heroics", hence the title. |
The series is set in modern-day Britain, in what the opening describes as "a normal city with one small difference: there are superheroes". They're pretty much common-place, with powers ranging from super strength to controlling monkeys, and since the public knows about them, they just hang out in capes all day. Our main characters themselves are a group of "capes" who meet after work in The Fortress — the pub where superheroes go to unwind and where there are "No Masks, No Powers, No Heroics", hence the title. |
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Of course, the series parodies a good number of superhero tropes and there's a lot of [[Genre Savvy]] and [[Shout |
Of course, the series parodies a good number of superhero tropes and there's a lot of [[Genre Savvy]] and [[Shout-Out|shout outs]] going on. |
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{{tropelist}} |
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=== ''[[No Heroics]]'' provides examples of: === |
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* [[Alliterative Name]]: Maggie Mayhem, Velvet Veil. |
* [[Alliterative Name]]: Maggie Mayhem, Velvet Veil. |
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* [[Badass Cape]]: Excelsor tries to invoke this with his golden cape. |
* [[Badass Cape]]: Excelsor tries to invoke this with his golden cape. |
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* [[Bad Guy Bar]]: The Stronghold. |
* [[Bad Guy Bar]]: The Stronghold. |
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* [[Bad Powers, Bad People]]: Lampshaded by Lightkiller. |
* [[Bad Powers, Bad People]]: Lampshaded by Lightkiller. |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''She-Force:''' You should use your powers for good. |
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'''Lightkiller:''' Yeah, yeah, right. So being able to plunge the world into complete darkness is an ideal power for a good guy, right? }} |
'''Lightkiller:''' Yeah, yeah, right. So being able to plunge the world into complete darkness is an ideal power for a good guy, right? }} |
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* [[Cape Busters]]: Anti-cape leagues go around beating up low-powered capes. |
* [[Cape Busters]]: Anti-cape leagues go around beating up low-powered capes. |
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* [[Comes Great Responsibility]]: Played straight for some capes, parodied for most as they fight crimes to be famous and get money from goodies. |
* [[Comes Great Responsibility]]: Played straight for some capes, parodied for most as they fight crimes to be famous and get money from goodies. |
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* [[Dating Catwoman]]: She-Force considers dating one of her former foes, Lightkiller. |
* [[Dating Catwoman]]: She-Force considers dating one of her former foes, Lightkiller. |
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* [[Dating What Daddy Hates]]: Sarah asks Alex to pretend they're dating again because she knows her dad hates him. |
* [[Dating What Daddy Hates]]: Sarah asks Alex to pretend they're dating again because she knows her dad hates him. |
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* [[Everything Sounds Sexier in French]]: The Hotness tries to invoke this during one of his date. |
* [[Everything Sounds Sexier in French]]: The Hotness tries to invoke this during one of his date. |
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* [[Eye Beams]]: Part of Excelsor's powers. |
* [[Eye Beams]]: Part of Excelsor's powers. |
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* |
* [[Fail O'Suckyname]]: Ladytrouble. People keep making fun of The Hotness, too. |
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* [[Fan Dumb]]: In-universe, when She-Force and Electroclash go meet the fanclub of their old superheroine team. |
* [[Fan Dumb]]: In-universe, when She-Force and Electroclash go meet the fanclub of their old superheroine team. |
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* [[Fantastic Racism]]: Some normal people hate superheroes and create anti-cape leagues. |
* [[Fantastic Racism]]: Some normal people hate superheroes and create anti-cape leagues. |
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* [[Good Powers, Bad People]]: Invoked with Excelsor, who has all of Superman's powers but is a major [[Jerkass]]. |
* [[Good Powers, Bad People]]: Invoked with Excelsor, who has all of Superman's powers but is a major [[Jerkass]]. |
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* [[Heroic Sacrifice]]: Parodied with the death of {{spoiler|Thundermonkey}}: |
* [[Heroic Sacrifice]]: Parodied with the death of {{spoiler|Thundermonkey}}: |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''The Hotness:''' A terrible, terrible waste of human life. |
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'''Timebomb:''' A terrible, perfectly avoidable waste of human life. }} |
'''Timebomb:''' A terrible, perfectly avoidable waste of human life. }} |
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* [[Hot Amazon]]: She-Force. |
* [[Hot Amazon]]: She-Force. |
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* [[Mundane Utility]]: All the time. In the opening, The Hotness uses his superpower to warm up a meal, She-Force uses hers to move a car and get a shopping <s>cart</s> trolley... Electroclash is fond of using her powers to get money and cigarettes for free. |
* [[Mundane Utility]]: All the time. In the opening, The Hotness uses his superpower to warm up a meal, She-Force uses hers to move a car and get a shopping <s>cart</s> trolley... Electroclash is fond of using her powers to get money and cigarettes for free. |
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* [[Noodle Implements]]: Subverted when Timebomb tells Doomball he's going to torture Doomball with bite-size potatoes on toothpicks. Cut to the next scene where we're shown that Timebomb wasn't kidding. |
* [[Noodle Implements]]: Subverted when Timebomb tells Doomball he's going to torture Doomball with bite-size potatoes on toothpicks. Cut to the next scene where we're shown that Timebomb wasn't kidding. |
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* [[Nineties Anti |
* [[Nineties Anti-Hero]]: Parodied with Timebomb, who ends up going to group therapy to try to deal with his attitude. |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Timebomb:''' At least you got to break somebody's arm. I miss that. |
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'''She-Force:''' Oh, Don, I know you do. That's why you're taking time off. }} |
'''She-Force:''' Oh, Don, I know you do. That's why you're taking time off. }} |
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* [[Power Perversion Potential]]: Excelsor has a whole speech dedicated to how his powers make it impossible for him not to please a woman. |
* [[Power Perversion Potential]]: Excelsor has a whole speech dedicated to how his powers make it impossible for him not to please a woman. |
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* [[Sensual Spandex]]: Everyone, really. |
* [[Sensual Spandex]]: Everyone, really. |
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* [[Sidekick]]: Jackrabbit to Electroclash. |
* [[Sidekick]]: Jackrabbit to Electroclash. |
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* [[Shell-Shocked Veteran]]: Norse Dave, the barman. |
* [[Shell-Shocked Veteran]]: Norse Dave, the barman. |
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* [[Shout |
* [[Shout-Out]]: Too many to count, as the people who made the series were real geeks. |
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* [[Smug Super]]: Excelsor. |
* [[Smug Super]]: Excelsor. |
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* [[Soaperizing]]: Most of the show centers on what happens in The Fortress, with only a few minutes of actual hero action in the whole series. |
* [[Soaperizing]]: Most of the show centers on what happens in The Fortress, with only a few minutes of actual hero action in the whole series. |
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* [[Stripperiffic]]: Electroclash's costume is tame compared to what comic book heroines wear, but she still gets remarks. |
* [[Stripperiffic]]: Electroclash's costume is tame compared to what comic book heroines wear, but she still gets remarks. |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Electroclash:''' Have you seen my costume? It's fucking tiny. |
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'''Thundermonkey:''' It's not my fault you dress like a slag. }} |
'''Thundermonkey:''' It's not my fault you dress like a slag. }} |
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* [[Strange Minds Think Alike]]: Everyone thinks Alex's beard makes him look like a pedophile. |
* [[Strange Minds Think Alike]]: Everyone thinks Alex's beard makes him look like a pedophile. |
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* [[Super Strength]]: She-Force. |
* [[Super Strength]]: She-Force. |
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* [[Super Villain]]: A lot, including Doomball and Lightkiller. |
* [[Super Villain]]: A lot, including Doomball and Lightkiller. |
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* [[The Cape]]: The term is used to describe any super in the universe but the only one who'd seem to fit the trope is actually Electroclash's dad, Rampart. |
* [[The Cape (trope)]]: The term is used to describe any super in the universe but the only one who'd seem to fit the trope is actually Electroclash's dad, Rampart. |
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* [[The Hero]]: Subverted with Excelsor who's basically Superman but acts like a complete asshole to everyone in The Fortress. |
* [[The Hero]]: Subverted with Excelsor who's basically Superman but acts like a complete asshole to everyone in The Fortress. |
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* [[Theme Tune]]: "Make way for Ladytrouble!" |
* [[Theme Tune]]: "Make way for Ladytrouble!" |
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* [[Unfortunate Names]]: She-Force and Electroclash used to be a team of superheroines called Ladytrouble. |
* [[Unfortunate Names]]: She-Force and Electroclash used to be a team of superheroines called Ladytrouble. |
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* [[Verbal Tic]]: Fuseboss fuses words. "New friend. Nend." |
* [[Verbal Tic]]: Fuseboss fuses words. "New friend. Nend." |
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* [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart Anyway]]: Avoided in most cases, since even capes with the power of photocopy are put to good use. Played straight with Thundermonkey, who can summon monkeys: |
* [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?]]: Avoided in most cases, since even capes with the power of photocopy are put to good use. Played straight with Thundermonkey, who can summon monkeys: |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|'''Electroclash:''' How long does it take for the monkeys to get there after you've summoned them? |
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'''Thundermonkey:''' About two and a half hours. }} |
'''Thundermonkey:''' About two and a half hours. }} |
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[[Category:Britcom]] |
[[Category:Britcom]] |
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[[Category:No Heroics]] |
[[Category:No Heroics]] |
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[[Category:Series]] |
[[Category:TV Series]] |
Latest revision as of 13:45, 2 March 2020
A short-lived British comedy series, No Heroics was the first sitcom produced by ITV2 and ran from September to October 2008 for six 20-minute episodes.
The series is set in modern-day Britain, in what the opening describes as "a normal city with one small difference: there are superheroes". They're pretty much common-place, with powers ranging from super strength to controlling monkeys, and since the public knows about them, they just hang out in capes all day. Our main characters themselves are a group of "capes" who meet after work in The Fortress — the pub where superheroes go to unwind and where there are "No Masks, No Powers, No Heroics", hence the title.
Of course, the series parodies a good number of superhero tropes and there's a lot of Genre Savvy and shout outs going on.
- Alliterative Name: Maggie Mayhem, Velvet Veil.
- Badass Cape: Excelsor tries to invoke this with his golden cape.
- Badass Normal: Notable by their absence.
- Badass Spaniard: Don/Timebomb.
- Bad Guy Bar: The Stronghold.
- Bad Powers, Bad People: Lampshaded by Lightkiller.
She-Force: You should use your powers for good. |
- Cape Busters: Anti-cape leagues go around beating up low-powered capes.
- Chest Insignia: They all have one.
- Clark Kenting: No one recognizes She-Force when she's Jenny at work, even though she just put a pair of glasses on. Justified, as there are so many superheroes that you'd have a hard time figuring out who's who anyway.
- Comes Great Responsibility: Played straight for some capes, parodied for most as they fight crimes to be famous and get money from goodies.
- Dating Catwoman: She-Force considers dating one of her former foes, Lightkiller.
- Dating What Daddy Hates: Sarah asks Alex to pretend they're dating again because she knows her dad hates him.
- Everything Sounds Sexier in French: The Hotness tries to invoke this during one of his date.
- Eye Beams: Part of Excelsor's powers.
- Fail O'Suckyname: Ladytrouble. People keep making fun of The Hotness, too.
- Fan Dumb: In-universe, when She-Force and Electroclash go meet the fanclub of their old superheroine team.
- Fantastic Racism: Some normal people hate superheroes and create anti-cape leagues.
- Form-Fitting Wardrobe: Almost all the capes wear tight spandex, including out of shape men.
- Good Powers, Bad People: Invoked with Excelsor, who has all of Superman's powers but is a major Jerkass.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Parodied with the death of Thundermonkey:
The Hotness: A terrible, terrible waste of human life. |
- Hot Amazon: She-Force.
- Hurricane of Puns: Pretty much everything in the pub is a pun on superhero series: Shazamstel, V for Vodka, Logan's Rhum, Gin City...
- Incorruptible Pure Pureness: She-Force.
- Infant Immortality: Avoided with the mouthy, homophobic young prince.
- Insult Backfire: Alex's insults always end up like this one way or another.
- Jerkass: Devlin/Excelsor.
- Kick the Dog: Devlin, joking about Alex's dead mom.
- Killed Off for Real: Thundermonkey in the last episode.
- Local Hangout: The Fortress
- Malevolent Masked Men: Doomball
- Maximum Fun Chamber: When Timebomb tortures Doomball.
- Most Common Superpower: She-Force.
- Mouthy Kid: The prince whom Timebomb is hired to protect.
- Mundane Fantastic
- Mundane Utility: All the time. In the opening, The Hotness uses his superpower to warm up a meal, She-Force uses hers to move a car and get a shopping
carttrolley... Electroclash is fond of using her powers to get money and cigarettes for free. - Noodle Implements: Subverted when Timebomb tells Doomball he's going to torture Doomball with bite-size potatoes on toothpicks. Cut to the next scene where we're shown that Timebomb wasn't kidding.
- Nineties Anti-Hero: Parodied with Timebomb, who ends up going to group therapy to try to deal with his attitude.
Timebomb: At least you got to break somebody's arm. I miss that. |
- Power Perversion Potential: Excelsor has a whole speech dedicated to how his powers make it impossible for him not to please a woman.
- Reckless Sidekick: Justified as heroes are assigned troubled sidekicks as part of community service.
- Secret Identity: She-Force is the only member of the group who even tries to have one. She works as an accountant.
- Sensual Spandex: Everyone, really.
- Sidekick: Jackrabbit to Electroclash.
- Shell-Shocked Veteran: Norse Dave, the barman.
- Shout-Out: Too many to count, as the people who made the series were real geeks.
- Smug Super: Excelsor.
- Soaperizing: Most of the show centers on what happens in The Fortress, with only a few minutes of actual hero action in the whole series.
- Stripperiffic: Electroclash's costume is tame compared to what comic book heroines wear, but she still gets remarks.
Electroclash: Have you seen my costume? It's fucking tiny. |
- Strange Minds Think Alike: Everyone thinks Alex's beard makes him look like a pedophile.
- Superpower Lottery
- Super Strength: She-Force.
- Super Villain: A lot, including Doomball and Lightkiller.
- The Cape (trope): The term is used to describe any super in the universe but the only one who'd seem to fit the trope is actually Electroclash's dad, Rampart.
- The Hero: Subverted with Excelsor who's basically Superman but acts like a complete asshole to everyone in The Fortress.
- Theme Tune: "Make way for Ladytrouble!"
- The Stoic: Don/Timebomb.
- Unfortunate Names: She-Force and Electroclash used to be a team of superheroines called Ladytrouble.
- Verbal Tic: Fuseboss fuses words. "New friend. Nend."
- What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?: Avoided in most cases, since even capes with the power of photocopy are put to good use. Played straight with Thundermonkey, who can summon monkeys:
Electroclash: How long does it take for the monkeys to get there after you've summoned them? |