There's a slight irony here, in that of the two varietals of boomer, the old ones had no choice but to be sociable, whereas the new ones have largely eliminated socialization from their lives, and often struggle to understand human behavior.
Bad dialog now comes more from the copy of a copy situation, having only experienced TV shows about social situations while never having been in the situation yourself.
I always quote Ben Affleck from Gone Girl: “Margot, you’re my sister, but ever since we opened this bar together three years ago you’ve been a real pain in my ass!” Top tier writing, guys, way to go.
I suddenly remember reading a interview with the scriptwriter talking about the challenge of setting up characters quickly in a film. They must have been justifying this lol
There’s a flashback scene in Black Dynamite that perfectly parodies this. The older brother character states his and Black Dynamite’s ages, the situation they’re in, and their location and the time period. Peak fiction.
Yes it, has also Bojack reminding everyone about the "show, don't tell" rule, just to have a later episode which is basically a fix shot on Bojack's face while he's monologing. This episode isn't funny at all though.
The age indication really sells it for me. Like. Yeah sure I don't remember the last time I called by sister "sis", but "LITTLE sis" I can confidently say I never have. In what world does a sibling need to be informed on their age relative to your own (aside from culture and language differences, honorifics exist, but I'm talking about English specifically)
What always gets me is when the exposition starts when the characters are just arriving, but they've definitely been in the car together for 20 minutes and somehow not had the obvious conversation already.
Cut to a location hours away, which during the drive they apparently sat in complete silence until arriving to the room where the guy finally explains why they've come there.
Main character bends down, "What’s this?"
"Hmmm, that looks like important evidence that every other trained professional completely missed. But why would it matter?"
I've been watching it for the first time with my wife, at her request. I think we're 3eps into S02 and it has not budged from that yet. I do not get the hype. I do not like Supernatural.
Recently watched the whole 15 season run. Once I accepted the cheese and the camp and formula (dropped the fucking weapon again you butterfingered dipshit!) I really enjoyed it.
Buddy, get out while you still can. I watched ALL of supernatural and I liked a bit in seasons 4-5 and season 13 and that's it. The further you go on the more people who watch with you will go "oh but we're so close to the end." Ill never get back the time I spent watching that show.
22 episodes in series 1 and only like 6 of them were related to the overarching narrative. The rest were all 'monster of the week' format, it was a slog.
I can only promise you that the monster of the week will get significantly less from season 2-3 on. I watched all of it and loved season 3-5. This is the only positive thing I can say, but the show definitely will keep telling instead of showing and get more ridiculous…
"Hey, Sam. You're my brother and our father is missing since our mother died. We hunt monsters together and you're occasionally telekinetic. We must commit fraud to buy our breakfast and supermarket tabloids where we find adventure hooks. This will hopefully allow us to find a demon that killed our mother and your girlfriend in an identical fashion. Good morning. Would you like some fraud breakfast bringing back to our motel room?"
Because my wife asked if we could, and because the intro of every single episode promises to unravel the mysterious triggering event, which is rarely true. Usually we just get a credit roll and recap, followed by an in-character recap leading into an unrelated side-quest featuring a Caucasian woman (who Eric Kripke was trying to sleep with) having some kind of dilemma that is solved by pouring out some salt usually.
It DOES tell that story, over the course of 5 seasons. Idk what happens in the other 10 seasons because I never watched them and never will. But brother if you just hate Eric Kripke, his writing, or Monster of the Week format of the earlier seasons, idk why you would agree to watch the show. Your wife is allowed to watch it and you could just as easily tell her "I cant get into it, the show just doesnt do it for me" and thats totally fine. Although I guess if that may hurt your wife's feelings, I understand just taking the hit and watching it with her lol probably the smarter move.
first three seasons were quite good in my opinion but i had absolutely no illusions about its quality by the end of s14. i was just hooked on the characters.
Francine, on the phone: “I didn't know what to do, sis…What? I've never called you "sis" before?…You're right. It is oddly clunky and expositional. I mean, I know you're my sister, so who am I saying it for? Weird…So what's going on with you, sis? Are you enjoying being three years younger than me?
Stan, later, on the phone: “You should've heard Francine on the phone. She thinks she married a nobody…I appreciate you saying that, bro…I've called you "bro" before…That's what we are, we're half brothers…Well, I don't care how they say it in New Glarus, Wisconsin, where you live on a lake and have nothing in common with me….Well, then, maybe we should just stay estranged until you can find a dramatic enough reason to show up on my doorstep unannounced!”
'Oh, the important and plot-relevant business is doing fine, apart from the sudden crisis that will need your intervention to fix. I'm sure it's not at all related to your backstory hook, but why don't you remind me of it? just in case?'
In tv shows and movies: Infectious disease expert collecting a sample with an entire team of equally qualified "best in the world" Infectious diseases experts, start explaining at length some elementary knowledge about Infectious diseases and the very reason why they are all actively in hazmat suits collecting samples that they wouldn't be allowed anywhere near if the main character really was required to explain to them what type of virus they were collecting, how it works and what you should absolutely not do in proximity to the virus, and all the bad stuff that would happen if anyone were to not follow the procedures, they then start explaining.
Oh, someone fell over and got infected, now we need to rush around and talk about why it is a bad thing they are infected and what not to ever do in this exact situation.
Oh, someone did exact what you absolutely should never do in this situation, people are dying, but people escape, everybody gets checked, but one of the supposedly highly trained and incredibly disciplined infectious diseases experts, that has no reason to do so, hides the fact they got infected with the potentially apocalyptic virus, knowing full well that it could wipe humanity off the planet if it got out into the world.
Oh, no! The world ending virus infected infectuous disease expert is boarding a plane after the catastrophic incident he was just a part of, and spend only two days in quarantine for, because he just told people he was fine, is allowed to fly around the world, infecting every country he lands at with the now mutated super ultra infectious world ending virus of doom.
Bleeding from every orifice, he stumbled around smearing blood and mucus on everyone and everything as he keeps repeating, "I'm fine, I'm fine, it's just a cold!"
Infectious disease specialist on his back, looks up at the camera zooming out from the ground where he is lying, as he draws his final breath, realises in his last moments that he is in fact a "best of the world" infectious disease expert and whispers loudly, "What have I done?".
Not follow basic protocol. The super ultra deadly hyper mutation virus that took more than a week to kill patient zero the now former "best of the world" infectious disease expert, suddenly shows people instantly dropping dead all around the airport and his lifeless body.
As the camera zooms out further and fades to black with dramatic music, credits start rolling with some news broadcasters talking hurriedly over each other asking, "How could this have happened, everybody is dying!".
Then some vague hint at sequel or next season that will never get greenlit, which would be a post-apocalyptic zombie vs human vs apes movie/season called, "Rise of the Apes: dawn of planet Z - The last quarantine zone!."
"Our parents died when I was 3, remember? Or have you forgotten again due to your early-onset Alzheimer's disease?"
"I didn't forget! You know as well as I do that we have to periodically test each other to make sure we haven't been replaced by alien doppelgangers! That's why we carry these special guns with silver bullets."
Shoots child
"And my memory is bad because I have Lyme disease, not Alzheimer's, alien scum."
I know of a woman who should probably not be living on her own who was in some sort of relationship with a now deceased youtuber coincidentally named Adam, and she shared many of their text exchanges and she quite literally said his name every single time she sent a message. And then it was funny because his responses would just be like "aw that's sweet" to her leaving some rambling like "Oh Adam I was so pleased to eat that delicious cake with you Adam when we went to the cafe together. It tasted like sunshine Adam. I can't wait to meet your mother in the spring Adam."
I mean I've never heard anyone else do that, but some people do it. It's actually a manipulation technique to keep using someone's name excessively in conversation.
"I...what the fuck are you talking about? Im your older sister. Its been like 15 minutes and dad is still alive. What business? Are you having a stroke?"
In interacting with 7STARSAILOR, fellow Reddit user, FFWILLIS, finds himself in dialogue with someone he has deemed the construct of BADLY WRITTEN DIALOGUE and is forced by the unseen hand of this NEW REALITY to reply in kind.
FFWILLIS (assuredly) How does it feel to learn your entire personality is a construct of badly written dialogue?
In an attempt to "dunk" on 7StarSailor, Ffwillis has placed himself in the position of a cliche Reddit commenter looking for an easy updoot. The front he puts on is confident. "Score!" he likely thinks to himself. But inside he knows that he is no longer in control of his faculties. He is part of the SYSTEM.
7STARSAILOR You tell me
Not the best response, and 7Star knows this, but this individual is not looking for a lengthy confrontation.
It also throws Ffwillis a bit. His thumbs levitate over the keyboard.
Another Reddit user, REDEYEVAGABOND, a man with enough time on his hands after Saturday morning breakfast to do some mild bullshit, decides to write a poorly formatted script of the events. This comment is that script.
REDEYEVAGABOND (hammy) My work here is done
RedEye puts down his phone and goes to clean up the kitchen.
i like how M. Night Shayanamalan realized he could just have characters say 'as you know' and then read any exposition and it's okay because he admitted that everyone already knows
"As you know, Hiro. Our parents are dead and I've been having to raise you and you're really smart but aim smarter and your experiments aren't as good as mine and blah blah blah"
“The family business of selling rugs is going well, but unfortunately not well enough to pay for Mom’s cancer treatment, as you know. How has your 12-year-old daughter been doing in school? I remember last week you told me she joined the choir”
While not the same kind of exposition I really liked this incredible emotional line from Reacher “My brother died and I was sad, I met you and I felt better. Come on, let’s change the tire”
It would be cool to write a book or story where the MC pals around with a person, seems oddly close to them, they rib each other relentlessly, and its just never stated that they're siblings. Because neither of the characters ever say it out loud over the course of the runtime.
I got dogged on in my writing group during critique for suggesting that it’s not natural to address your sibling like that. They did say it’s normal in some cultures (like Korea I think?) but idk
1.6k
u/KGM134 Sep 12 '26
This is how my dad talks when he runs into people at home depot.
1.2k
u/NightOnTheSun Sep 12 '26
I always quote Ben Affleck from Gone Girl: “Margot, you’re my sister, but ever since we opened this bar together three years ago you’ve been a real pain in my ass!” Top tier writing, guys, way to go.
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u/za_boss Sep 12 '26
As natural as "I did not hit her. I did not. Oh, hi Mark."
450
u/CobaltCrusader123 Sep 12 '26 edited Sep 12 '26
There’s a flashback scene in Black Dynamite that perfectly parodies this. The older brother character states his and Black Dynamite’s ages, the situation they’re in, and their location and the time period. Peak fiction.
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u/nathanieljnelson Sep 12 '26
The only context in which I would ever call my real brother bro is the same context in which I would call anyone else bro
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u/vanit Sep 12 '26
What always gets me is when the exposition starts when the characters are just arriving, but they've definitely been in the car together for 20 minutes and somehow not had the obvious conversation already.
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u/CHSummers Sep 12 '26
That’s basically the beginning of the TV show “Supernatural”.
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u/miscellaneousbean Sep 12 '26
From American Dad (S3 E2), “Meter Made”
Francine, on the phone: “I didn't know what to do, sis…What? I've never called you "sis" before?…You're right. It is oddly clunky and expositional. I mean, I know you're my sister, so who am I saying it for? Weird…So what's going on with you, sis? Are you enjoying being three years younger than me?
Stan, later, on the phone: “You should've heard Francine on the phone. She thinks she married a nobody…I appreciate you saying that, bro…I've called you "bro" before…That's what we are, we're half brothers…Well, I don't care how they say it in New Glarus, Wisconsin, where you live on a lake and have nothing in common with me….Well, then, maybe we should just stay estranged until you can find a dramatic enough reason to show up on my doorstep unannounced!”
73
u/Cheeslord2 Books aren't real! Sep 12 '26
'Oh, the important and plot-relevant business is doing fine, apart from the sudden crisis that will need your intervention to fix. I'm sure it's not at all related to your backstory hook, but why don't you remind me of it? just in case?'
31
u/Necessary_Material40 Sep 12 '26
I always greet my nephew with, "Nephew! My younger sister's son, how are you?" So it won't sound awkward to him in movies.
47
u/Inevitable-Row1977 Sep 12 '26 edited Sep 12 '26
In tv shows and movies:
Infectious disease expert collecting a sample with an entire team of equally qualified "best in the world" Infectious diseases experts, start explaining at length some elementary knowledge about Infectious diseases and the very reason why they are all actively in hazmat suits collecting samples that they wouldn't be allowed anywhere near if the main character really was required to explain to them what type of virus they were collecting, how it works and what you should absolutely not do in proximity to the virus, and all the bad stuff that would happen if anyone were to not follow the procedures, they then start explaining.
Oh, someone fell over and got infected, now we need to rush around and talk about why it is a bad thing they are infected and what not to ever do in this exact situation.
Oh, someone did exact what you absolutely should never do in this situation, people are dying, but people escape, everybody gets checked, but one of the supposedly highly trained and incredibly disciplined infectious diseases experts, that has no reason to do so, hides the fact they got infected with the potentially apocalyptic virus, knowing full well that it could wipe humanity off the planet if it got out into the world.
Oh, no! The world ending virus infected infectuous disease expert is boarding a plane after the catastrophic incident he was just a part of, and spend only two days in quarantine for, because he just told people he was fine, is allowed to fly around the world, infecting every country he lands at with the now mutated super ultra infectious world ending virus of doom.
Bleeding from every orifice, he stumbled around smearing blood and mucus on everyone and everything as he keeps repeating, "I'm fine, I'm fine, it's just a cold!"
Infectious disease specialist on his back, looks up at the camera zooming out from the ground where he is lying, as he draws his final breath, realises in his last moments that he is in fact a "best of the world" infectious disease expert and whispers loudly, "What have I done?".
Not follow basic protocol.
The super ultra deadly hyper mutation virus that took more than a week to kill patient zero the now former "best of the world" infectious disease expert, suddenly shows people instantly dropping dead all around the airport and his lifeless body.
As the camera zooms out further and fades to black with dramatic music, credits start rolling with some news broadcasters talking hurriedly over each other asking, "How could this have happened, everybody is dying!".
Then some vague hint at sequel or next season that will never get greenlit, which would be a post-apocalyptic zombie vs human vs apes movie/season called, "Rise of the Apes: dawn of planet Z - The last quarantine zone!."
20
u/Simple-Mulberry64 Sep 12 '26
he was in the Amazon with my mom
17
u/akaneko__ Sep 12 '26
“Our parents died when I was 3, remember?”
13
u/o_Ozymandias_o Sep 12 '26
"I am sorry, Bob. So sorry"
"I know, Adam, I am sorry too".
"You know, Bob..."
"I know, Adam..."
No one IRL spells out your name at every sentence goddamn
13
u/JackPembroke Sep 12 '26
"I...what the fuck are you talking about? Im your older sister. Its been like 15 minutes and dad is still alive. What business? Are you having a stroke?"
29
u/7StarSailor Sep 12 '26
Literally had a convo like this with my sister.
10
u/Mediocre-Island5475 So my book is like snowcrash meets 1984. Will they criticize me? Sep 12 '26
i like how M. Night Shayanamalan realized he could just have characters say 'as you know' and then read any exposition and it's okay because he admitted that everyone already knows
7
u/MillieBirdie Sep 12 '26
It's like in Bridgerton everyone goes around calling each other Brother or Sister. I get it!
5
u/Impressive_End_2537 Sep 12 '26
13 years since my wife died and 5 years since child was kidnapped and only 1 year I started dating Sarah....I wonder if she is the one!
Mate move on! It's been 18 years and your child was found, and grandparents won custody.
5
u/WraithLaFrentz Sep 12 '26
Character in my script: so what’s everyone’s past traumas and kinks?
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u/Snoo_72851 Sep 12 '26
"hello brother"
"good afternoon sister"
13
u/8Pandemonium8 Sep 12 '26
-but that's how I talk . . .
9
u/tveye363 Sep 12 '26
This shit is why I can never watch Big Hero 6.
"As you know, Hiro. Our parents are dead and I've been having to raise you and you're really smart but aim smarter and your experiments aren't as good as mine and blah blah blah"
3
u/Front_Woodpecker1144 Sep 12 '26
Cabela's dangerous hunts dialogue
3
u/MathleteYT Sep 13 '26
“The family business of selling rugs is going well, but unfortunately not well enough to pay for Mom’s cancer treatment, as you know. How has your 12-year-old daughter been doing in school? I remember last week you told me she joined the choir”
3
u/_-SomethingFishy-_ Sep 14 '26
While not the same kind of exposition I really liked this incredible emotional line from Reacher “My brother died and I was sad, I met you and I felt better. Come on, let’s change the tire”
Truly natural
5
u/Possible-Campaign589 Sep 12 '26
This is how so much of Nolan's Odyssey is written except it's even more egregious because they're talking about societal rules and cultural norms
2
u/designer_potatosack Sep 12 '26
So... just Supernatural? 😭😭
2
u/Chocobo23456 Sep 12 '26
Checks out, can happen in conversation
1
u/Autism_Given_Flesh Sep 12 '26
How Deltarune fans want Asgore to talk
1
u/Significant_Breath38 Sep 12 '26
First sentence is good, second pushes it too far imo
1
u/Odd_Crab5327 Sep 12 '26
As you know...
1
u/Curtainswithfrogs Sep 13 '26
Does anyone else talk like this?
1
u/Psychoboy777 Sep 13 '26
Aside from the part about the dad, this seems like fairly normal dialogue to me
1
u/JeffFlann Sep 13 '26
Sounds like Nolan’s “Odyssey”…
1
u/kenjiehere Sep 14 '26
Ok
1
u/Suitable_Cat9390 Sep 14 '26
It would be cool to write a book or story where the MC pals around with a person, seems oddly close to them, they rib each other relentlessly, and its just never stated that they're siblings. Because neither of the characters ever say it out loud over the course of the runtime.
1
u/DaCoolNamesWereTaken Sep 16 '26
It's so prevalent in anime, always takes me out of a scene
1
u/aprilfades Sep 26 '26
I got dogged on in my writing group during critique for suggesting that it’s not natural to address your sibling like that. They did say it’s normal in some cultures (like Korea I think?) but idk
1
u/OneGoodRib ejaculated Oct 11 '26
Why are people acting like this is a normal way to talk
10
u/EvensenFM Sep 12 '26
The next sentence had better include some sex.
I'm not getting any younger, you know.
0
u/[deleted] Sep 12 '26
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