When you’re consuming fiction—whether through reading, watching, or listening—do you find one literary trope or theme gets on your nerves more than any other? Is there something so hard to witness that you throw the book down in frustration (or yell at the TV at such a high volume that your neighbors shout back)?
Let me tell you about my pet peeve.
I’ve always found it uncomfortable to witness characters not being believed. It irritates my brain somehow. Let’s say I’m watching Gilmore Girls, and there’s a scene in which Emily doesn’t believe that Lorelai could have made Rory’s dress herself. This doesn’t seem to bother Lorelai; if it did, she’d immediately correct Emily’s assumption. And yet, still, there seems to be an itch deep inside my head that isn’t relieved until the truth finally emerges.
A loop hasn’t been closed until every character knows what I know as a viewer. Eventually, Lorelai explains that she didn’t change her mind about purchasing a dress—the one Emily admires is the one Lorelai sewed herself. Only then can I finally relax.
I don’t know why this happens precisely. And, of course, I don’t think I’m alone in finding these scenes a little uncomfortable—they’re designed to create tension. But, for some reason, I think my discomfort is on one end of the bell curve when it comes to this type of scene, even when it’s a relatively unimportant plot point at stake. (These can be the worst kind because often they’re not resolved at all.)
I don’t know why certain plotlines bother me more than others, but I can’t help but wonder if there might be a deeper reason for my pet peeve—and maybe yours, too.