Dangler (plot device)
Encyclopedia
Dangler is a literary term meaning plot-lines that are metaphorically left to "dangle" or "hang". A dangler, or dangling plotline, is a plot device
in fiction where a plotline is forgotten, phased out and eventually dropped, thus a resolution is never achieved. Although dangling plot-lines can occur in all forms of media, they typically appear in comic books, movies and book sequels, where the original writer or creative team can be replaced.
Editorial mandate can also force a writer to drop a building plot-line due to fan backlash or the editor's lack of interest to pursue such a plot.
, when a creative team fears that their show may not be picked up for another season, they will end the season finale
with a cliffhanger
in order to conjure a fan outcry and interest to continue the series. When the series is not picked up for another season, the cliffhanger creates a dangling plot-line. What will usually occur, is that the original writer, fan of the series, or the company who produced the series, will look to another form of media to continue the story. Twin Peaks
was able to resolve some dangling plot-lines due to the release of the theatrical film. Buffy the Vampire Slayer got its own comic book series appropriately named Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight
-- which was written by series creator, Joss Whedon
. In an extremely rare occasion, Futurama
was continued 6 years later through direct-to-DVD films, which eventually led to the resurrection of the series in its original television format.
In comic books, it is a common-practice for writers to resolve their own dangling plot-lines in other comic books within the shared universe
. A good example is Frank Tieri
, who started a Weapon X story in Wolverine
, who then later became the writer of his own Weapon X
series and as the series ended abruptly, was forced to continue some of his side-stories in a mini-series called Weapon X: Days of Future Now. One lingering plotline left a character in limbo from the Weapon X
series until Frank Tieri took reigns of New Excalibur, where he proceeded to close this character's storyline, 5 years later. Chris Claremont
and Warren Ellis
are also known for continuing their own stories throughout other books they write for. In a similar fashion, Mark Miller
has continued the story of an ever-dangling character, Clyde Wyncham
, all throughout his runs on Marvel 1985
, Kick-Ass, Fantastic Four
and Old Man Logan
.
Because of the unsatisfying nature of having a plotline dangle, fans will sometimes take matters into their own hands. One famous example of this, the numerous directors and writers in the Halloween
series each had different directions for their story of Michael Myers
. This left many plot holes and dangling storylines after each movie. Seemingly unconnected, the movies would end with a cliffhanger and continue without absolutely no mention of the previous movie's occurrences. To remedy this mess of a continuity
, Chaos Comics published a comic book series to bridge the gaps between all the movies into one continuous canon
.
Plot device
A plot device is an object or character in a story whose sole purpose is to advance the plot of the story, or alternatively to overcome some difficulty in the plot....
in fiction where a plotline is forgotten, phased out and eventually dropped, thus a resolution is never achieved. Although dangling plot-lines can occur in all forms of media, they typically appear in comic books, movies and book sequels, where the original writer or creative team can be replaced.
Reasons for Danglers
Typically, a writer will pepper their main story with smaller back-stories. It then becomes evident to the reader that these smaller back-stories have the potential to build up into a bigger story and reach a conclusion of some sort.Editorial mandate can also force a writer to drop a building plot-line due to fan backlash or the editor's lack of interest to pursue such a plot.
Examples of Danglers
In televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, when a creative team fears that their show may not be picked up for another season, they will end the season finale
Season finale
A season finale is the final episode of a season of a television program...
with a cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
in order to conjure a fan outcry and interest to continue the series. When the series is not picked up for another season, the cliffhanger creates a dangling plot-line. What will usually occur, is that the original writer, fan of the series, or the company who produced the series, will look to another form of media to continue the story. Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
was able to resolve some dangling plot-lines due to the release of the theatrical film. Buffy the Vampire Slayer got its own comic book series appropriately named Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight is a comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics. The series serves as a canonical continuation of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and follows the events of that show's final televised season. It is produced by Joss Whedon, who wrote the...
-- which was written by series creator, Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...
. In an extremely rare occasion, Futurama
Futurama
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
was continued 6 years later through direct-to-DVD films, which eventually led to the resurrection of the series in its original television format.
In comic books, it is a common-practice for writers to resolve their own dangling plot-lines in other comic books within the shared universe
Shared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
. A good example is Frank Tieri
Frank Tieri (comics)
Frank Tieri is an American comic book writer.-Career:At Marvel Tieri has written New Excalibur, Iron Man, Wolverine , Underworld, a post Avengers Disassembled Hercules mini-series, Wolverine/Darkness, X-Men: Dracula vs...
, who started a Weapon X story in Wolverine
Wolverine (comic book)
Wolverine is a number of Marvel Comics comic book series starring the X-Men member Wolverine.-Publication history:The first Wolverine was a limited series written by Chris Claremont with pencils by Frank Miller, inks by Joe Rubinstein, letters by Tom Orzechowski, and colored by Glynis Wein...
, who then later became the writer of his own Weapon X
Weapon X
Weapon X is a fictional clandestine government genetic research facility project in the Marvel Universe conducted by the Canadian Government's Department K, which turns willing and unwilling beings into living weapons. The project often captures mutants and experiments on them to enhance their...
series and as the series ended abruptly, was forced to continue some of his side-stories in a mini-series called Weapon X: Days of Future Now. One lingering plotline left a character in limbo from the Weapon X
Weapon X
Weapon X is a fictional clandestine government genetic research facility project in the Marvel Universe conducted by the Canadian Government's Department K, which turns willing and unwilling beings into living weapons. The project often captures mutants and experiments on them to enhance their...
series until Frank Tieri took reigns of New Excalibur, where he proceeded to close this character's storyline, 5 years later. Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...
and Warren Ellis
Warren Ellis
Warren Girard Ellis is an English author of comics, novels, and television, who is well-known for sociocultural commentary, both through his online presence and through his writing, which covers transhumanist themes...
are also known for continuing their own stories throughout other books they write for. In a similar fashion, Mark Miller
Mark Miller
Mark Miller may refer to:* Mark Miller , television actor and producer, father of Penelope Ann Miller* Mark Miller , American football quarterback...
has continued the story of an ever-dangling character, Clyde Wyncham
Clyde Wyncham
Clyde Wyncham is a fictional character that has appeared or been referenced in Mark Millar's recent runs of Marvel 1985, Kick-Ass, Fantastic Four and Old Man Logan...
, all throughout his runs on Marvel 1985
Marvel 1985
Marvel 1985 is a six-issue American comic book limited series, published in 2008 by Marvel Comics. It is written by Mark Millar and illustrated by Tommy Lee Edwards.-Plot:Issue 1...
, Kick-Ass, Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
and Old Man Logan
Old Man Logan
Wolverine: Old Man Logan is an eight-issue storyline from the Wolverine ongoing series by writer Mark Millar and artist Steve McNiven, published by Marvel Comics...
.
Because of the unsatisfying nature of having a plotline dangle, fans will sometimes take matters into their own hands. One famous example of this, the numerous directors and writers in the Halloween
Halloween (franchise)
Halloween is an American horror franchise that consists of ten slasher films, novels, and comic books. The franchise focuses on the fictional character of Michael Myers who was committed to a sanitarium as a child for the murder of his older sister, Judith Myers...
series each had different directions for their story of Michael Myers
Michael Myers (Halloween)
Michael Myers is a fictional character from the Halloween series of slasher films. He first appears in John Carpenter's Halloween as a young boy who murders his older sister, then fifteen years later returns home to murder more teenagers...
. This left many plot holes and dangling storylines after each movie. Seemingly unconnected, the movies would end with a cliffhanger and continue without absolutely no mention of the previous movie's occurrences. To remedy this mess of a continuity
Continuity (fiction)
In fiction, continuity is consistency of the characteristics of persons, plot, objects, places and events seen by the reader or viewer over some period of time...
, Chaos Comics published a comic book series to bridge the gaps between all the movies into one continuous canon
Canon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
.
See also
- Back to back film productionBack to back film productionFilming sequels "back to back" refers to the practice of filming two or more movies as one production, reducing costs and time.Trilogies are common in the film industry, particularly in the science fiction, fantasy and adventure genres...
- Plot holePlot holeA plot hole, or plothole, is a gap or inconsistency in a storyline that goes against the flow of logic established by the story's plot, or constitutes a blatant omission of relevant information regarding the plot...
- List of cliffhanger endings
- SubplotSubplotA subplot is a secondary plot strand that is a supporting side story for any story or the main plot. Subplots may connect to main plots, in either time and place or in thematic significance...
- Zeigarnik effect