Trope Talk: Grimdark!

Thanks for pointing out, near the end, that people who have, or have had to, deal with real darkness prefer taking a break from it. I know that - for health reasons - I need to stick generally to happy, funny stories. Terry Pratchett is definitely in my wheelhouse.

I agree that "platonic ideal grimdark" is self-defeating. Undermines some pretty foundational aspects of storytelling, too. I derive the enjoyment from backing off from that extreme a little bit to explore the contrast. A candle in a dark room is brighter than a bonfire at noon. A world seeped in grimdark lets the truly heroic characters shine with a stronger contrast than in a world where everything was kinda cheery to begin with. In this case, we're not rooting for them to "win", we're rooting for them to not be broken. Or at least enjoying the catharsis and release that comes with settling for minor victories.

“In any other year I would had called that ‘unrealistic’”. That’s a pretty sobering grim joke.

I don't blame you, Red. You are right that "grimdark" does NOT equal "realistic." As for its weird appeal? I think that "grimdark" really says less about stories, and more about us humans. We humans...are as crazy and confusing as grimdark.

......CAIAPHAS CAIN, HERO OF THE IMPERIUM!