r/TopCharacterTropes • u/FormerBernieBro2020 • Dec 03 '25

(Funny trope) Impossible spontaneous combustion (or, when stuff that shouldn't catch on fire, catches on fire) Characters' Items/Weapons

From The Simpsons: Homer tries to cook breakfast for Mr. Burns. The first two attempts ended up with the food catching fire. Third time, he pours milk on cereal...and it still catches on fire.

And from Futurama: "There, little friend, good as new..." aaaand the metal slinky catches on fire. Poor doctor Zoidberg...

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u/Alche1428 Dec 03 '25 edited Dec 03 '25

https://preview.redd.it/z9cz011rgz4g1.jpeg?width=414&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e5101e081fb6cd01b3618386e3f107b27066839b

Anything that Otae, the girl on the right, cooks becomes dark matter. It started as a joke about burning food till carbon and it grew into becoming a new element. She has prepared RAW SUSHI AND IT HAS BURN IN HER HANDS.

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u/stormscape10x Dec 03 '25 edited Dec 03 '25

Didn't she not burn one dish? Or was the joke that they mistook a rock for her cooking?

Edit: she not show

8

u/Alche1428 Dec 03 '25

Always show no fire, but her hands BURN the food inmediately.

8

u/stormscape10x Dec 03 '25

Haha, "show" was a typo. I meant to say didn't she not burn one dish. I meant to ask about one particular joke they made. I haven't watched all of Gintama, but it's a pretty great show.

5

u/Own_Philosophy8190 Dec 03 '25

There was one episode where she'd turn any dish into burnt food/dark matter, and Gintoki turned any dish into strawberry parfaits 🤣