plot armor
noun
the overly convenient invulnerability of a fictional character
What does plot armor mean?
Plot armor refers to the invulnerability of a fictional character (as in a movie, television show, etc.) to death or failure due to the writer’s (or writers’) need for that character to live/succeed for the purposes of advancing the plot, because the character is beloved, to set up a sequel, etc.
Examples of plot armor
Pike and M’Benga have the sort of plot armor that means we all know going into this that no matter how threatening or scary these creatures may be, both men will make it out alive.
—Lacy Baugher, Den of Geek, 24 July 2025
Clearly, she’s the main character of the series and has the plot armor that comes with it, and she is very cunning, clever, and connected. But June seems to have escaped death one too many times.
—Plot armor by itself isn’t inherently bad. ... That said, what separates good plot armor from bad plot armor is how well masked it is within the story, whether it makes sense in-universe.
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Where does plot armor come from?
Use of plot armor (the term, not the concept) dates back to at least the late aughts.
How is plot armor used?
Often negatively, as when a reader or viewer feels a lack of suspense knowing that a character will make it through a particular scrape for plot reasons, or because their luck in getting out of a jam seems particularly implausible or doesn’t fit with what is known about their skill/personality/etc. However, some people point out that plot armor is an unavoidable part of storytelling:
I’d be curious how anyone could ever craft a story without some kind of plot armour for characters. The writer is in complete control so everything that happens, good or bad is in service to the plot.
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