plot hole
Narrative logic flaw
A plot hole is an inconsistency or gap in a story's logic that contradicts established facts or leaves crucial events unexplained.
Characters might know things they couldn't possibly know, or a rule set up earlier gets ignored when convenient.
The movie has a huge plot hole—if she can teleport, why didn't she just escape in the first scene?
Fans often debate whether apparent plot holes are genuine errors or simply unexplained details.
Opposing claims, incompatible together
- inconsistencyLack of steady pattern
- gapUnfilled space between
- errorFault in communication
- discrepancyDifference between expected and actual
oversight · mistake · illogic · incongruity · discontinuity · incoherence · implausibility · absurdity
Mental disorientation or bewilderment
- bewildermentState of being baffled
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- eyerollDismissive facial gesture
facepalm · groan · disappointment · outrage · distraction · annoyance · head-scratching · rant
contradiction
Opposing claims, incompatible together
- inconsistencyLack of steady pattern
- gapUnfilled space between
- errorFault in communication
discrepancy · oversight · mistake · illogic · incongruity · discontinuity · incoherence · implausibility · absurdity · weakness
confusion
Mental disorientation or bewilderment
- bewildermentState of being baffled
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
eyeroll · facepalm · groan · disappointment · outrage · distraction · annoyance · head-scratching · rant · nitpicking
nitpick
Find petty faults
- complaintExpression of discontent
- objectionExpression of disapproval
- critiqueDetailed evaluative analysis
review · takedown · analysis · scrutiny · debunk · rant · teardown · dissection · roast · pedantry
- movie mistakesblooper, continuity error, flub, gaffe, technical error
- storytellingstorytelling, story, tale, narrative, narrator
- film termsfilm, auteur, genre, celluloid, mise-en-scene
- plotplot, storyline, climax, narrative, rising action
- plot elementsplot, protagonist, antagonist, main plot, side plot
- story elementsstory, plot, hero, villain, protagonist
plot holecontinuity
Uninterrupted progression or coherence
coherence · logical consistency · plausibility · verisimilitude
plot holeplot twist
Sudden narrative redirection
twist · foreshadowing · Chekhov's gun · callback · revelation
hole, hollow, loophole, black hole, holey, hollowness, plot twist, subplot, plotline