retconning
Altering established history
Retconning is altering previously established facts in a fictional narrative to accommodate new storylines or fix continuity problems.
From "retroactive continuity"—the practice of revising a story's past rather than its future.
Comic books retcon character deaths; soap operas retcon secret relatives: The writers retconned his entire backstory.
The term has spread beyond fiction to describe any after-the-fact revision of history: He's retconning his own statements to seem prescient.
Accepted authoritative works
- timelineOrdered display of events
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
- universeComplete system or domain
mythos · chronology · prequel · sequel · worldbuilding · franchise · multiverse · crossover
Character's past narrative
- flashbackInvoluntary past memory
- revealMake something visible
- twistRotating motion or surprise
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
foreshadowing · inconsistency · rewrite · parentage · resurrection · time-travel
Effective from a past date
- amendmentChange to official text
- alterationAct of modifying
- modificationAct of altering something
- adjustmentAlteration to improve fit
correction · overhaul · reinterpretation · reframing · undo · erasure · handwave · explanation
canon
Accepted authoritative works
- timelineOrdered display of events
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
universe · mythos · chronology · prequel · sequel · worldbuilding · franchise · multiverse · crossover · established
backstory
Character's past narrative
motivation · foreshadowing · inconsistency · rewrite · parentage · resurrection · time-travel
retroactive
Effective from a past date
- amendmentChange to official text
- alterationAct of modifying
- modificationAct of altering something
adjustment · correction · overhaul · reinterpretation · reframing · undo · erasure · handwave · explanation · justification