Deus Ex Machina endings that work

[Sam Or I]

In fantasy and sci-fi what are some Dues Ex Mechina endings that are actually a work well as a story? I can think of very few that I actually enjoyed. Heck the best one that comes to mind does not even need the metaphor; Indaina Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Any others that come to mind?

[Bakustra]

In fantasy and sci-fi what are some Dues Ex Mechina endings that are actually a work well as a story? I can think of very few that I actually enjoyed. Heck the best one that comes to mind does not even need the metaphor; Indaina Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Any others that come to mind?

This relies on a faulty definition of Deus Ex Machina. The force must not be foreshadowed or alluded to in any way within the story. The Ark is established as having supernatural powers when it burns off the Nazi insignia on its transport crate, although foreseeing the angels inside does rely on a familiarity with the Bible, similarly to the classic Greek Deus Ex Machina.

That being said, the only one I can think about that works well offhand is in Watership Down, simply because it makes perfect sense once you read through the next chapter and fits with the general ideas of the work regarding humanity's relationship with the animals of the wild.

[une]

I thought that ending of Marvel Comic's initial Annihilation mini was a literal deus ex machina, but it made perfect and was quite awesome.

Some people have called the ultimate nullifier, from the Fantastic Four's first fight with Galactus, a deus ex machina. I disagree with that, but if it is it was very well done.

[Axiomatic]

Do the Deniable Planetary Defense Craft that the Dwellers use in the Algebraist count? They come out of nowhere, but they aren't actually the ending.

[Zac Naloen]

Do the Deniable Planetary Defense Craft that the Dwellers use in the Algebraist count? They come out of nowhere, but they aren't actually the ending.

I don't think so, throughout most of the book the narrator mentions hidden technologies that the Dwellers claim to have but he doesn't believe truly exist, due to the nature of their visible civilisation.

The narrator just ends up being shown that he was wrong.

[Blayne]

The problem here is that a true deus ex machina ending I think never truly in their true sense work or speak of anything other then bad writing; accepting of course that we agree that a deus ex machina ending is essentially a truck killing the big bad at random story ends.

Endings where literally a god comes down and solves the problem in a setting where gods exist or hinted to exist is only literally a deus ex machina and not figuratively. As a story where the heroes are fighting the big bad who does something that could reasonably piss off a god and even though the heroes have had nothing to do with said god or asked for his help the god comes down and smites the impertinent person makes perfect sense.

So if we agree that a DEM ending is where the story ends thanks to a random out of place and unhinted at event is just well random and probably not ever good writing. Note 'out of place' a story that tries to resemble real life probably would actually fit right in, shit happens or a story that is all about exploring randomness.

edit: Or just look it up in tvtropes, that works too that probably explains my opinion better then I could.

[Shroom Man 777]

Hmmm... the ending in Dodgeball where there was a chest, labeled Deus Ex Machina, full of money that made those Average Joe guys prevent the foreclosure of their gym and allowed them to buy the Globo Gym Purple Cobra's gym. Fuckin' Chuck Norris.

[Ghost Rider]

If you need to go anything for TVtropes other then to point and laugh, you are a fucking idiot. There are better resourses that are far better researched and far less filled with pointless drivel from people who think Wikipedia is too restrictive.

Next, look up what Deus Ex Machina means. It's a popular enough term, and the fact the latin points to what it is. Research it beyond just google and learn why it's disliked, why it doesn't work, and why asking for people to find solving the insolvable problem rarely works except when it's brought for shits and giggles. Shroom's example is something that is concievable to work since the said movie is a comedy.

[Blayne]

What are you talking about. I only went to tvtropes after the fact and didn't change my post, I know was it is, I was answering the question, does it ever work? In its figurative popular and literary usage? No. Its lazy hack writing.

Are there times when quite literally something comes from nowhere or little warning to 'save the day' that it would be alright? Yes but its a thin blurry line and difficult to get right.

[Shroom Man 777]

I thought I was just being obtuse.

The Rohan riders in Two Towers (LOTR) coming in exactly when Gandalf meant to, and saving the day by coming in horses and stabbing the Uruk-hai in the face, does it count as a Deus Ex Machina?

Or, alternatively, in my favorite work of sci-fi Johnny Mnemonic, does the Cyborg Dolphin that sends Keannu Reeves in his crappy virtual-reality escapade to save his brain count as a Deus Ex Machina? How about when the Cyborg Dolphin used its Cyborg Dolphin Powers to kill Cyborg Dolph Lundgren? Hrm... probably not.

Does the Serenity movie's end, with the whole Signal and the transmission of that Alliance atrocity that created the Reavers, and the Operative quitting his mission and ordering his men to stand down when they just cornered Mal and his group count as a DEM?

Those Ancient crapsicles from the Stargate series, the ones that go woosh and disintegrate all the Replicators or Anubis ships, do those count?

[JLTucker]

The Rohan riders in Two Towers (LOTR) coming in exactly when Gandalf meant to, and saving the day by coming in horses and stabbing the Uruk-hai in the face, does it count as a Deus Ex Machina?

Didn't Gandalf tell Aragorn to look for him on the fifth day and to the east?

[Darth Wong]

In fantasy and sci-fi what are some Dues Ex Mechina endings that are actually a work well as a story? I can think of very few that I actually enjoyed. Heck the best one that comes to mind does not even need the metaphor; Indaina Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

That doesn't work for shit. It's a stupid childish ending and the only reason most people don't see it that way is because they're pre-programmed to consider it acceptable by religious indoctrination. The terrible divine intervention ending of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is the one monstrous failing of an otherwise great movie.

If you want to see a Deux Ex Machina done right, watch Dodgeball.

[Bakustra]

In fantasy and sci-fi what are some Dues Ex Mechina endings that are actually a work well as a story? I can think of very few that I actually enjoyed. Heck the best one that comes to mind does not even need the metaphor; Indaina Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

That doesn't work for shit. It's a stupid childish ending and the only reason most people don't see it that way is because they're pre-programmed to consider it acceptable by religious indoctrination. The terrible divine intervention ending of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is the one monstrous failing of an otherwise great movie.

If you want to see a Deux Ex Machina done right, watch Dodgeball.

I find it interesting that people enjoy Deus Ex Machinae in Raiders and in LOTR/the Hobbit. Tolkien himself had a love for the cavalry arriving to save the heroes. I count three times with the eagles in LOTR and the Hobbit, the Rohirrim and Gandalf at Helm's Deep, and the ford at Rivendell, and the army of the dead, though that's entirely offscreen, and Beorn in the Hobbit. Ultimately, like in Indiana Jones, they all happen just in time to pull the heroes out of the fire. The original idea behind the Deus Ex Machina was that, though unforeshadowed in the story itself, the cultural context allows the audience to say "Oh, Zeus" when he pops up to resolve the plot. Similarly, Raiders relies on the biblical stuff about the Ark, though in a very general way, for people to say, "Oh, it's the power of God" when the angels make the Nazi's heads explode. Of course, this is generally unacceptable to a modern audience, much like if, say, Anubis popped up to save some plucky ANZACs in WWII: North Africa: The Movie. Tolkien, of course, was never one to be bound by such mere things as literary conventions and the art of writing a novel. Comedies can get away with a Deus Ex Machina, mainly because it serves as a joke rather than serious drama. Of course, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull ended similarly, with Spalko getting her head exploded by the aliens. Last Crusade at least foreshadowed the healing powers of the Holy Grail somewhat, and Temple of Doom's ending doesn't rely on supernatural powers to save Indy, as far as I can recall.

[Jade Owl]

In fantasy and sci-fi what are some Dues Ex Mechina endings that are actually a work well as a story? I can think of very few that I actually enjoyed. Heck the best one that comes to mind does not even need the metaphor; Indaina Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

That doesn't work for shit. It's a stupid childish ending and the only reason most people don't see it that way is because they're pre-programmed to consider it acceptable by religious indoctrination. The terrible divine intervention ending of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is the one monstrous failing of an otherwise great movie.

Why is it childish for a movie about the search for a supernatural artifact to end with said artifact doing something well… supernatural?

The only way religion comes into the mix is the way the viewer interprets the Ark’s power. If you’re a religious person of the Abrahamic persuasion, then it’s the power of God. If you’re not, then it’s just magic, like in any other fantasy movie.

It’s like complaining because a movie about a bunch of people looking for Aladdin’s Lamp ends with the genie coming out of it a killing the bad guys.

[Jade Owl]

...and Temple of Doom's ending doesn't rely on supernatural powers to save Indy, as far as I can recall.

Not to save Indy, but the Big Bad of the movie was dispatched supernaturally. Those stones didn’t start to glow red hot out of some scientific principle.

[Darth Wong]

In fantasy and sci-fi what are some Dues Ex Mechina endings that are actually a work well as a story? I can think of very few that I actually enjoyed. Heck the best one that comes to mind does not even need the metaphor; Indaina Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

That doesn't work for shit. It's a stupid childish ending and the only reason most people don't see it that way is because they're pre-programmed to consider it acceptable by religious indoctrination. The terrible divine intervention ending of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is the one monstrous failing of an otherwise great movie.

Why is it childish for a movie about the search for a supernatural artifact to end with said artifact doing something well… supernatural?

For one thing, the search for a supernatural artifact does not necessarily mean that the supernatural claims for that artifact must be legitimate. For another, the supernatural intervention in question is an incredibly convenient "save the hero's bacon, kill all the bad guys" kind of intervention.

The only way religion comes into the mix is the way the viewer interprets the Ark’s power. If you’re a religious person of the Abrahamic persuasion, then it’s the power of God. If you’re not, then it’s just magic, like in any other fantasy movie.

No, in most (decent) fantasy movies the magic is not interpreted to be conveniently pro-good guy.

It’s like complaining because a movie about a bunch of people looking for Aladdin’s Lamp ends with the genie coming out of it a killing the bad guys.

That would be a stupid childish ending to a search for Aladdin's lamp.

[Shroom Man 777]

Super-duper nitpick: The Ark wasn't pro-good guy. That's why Indy and the girl had to close their eyes so their faces wouldn't melt.

[Darth Wong]

Super-duper nitpick: The Ark wasn't pro-good guy. That's why Indy and the girl had to close their eyes so their faces wouldn't melt.

I still remember a Mad Magazine spoof making fun of the "close your eyes and you'll be fine" part of the movie.

[NecronLord]

Of course, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull ended similarly, with Spalko getting her head exploded by the aliens. Last Crusade at least foreshadowed the healing powers of the Holy Grail somewhat, and Temple of Doom's ending doesn't rely on supernatural powers to save Indy, as far as I can recall.

The alien killing Spalko annoyed the hell out of me. But it wasn't a Deus Ex Machina. The plot was already resolved; how was she going to make it give her its secrets or anything like that? She was going to haul off the superpowered alien to the Lubyanka and torture them out of it? Functionally, the alien could just go 'No' and leave, and there'd be no real difference in the movie, except it would have wound me up less.

[adam_grif]

The ending was the least of that films concerns. The only thing that made it bearable was the Rifftrax commentary.

[Ghost Rider]

I thought I was just being obtuse.

The Rohan riders in Two Towers (LOTR) coming in exactly when Gandalf meant to, and saving the day by coming in horses and stabbing the Uruk-hai in the face, does it count as a Deus Ex Machina?

Or, alternatively, in my favorite work of sci-fi Johnny Mnemonic, does the Cyborg Dolphin that sends Keannu Reeves in his crappy virtual-reality escapade to save his brain count as a Deus Ex Machina? How about when the Cyborg Dolphin used its Cyborg Dolphin Powers to kill Cyborg Dolph Lundgren? Hrm... probably not.

Does the Serenity movie's end, with the whole Signal and the transmission of that Alliance atrocity that created the Reavers, and the Operative quitting his mission and ordering his men to stand down when they just cornered Mal and his group count as a DEM?

Those Ancient crapsicles from the Stargate series, the ones that go woosh and disintegrate all the Replicators or Anubis ships, do those count?

Ask yourself what is a Deus Ex, and why it happens. Raiders is a Deus ex. We know it's wrath of god shit...but why is fucking closing your eyes saving Indy and Marian alone? No reason other then they were the heroes, and they needed to live.

The operative lays out his feeble philosophy more then a few times and is broken by it. It's perhaps poorly done, but it is not just simply "And Mal and gang are saved because the Operative decided to fuck River.".

Your last one makes no sense given the out of context nature.

Two Towers for whatever you like or dislike....was foreshadowed and in fact the charcter proclaims what he's going to do. It isn't as if he came in on his horse and went "Hur, hur heya guys my staff roxors the orcz!".

Like I said, your Dodgeball example is what a Deus Ex is. Simply a win button so the heroes succeed.

[Shroom Man 777]

So aside from just resolving a problem in a very convenient, handwavy way, it's gotta be also from the blue without any foreshadowing or anything? Gotcha. In that case, I really can't think of many obvious Deus Ex Machinas right now.

Guys: I also didn't like the aliens killing Spalko. She was hot, and was Cate Blanchett, and I don't like it when smexy evil girls get killed in movies.

[Ghost Rider]

So aside from just resolving a problem in a very convenient, handwavy way, it's gotta be also from the blue without any foreshadowing or anything? Gotcha. In that case, I really can't think of many obvious Deus Ex Machinas right now.

It's not just that. It's a resolution that is done by an object(be it a person, power, or whatnot) that is there to resolve an insolveable situation. It's why I called it the "IWIN" button. It appears for that sole reason and nothing else. But you had the idea at first, it's just finding similar ones can be odd, not because the lines blur but you have to find a situation that is incapable of resolution and the solution is found by no other means then an object resolving it...for the sake of resolving the situation.

Thus coming back to Mike's Raider's point. Said Box has the wrath of God and all that shit. Nazis open it, nothing happens. So Jones and his hot lady will be killed in the next 2 minutes. Oh wait, WRATH OF GOD SHIT kills....only the Nazis and Jones/Marion are saved by closing their eyes. And oh yeah, it closes up after doing it's only job to save Dr. Henry Jones Junior and hot lady fuck.

Shit like that Shroom.

[Shroom Man 777]

Aha, so my other examples just weren't as terrible/lazy.

Hm, off hand I can't think of any other example of such a lazy plot device. It seems like most stories and movies avoid that by trying to be well-constructed, sensible and not dumb. What other examples of deus ex machinas are there?

[Zac Naloen]

I always figured Indy telling Marion to close her eyes was because you cannot look upon the power of God or something. And that is why it killed the Nazis. Nothing to do with them being evil, just ignorant.