Change something after it has happened
Retcon is all about altering past events, facts, or details in a story to fit its current direction. It’s a shorthand for “retroactive continuity.” This term is generally associated with American superhero comics as their narratives tend to change over the years. But, it’s increasingly being used in other contexts too, thanks to geek culture’s impact on mainstream pop culture.
Politics is one area where retcon has found its place. Politicians who try to reverse their previous statements or justify past actions in the face of new information are often said to be retconning their history.
Retcons are not just limited to comics or politics, they’re quite common in the entertainment industry as well. Take the case of the introduction of an unexpected sibling in “Friends,” or the sudden reappearance of Michelle Rodriguez’s character in the ‘Fast and Furious’ series, or even Arthur Conan Doyle’s decision to bring back Sherlock Holmes in “The Adventure of the Empty House.”
Looking forward, we can expect the term retcon to become even more popular and widely used. Particularly in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where retconning could prove useful in resolving continuity issues or incorporating beloved characters like Wolverine and Silver Surfer into the storyline.
Example for using ‘Retcon’ in a conversation
Hey, have you watched the latest episode of our favorite show?
Yes, I did! But I noticed something strange.
What’s that?
They introduced a new character out of nowhere. It felt kind of weird.
Oh, that’s called a retcon. They’re retroactively changing the story to fit the current plot.
Ah, I see. So they added this character to make the story more interesting?
Exactly! Sometimes, retcons can help explain things or fix continuity errors.
That makes sense. Thanks for explaining!
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