Trapped In Elevator

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Tropes and genres
Synonym(s)Trapped In Lift, Stuck In An Elevator, Stuck In A Lift
Related tropes/genresElevator Failure, Born in an Elevator, Evil Elevator
See alsoLocked in a Room
Related articles on Fanlore.

Trapped In Elevator is a sub-trope of Elevator Failure, where an elevator (or lift in the UK) stops working and one or more characters are trapped inside the elevator. On TV this is a common excuse for a bottle episode with minimal props and sets.

For the characters trapped inside the elevator, it generally is used for a romance aspect, for examples: to Admit Their Feelings, have a Meaningful Conversation, First Kiss, First Meeting, or it'll be a smutty fic. Sometimes it's pulled as a horror trope or a humor/crack trope, see Born in Elevator which is another common sub-trope of Elevator Failure. The trope can also be used for hurt/comfort if one party has a fear of enclosed spaces or panics easily in a crisis. Ace Attorney fic focusing on Miles Edgeworth often features this trope due to Edgeworth's canonical fear of elevators.

In superhero fanfic (less often in the source material) this trope may lead to the revelation of a character's secret identity; for example, if Clark Kent and Lois Lane are trapped in the lift, and someone is cutting the cables, Clark may have to reveal that he is Superman to facilitate their escape.

Canon Examples

Fanworks

Arrow:

  • Worth It by rashaka, An elevator, Felicity decided, was exactly the wrong place to have this conversation. (Oliver/Felicity)

Marvel Cinematic Universe:

Lois & Clark:

  • The Truth Revealed by Sara Kraft; The morning after Lois and Clark have finally confessed their love to one another, they get stuck in a Daily Planet elevator. Clark decides the situation makes a great opportunity to confess something else. (Lois/Clark)

NCIS;

  • The Office by Leyenn; Come into my office, said the Special Agent to the forensic scientist. (Gibbs/Abby)

Sailor Moon:

  • 11 Hours by FloraOne, Alternative Universe setting in which Usagi and Mamoru are trapped in an elevator together and the author uses it as a chance to lace in social psychological experiments about falling in love, secret pining, and also sex. The entire multi-chapter fic takes place in this elevator.

Resources

References

<references>

  1. ^ Tweet from J. Michael Straczynski, Oct. 12, 2021. Confirms that Katsulas improvised the way in which his lines were delivered.