Deus Ex Machina (which translates as 'God from the Machine') is a term applied to story-telling. It is the introduction of an unexpected element to advance or support the plot. Whilst having a history in Greek and Medieval Story telling it is viewed harshly and negatively by Modern Critiques.
This is because it suggests a lack of imagination, in that a problem in the plot can not be solved by elements already present. it also undermines the characters and elements of the plot, when they reduced to plot devices to advance the story. It also ignores the eternal logic of the world presented, no situation has any threat as the viewer knows that the (equivalent and often used in fairy tales) 'Fairy Godmother' can solve it.
The most devastating effect it can have is on it's viewer and they can feel disorientated and as if the time invested viewing has been waisted. The most obvious example of this was in 1985 with the hit television show 'Dallas'. Where lead character Pam wakes up to find that her dead husband alive and the events of the whole season were merely a dream.
They way to avoid this is to 'set up' these elemnts seemingly unnoticed then to 'pay off' by them saving the plot. The negative consequence of this can be tha the set up sometimes can be unintresting and slow down the pace of the film. This means ussually the intoorduction must allso be interwoven into the plot. However this must be done both logically (to appear seamless) and quickly, otherwise the scene will loose momentum.
They way we have avoided this is by foreshadowing our antagonist throughout the peice, or antagonist will be seen breiflly and then in full durign the cafe' scene. The truth is that any suspision raiised will bbe forgotte whislt focusing on the plot, before bbeign reminded as the antagoonist reapppears.
Tim McNiven
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