What is Phlebotinum? Phlebotinum is what makes the world go 'round. TV Tropes explains it as, "Phlebotinum is the magical substance that may be rubbed on almost anything to cause an effect needed by a plot. Some examples: nanotechnology, magic crystal emanations, pixie dust, a sonic screwdriver." The term originates from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which was filled with its share of Phlebotinum--both mystical and technological.
Basically, any time a a TV show, movie, or comic book writes itself into a corner, Phlebotinum is there to make everything all better. Be it a magic amulet or convenient dream sequence. It's basically a deus ex machina or a MacGuffin for MacGuffins. MacGuffins are almost seemly interchangeable circumstances or devices that exist only to move the plot along.
The MacGuffin was an Alfred Hitchcock staple, but TV Tropes takes it one step further. How do you get out of an impossible MacGuffin? An equally awesome MacGuffin, of course. That's Plebotinum. Not just for convenient plot devices, but Phlebotinum get our heroes out of unbelievable jams. Be it grappling hooks, gamma radiation, Electro Magnetic Pulses, nanobots, or duct tape: all helpful in almost any predicament with an endless range of implausible uses.
Check out TV Tropes if you're looking for hours to kill at work.
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