The 'Subverting Expectations' meme rose to prominence as a critique of modern storytelling, specifically targeting the creative choices in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and the final season of Game of Thrones. While creators used the phrase to describe narrative risks that defy audience predictions, the internet—bolstered by YouTube critics like RedLetterMedia—turned it into a sarcastic label for plot twists that sacrifice logic for shock value. The meme typically features images of showrunners or iconic scenes where a long-teased payoff is abruptly discarded. It has since evolved into a general-purpose joke for any situation where a logical progression is abandoned for a confusing or underwhelming 'surprise' outcome.