Unexplained noodle incidents do two things: 1) tell us something about the characters discussing it through how they choose to describe it and respond to hearing about it, and 2) allow the audience to participate in the storytelling by headcanoning about it;

for this reason very few noodle-incident reveals will actually serve to satisfy the audience as much as their own effort to figure it out (a trait shared with horror, where seeing the monster is rarely as scary as not seeing the monster).

Oh, like how paranornal activity 1 was terrifying, but every sequel I saw after that wasn't, because they were no longer dealing with unseen paranormal entities, they were dealing with cultists. I'm not mad about it, you're mad about it!

But yeah, I think the creator of Calvin and Hobbes even said this was why he would never reveal what the noodle incident was.

i was JUST watching that, it was so good

there's really only one Noodle Incident that comes to mind as having had an explanation and it actually paying off, for me: Milo Murphy, The Llama Incident. it's referenced a lot through the episodes, until it's finally actually gone into, and it was indeed a llama incident.

tronja307020 Ha, yeah! An example they gave was the first Alien movie, where the alien was a lot less scary right at the end when you could actually see the whole thing and it was a guy in a rubber suit. And yep, that's why Calvin and Hobbes is the trope-namer for this!

TheMightySra YES it was so good, I'm definitely watching it again. It made so many good points. I particularly liked the bit about Leverage; so many noodle incidents, but also everything they do in the episodes is noodle incidents so it lends even more hilarious legitimacy to the unexplained ones!

Nightsail pffff that sounds amazing!

I don't suppose you're familiar with Milo Murphy? Cartoon by the Phineas and Ferb guys, and Weird Al voices the title character...

No, but will definitely have to look it up now!

(most of what I know about P&F is Perry the Platypus)

well, if I can enable you a little.....

Going the Extra Milo / The Undergrounders | Full Epi...

Yay, I'll check it out soon!<3

same!! i loved the leverage stuff, she's right about it not feeling like you're "missing" those moments while still leaving it open to the audience imagination/interpretation