I'm next in line in the DMV, but this idea is too good not to jot down. I gotta be fast.

"Idea for a new narrative device for sequels,"

I whisper loud and fast into my phone.

"It's called, 'The same thing just happens again.'."

It looks like the person ahead of me is wrapping up. Fuck.

"So basically the idea is, if you want to make a sequel to something that's open and shut, you can't just make an AU. Like Breaking Bad: It would be unsatisfying if they made a sequel where Walter White survived the gunshot wound, and then got up to new shenanigans."

They're walking away, fuck fuck fuck. I'm going to be called any minute. I gotta wrap it up.

"But what if instead, 'the same thing just happens again'? Like, what if some other teacher gets cancer and the same thing happens? Then, the first episode of the sequel can be a quick re-telling of the events of the series with the new cast who, by pure happenstance, do the same thing again. But in the end, new-Walt doesn't get shot and die."

The idea has marinated in your mind, but now the DMV clerk is DEFINITELY waving you up. You acknowledge and start moving slowly, still blatantly whispering into your phone.

"This would be better reserved for stories about breaking a cycle, though. Like Silicon Valley, a show about a revolutionary new startup that ultimately fails under the culture of Silicon Valley, and is completely forgotten to time. The show is explicit about the cyclical nature of startups and venture capitalism. You could DEFINITELY have a sequel where the same thing happens again, but this time, they break the cycle. Well, that isn't really a cycle."

"What are you talking about?" The DMV clerk asks. "Can I take your order?"

You got distracted telling your very good idea to your phone. You're in the verge of something new, for sure.

"Well, Silicon Valley isn't really about a cyclical nature, either. It's just stuck in my head because of how angry I am about computers, and a site called Hacker News," I explain out loud.

I think I said 'I explain out loud' out loud too.

"Okay, but can I take your order?"

You have a cunning plan to escape this. You don't need to be at the DMV.

"No,"

you say, rapidly leaving the store, to continue weaving your idea.

Wait.. Oh no... You had to go to the DMV to order a new catalytic converter, for your catalysts. But you got distracted about some story idea?

You sit down. You fucked up again. You take a new number-- 287??? Last one was 113. This is going to be a long wait.

You take out your new Anbernic RG35XXSP portable gaming device and play some good ol' Metroid: Zero Mission.

... You know what? This gives you an idea for a Metroidvania.

You pull out your phone and start recording,

"Idea for a new Metroidvania mechanic. A sequel which includes the entire first game as a side area, like Pokemon Johto. But it uses your save data from the first, so anything Hollowknight leaves behind in the first game can be gathered by Silksong in the second. You need to do a 0% run in the first game to do a 100% run in the second game. But you can make it indeterminate which comes first and which comes second, so, you can also do it the other way around."

Fuck, order 286 already? You need to hurry this up.