Mirror Monologue

You talkin' to me?
You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me?
Then who the hell else are you talking… you talking to me?
Well I'm the only one here. Who the fuck do you think you're talking to?
Oh yeah?
OK.

—Taxi Driver (1976)

Basic Information

The mirror monologue is dialogue trope used in TV and Movies where a character talks to their own reflection in a mirror. They could be practicing a speech, such as if they're planning to stand up to a bully or pull a con. However, it's also often used to signify someone who's gone crazy, in which case their reflection will talk back to them.

Sources

Bibliography

1. TV Tropes Wiki

Game and Story Use

• The PCs walk in on an NPC talking to themselves in a mirror. In the real world, this would probably be an innocent pep talk, but the Players are likely to conclude one of four things:
  • They are practicing a lie, con, or intimidation technique. The NPC is up to no good.
  • The NPC is crazy to the point of delusional. They hear their reflection talk back to them. Probably dangerous, probably up to no good.
  • It's a Magic Mirror. It's either sentient itself, contains a bound entity, or functions as a communication portal. The NPC is up to no good, and has some sort of magic or supernatural power to back up that no-goodness.
  • There's an invisible or concealed person in the room, to whom they were really talking. They and the concealed party are up to no good.
• What if the mirror starts talking back to the PC?
  • Perhaps the PC had inadvertently gotten hold of a magic mirror
    • The mirror will give him good advice… at first
  • Or a demonic entity has taken an interest in him and is talking to him via the mirror.
  • Or a non-demonic prankster is playing mind games with him.
  • Or the PC really is cracking up and this is his first clue.
  • Or that this is just a visual way of dramatizing the character trying to resolve an internal debate.
    • Like Shoulder Angels, or a ghostly Mentor
      • (Yes, there are probably tropes for these two concepts, but I'm too lazy to search for them right now)
    • This is also a good time for the "ghostly hand on the shoulder" provided by God, The Devil or, in the case of Jesse Custer, John Wayne.