The other day I felt like warmed-over crap. So I kicked back and read ^{1 2 3} 'til the headache won, and I couldn't think anymore. Consciousness failing, I turned on the tube. That day's theme seemed to be:

1. Bad guy surreptitiously cuts brake line on victim's car
2. Victim drives car down steep, curvy, mountainous road
3. Victim suddenly realizes that car's brakes don't work
4. Victim repeatedly pumps brake pedal, pumping harder each time
5. Car, out-of-control, crashes through guardrail and plunges over side of mountain

Time Out!

Let's think about that scene.

• Did the bad guy cut brake lines to front brakes AND rear brakes? On today's cars (built since the mid-60s), the front and rear brakes are on separate, independent hydraulic systems – to prevent said scenario. Nah! Too much trouble.
  
• Did the victim not notice a problem with the brakes PRIOR TO speeding down the mountain road? Imagine getting into your car and driving to a steep, curvy, mountainous road. You have to drive from your point of origin to the steep, curvy, mountainous road before you can drive down the steep, curvy, mountainous road.
  
  Wouldn't you be likely to notice a problem with the brakes as you drive from point A to the place where you enter the steep, curvy, mountainous road? I can't speak for everyone, but...
  • when I start the car I engage the brake pedal
  • when I shift into gear, I press down on the brake (pedal)
  • before turning on to the steep, curvy, mountainous road I stop at the stop sign or traffic signal; said stopping requires, um, placing foot on brake pedal and pressing with foot
    

Even with a headache, I tend to over-think these things. Still .... couldn't the shows' writers make an effort to introduce the slightest hint of reality into the fantasy?

Or do those writers feel compelled to lazily resort to using a deus ex machina?⁴ I guess I should toss out the tube and stick to reading.