If fictional characters don't stumble across the right people with the absurd props, how does the story advance?

Since what's offending me most right now is that the first ethnic person you find is the right ethnic person you need (implying we're all mystical and interchangeable), that's pretty easy to fix.

If you call what the Native Americans in the area lived in by the right names, you've gone another way to clearing up my irritation. Filming where you're filming is a long-time issue--what can you do about that? But if the Iroquois don't live in teepees (or tipis) then just do them the respect of putting them in the right structures!

That's not that complicated. It's not like the first white person you stumble across usually has the answer to your problem--either you research, or you investigate multiple white people. Why does that change when the culture changes?

Fair point.

I guess I am so lulled by the omnipotence of so many characters, I just expect...and not in a good way...that the 'oh of course you know everything the hero needs instantly' moment is inevitable.

Though this does bring me to a prompt for research that I really shouldn't indulge in right now...how often are the all-knowing, super-useful characters actually women?

Hm.

The issue of inadequate research has become so aggravating that I came to a point long ago where I expect everything to be wrong, on some level, all the time. I am not proud of that giving up.

the 'oh of course you know everything the hero needs instantly' moment is inevitable

But dead end interviews (with non-ethnic types) and research sessions are staples of the genre. However, if you nip into the nearest sushi restaurant, you can find a waiter to bless your sword for the spirit you need to defeat.

Yeah, I can totally see that. Now, I'll never unsee it.

I'm amazed when people know stuff like that. I'm obviously the target, simple-minded audience who spends all my time focusing on the people.

This is usually me, though last night's was so bad that even I caught it. How hard would it have been to have him recognize the name of the scary monster and send them to someone else (old shaman or wise woman who was a friend of his grandmother is a handy trope that comes to mind). But instead the guy who names his car lot "Geronimotors" (with animated "tomahawk" on the sign), is also the guy who gets insulted regarding questions of folklore of his people? And also the guy who happens to know the random mystical ritual? It's like they had at least 3 different Native Americans in mind, but had the same guy play all three of them. Really lazy writing (or whoever is to blame if not the writers).

"I'm sorry, only one guy who could pass for Native American (he's Chinese Persian) showed up to audition. We had better intentions, honest."

how often are the all-knowing, super-useful characters actually women?

Often enough, but they're almost always black. Maybe Native American if the story is set in the Southwest. White women don't know anything. Unless they're super-talented hackers.

This is an instance of recency over everything else, but I think SPN does pretty well with female resources. We did have our mystical black woman, but she managed to own her Sass (yes, capital) enough to become a beloved character from 8 seasons ago, but the second hunter resource was female (third was a black man), and their first hacker resource was a crazy white guy, second is a lesbian neck deep in fandom, so someone we almost know.

And when it comes to interviewing people, the last "witness" in the last ep I watched was a female PhD on a helpful topic.

But that sushi waiter thing was their thing in an otherwise entertaining episode.

White women don't know anything. Unless they're super-talented hackers.

And then they're a quirky's breath away from being complete hotties.

I don't think they need to be any distance from complete hottie anymore.