deus ex machina

The phrase "deus ex machina" refers to a plot device commonly used in literature, theater, and film, where a sudden and unexpected event or character is introduced to resolve a seemingly unsolvable problem or conflict. Translated from Latin, it literally means "god from the machine." This term originated in ancient Greek and Roman theater, where it referred to the mechanism used to lower actors playing gods onto the stage to resolve the conflicts of the story. In modern usage, "deus ex machina" often denotes an improbable or contrived resolution that appears to be arbitrary and convenient, lacking in proper development or logical progression in the narrative.