Amnesia. It's such a sledgehammer of a tool in a writer's box, and somebody better have a damn good reason for producing a protagonist (especially one relating the story from his or her own first-person perspective) with memory gaps that have no reason for existing except that it makes the "mystery" possible.

It's really annoying to see it popping up so frequently in thriller/suspense fiction aimed at women, because come on, y'all deserve so much better than that. Amnesia is the "...but it was all a dream" of story beginnings. You can use it, but you damn well better know what you're doing or you'll break your own art.

Rant off. Loved the video as always, @ivymuse, and I'd be perfectly happy to see your list excised from most works of fiction as well. :)