I was watching a video on buzz feed. A couple was breaking up and the girl introduced her new boyfriend. But instead of fighting, as I expected, the new boyfriend and the old boyfriend became friends. I want to know if there is a word for this. I first thought Role-reversal would suit here, but is there a better word that could be used to describe this situation?
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x19KXDLxh0Q&index=1137&list=UUpko_-a4wgz2u_DgDgd9fqA
Plot twist
A plot twist is a radical change in the expected direction or outcome of the plot of a novel, film, television series, comic, video game, or other work of narrative. It is a common practice in narration used to keep the interest of an audience, usually surprising them with a revelation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plot_twist
In certain contexts this can be shortened to twist.
Shyamalan said in 2006, "I was hesitant . . . because the book has kind of a twist ending."
Consider, coup de théâtre (also spelled coup de theatre)
: a sudden sensational turn in a play; also : a sudden dramatic turn of events or effect
Origin: French coup de théâtre; literally, stroke of theater. First Known Use: 1747 M-W
: French term meaning "stroke of the theatre." A sudden, startling turn of the plot used to effect great surprise. McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama
ironic: "happening in the opposite way to what is expected"
e.g. John expected to dislike Jane's latest boy toy, Jack. Ironically, the two men became close friends.
Consider turnaround.
Definition: a complete reversal of a situation or set of circumstances; a complete change from one way of thinking to an opposite way of thinking, etc.
Example: The writter was sentenced to be hanged for loving the king's daughter. Just before his execution, he composed the poems and so impressed the king that there was a lucky turnaround for the poet and the king gave his daugther to him in marriage.
Let me suggest peripeteia:
a sudden and unexpected change of fortune or reverse of circumstances (especially in a literary work)
(WordNet)
Unforeseen would also cover that nicely.
Another option: an unlikely/surprising/unexpected turn [of events].
… but in an unexpected turn, the new and old boyfriends became friends.
I believe the words you're looking for are situational cognitive dissonance.
Wikipedia gives:
In the field of psychology, cognitive dissonance is the perception of contradictory information and the mental toll of it. Relevant items of information include a person's actions, feelings, ideas, beliefs, values, and things in the environment.
Disappointment describes it perfectly.
