Also called Gru presentation meme
Explain a plan in three steps, then repeat the disastrous third step while Gru notices what's wrong.
Gru presents a plan confidently until he looks back at his own board. The first two panels build confidence; the third reveals a flaw; the fourth holds that same flaw in place long enough for him to notice it.
This format suits plans that defeat their own purpose. An attempt to save time creates more work, or a shortcut makes the original task harder. The last panel is a double take, rather than a fourth step.
The scene comes from Despicable Me, released in 2010. Gru presents his plan to steal the moon and discovers an unwanted drawing among his presentation pages. [1]
Know Your Meme documents a four-panel edit posted to Reddit on March 9, 2018. The meme replaces the presentation's pages but keeps Gru's startled look back at the board. [1]
Write your ending first: what unexpected result ruins the plan? Work backward to two reasonable steps that lead to it. That keeps the third panel connected to the setup.
Copy the third caption into the fourth board without changing it. Gru's look supplies the new information: he has finally understood the sentence he just presented.
Original captions to try with this template.
The time spent on the shortcut wipes out the time it was supposed to save.
The first two steps promise a refreshed afternoon. The clock in the third caption ends that plan.
The preparation consumes the session it was supposed to help. Repeating the last line gives the student time to realize it.
References for this template. Example captions are original.
The Despicable Me scene and dated Reddit versions from March 2018.
