Which Fanfiction Tropes Pair With 'Last But Not The Least' Themes?

When I stumble on the phrase 'last but not the least' at the tail end of a novel, my brain does a tiny double-take — it's clearly riffing on the old idiom 'last but not least', and in fiction that tweak often signals something deliberate. Usually it means the final element — a character, a revelation, a scene — deserves as much weight as everything that came before. In practice that could be a final paragraph that reframes the whole book, an epilogue that hands a quiet consolation, or a sudden twist that slaps new meaning on earlier chapters. For me, this kind of ending works like the last chord in a song: it can be a satisfying resolution, a melancholic echo, or an open-ended beat that keeps ringing. I’ve seen it in moments where an apparently minor character gets the last word, or when the narrator drops a line that reframes the plot, like the final lines of 'The Great Gatsby' which turn the story into a meditation rather than just an event. It’s also common in translations or informal author notes where phrasing slips — so sometimes the phrasing is clunky but the intent is clear: don’t ignore this last bit. If you’re reading and you hit that phrase, linger. Reread the last paragraph, check for subtle callbacks, and consider whether the author wanted the final moment to sit alongside the climax instead of beneath it. Sometimes it’s the smallest detail that turns out to be the heart of the book, and that’s the exact feeling the phrase wants you to carry out the door.

I like to think of scripts as a kind of shorthand for conversation between filmmakers, so when you want to signal 'last but not the least' you usually pick a clear, performative marker rather than the literal phrase. In dialogue you might have a character actually say it for comedic or rhetorical effect — written as normal dialogue with a parenthetical like (beat) or (smiling) to land the tone. In stage directions and beat lists, writers often use words like FINALLY, LAST BEAT, or END MONTAGE in caps so the production team sees the structural cue immediately. For credits and cast listings the industry treats the final billing differently: you’ll often see an 'and' or 'with' credit before a name to give that last slot weight. I’ve scribbled scripts where I used a SUPER: FINALLY or a TITLE CARD that reads 'Last, but not least' to make a moment feel ceremonious — it’s less about the exact phrase and more about timing, camera hold, and the music swell. When in doubt, I prefer 'finally' or 'and finally' in the action lines; it’s clear, simple, and leaves room for the director to underline importance with a close-up or a sting of score.

It’s funny—I went down a little rabbit hole on this one because that exact line, 'last but not the least', is a slightly unusual phrasing (most people say 'last but not least'), and that makes tracking samples a bit messy. I couldn’t find a neat, definitive list of mainstream songs that explicitly sample that exact wording, but I did notice two useful things: producers often sample spoken-word lines from TV, radio, and old records, and the phrase commonly appears in skits or DJ drops rather than as a famous, credited sample. If you want to find concrete examples, I’d search both 'last but not least' and 'last but not the least' on WhoSampled, Genius, and Discogs, and try short audio searches with Shazam or SoundHound. Also check mixtape-era hip-hop skits and vinyl breaks—those are where tiny spoken phrases get recycled a lot. If you want, send me a clip or a timestamp from a song you have in mind and I’ll dig into liner notes and sample databases with you.

When I'm skimming critiques on my lunch break and I see reviewers drop 'last but not the least' before a point, it usually reads like a little flag saying, 'Pay attention here.' To me it's a rhetorical cue: after walking readers through several observations, the reviewer wants to make sure the final thought lands with the proper weight. Sometimes it's sincere—saving the most important praise or the sharpest criticism for the end. Other times it's stylistic, a habit carried over from formal writing or oral rhetoric that signals closure. I also notice context matters. In casual blogs it can soften a blow—keeping tone friendly when a reviewer calls out flaws. In translated pieces, it can be a literal carryover from another language where the phrase is more common. And yes, sometimes it's filler or an affectation, especially when used repeatedly. Still, when I read thoughtful critiques, that closing line often ties themes together, leaves me with a memorable angle, or nudges me toward trying whatever's being reviewed next.

Honestly, whenever I see merch labeled with a 'last but not the least' vibe, I think of pieces that celebrate the underdog or the final member of a group—those quirky, slightly niche designs that feel like a secret handshake for true fans. For me that usually shows up as enamel pins and keychains: tiny, affordable, and perfect for highlighting a less-popular character or an overlooked motif from a series. I’ve also seen it on postcard-sized art prints, sticker sheets, and limited-run zines that spotlight side characters. A lot of these are sold by indie artists at conventions or on Etsy, and they often come in small batches so they feel special. If you want to hunt them down, try scrolling convention artist alley listings, following comic artists on social media, or checking Kickstarter for mini-collections. I keep a corkboard next to my desk filled with those exact little pieces—every time I glance at it, that underdog energy makes the day better.

I still smile when that phrase shows up at the end of a list — it's like a little theatrical bow. For me, 'last but not least' crept into pop culture because it does so much work in three little words: it signals closure, gives a compliment, and keeps the rhythm of speech. I first noticed it in cheesy award-show moments and variety acts where a host wants to make sure nobody feels forgotten, and from there it slid into newspapers, radio, and eventually television as a reliable rhetorical flourish. Language-wise, it’s a tidy descendant of older English turns like 'not the least,' which people have used for centuries to insist something is important despite being mentioned at the end. Performers and speakers loved the compact drama of the phrase, so it spread quickly through entertainment — vaudeville, early radio, and movie scripts — and then into everyday writing. As mass media expanded, so did the phrase: magazines, listicles, and later blogs used it to wrap up pieces neatly. Online, it mutated into punchlines and memes, sometimes deliberately miswritten as 'last but not the least' or exaggerated for comedic effect. I still use it in posts when I want to give the final item a little spotlight — it’s cozy, a bit theatrical, and strangely democratic in tone.

I've noticed that a tiny phrase can change the flavor of a blurb more than you'd expect. When I see 'last but not the least' in a book blurb, my brain trips a little because the common idiom is 'last but not least.' That extra 'the' makes the line sound slightly off-kilter, and for readers who skim quickly, it can interrupt the rhythm you were building. Still, the bigger question is whether that sentiment — calling attention to a final point — helps the blurb do its job. In practice, the effect depends on tone and audience. For a playful YA blurb, the casual phrasing might feel chatty and human; for a literary novel, a slip like that can undermine authority. If you want emphasis without sounding clichéd, try structural options: put the highlight at the top as a hook, use italics or a dash for punch, or reword to something like 'most importantly' or 'above all.' Small edits can preserve urgency while sounding polished. Personally, I lean toward tightening language. A blurb needs clarity and momentum in a handful of sentences. If you keep the spirit of 'don't miss this' but choose stronger, cleaner phrasing, readers will be more likely to finish the blurb and click through — and that feels way better than risking a stumble over a single word.

Sometimes I notice that chapter titles lean into familiar sayings, and 'last but not the least' is one of those choices that feels both friendly and theatrical. When I read a book or manga and hit a chapter with that phrase, it signals a wink from the author — like they’re saying, "don’t sleep on this final piece." For me it works on a few levels: it promises importance (the last thing matters), it softens arrogance (humble bragging), and it can be playful or ironic depending on context. I’ve seen it used in translations where the original language had a similar idiom, and translators keep the phrase for rhythm and recognition. It also helps with pacing — readers expect a small culmination or a memorable punch at the end of a list or arc. When I’m jotting notes while reading, that chapter title makes me pause and look for the hidden emphasis, and sometimes it even sets me up to share a quote online. It’s such a small header but it pulls focus, and I love that tiny theatricality in otherwise quiet pages.