There's probably a better descriptor but I'm just going to go with "contrived barriers".

What I mean by contrived barriers are items put into a story that many times don't feel natural but were inserted to make the story "harder" or present a "challenge" or to undermine a more easily employed occurrence that would provide resolution or an "answer" earlier than wanted or intended.

As two examples that irked me a bit.

"The Wheel of Time" Series. During the multiple books the main protagonist is separated from others and they have separate storylines that unfold and they could use each others help. There's even a revealed or developed power that would enable the main character to communicate with the other people he's separated with (through dreams if I remember correctly)

But...

They don't communicate with each other because they are moody teenagers and are giving each other the silent treatment which is used to further their separate problems and struggles. Mortal risks are being faced BUT can't have them communicate with each other because "I'm mad at you so I'm NOT going to give you the satisfaction of actually communicating with you." Irked me.

Another more recent.

I'm reading "The Knife of Never-Letting Go" which is book 1 of the "Chaos Walking" trilogy.

It's kinda "meh" but here's what irks me. SPOILERS!

At the beginning the main character is given a book and a map. He can only read just a tiny bit. He immediately meets a girl who can read just fine. Both of them are being chased by enemies and are fleeing for their lives.

Maybe there are answers on the map and the book! Well of course there are.

They even read one little thing on the map informing them to "You must warn them." Warn them about what? they wonder.

So do they search the book for answers?

Of course they don't.

Because the boy is too embarrassed to admit he can't read good and because he's an angsty teenager around the girl (that's the explanation given) they don't read the book or read the map fully until it's too late.

They even have run-ins with other people who have answers.

"What happened in the past?"

"We know but that's a discussion for a later day" (and of course something happens to keep that from happening).

One of the guys chasing them catches up to them and they fight and gain the upper hand.

So of course they demand, "Why are you chasing us?!" and of course the guy tells them right?

No of course not. Not for any good reason but because it's not time yet to reveal they "why".

Another one from the same book. They are on foot and all they have is a knife. Those chasing them are on horseback and have rifles.

So obviously when they overpower one of the men chasing them on horseback and with a rifle they would naturally take the rifle and take the horse.

NOPE.

In the fracas they scare the horse off and the stock of the rifle gets broken so "Oh darn" guess they have to continue on foot and without a gun.

IOW they have the answers to everything with them the whole time and even the ability to access the answers (the girl can read just fine) but there are all these stupid artificial barriers inserted to keep that from happening until the end.

Those things show up in stories all the time and when they are natural ("The Life of Walter Mitty" has a good one IMHO) they make sense. When they are contrived or inserted against reason or nature for the sake of furthering a plot device or continuing a conflict, they suck IMHO.

What are some of the most contrived or unnatural barriers in books, movies, etc. you've run into that leave you shaking your head?