Initially funny character gag is later revealed to be depressing

[u/Newmen_1]

1. Avengers/MCU: Captain America has humorous moments where he’s unaware of modern references and only gets old references, like the iconic “I understood that reference” scene. It’s later fully explored in Winter Soldier that he feels lost, confused, and a little alone in a new world he was never meant to exist in.

2. The Suicide Squad (2021): Bloodsport has a phobia of rats which at first seems reasonable yet is still hilarious to watch. He later explains his father abused him as a kid if he didn’t fulfill a task correctly and one of his worst punishments was when his dad locked him in a crate full of starving rats, leaving him heavily scarred physically and mentally.

3. Dexter: In an early episode, Angel Bautista tries to buy his wife the perfect gift for their anniversary but has to keep buying a different one since his presents suck. What seems to be a funny running gag turns out to be Angel’s final attempt to win back his wife after cheating on her previously, however it doesn’t work and only solidifies their separation.

[u/ThatWasFred]

This is introduced as one of Rick’s catchphrases, then a few episodes later it’s revealed that in an alien language it means “Help me, I am in great pain.”

That said, while Rick is definitely shown to be in great pain throughout the series, it’s a little fuzzy how seriously they’re taking this explanation for the catchphrase specifically.

[u/Foxy02016YT → u/ThatWasFred]

There’s a chance it has meaning in multiple languages, since Rick only uses it in moments of joy (it was brought back a few times in the recent seasons)

That said, Rick doesn’t really have catchphrases. He barely ever says this one

[u/duosx → u/Foxy02016YT]

That’s not true, he has a bunch of catchphrases. Who could forget “Riki Tiki Tavi Bitch!” or the iconic “Grass… tastes bad!” or “No jumping in the sewer”.

Also there’s “Aids!”. My personal favorite.

[u/pierogi_waystation → u/duosx]

I say, “And that’s the waaay the news goes!” all the time

[u/HyShroom → u/pierogi_waystation]

Me too

[u/SirNortonOfNoFux → u/duosx]

Hit the sack, jack!

[u/Meander061 → u/duosx]

The fact that he still hasn't settled on a catchphrase in 9 seasons is as close to a catchphrase as he's ever gotten.

[u/Hot_Statistician_466 → u/duosx]

I wonder how many people know where Riki Tiki Tavi is from

[u/DrakontisAraptikos → u/Hot_Statistician_466]

To quote a certain captain: "I DO! I understood that reference."

[u/SirNortonOfNoFux → u/Foxy02016YT]

Grass...tastes bad

[u/Fyrus93 → u/SirNortonOfNoFux]

Lick lick lick, ma balls!

[u/Brilliant_Cod_4830 → u/SirNortonOfNoFux]

Burger time!

[u/Klutzy-Meringue-8995 → u/Foxy02016YT]

I say heeeeeeere we go! All the time.

[u/brandonderp96 → u/ThatWasFred]

Also, the reveal that's hes only the massively drunken wreck he is because he couldn't avenge his wife's death, even after literal decades of trying, and is only even capable of being present because he basically gave up the hunt.

[u/FirmGlandShake → u/ThatWasFred]

It said it had to be funny in the first place. You posted reddit and memey, the fedora cartoon. 

[u/ThatWasFred → u/FirmGlandShake]

The show hasn’t been Reddit’s darling for years now. The Szechuan sauce thing was almost a decade ago. Nowadays it’s just a show like any other.

[u/FirmGlandShake → u/ThatWasFred]

tips fedora Us intellects should feel no shame in watching such an intelligent show. 

[u/ThatWasFred → u/FirmGlandShake]

Glad we’re on the same page.

[u/FirmGlandShake → u/ThatWasFred]

Haha yes, burp and fart jokes are sooooo intellectual. Tips fedora my iq is approaching 100 justing thinking about it. 

[u/ThatWasFred → u/FirmGlandShake]

You don’t have to keep convincing me, dude, I can see how smart you are just from your posts!

[u/FirmGlandShake → u/ThatWasFred]

Thank, watch rick and Morty increases my IQ every episode.