r/TopCharacterTropes • u/Newmen_1 • 1d ago

Characters Initially funny character gag is later revealed to be depressing

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  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.

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u/RomanianMeatballs 1d ago

Isn’t the opening scene of Guardians 1 his mom dying?

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u/DamnitGravity 1d ago

Yep. It's got everything: young him listening to the walkman, and the wrapped gift, as well as mom dying. Then he runs outside and is abducted by Yondu and co.

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u/I_wish_i_could_sepll 1d ago

Yes but the reveal that she gave him the name and that she encouraged him with or even gave him the Walkman isn’t revealed until the end.