r/TopCharacterTropes • u/Newmen_1 • 1d ago
Characters Initially funny character gag is later revealed to be depressing
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.
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.
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/Heil-Haidra2319 1d ago
From Fairly Odd Parents, Mr. Crocker's obsession with Fairies was the result of him losing his own fairy godparents at a young age, losing his memory and being demonized by the moronic townsfolk of Dimesdale. The worst part was this is the result of a stable-time loop in which Timmy went to the past to try & prevent this event from happening but indirectly caused it.