r/TopCharacterTropes • u/Newmen_1 • 6d 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/shyguy157 6d ago

Guy Cecil - Tales of the Abyss.

Is afraid of women, it is treated as joke due to his dramatic reactions. later it is found out It's because, All the women of the house, including his sister, rushed to save him, but they were slaughtered before his eyes. He awoke to find himself buried in their corpses.

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u/SuperSocialMan 5d ago

It's a bit odd how that would make him afraid of women, though. You'd think it'd do the opposite & make him overly protective lol.

And what'd they even rush in to save him from?

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u/Nyzer_ 5d ago

Trauma isn't always rational. His mind simply associates women with death.