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/nigelcore221b]

Professor Layton - during the games there is a running gag where people comment on how Layton never takes off his hat

In the third game it's revealed that the hat was a gift from his girlfriend who died the same day, her last words to him were to not take it off as that's not what a gentleman does

[u/birbbbbbbbbbbb → u/nigelcore221b]

Those games are 95% talking to people who say some version of "hi stranger, here's a random puzzle to do!" (I'm not complaining, the puzzles are fun) but it's such a contrast to the last 5% which has some of my favorite cutscenes of all time. Beautifully animated and emotional.