Played for Drama

If something is Played for Drama, it is being used with the intention to be serious. Sometimes, a comedic trope is played completely serious (for example, a Three Is Company setup leads to tragedy), or maybe a drama-neutral trope is milked for all the drama it can provide. Can be used in a Deconstruction of a particular trope.

Contrast Played for Laughs; sometimes, the only difference between one trope and another is that one is Played for Laughs, while the other is Played for Drama.

Western Animation

 * In Justice League, And Call Him George is used as a device for angst in the episode "Only a Dream". Superman accidentally kills Jimmy Olsen by hugging him like this, which causes him to snap like a twig.