Number Two for Brains: Difference between revisions

Number Two (''slang noun'')

# The right-hand man, [[The Lancer]]/[[The Dragon]], the second-in-command.

# Feces.

[['''Number Two for Brains]]''' combines both meanings: the first applies to the position, the second to the skull's contents.

In other words, this is when the one who has authority over the others, gets orders from and reports ''directly'' to the boss, and has to keep everything running smoothly is a ''moron''.

Usually [[Played for Laughs]] and a true sign that the guy in charge is truly [[Surrounded Byby Idiots]]. Compare [[Brains and Brawn]], where the (possibly) stupid sidekick doesn't hold a position of authority. See also [[The Dragon]], [[The Lancer]], [[Number Two]], [[The Igor]], and [[Pointy-Haired Boss]]. May be [[The Starscream]], but is virtually ''never'' [[Dragon-in-Chief]]--unless—unless his boss is even more of a dingbat. Very often falls under [[Dumb Muscle]]. Contrast [[Hypercompetent Sidekick]], which often diametrically inverts this trope by being paired up with an inept boss instead.

* Dark Helmet from ''[[Spaceballs (Film)|Spaceballs]]'' is none too bright. He is also really short.

** Dark Helmet's own Dragon, Colonel Sandurz, is arguably an inversion of this trope, as he seems to often be [[Surrounded Byby Idiots|the only one with half a brain in the whole Spaceball fleet]].

* Kronk in ''[[The Emperor's New Groove (Disney)|The Emperors New Groove]]''. One of the most lovably stupid lackeys of all time.

* Otis in ''[[Superman (Filmfilm)|Superman]]''.

* Sergeant Colon in ''[[Discworld (Literature)|Discworld]]'', in [[Discworld (Literature)/Guards Guards|Guards! Guards!]]. Maybe not actively stupid, but certainly not bright and on top of things. And a disaster as Captain in ''[[Discworld (Literature)/The Fifth Elephant|The Fifth Elephant]]''.

== Live -Action TV ==

* In ''[[Weeds]]'', U-Turn spent a great deal of time chiding his friendly but incompetent underling Marvin, eventually {{spoiler|pushing him over the edge.}}

* [[Beast Wars (Animation)|Scorponok]] fits this trope to a T. He was really kind of an idiot; really the only things he had to his name were his [[Undying Loyalty|loyalty]] and some surprising talents with inventing (though when his inventions went wrong, they went [[Gone Horribly Wrong|wrong.]]) To be fair, his loyalty certainly was a commodity what with the likes of [[The Starscream|Terrorsaur]] and [[The Mole|Tarantulas]] on board.