Plucky Comic Relief: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

Also known as the comic relief or the Funny Guy. A character whose primary role in the show is to relieve tension with oddball and/or hysterical antics. He has a job to do, but doesn't get into the thick of things and can stay somewhat detached. Due to the fact their purpose is to relieve tension, they almost always have immunity to dying when compared to the other characters. A guaranteed sign that the series is suffering from [[Cerebus Syndrome]] or that things are just [[It Got Worse|going to go to Hell from here]] is to see whether this character [[Shoo Out the Clowns|either dies or has a complete and utter meltdown,]] no matter how deserved.

The term comes from Sam Rockwell's "Guy Fleegman" character in the movie ''[[Galaxy Quest]]'' (who, in a non-[[Genre Blindness|genreblind]] example of [[Lampshade Hanging]], is afraid that he is only a [[Red Shirt]], until another character ("Fred Kwan") suggests that maybe he is instead the '''Plucky Comic Relief'''), which of course was spoofing the television show ''[[Star Trek]]''.

{{examples}}

* Shinagawa from ''[[Ask Dr. Rin]]''.

* Helen from ''[[Claymore]]'': the sole humorous character in this very dark series. Indulging in everything from [[Big Eater|over-eating]] to [[Hypocritical Humor]], including a [[Boke and Tsukkomi Routine]] with [[The Stoic|uber-stoic]] Deneve and on one memorable occasion actually [[Best Beer Ever|getting drunk]].

== Comic Books ==

* ''[[PS238]]'' Firedrake claimed that "comic relief" is one of his superpowers. Which is fortunate for him, since in superhero business fire "doesn't come in handy much", and the Elementalists enlisted him simply because with their theme they needed some fire-themed guy. Also, he got wits very much in working condition. Thus he mostly just flies around, looks cool (which helps to sell their team's merchandise, too), [[I Shall Taunt You|taunts and distracts the adversaries]] and drops one-liners.

== Film ==

* Guy in ''[[Galaxy Quest]]'' fears for the entire film that he is destined to die, as his character on the show, Crewman 26, was a typical [[Red Shirt]] that died in the first act of his only episode. Fred eventually calms his fear by suggesting Guy is actually this trope. To some extent, Fred himself also qualifies for spending most of the film oblivious to, or at least unreasonably calm about, the ostensible dangers they're going through. The original cut of the film depicted him a stoner, though this plot element was removed when the film was recut to get a family-friendly rating. It's still somewhat obvious that he is in the final film.

* ''[[Last Action Hero]]''. [[Lampshaded]] by [[Genre Savvy]] Danny Madigan. "Oh, shit. I'm the comic relief! This is not going to work!"

== Literature ==

* Bluebell, the comedian rabbit of ''[[Watership Down]]'', serves as a comic relief not only to the readers, but also is an in-story tension breaker. Keehar the seagull serves the purpose in the film adaptation.

* Madame Khokhlakov's role in ''[[The Brothers Karamazov]]'' is to provide lighthearted, trivial discussion versus everything else that goes on in the story. She is eternally cheerful and will talk you ''to death''. Dostoevsky used her to insult his critics at the time by having her agree with their works.

* Faddey Bulgarin in ''[[The Death of the Vazir Mukhtar]]''.

* Greg Sanders, the DNA specialist on ''[[CSI]]'' was originally an excellent example of this trope. Later in the series he has several serious character arcs. He also becomes one of the most experienced CSIs on the team. His role has been taken over by Hodges and the supporting [[Lab Rat]]s.

* So is Marshall on ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]''.

** Oh, he's plenty concerned for others. [[Jerk with a Heart of Gold|He just doesn't show it often.]]

* Sister Sisto in ''[[The Flying Nun]]''. In the pilot it was explained that she is studying English sayings in preparation for her eventualy teaching in the United States. From that point on her running joke was to say something like "We need to get on the circle!" to immediatly be corrected by one of the others "Uh, that's 'ball', Sister."

== Tabletop Games ==

* [[Our Gnomes Are Weirder|Gnomes]] in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''.

* The Orks serve this function in ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'' as an entire race of [[Psychopathic Manchild|psychopathic manchildren]] with a healthy dose of [[Crosses the Line Twice]].

* In ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'', Squee from the Weatherlight Saga. For example, the flavor text for [http://magiccards.info/tp/en/279.html Fool's Tome]. More generally, goblins typically fill such a role. There was a [[Running Gag]] where goblins that could destroy things had a profession related to whatever it was they were destroying - [http://magiccards.info/ud/en/84.html Goblin Gardener] destroyed lands, [http://magiccards.info/ul/en/79.html Goblin Medic] dealt damage to creatures, and so on.

* Goblins in ''[[Pathfinder]]'', in a disturbing sort of way. Dangerously stupid, [[Big Eater]]s, [[Ugly Cute]], [[Psychopathic Manchild]]ren, canonically so distractable that they pause in the middle of combat to raid the refreshments, and fond of singing little songs about eating people. They also serve as [[Butt Monkey]]s in a lot of official art. [http://paizo.com/image/content/PathfinderCampaignSetting/PZO9227-FlumphOnGoblinAction.jpg Getting pwned by a flumph]. [http://paizo.com/image/content/GameMastery/PZO3016-SAMPLES.jpg Demonstrating status effects.]

== Theater ==

* Sir Andrew Aguecheek in ''[[Twelfth Night]]''.

* Launce in ''[[Two Gentlemen of Verona]]''.

== Toys ==

* Lewa from ''[[Bionicle]]''.

** Really any Toa of Air could count.

== Video Games ==

* Although Teddie from ''[[Persona 4]]'' is this trope incarnate, just about every other character in the Investigation Team fulfill this role at some point or another in the game.

** Yosuke also relates to this trope, although really more towards the beginning.

* Tyrell in ''[[Golden Sun: Dark Dawn]]''. Emphasis on the "[[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass|plucky]]".

* [[Robot Buddy|Pintsize]] (alone or teamed up with Winslow) in ''[[Questionable Content]]''.

== Web Original ==

* Lee Phillips in season 2 of ''[[Kate Modern]]''.

* A lot of them in the ''[[Whateley Universe]]''. The junior high mages known as 'the three little witches', Go-Go (a speedster who used to go by 'Quickie' until she found out why everyone was laughing), Generator. Oh God, Generator. Wacky comic relief in other people's stories, horrifyingly effective hero in her own stories. There are school armbands that identify the pacifists (who won't fight back if they're bullied so you're supposed to leave them alone) and the Ultraviolents ([[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]]). Only Generator wears ''both''. Not at the same time, of course; that would be silly. She flips a coin every morning.

== Western Animation ==

* [[Disney Animated Canon|Disney Animated Films]] usually have one. And so do all of the movies that [[Follow the Leader|copy their formulas]].

* Danny O'Farrell of ''[[Fillmore!]]''.

* Plucky the Mallard from ''[[Tiny Toon Adventures]]''

* Porky's character from Daffy's ''[[Duck Dodgers]]'' cartoon and series, Eager Young Space Cadet, is also supposed to be this.

* [[You Suck|Ron Stoppable]] from ''[[Kim Possible]]'', while also being one of [[The Hero]]es of the show, though he's typically in a sidekick role.

* ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]'': While it's hard to find a character that isn't comic relief, Cosmo is hands-down pluckier comic reliefier.

* As serious as ''[[The Secret of NIMH]]'' was in tone, there was a certain crow that happens to be the comic relief. And that crow in particular is Jeremy.

* Parodied in ''[[Titan Maximum]]'', where it's stated that each military squad are required to consist of one of these. The one shown is woefully aware that he's totally unfunny since he originally just wanted a desk job.

* Stanley in ''[[The Amazing Chan and The Chan Clan]]'' fits this trope to a T.

{{reflist}}