Shoo Out the Clowns: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

{{quote|''"[[Team Pet|Momo]], time for you to go."''|'''Aang''' - ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]''}}

** In ''[[Digimon Xros Wars]]'', Akari and Zenjirou are left behind in the real world while Taiki and Shoutmon return to the Digital World in episode 30.

* [[Defied Trope|Defied]] in ''[[One Piece]]'': according to [[Word of God]], he gave Luffy [[Rubber Man]] powers ''specifically'' so that, no matter how serious things got, at least one "silly" element (the rubber band snapping sound that happens when Luffy uses those powers) would be guaranteed to be in effect at pretty much all times.

* The sudden end of the previously happy, hopeful first episode of ''[[Soukou no Strain]]'' fits this. Colin, Mary, even Sedi? Their names only lived on to be screamed out by Sara against the injustice of the world.

* Sort of a reverse occurred in ''[[Sailor Moon]]''. The Outer Senshi, serious characters who represent the pragmatic side of the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]], introduced in the "dark" S season, were completely forgotten in the "goofy" and "childish" SuperS season, only to return when the series again took a darker turn in the Stars season. On the other hand, Chibi-Usa, the star of the SuperS season and one of the main sources of its childishness and goofiness, was [[Put on a Bus]] in the Stars season and was not seen again.

** Brutaly subverted during the finale of Season 2 when [[It Got Worse|the shit really hits the fan]], one of the Tachikoma shyly asks Ichikawa if it could be excused for a while, because it has "something important to do with the other guys". {{spoiler|1=They then hijack the server that holds their AIs and then use it to destroy a [[Nuke'Em|nuclear missile]] before it hits an urban area, killing themselves in the process. While [[Tear Jerker|singing childrens songs]].}}

*** {{spoiler|It's later strongly indicated that the Major, or even the Tachikoma themselves, were good server administrators, and [[Cloning Gambit|kept backups]] at a different location.}}

* ''[[Trigun]]'' did this without even changing cast; though Meryl and Millie are left behind at times, that didn't necessarily foreshadow drama, which occurred as often with them present. The change was wholly in Vash's character. In the lighthearted episodes his [[Large Ham|hamminess and spastic reactions]] reinterpreted what might have been heroic acts into lucky buffoonery. The episodes where [[Scary Shiny Glasses|scariness shines off his glasses]] or [[Glowing Eyes of Doom|eyes glow]], [[Anyone Can Die]]. Later in the series, even when he attempts [[Think Happy Thoughts|to play the fool]], he's quickly overtaken by [[Wangst]].

* Most characters from ''[[Gintama]]'' (<s>even</s> especially the main characters) seem to have the default reaction to flee before danger, leaving their comrades behind (often followed by a [[Taking You with Me]] moment), all played for the lulz of course. However, when there's a serious arc going on, that behaviour is forgotten and they strive to protect one another in battle.

* In ''[[Bleach]]'' Ichigo's cute and funny retainer, Kon, and the other retainers convieniently disappear at the end of the 6th season when the Hueco Mundo arc begins, which not only is more serious than most of the other arcs, but also does not take place in the human world.

* ''[[Gate Keepers]]'' recklessly crashed back and forth in between "cheerful" and "dark", finally settling on "dark" for the sequel series.

* The ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' series has been known to switch this trope on and off like a lightswitch. Specifically, most battles from the Red Ribbon Army Saga until the end of series in ''Dragon Ball'' and most battles in ''Dragon Ball Z'' get very serious, especially after anyone that Goku has befriended or fought alongside has been killed.

* The final episodes of ''[[Angel Beats!]]'' feature a battle with shadowy creatures which is preceded by one of the series more comical characters [[Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence|leaves]].

* ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'' does one for ''Force'', the series' [[Darker and Edgier]] and [[Bloodier and Gorier]] season. One of the scenes shown in its preview manga is Nanoha going off to help in the latest Incident and saying goodbye to her [[Cheerful Child]] of a daughter, Vivio, who is the star of the [[Lighter and Softer]] [[Spin Offspring]], ''ViVid''.

** In 1964, Bat-Mite, Ace the Bat-Hound [[Batwoman]] and the original Bat-Girl were swept under the rug when the "New Look" Batman was launched. The often-silly sci-fi adventures of the previous era also took a back seat to more straightforward detective stories. Believe it or not, the 1966 TV show was actually ''less'' silly than most of the Batman stories of the late '50s and early '60s.

** After the 1966 ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' show went off the air, there was a considerable and sustained backlash against anything resembling its tone in the comic books. Batman returned to his roots as a "grim avenger of the night" in the '70s. Notably, Batman started working alone much more often, with Robin and [[Batgirl]] relegated to the sidelines and backup stories.

** Neil Gaiman's story in 1989 Secret Origins Special features a retired Riddler amidst the same giant novelty objects, musing on the new [[Darker and Edgier]] world.

** Note, however, that very little in comics ever goes completely away. All of the above-mentioned "silly" elements of Batman have been revisited over the years, albeit usually in a "modernized" way.

** It's notable that the guy who can joke about anything wasn't laughing when Wolverine made some less than appropriate comments about Mary Jane. And then punched Logan through unbreakable glass.

* ''[[X-Men]]''; during the Mutant Massacre arc in the late 80s, Nightcrawler(a swashbuckling practical joker), Colossus(the [[Gentle Giant]]) and Kitty Pryde([[The Chick]]) were [[Put On the Bus]] due to injuries sustained against the Marauders. Colossus returned to the team just in time for the Fall Of The Mutants arc, which ended with the world thinking the X-Men were dead, and precipitated one of the teams [[Darker and Edgier|Darkest and Edgiest]] periods. Nightcrawler and Kitty went on to co-found [[Excalibur (Comic Book)|Excalibur]], the [[Lighter and Fluffier]] X-team at that time.

* Invoked in the [[Mad Magazine]] parody of [[Roseanne]]. When the kids are discussing running away, "DDT," whose unintelligible speech turns any scene into a laugh riot, tries to speak up, his sister cuts him off, telling him that this is no laughing matter.

 

* Happens in, of all things, a world war movie, specifically ''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089279/ Hitler's SS]''. When the flamboyant comedian and friend of Rohm, Putzi, gets taken off by the gestapo and winds up beaten to death, you know the Soviet's about to hit the fan. His death not only marks the turning point in the movie, but the turning point in the war, and the scramble by the two brothers to preserve everything they're going to lose no matter who wins the war.

* This is coupled with [[This Is Something He's Got to Do Himself|This Is Something She's Got To Do Herself]] in ''[[Labyrinth]]'', just before Sarah faces the Goblin King, when she tells the [[Ragtag Bunch of Misfits|quirky friends who helped her make it that far]] that she has to go on alone.

** [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] and [[Justified Trope]]. Gonzo and Rizzo are ''scared'' of The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. And with good reason.

* In [[Godzilla]] vs Spacegodzilla, Little Godzilla becomes imprisoned in a crystal cage by Spacegodzilla, and the film becomes more dramatic until [[Karmic Death|Spacegodzilla is disposed of]], and Little Godzilla is freed from his prison.

* ''[[El Goonish Shive]]'' has, for example, phased out the "anime martial arts instructor" (a character who exists almost solely for comedy, e.g. trying to go "super saiyan" in his first appearance), in favor of Nanase's mother (a character who exists ''solely'' to cause drama, e.g. criticizing Nanase for not spending every single waking hour devoted to schoolwork and then punishing her for objecting to this).

* Happens in ''[[Questionable Content]]''; the heavier the plotline, the less you'll see of [[Robot Buddy|Pintsize and Winslow]].

** Years later, [[Talking Animal|Kiki]] is similarly absent for the entirety of the [[Nothing Is the Same Anymore|bROKEN]] [[Story Arc]]. She appears sleeping in the background at some point and then isn't seen until after the funerals.

* Early in ''[[Dresden Codak]]'''s [[Cerebus Syndrome|"Hob" Arc]], [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|Tiny Carl Jung]] is invited by the Tokamak's to accompany them in seeing Kimiko's newest discovery. He declines.

** Gamzee has since come roaring back into the plot, or at least the trolls' segment of it, but surprise surprise: {{spoiler|he's shed the comic relief mantle. Though he's still hilarious in a dark sort of way.}}

* Bricky (a talking brick) will often disappear from ''[[The Life of Nob T. Mouse]]'' when a more serious storyline is running. The exception was when [[Knight of Cerebus]] Grandfather Time first arrived however, as Bricky played a key role in defeating the Grandfather's minions.

* Tom Siddell typically has some humorous blurb under the strips of ''[[Gunnerkrigg Court]]''. He always shuts up when the plot dips into genuinely somber material, especially if it involves backstory concerning Annie's late mother.

 

== Web Original ==

* In [[Atop the Fourth Wall]], Linkara's Conflict with "The Entity" is preceded by its slowly absorbing everyone else on earth, thus eliminating the quirky, humorous supporting characters (Ninja-Style Dancer, Harvey Finevoice, Pollo, Iron Liz) and leaving Linkara to face it alone. Interestingly, the biggest "clown" in the cast, [[Disco Dan|90s Kid]], is instead possessed by the entity, so he is still at least physically present (as much as he usually is anyway; [[Acting for Two|Linkara plays him]]), but behaving in a far from humorous manner.