Talk to the Fist: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

 

So, you've got [[Combat Pragmatist|a character]] who thinks [[Trying to Catch Me Fighting Dirty|fair fights are for suckers]], and he's up against [[Small Name, Big Ego|some idiot]] who [[Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness|won't shut up]] because he's [[Badass Boast|trying to sound intimidating]] but just comes across as a [[Narm|cheesy actor]] [[In the Name of the Moon|repeating overused lines]]. Or perhaps he was smart enough to [[We Need a Distraction|trick the foe]] into [[Evil Gloating|talking too much]]. The only thing for our [[Genre Savvy|savvy]] fighter to do in this case is-- '''*WHAM*'''

 

 

 

{{examples}}

* In ''[[The Law of Ueki]]'' it's, obviously, Talk to the tree.

* From the ''[[Real Bout High School]]'' manga:

{{quote|'''Takasugi:''' H-How dare you...

'''Dragon:''' Awful... I haven't... said... }}

** Worth noting that Ryoko isn't a real [[Combat Pragmatist|dirty fighter]] as she doesn't exactly think it's dirty to hit someone who's acting like an idiot for no reason (she'd already trounced one of Takasugi's other thugs, so as far as she was concerned, the fight had started already).

** Hotohori also has his in his character novel ''Suzaku Hi Den'', which is shown in ''Eikouden''. The antagonist of said character novel gloats, sneers and laughs evilly... and then Hotohori stabs him from behind.

* Late in ''[[Death Note]]'', {{spoiler|Matt}} confidently asserts that Takada's bodyguards won't kill him. They rapidly demonstrate otherwise.

* ''Attempted'' by both the title character and Raikage in ''[[Naruto]]'', who both try to attack {{spoiler|[[Big Bad|Tobi]]}} while he's trying to talk to Naruto himself/the people in the Kage summit, but the guy just [[Intangible Man|phases through it]] the second time, after which he [[Lampshade Hanging|calls the Raikage rude for interrupting him]].

** In the battle between Sakura and Sasori, Sakura, after being saved from Sasori's poison gas, angrily declares that she will defeat him and force him to tell her where to find Orochimaru (and thus, Sasuke). Sasori nonchalantly shoots some kunai at her, which Chiyo blocks with her puppets, saying that men should listen to women while they are talking.

* Episode 23 of ''[[Star Driver]]''. Head A.K.A. {{spoiler|Tokio Tsunashi}} approaches Takuto, pretending to be a stranger, asking directions. Takuto doesn't even let him finish, and [http://i.imgur.com/a9l89.gif punches him right in the face]. {{spoiler|Just like he said he would when he found his father.}}

* Happens in Turn 13 of ''[[Code Geass]]'' R2, Cornelia and Bartley run into V.V. {{spoiler|Cornelia already knows about Geass, so she knifes V.V in the head as a precaution, cutting him off mid-sentence. Unfortunately, this is the part where Cornelia learns about immortals.}} And he just ''keeps talking''.

* From ''[[Fairy Tail]]''

{{quote|'''Ultear''': "I'm the head of the [[Quirky Miniboss Squad|Seven Kindred of Purgatory]]. [[Badass Boast|Someone like you is no match for the likes of-]]" ([http://www.mangafox.com/manga/fairy_tail/v25/c239/21.html sucker punch'd!])}}

** Natsu does this twice [http://www.mangareader.net/135-7147-11/fairy-tail/chapter-32.html here] and here:

'''Natsu''': [http://www.mangareader.net/135-7212-19/fairy-tail/chapter-97.html (Punches him)] [[Shut UP, Hannibal|SHUT UP]]!!!! }}

 

* Franky, from ''[[The Goon]]'' does this all the time. "Knife to the eyes!"

* Rorsarch and Nite Owl try to do this to {{spoiler|Ozymandias}} in ''[[Watchmen]]''. It doesn't go very well.

* At the climax of the "Outlaw" [[Arc]] in ''[[Strontium Dog]]'', a freed Nelson Kreelman starts ranting about how norms are superior to [[Mutants]]. Before he can start his second speech bubble, all the [[Bounty Hunter|bounty hunters]] shoot him to death.

* The famous "one punch" scene in ''[[Justice League of America|Justice League (International)]]'' #5.

''([[Batman]] knocks him out with one punch)'' }}

* ''[[Secret Six]]'': Deadshot ''loves'' this trope. It's pretty much a guarantee with him that if you take too long to say something, he'll lose interest and blow a hole in you.

* In an Ultimate comic, an obnoxious little prick (flanked by two huge thugs, of course) comes up to the Punisher in the Ryker's cafeteria and starts giving him shit about how he's being released ''[[Tempting Fate|that day]]'' and his cousin, a new up-and-coming crime boss, is going to give him a good position, while the Punisher is stuck here with the absolute minimum of comforts (they took away all of his silverware because he kept killing people with it). The little prick makes it clear that obviously, he and his kind have won, while the Punisher has only ruined his own life. Frank doesn't say a word. Instead, he flips his table over, uses it as a battering ram to pin all three of them against the wall, and ''beats the little bastard's head in '''with a tray.'''''

 

== Fan Works ==

 

 

{{quote|"I think if you're going to kill somebody, kill them, don't stand around talking about it."}}

* Tuco from ''[[The Good, the Bad and the Ugly]]'' pretty much says it all: "''If you gotta shoot, shoot -- don't talk!''" This quote came immediately after he put down a one-armed guy who had cornered him in his bath and ''just would not shut up''.

* Both the verbal and non-verbal kind appear in ''[[Batman (film)|Batman]]''. The first being when Batman fights a guy with a sword who after his pre-fight flourish,kicks him in the gut.

** After that [[The Joker]] attempts the [[You Wouldn't Hit a Guy with Glasses]] prank while cornered, Batman punches him out anyway.

* ''[[The Gamers]]'': "All hail the bandit king!"

* In ''[[Romeo Must Die]]'', a thug does the crane stance and claims that he has picked up martial arts, but [[Jet Li]]'s character kicks him in the knee while he is talking.

{{quote|"Let's go find two more!"}}

* ''[[The Avengers (film)|The Avengers]]'' has Loki contemptuously telling the Hulk, who's been tearing through his army, that he is a god and he will not be threatened by a green simpleton like him. {{spoiler|The Hulk responds by grabbing him and [[Metronomic Man-Mashing|slamming him around the room, leaving him bloodied and beaten.]]}}

 

== Literature ==

* This is a ''major'' recurring tactic in ''[[The Acts of Caine|Blade of Tyshalle]]''. Caine in fact uses this trick in the climax to {{spoiler|kill the reascendant Ma'elKoth}}.

* In ''[[Sword of Truth|Confessor]]'', a military commander that's had Richard as a captive from the last book, sees Richard coming, and starts on a monologue about the things he's going to do to Richard, and is cut off (excuse the pun) mid-sentence.

** In ''Ghostmaker'', Gaunt punches Ortiz after his artillery had fired on a location where he knew the Ghosts were, killing hundreds of them. The [[We Have Reserves|superior who had actually ordered the attack]] intends to take advantage of this to court-martial and shoot Gaunt; unfortunately for him, Ortiz [[Drives Like Crazy|drives a tank into headquarters]] and files a report that [[Cut Himself Shaving|he had been injured by his guns' recoil]].

* In a ''[[Star Trek: New Frontier]]'' novel, Calhoun is confronted by an Orion who's a quicker draw than he is. They size each other up in an Old West-style staredown... then the Orion decides to gloat, since he's obviously going to win... until a grenade Calhoun planted goes off and kills him.

* A less combative example, but in [[Diane Duane]]'s [[Star Trek]] novel ''Spock's World'', a [[Giant Spider|Hamalki]] scientist bites a Vulcan professor in the middle of a debate. [[Aint No Rule]] that says she can't.

{{quote|'''Professor''': When one remembers that, on most levels of consideration, one does not exist, such matters as the question before us today assume their proper ''aaaaaaaiigh!''

'''K's't'lk''': Fascinating. For someone whom on most levels of consideration doesn't exist, you scream with great enthusiasm. And I ''heard'' you, too. Better have that looked into. }}

* ([[Punch Clock Villain|Punch clock]]) villainous example in ''[[The Grapes of Wrath]]'': {{spoiler|[[Badass Preacher|Jim Casy]] attempts to give a strikebreaker a [[Last Second Chance]] and promptly gets his skull smashed.}} Sucks for {{spoiler|Casy}}, but hey, it does fit the religious metaphor!

* In a cantina on the [[Death Star]], two Alderaanian contractors are trying to make sense of [[Earthshattering Kaboom|what Tarkin just did to their homeworld]]. Enter a stormtrooper boasting that "the Rebel scum won't be giving us much trouble after Alderaan, hey?" Mock their grief, will you, motherkriffer! That contractor's fist can give your smug face trouble! And then the bouncer will evict you instead of him!

== Live-Action TV ==

* In ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'', minor Goa'uld Toth begins his melodramatic doom monologue, but just when he starts to talk, Carter shoots him.

** Subverted, however, in ''Serenity'':

{{quote|'''The Operative:''' Let us discuss this like civilized men. I'm not threatening you, I'm unarmed--

{{quote|{{spoiler|'''Canton''': Are you armed?}}

{{spoiler|'''Silent''': {{smallcaps|THIS WORLD IS OURS. WE HAVE RULED IT SINCE THE WHEEL AND THE FIRE. WE HAVE NO NEED OF WEAPONS.}}}}

** Rory gives the Doctor one in ''The Big Bang''.

{{quote|'''SHE IS TO ME!!!'''}}

* That fantastic moment in ''[[Scrubs]]'' when Dr Cox (who'd been worrying about the kind of father he'll be to his unborn son) walks in on Dr Kelso tearing into Elliot. JD tells him that "if she was your daughter, you'd know exactly how to handle it."

{{quote|'''Dr Cox''': (whispering) My God, you're right. ''[walks up to Kelso, taps him on the shoulder and then ''decks him.'']''}}

 

== Pro Wrestling ==

 

== Tabletop Games ==

** The fourth edition sphinx gains combat bonuses if you do this, or can't answer its riddle.

* The [[Exalted|Infernal Exalted]] have an ability that allows them to regain Willpower when they do this. (In a slight subversion, most Infernals are villains, though they don't have to be.)

 

== Theater ==

* In [[Starship]] by [[Team Starkid]] Taz goads Commander Up into punching her to toughen him up. When he doesn't she punches him instead.

 

== Video Games ==

* Used beautifully in one segment of ''[[Neverwinter Nights 2]]''. The player can find themselves in a very annoying minigame featuring a lute contest between the player and an arrogant bard. The bard, Cain, insults the player at virtually every opportunity and the minigame is no thrill either. At the very tail end of the contest, win or lose, Cain insults the player one last time. Upon which, the character is given a new interaction choice in the dialogue menu: "Set Cain on fire and steal his lute." Even if you're playing a goody-two-shoes character, you can't resist that.

** And many choose not to interrupt him, because Mankar Camaron's speeches are a genuine work of art as far as megalomaniacal ranting goes. Then again, they only went and hired ''Terence Stamp'' to do the voice, so what else could we expect?

** Turn the difficulty down to minimum and spell yourself up to 100% Chameleon and you can kill him with one shot, which makes the interruption that much more satisfying.

* When gigantic pansy villian who doesn't even fight you Lucien in ''[[Fable II]]'' goes into his long-winded speech, you have the option of shooting him in the face to permanently shut him up at any time. Take too long and Reaver does it instead.

* ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' ([[Xbox]]). Mook vampires love to run up to Buffy while saying something creepy/threatening/narmful. Quite possible to stake them in the middle of their speech. "You can't stop us Slayer...there's OOOFFF AAARGH." DUST. Awesome.

* In ''[[Resident Evil 4]]'', [[Smug Snake|Ramon Salazar]] goes off onto another smarmy monologue on how he's going to kill Leon with another clever trap. Leon, who by this point is thoroughly fed up with Salazar's bullshit, shuts him up with [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|a knife to the hand.]]

* ''[[River City Ransom]] Ex'' is one of those games where you can sock the enemy in the head mid-speech and your allies won't stand for it.

{{quote|'''Prism Red:''' Curse you! Shooting before we even have a chance to transform... How inconsiderate! Are you demons?!

'''Etna:''' Uh-huh.

** Some of the interrupts from ''[[Mass Effect]] 2'' are an even better example.

** In one case, a Krogan Warlord engages in a long speech about how the Krogan are going to {{spoiler|take over the galaxy}}; you're given the ability to cut him short by [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvwSMjF0EjE shooting the explosive tank below him, burning him alive.]

** In another, when an irritating krogan warlord named Uvenk is trash-talking Grunt and Shepard in front of Clan Urdnot's Shaman, Shepard can ''headbutt Uvenk in the face'', which staggers him. Uvenk looks pretty surprised and angered at this, while the Shaman laughs his head off at Shepard's audacity (and then compliments Shepard for having such an understanding of krogan mindsets).

** Another one is during Miranda's loyalty mission; as a mercenary commander proceeds to describe how his men are prepared to gun them all down on the spot. You're given the option of having Shepard [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|grab the commander and turn him around in a chokehold and break his neck, then proceed to shoot an explosive tank hanging from a crane, dropping and exploding behind two other mercenaries.]] One flies towards the camera and bounces off the crate another mercenary was using for cover. [[Oh Crap|His expression]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tubo_XgtGlE says it all.]

'''Shepard:''' [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|How about "goodbye?"]] }}

** In [[Mass Effect 3]], there's a renegade interrupt where you gut-punch a quarian admiral and kick him off of your ship as he's trying to justify his actions, because he fired on the geth Dreadnought you and Tali, a fellow admiral, were still on at the time.

* During the [[Sky Pirate]] arc of the second ''[[The Legend of Spyro]]'' game, the [[Big Bad]] of the arc are a couple annoying parrots named Scratch and Sniff who are the brains behind the "captain" of the pirates, the massive, but extremely stupid, Skabb. Sniff ''really'' likes throwing around trash talk and [[Bullying the Dragon]]. This gets so annoying that it even annoys ''Sparx''. {{spoiler|After Skabb falls to his [[Disney Villain Death]], Sniff continues to insult Spyro. Sparx has enough and in a personal [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]], shuts Sniff up by knocking him out cold with a punch to the face.}}

* At the end of ''[[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers]]'', {{spoiler|[[Big Bad|Darkrai]] attempts to pull a [[We Can Rule Together]] on the player and their partner. He even ''seems'' to convince the partner to do so. But then the player reconizes [[A Glitch in the Matrix]] in that their partner would ''never'' react this way. They realize they're in a nightmare and attack Darkrai, shattering the illusion.}}

* In ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'', after Squall defeats Ultimecia during the Shade Impulse storyline, she tries to deliver a monologue about her [[Freudian Excuse]]. Squall responds by finishing her off mid-speech with a slash of his gunblade. He is the only hero in the game to do so; every other villain either manages to gloat or gets a more touching send-off.

** This moment is also a nod to the final battle of ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'': Ultimecia begins the same speech in the last stages of the [[Boss Battle]], but is unable to finish it before Squall and the other heroes defeat her.

 

== Web Animation ==

 

== Web Comics ==

{{quote|'''Dark Pegasus:''' And for the rest of you, I give this advice: If you're going to destroy someone, do it while you're talking. They always expect you to finish the sentence first.}}

* Darth Maul gets one in ''[[Darths and Droids]]'' when he tries to talk to Qui-Gon, who responds:

{{quote|'''Qui-Gon:''' Talk to the laser sword!}}

** Subverted: {{spoiler|They really should have listened; he was on their side, and didn't want to fight.}}

* Used in the backstory of ''[[Darken]]''. Just as Leon is delivering his "Good will always triumph" speech to Gort, he gets a knife in the back courtesy of Casper.

{{quote|'''Abraham:''' Feigned frailty, no "En garde"... ''Have you no honor?!''

'''Raven:''' The lives of my students are more important. Besides which I ''did'' warn you... }}

* ''[[A Girl and Her Fed]]'' has [http://www.agirlandherfed.com/1.620.html the Fed employ this to good effect].

* [http://www.nuklearpower.com/2008/11/11/episode-1058-talking-is-a-free-action/ Black Mage] uses this in ''[[8-Bit Theater|Eight Bit Theater]]''. Well, the party basically use it every time when they don't argue about something.

* ''[[Misfile]]'' combines this with [[Groin Attack]]. [http://www.misfile.com/index.php?page=1543 Ow!!]

* ''[[The Order of the Stick]]''

{{quote|'''Enor''': "[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0714.html Puns are for girls.]"}}

* Subverted in ''[[Footloose (webcomic)|Footloose]]'' when {{spoiler|[[Super-Powered Evil Side|Fey!Keti]]}} begins talking, then attacks in the middle of {{spoiler|her}} ''own'' speech.

* In ''[[Cucumber Quest]]'', Tomato tries to threaten Almond, bragging that [[Would Hit a Girl|he has no qualms about hitting girls]] and so on. Almond isn't impressed, and [http://cucumber.gigidigi.com/?webcomic_post=page-46 interrupts his speech with her sword].

* ''[[Schlock Mercenary]]'' [http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2008-11-14 demonstrates] how once the meaningful discussion is [[Appeal to Ridicule|dismissed]], people simply choose to which methods they used to fall back:

* A truly epic moment for ''[[Kim Possible]]''. [[Arch Enemy|Drakken]] is basically taunting her about her need to worry over the high school prom, finding the perfect date, and [[No Guy Wants an Amazon|would any guy want to even date an]] [[Action Girl]] like her? Kim's response?

{{quote|'''Kim''': "[[Wake Up, Go to School, Save the World|Boys? Dating? Oh it's hard.]] But this...''is easy!!''" ''[[Crowning Moment of Awesome|*punches him in the face*]]''}}

* In ''[[Family Guy]]'', an infamous [[Overly Long Gag]] has Stewie needle Brian at length, twice in one episode, in a voice irritatingly rising in pitch with every sentence, about the novel he's never finished writing. In a later episode, Stewie starts doing this again, but this time Brian punches him out almost immediately.

* In ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'', Batman is having "one of those nights" when he hears the police scanner report a man attacking a restaurant wielding a ''ketchup gun''. When he arrives to sort out the situation the Condiment King, as he describes himself, has been gleefully waiting for this confrontation for quite a while.

'''Batman:''' (''Batman delivers a single punch to CK's stomach'') "'''''Quiet!'''''" }}

* In the "Night Owl" episode of ''[[Regular Show]]'', {{spoiler|the title character freezes Mordecai, Rigby, Muscle Man, and High-Five Ghost for several hundred years to make himself famious. When the guys manage to make it back to the present and accidentally ruin his plan before he caught them with it, the Night Owl starts chewing them out for it. Muscle Man walks up, grabs him by the shirt and knocks him out cold in the middle of his rant.}}

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Combat Tropes]]

[[Category:Evil Gloating]]

[[Category:Self-Demonstrating Article]]