Thousand-Yard Stare: Difference between revisions

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[[File:2000yardstare-lg_9954.jpg|frame]]

A character who has just gone through some sort of trauma, learned something they [[Go Mad From the Revelation|probably didn't need to know]], or seen something they really shouldn't have had to, will often have an unfocused, vacant stare into a vast abyss of nothingness, slipping into a [[Shell Shocked Veteran|shock and weariness]] from which it is very hard to shake.

A character who has just gone through some sort of trauma, learned something they [[Go Mad From the Revelation|probably didn't need to know]], or seen something they really shouldn't have had to, will often have an unfocused, vacant stare into a vast abyss of nothingness, slipping into a [[Shell-Shocked Veteran|shock and weariness]] from which it is very hard to shake.

Note that this trope describes the stare/facial expression itself, and not what causes it or anything related.

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See also [[Heroic BSOD]], for what usually goes hand-in-hand with this. Not related to the '[[Flash Back Back Back|Thousand Yard Stare of Impending Flashbacks]]', an affliction near universally shared by the characters of ''[[Lost]]''.

== [[Anime|Anime and Manga]] ==

* In ''[[Azumanga Daioh (Manga)|Azumanga Daioh]]'', Chiyo does this whenever Yukari's driving is mentioned since she barely survived it.

* Tsukune Aono of ''[[Rosario to Vampire]]'' [http://www.mangafox.com/manga/rosario_vampire/v06/c022/35.html has one] halfway through the first manga season. It's desolate, and if it looks like he's given up... it's because he ''[[Super Powered Evil Side|has.]]'' Cue [[Curb Stomp Battle|Carnage]] [[Unstoppable Rage|and]] [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|mayhem.]]

* Tsukune Aono of ''[[Rosario to Vampire]]'' [http://www.mangafox.com/manga/rosario_vampire/v06/c022/35.html has one] halfway through the first manga season. It's desolate, and if it looks like he's given up... it's because he ''[[Super-Powered Evil Side|has.]]'' Cue [[Curb Stomp Battle|Carnage]] [[Unstoppable Rage|and]] [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|mayhem.]]

* In ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', Mustang and Hughes discuss it during the Ishbalan war. Hawkeye approaches, and Mustang laments that Hawkeye has the stare too.

** I thought they just talked about all of them having ''killers' eyes''....

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* [[Rurouni Kenshin]] starts doing this when his angst level picks up late in the manga, though his first uses are after taking absurdly heavy damage in the Shishio arc. Maxes out during his especially persistent [[Heroic BSOD]] and [[Ten Minute Retirement]] to the slum of despair. Scares the hell out of everyone in its first major appearance right after Enishi formally declares his Jinchuu.

** A less pitiful-looking version was also employed back when he was Hitokiri Battousai, aka Teenage Kenshin, and attempting to put off his moral crisis and shellshock for as long as possible so as to fulfill his duty.

* In ''[[Naruto]]'' victims of the [[Cold Blooded Torture|Tsukuyomi]] generally end up like this.

* In ''[[Naruto]]'' victims of the [[Cold-Blooded Torture|Tsukuyomi]] generally end up like this.

* [[Gundam]]

** Amuro Ray of ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'' develops one after extended combat on Earth. Even a [[Get a Hold of Yourself Man|Bright Slap]] ain't fixing that. His recovery doesn't really start until [[Zeta Gundam|the next series]].

** Amuro Ray of ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'' develops one after extended combat on Earth. Even a [[Get a Hold of Yourself, Man!|Bright Slap]] ain't fixing that. His recovery doesn't really start until [[Zeta Gundam|the next series]].

** Chibodee Crockett of ''[[G Gundam]]'' has one while wandering around in a (somewhat violent) daze resulting from his clown phobia.

** Kira Yamato of ''[[Gundam Seed]]'' and ''[[Gundam Seed Destiny]]'' looks like this following the conclusion of the Bloody Valentine War. He spends most of his time sitting on his porch, staring off into space, and flashing back.

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== [[Live Action TV]] ==

* [[The Ace]] does this after being [[Broken Ace|broken]] in the ''[[~~Mash~~ (TV)|Mash]]'' episode "Heal Thyself." While [[Out Damned Spot|compulsively scrubbing away invisible blood]].

* [[The Ace]] does this after being [[Broken Ace|broken]] in the ''[[M*A*S*H (TV)|Mash]]'' episode "Heal Thyself." While [[Out, Damned Spot!|compulsively scrubbing away invisible blood]].

* Some (canonical) DVD specials from ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'' have noted this about Rory Williams. He spent almost two thousand years guarding a box as an immortal centurion. It happened in a defunct timeline, but he still has the memories, which he must suppress for his own sanity, though as the Doctor points out "Sometimes you catch him just staring..."

** He mentions that he can remember all two thousand years he stood guard, but he can't always remember it.