History Main / DramaticDeadpan

* Ancient Sparta
** Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, sent the Spartans a message: "If I enter Sparta I will level it to the ground." The Spartans replied, "If."
*** This attitude apparently convinced both Philip and Alexander that Sparta wasn't worth the hassle; neither of them actually tried to conquer it.
** At the Battle of Thermopylae, dramatized in ''ComicBook/ThreeHundred'', the Persians demanded the Spartans surrender their weapons. The reply was "Molon labe," ("Come and take them.")

** Another message sent during the same war -- specifically, from Admiral Chester Nimitz to Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, Jr. during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which went down in history due to a bit of padding[[note]]American practice at the time was to add nonsense filler to short messages to make them more difficult to decrypt, similar to the cryptographic process of Salting.[[/note]] mistakenly left on the end:
--> "WHERE IS REPEAT WHERE IS TASK FORCE 34 RR [[WhatTheHellHero THE WORLD WONDERS]]."
* In one of the [[Literature/TheIcelandicSagas Norse sagas]] a war party is about to attack a man in his homestead. They send in a man to see if their enemy is there. When he exits...

* This may possibly be a Scandinavian trademark. During a crucial session in the Norwegian Parliament in 1958, the Labor Party had to accept a strong resistance to the suggestion that Norway should deploy nuclear weapons on behalf of the NATO alliance. Freshly minted politician Berge Furre managed to turn the tide and made the party vote no to nuclear weapons in parliament. Party secretary Haakon Lie, famously known for harsh methods, strong loyalty to the US and a volcanic temper, hissed to this young politician: "This might as well be your death sentence!" The young man calmly answered:
-->"Or yours!"
** Berge Furre was actually left alone after this, went on to form a new left-wing party, [[HilariousInHindsight and survived Haakon Lie with more than ten years]].

** Also, "The floor is on fire." (though in this case, it's fueled by resignation as Indy didn't want to hear him)
*** From the original, "Whiskey?" while his face is about to be burned off.

* ''Film/TheLittleShopOfHorrors'' (Roger Corman's version). Two cops are talking.
-->'''Cop 1:''' How're the kids?

** All this dialogue was delivered with no more emotion than if they were discussing the weather.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi says "Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan... Now, that's a name I've not heard in a long time. A long time."
** It's his expression and [[DramaticSitDown carefully taking a seat]] that says it all.
** Alec Guinness' performance has to be seen in light of the backstory. His character has just had the shock of his life, but he also has a lifetime of experience and training in a mystic philosophy of being centered and in control. It almost takes the prequels to really show how big of an effect this is. Like seeing a planet twitch.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': "Gentlemen, I suggest you beam me aboard."

** It's his expression and carefully taking a seat that says it all.

--> James T. Kirk, 30 seconds from being eaten and blown up by a Giant Space Doomsday Machine.

-->'''Jean-Luc Picard''': Mr. Worf. Dispatch a subspace message to Admiral Hanson: We have engaged [[TheDreaded The Borg]].
** ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' used a similar line when the USS ''Shenzhou'' was facing off against ''twenty-four'' Klingon warships.
-->'''Philippa Georgiou''': Januzzi, contact Starfleet Command. Send an encoded message. Tell them we have engaged the Klingons.

A major announcement is made more dramatic by being said in a matter of fact tone.

** For comparison, while the above referred to a single Borg Cube, ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' used a similar line when the USS ''Shenzhou'' was facing off against ''twenty-four'' Klingon warships.

* ''VideoGame/{{Homeworld}}'', [[FirstEpisodeSpoiler mission 3]].

* In ''Discworld/GuardsGuards!'' by Creator/TerryPratchett, Carrot reacts to the story of Leggy Gaskin's death by saying flatly "That shouldn't happen." When Sergeant Colon, rain streaming down his face, says "But it does," Carrot is unmoved. "But it shouldn't."

-->'''Simon:''' They just fell through the ground (cue the rest of the cover collapsing).

* In ''Discworld/GuardsGuards!'' by Creator/TerryPratchett, Carrot reacts to the story of Leggy Gaskin's death by saying flatly "That shouldn't happen." When Sergeant Colon, rain streaming down his face, says "But it does," Carrot is unmoved. "But it shouldn't." Carrot's actions over the next few books make him King in all but name. Deaths in the line of duty become rare for watchmen.

* When trapped in Moria in the movie of ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRings The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', Boromir looks out the door and announces, "They have a cave troll." The tone is almost conversational. The circumstances, that ''this'' is important information in an already critical situation, make it dramatic. At the very worst, he sounds annoyed, instead of freaking out as most people likely would that something that can pick you up and throw you with one hand is about to attack.
* ''Film/{{Hellboy|2004}}'': Liz Sherman: [to John as she ignites her powers] "You should be running."

** For comparison, ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' used a similar line when the USS ''Shenzhou'' was facing off against ''twenty-four'' Klingon warships.

** Another message sent during the same war -- specifically, from Admiral Chester Nimitz to Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, Jr. during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which went down in history due to a bit of padding mistakenly left on the end:

Brevity, as the RealLife examples show, can be the soul of this trope. Ancient Sparta used it, making this OlderThanFeudalism.

* ''Film/{{Hellboy}}'': Liz Sherman: [to John as she ignites her powers] "You should be running."

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[[folder: Comic Books ]]

[[folder: Fan Fics ]]

--> '''Takeru''': ''"I will hold no responsibility for those children's deaths. Understood?"''
--> '''Davis''': ''"Damn, TJ, are you insane!"''
--> '''Takeru''': ''"If those two stay in this world, I assure you that they will die, as well as their parents. And if you call me…that, again, I will break your jaw so hard that you'll have to swim to the bottom of the lake for the pieces."''

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** When Turkish realises that Mickey is going to win a fight they have promised a psychotic gangster he will lose, his voice over quietly says "Now... we are fucked."
** Earlier, before the fight, Turkish's ditzy but good natured associate Tommy had been tremendously anxious, worrying over everything that could go wrong with the fight. He's less than reassured when Turkish's answer to all of Tommy's "What if this happens? What if that happens?" questions is "We get murdered before we leave the building and I imagine we get [[FedToPigs fed to the pigs]]."

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Alec Guiness as Obi-Wan Kenobi says "Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan... Now, that's a name I've not heard in a long time. A long time."

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode [[Recap/SupernaturalS09E02DevilMayCare "Devil May Care" (S09, Ep02)]], Irv Franklin, an old time hunter, is unimpressed when Dean tells him about all the angels falling to earth from heaven. He responds with a flat,"Huh, that's a wrinkle."

[[folder: Literature ]]

* In ''Literature/TheLongShips'' the protagonists are at the Yule Feast at king Harald Bluetooth. Toke gets into an argument with another guest, but the king has forbidden bloodshed in the hall. Toke suggest that they "go out to pee and bring their swords". When he comes back, they ask about his opponent. "He's done peeing."

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* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', after Admiral Hackett hears that Shepard managed to [[spoiler:enter the Citadel, which is under Reaper control]], he states, in complete deadpan:

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[[folder: Web Original ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* The British tradition of StiffUpperLip has led to a few cases of this, sometimes funny, sometimes not. In one case during the Korean war, a British force asked their American superiors for support, as things were [[{{Understatement}} "a bit sticky"]]. The Americans didn't realise that what the Brits were actually describing was a situation in which they had been reduced to throwing their tinned rations at the enemy and had, after putting up one hell of a fight, been forced to retreat. Help was only sent after the Brits had been almost completely wiped out.
* In 1896, Norwegian explorer Fritdjof Nansen tried to reach the North Pole by ship and failed. He and a loyal sidekick, Hjalmar Johansen, bravely tried to reach the pole on foot, carrying a sled and provisions. They failed again, and ended up on Franz Joseph's land, waiting for their rescue. At this point, they had an incident with a polar bear, ending with Johansen firmly placed under the bear, and the bear holding him down with his front paws. The CasualDangerDialogue was invoked, with Johansen calmly stating:
---> Mr Nansen, I suggest you bring forth your gun now...
* This may possibly be a Scandinavian trade mark. During a crucial session in the Norwegian Parliament in 1958, the Labor Party had to accept a strong resistance to the suggestion that Norway should deploy nuclear weapons on behalf of the NATO alliance. A freshly minted politician, Berge Furre, managed to turn the tide, and made the party vote no to nuclear weapons in parliament. Party secretary Haakon Lie, famously known for harsh methods, strong loyalty to the US and a vulcanic temper, hissed to this young politician: "This might as well be your death sentence!" The young man calmly answered:
---> "Or yours!"
** Berge Furre was actually left alone after this, went on to form a new left wing party, [[HilariousInHindsight and survived Haakon Lie with more than ten years]].

* This may possivbly be a Scandinavian trade mark. During a crucial session in the Norwegian Parliament in 1958, the Labor Party had to accept a strong resistance to the suggestion that Norway should deploy nuclear weapons on behalf of the NATO alliance. A freshly minted politician, Berge Furre, managed to turn the tide, and made the party vote no to nuclear weapons in parliament. Party secretary Haakon Lie, famously known for harsh methods, strong loyalty to the US and a vulcanic temper, hissed to this young politician: "This might as well be your death sentence!" The young man calmly answered:

* The German army surrounded Bastogne in December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. The German commander issued a "Surrender or Die" ultimatum. The American commander replied simply, "[[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Nuts]]."

* In ''[[Film/ThreeHundred 300]]'', in contrast with the [[MemeticMutation movie's]] [[PunctuatedForEmphasis tone]]:

** At the Battle of Thermopylae, dramatized in ''[[ThreeHundred 300]]'', the Persians demanded the Spartans surrender their weapons. The reply was "Molon labe," ("Come and take them.")

* Every line spoken by Ivan Drago in ''RockyIV''. Most notably "You will lose." and "I must break you."

* In ''[[TheGeneral The Forge]]'',

* "Gentlemen, I suggest you beam me aboard."
--> [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries James T. Kirk]], 30 seconds from being eaten and blown up by a Giant Space Doomsday Machine.

* [[Franchise/{{Dragnet}} Just the facts, ]][[BeamMeUpScotty ma'am.]]

--> [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries James T.]] [[BadAss Kirk]], 30 seconds from being eaten and blown up by a Giant Space Doomsday Machine.

-->'''Touga:''' You can't win, you know.
-->'''Utena:''' [[TheDeterminator I won't lose]].

* [[FistOfTheNorthStar Omae wa mou shindeiru]] (YouAreAlreadyDead).

* In ''[[ThreeHundred 300]]'', in contrast with the [[MemeticMutation movie's]] [[PunctuatedForEmphasis tone]]:

A SuperTrope to LittleNo, FlatWhat.

* ''Anime/{{Macross}}'': "We may need to call for reinforcements" - Britai, said after the first use of the Daedalus Attack. (His executive officer is considerably less deadpan.)

* Episode 5 of ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' has Kamina and Yoko accidentally crash through a thin cover of earth over a massive pit while Simon and Leeron stand by.

* In 1896, Norwegian explorer Fritdjof Nansen tried to reach the Norht Pole by ship and failed. He and a loyal sidekick, Hjalmar Johansen, bravely tried to reach the pole on foot, carrying a sled and provisions. They failed again, and ended up on Franz Joseph`s land, waiting for their rescue. At this point, they had an incident with a polar bear, ending with Johansen firmly placed under the bear, and the bear holding him down with his front paws. The CasualDangerDialogue was invoked, with Johansen calmly stating: