Line #62 Main/NonActionSnarker


1	The tendency in fiction for a NonActionGuy to also be a DeadpanSnarker. Often, a character who displays this trait is one of the few non-action-oriented characters in a show full of {{Action Girl}}s and {{Big Guy}}s. One possible explanation for this trope is that sarcasm is one way to show that a character is dissatisfied with his life, and [[SarcasmMode of course no guy could be happy if he isn't]] [[{{MANLINESS}} MANLY]] enough.
2	This trope is more likely to be male than female. A non-action-oriented girl may get this treatment, but more likely she will be a more feminine character type, such as TheFashionista, the DamselInDistress, the TeamMom, or {{Moe}}.
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4	!!Examples
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6	[[foldercontrol]]
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8	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
9	* Ai Haibara from ''Manga/CaseClosed''. In a series where most women are at least adept at some form of martial arts, she stands out as having very little means of self-defense.
10	* Chisame in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' is physically useless in combat; her abilities are completely tactical.
11	* The elves in ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', being about the size of most people's palms, just stay back and make snarky comments when battle breaks out. Afterwards, though, [[HealingHands they have uses]].
12	* Asuma from ''Franchise/{{Patlabor}}''.
13	* Nenene from ''Anime/RODTheTV'' is basically made of this trope. Sarcasm is basically her superpower.
14	* Yukiteru in the English dub of ''Manga/FutureDiary'', at least up until he decides to join the action towards the end.
15	-->'''Yukki:''' ''[to Yuno, while trying to escape a SerialKiller]'' Oh, great idea. Being on the roof makes getting away a total cinch.
16	* Yun in ''Manga/YonaOfTheDawn.'' It comes from being a TeamMom and OnlySaneMan surrounded by conspicuous danger magnets like a run-off FallenPrincess, her too-strong bodyguard, and four legendary dragon-humans, ''none'' of whom could survive without him.
17	-->'''Kija:''' That's odd. He punched me.\
18	'''Yun:''' No, I would've punched you, too.
19	[[/folder]]
20
21	[[folder:Comic Books]]
22	* Yorrick from ''ComicBook/YTheLastMan'', though five years of WalkingTheEarth and tuition from his bodyguard toughen him up.
23	[[/folder]]
24
25	[[folder:Fan Works]]
26	* Marcellus Ardsen from ''Fanfic/SoulEaterTroubledSouls'' is a DeadpanSnarker supreme and can't fight.
27	[[/folder]]
28
29	[[folder:Film]]
30	* Jason Lee as Banky Edwards in ''Film/ChasingAmy''. It is not an action movie, but the guy is a comic book artist.
31	* Creator/WoodyAllen. This is his stock character.
32	* Corporal Miller in the film version of ''Film/TheGunsOfNavarone''.
33	* Riley in ''Film/NationalTreasure''.
34	* David from ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead'' [[DeconstructedCharacterArchetype served as a pretty thorough deconstruction of this type of character]]. Despite being at the epicenter of a ZombieApocalypse and the survivors needing all the help they can get, David [[TheLoad proves completely useless to the main cast's survival]]; the very few times he actually tries to do anything [[TheMillstone just make the problem worse]], so for much of the film, he just stands on the sidelines spouting off condescending wisecracks at Shaun's expense. Eventually, the rest of the survivors stop seeing David as a [[BrutalHonesty brutally honest]] [[JerkassHasAPoint asshole-with-a-point]] and realize he's always just been a petulant {{manchild}} letting his grudge against Shaun cloud his common sense.
35	[[/folder]]
36
37	[[folder:Literature]]
38	* Fitz, from the [[Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse Eighth Doctor Adventures]] novels, is a Deadpan Snarker and [[TheKlutz has been known to trip over his own feet]]. Shortly after he's introduced, he convinces an old woman that R.J. Tolkien named Frodo after a beggar woman in France with whom he had a child, as it [[FandomEnragingMisconception bothered Fitz that she got Tolkien's name wrong]]. Fitz is not just a bit of a geek, but a [[GeekPhysiques skinny one, at that]].
39	* [[Literature/{{Discworld}} Rincewind]] qualifies; he's frequently snarky and definitely a NonActionGuy, unless you count running away as an action.
40	** There's also Ponder Stibbons, a snarky HypercompetentSidekick to the rest of the Unseen University faculty. Ironically, though still a NonActionGuy by virtue of ''being'' a wizard, he's a lot more intellectually and organizationally active than the rest. In fact, by ''Literature/UnseenAcademicals'', he says "I just pull my weight, like the rest of the faculty" in "a way that indicates the rest of the faculty had [[BigEater too much weight]] and [[BrilliantButLazy not enough pull]]."
41	** And, of course, Vetinari (who overlaps with GentlemanSnarker). Except in ''Literature/{{Jingo}}'', where the "non-action" part is thrown aside, not the "snarker" one. In most of the other books, he's a PenPushingPresident whose opportunities and inclination for action are somewhat limited, but whose opportunities for snarking are anything but.[[note]]This is partially by design- he seems to prefer to let a crisis sort itself out while limiting his own (visible) efforts to the equivalent of 'the right word in the right place'. This way he appears in charge, and any fallback happens to other people while letting people worry what would happen if he decides to be more proactive... potentially with ''knives''.[[/note]]
42	* Kyon, from ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya''. The rest of the club fights in some form in some way, while he makes sarcastic comments from the sidelines.
43	* Peeta Mellark from ''Literature/TheHungerGames''.
44	[[/folder]]
45
46	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
47	* Any Creator/JossWhedon work ever:
48	** Xander, from ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''.
49	** Doyle, from ''Series/{{Angel}}''. Also Cordelia, who's one of the rare female examples of this trope. Subverted with Wesley in later seasons, though.
50	** Lorne. The man is made out of pure lounge music and snark.
51	** Topher, from ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}''.
52	** Wash, from ''Series/{{Firefly}}''.
53	* Ianto on ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'', although he gets more action-y (and no less snarky) as the series progresses.
54	* Seamus Zelazny Harper from ''Series/{{Andromeda}}''.
55	* Timothy [=McGee=] from ''Series/{{NCIS}}''.
56	** [=McGee=] subverts this, really. While he's not as action-oriented as Tony or Ziva, he's fully capable of handling himself, not even remotely a non-action guy. And on the other side, Tony, Ziva, and Gibbs are all snarky as well.
57	* Daniel Jackson in ''Series/StargateSG1'', although he becomes an action guy after the first few seasons, and he is definitely not the only snarker on the show.
58	** Rodney [=McKay=] from ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' and Eli Wallace from ''Series/StargateUniverse'' are purer examples.
59	* Alec Hardison on ''Series/{{Leverage}}'' has this fairly often, given his two main partners for the various cons: [[TheBigGuy Eliot]] and [[ActionGirl Parker]]
60	* Darryl from ''Series/{{Charmed\|1998}}'' is this. While he is a cop, he doesn't really stand a chance against magical creatures like witches, demons, and warlocks.
61	* ''Series/OnceUponATime'': Aurora. She's not a fighter, but she snarks with the best of them, even sassing ''Cora'' despite the very strong likelihood that she would die for it.
62	* Stiles from ''Series/TeenWolf''. At any given moment, expect him to either be snarking or avoiding getting caught in werewolf crossfire.
63	* Sergeant Wu from ''Series/{{Grimm}}'' is basically a large pile of snark squeezed into human form. He's also definitely a NonActionGuy, despite being a cop.
64	* Rory Williams from ''Series/DoctorWho'' mainly existed as a character foil and HenpeckedHusband to the fiery Amy Pond [[spoiler:until becoming The Last Centurion.]]
65	* Dr Harrison Wells, the NonActionGuy MissionControl in ''Series/TheFlash2014''. He has a very dry, snarky sense of humour, which is partially due to him being the smartest guy in any room and partially due to the cynicism he gained after his own recklessness [[DisabledSnarker landed him in a wheelchair for life.]] [[spoiler: Subverted, in that he is very much an action guy in his role as the Reverse Flash and, if anything, his snarking gets more pronounced after his true identity is revealed and he ditches the ObfuscatingDisability.]]
66	** Cisco Ramon is also very snarky, although his humour is a bit sillier than Dr Wells' dry wit, and his main role is as the team's GadgeteerGenius rather than anything combat oriented. He's shown to be capable of holding his own in a fight against Hartley Rathaway, but Hartley has no powers and is thus in a very different league to the bad guys Team Flash usually face.
67	*** While retaining the snark Cisco has become much more of an action guy since gaining his vibratory and breaching powers.
68	* Corporal Derrick Hill on ''Series/{{Enlisted}}''. Especially when contrasted with his super-soldier older brother Pete and less competent but super-enthusiastic younger brother Randy.
69	* ''Series/BlakesSeven''. Vila Restal naturally falls into this position, as he's a DirtyCoward in a WorldOfSnark.
70	[[/folder]]
71
72	[[folder:Theatre]]
73	* Thersites, from ''Theatre/TroilusAndCressida''. One of Shakespeare's many snarkers, but he's very much a DirtyCoward who shies away from action.
74	* The Man In the Chair from ''Theatre/TheDrowsyChaperone'' is literally separated from the action of the play (because it's all happening inside his head based off a record he's listening, so he ''can't'' alter the play in any way), but that doesn't stop him from snarking the whole way through anyway.
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77	[[folder:Toys]]
78	* Kazi from ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}''. He, like most ice characters is the most cynical member of his [[BadassNormal team]]. He also doesn't have a proper role within the team (scout,inventor, spy), unlike the rest. He's mostly there to snark at the oddball Velika's [[ProverbialWisdom confusing yet helpful riddles]]. Make no mistake, he's still a heroic character at heart, saving his friend from a destructive storm in the prologue, but that's really all he ends up doing.
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81	[[folder:Video Games]]
82	%%* Shaun Hastings in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII''. He's even called out on it by Desmond.
83	* Joker in ''Franchise/MassEffect'', as a result of his brittle-bone disease meaning all he can do for Shepard's crew is pilot the ''Normandy'' and being voiced by Creator/SethGreen.
84	* The [[MissionControl mission briefer]] from the ''VideoGame/RiseOfTheTriad'' reboot snarks at the player every time they die, and also during some mission briefings.
85	%%* Miles Upshur from ''VideoGame/{{Outlast}}''
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87
88	[[folder:Web Original]]
89	* Dr. Shelton from ''Roleplay/DarwinsSoldiers''' is close to if not the purest example (There's a reason he used to be the TropeNamer). Almost every other character is firearm proficient, MadeOfIron, and has NervesOfSteel. Shelton can't shoot a gun, does the [[TheSmartGuy tech stuff]], and snarkily [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] every [[ActionAdventureTropes action trope]] that comes his way. As the series progressed, a few more [[NonActionGuy non-action]] characters were introduced, but none were as bad as him.
90	** Of course, after 6 years of CharacterDevelopment, he's gotten slightly more action-y, and has done a number of things his early self would never have dreamed of attempting. Still counts because the WorldOfBadass around him has gotten much more dangerous as well.
91	* Cup from ''Blog/TheBlackLegionOfTheDarkLordSketchMelkor'' appears to generally be this, fitting in as well with the geeky aspects associated. She tends to not participate in the more extreme or strange conquests of Sketch, and sometimes even calls her out on them. Many of her comments regarding, well, anything, tend to be sarcastic. Subverted, in that she punched a guy out for making fun of feminism, and will stand up for herself, even if that means standing against the majority.
92	* Super Kami Guru from WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged spends most of Season 2 sitting on his throne, occasionally unlocking a character's full potential, but mostly making snide remarks to anyone within earshot. Even when Freeza showed up at his lookout, asking for technical support...
93	-->'''Guru:''' Nail, what does he want?
94	-->'''Nail:''' He's asking how to use the Dragon Balls!
95	-->'''Guru:''' Did you tell him to work the shaft?
96	-->'''Nail:''' Yes, Lord Guru!
97	-->'''Guru:''' Good work, Nail.
98	-->'''Freeza:''' I have the distinct impression you're going to be difficult.
99	-->'''Nail:''' Well sir, if you're having a problem with our customer support, you can call 1-800-EAT-A-D*CK.
100	-->'''Guru:''' [[RunningGag We]] [[AnalogyBackfire don't]] [[BizarreAlienBiology even]] ''[[OneGenderRace have]]'' [[NonHumansLackAttributes those]]!
101	* ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'': Fire Guy isn't the only character who is useless in combat, but he ''is'' the only one of them who cracks wise the whole time.
102	[[/folder]]
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104	[[folder:Western Animation]]
105	* Gwen Tennyson from ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' started out as this (a natural result of having a cousin with superpowers that you never thought too highly of) but grew out of it when she started learning magic.
106	%%* Tucker Foley from ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom''.
107	* Noah in ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' might be the king of this trope, to the point where he was eliminated very early in season one just because [[LazyBum he wouldn't participate in the challenge, instead just sitting on the sidelines the whole time]] [[{{Hypocrite}} and then criticizing the team for losing despite the fact that he did nothing to help]]. Fortunately, [[CharacterDevelopment he becomes far more active]] in ''World Tour'' but retains his signature snarker nature.
108	** Dave of the ''Pahkitew Island'' season counts too. He constantly gripes about his teammates' weirdness and eccentricity but is incapable of contributing much to challenges due to his NeatFreak tendencies and just lacking any particular strengths.
109	* While [[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers Dr. Hartford]] is quite capable with fisticuffs, a blaster, and a sword, he is a PlayfulHacker and BadassNormal who is grossly underpowered compared to his more combat-oriented teammates. Doc's snark, however, could be licenced as a deadly weapon.
110	%%* Pretty much Jamie's character in ''WesternAnimation/MegasXLR''.
111	[[/folder]]
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Context Main / NonActionSnarker