Line #26 Main/SicklyNeuroticGeek


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12	[[quoteright:350:[[Series/{{Community}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/garrett_5.png]]]]
13	[[caption-width-right:350:"It's like God spilled a person."]]
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15	This character is frequently seen as a sidekick to the lead. Think of him as the guy who will grow up to become a neckbearded BasementDweller. He will likely speak as though [[NerdyNasalness his nose is constantly congested]], be allergic to practically everything in existence, pack a NerdyInhaler for his asthma, and go to absurd lengths to avoid any further ailments. Constantly fending off (real or perceived) threats to his health may leave him a NervousWreck. Expect him to talk about his long list of medical issues openly and graphically whether he's [[TooMuchInformation asked to or not]]. His health issues are often implied to be psychosomatic, or {{Hypochondria}}: If this character [[TookALevelInBadass Takes a Level in Badass]], expect them to clear up pronto.
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17	Whatever the actual level of ill health, it will be a sign of physical incompetence and social awkwardness -- or at least that's what everyone will assume.
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19	Compare GeekPhysique, where a geeky character is comically weak or awkward. GeniusCripple can be this taken to its logical extreme. Compare FatComicRelief, another character whose physical awkwardness is the butt of jokes. These can overlap, of course.
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21	Compare JewishComplaining, DramaQueen, PlayingSick.
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23	!!Examples:
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25	[[foldercontrol]]
26
27	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
28	* Joe from ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'', although it's mostly just [[{{Flanderization}} played up]] in [[DubPersonalityChange the dub]]. In the original, he comes over as the more mature and rational member of the group.
29	[[/folder]]
30
31	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
32	* Melman from ''Franchise/{{Madagascar}}'' has this as his main personality trait, being constantly health-aware, meek and paranoid. The first thing he does after finding out that he and the gang are leaving N.Y. is to panic over his health treatment.
33	[[/folder]]
34
35	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
36	%%* Nick Szalinski from ''Film/HoneyIShrunkTheKids''
37	%%** Who is almost a carbon copy of his father Wayne.
38	%%* Georgette in ''Film/{{Amelie}}''.
39	* Joel Glicker from ''[[Series/TheAddamsFamily Addams Family Values]]'', a nerdy kid who states he’s allergic to “almost everything”.
40	-->'''Joel:''' Do you know what happens if my mother uses a fabric softener?
41	-->'''Wednesday:''' What?
42	-->'''Joel:''' I die.
43	* Cameron Frye, from ''Film/FerrisBuellersDayOff'', spends much of the film sick and congested, and frequently obsessing about everything.
44	* Matt Farrell in ''Film/LiveFreeOrDieHard''. He spends most of the movie complaining about his asthma and blood sugar levels to John [=McClane=] but later becomes a BadassBookworm.
45	* There's one in ''Film/NationalLampoon's Film/VanWilder: Party Liaison''; He just goes by the name of "Sick Boy" most of the time.
46	* Daniel Jackson from the original ''Film/{{Stargate}}'' movie. His allergies act up while ''traveling''. Daniel's allergies play as a plot point sometimes in the [[Series/StargateSG1 spinoff series]].
47	%%* Among the four geeky leads in Film/{{Fanboys}}, Windows is this.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Literature]]
51	* Eddie in Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/{{IT}}'', courtesy of his [[MyBelovedSmother mother's]] apparent case of Munchausen by Proxy.
52	* Joly from ''Literature/LesMiserables'', who is a hypochondriac, though due to the large cast of characters, isn't actually a sidekick. He aligns his bed to fit with the magnetic poles!
53	* ''Literature/SecretAgentDingledorfAndHisTrustyDogSplat'': I.Q., one of Bernie's close friends, is a very smart kid who Bernie imagines would excel at any sport that involved reading hundreds of books or curing cancer. He's also almost as clumsy as Bernie's cousin [[Literature/TheIncredibleWorldsOfWallyMcDoogle Wally McDoogle]] and suffers from such severe allergies that he's sniffling in every scene.
54	[[/folder]]
55
56	[[folder:Live Action TV]]
57	* Cyrus from ''Series/AndiMack'' complains of low blood sugar, needs an inhaler in order to participate in physical activity, and becomes nauseous to the point of vomiting from motion sickness... ''riding a merry-go-round''.
58	* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'':
59	** Howard Wolowitz. He is asthmatic, allergic to peanuts, almonds, and walnuts, prone to canker sores and pink eye, succumbs to seasickness, has an incredibly high genetic risk of heart illness, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking has transient idiopathic arrhythmia]].
60	** Leonard Hofstadter, on top of having NerdGlasses (which he is BlindWithoutEm) and asthma, is also lactose intolerant and has a deviated septum.
61	** Sheldon Cooper is usually healthy due to his highly regimented lifestyle but succumbs very easily to illness (and becomes [[InsufferableGenius even more insufferable than usual]] when he does). Any deviation from his dietary routine results in serious intestinal distress.
62	** In one episode, Penny lampshades this trope when she asks Amy if there was any part of her body that was working properly.
63	* ''Series/{{Community}}'': Garrett Lambert. This Greendale student is usually an UnluckyExtra whenever he gets involved in the protagonists' antics. His appearance is dorky and awkward, and his manner seems perpetually flustered, anxious, and out of breath.
64	* Chidi Anagonye from ''Series/TheGoodPlace'' is a nerdy professor of philosophy who's TheDitherer to an extreme degree and is prone to psychosomatic stomachaches whenever things go wrong.
65	* All of the Dorfmans from ''Series/ICarly'', and Jeremy. Freddie's mom treats him as though he is; this has gotten more and more ridiculous as his actor has gotten bigger and her character has gotten {{Flanderized}}.
66	* ''Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide'': Lisa Zemo, who started off with {{braces\|OfOrthodonticOverkill}}, NerdGlasses, and a perpetually-stuffy nose. Subverted, however, because a season or two later, she [[BeautifulAllAlong comes back looking less nerdy]] and on a new allergy medication. One episode has her temporarily revert to this, as she had allergies again and had to wear hypoallergenic clothing and glasses. This time without the curly hair and braces, though.
67	* Felix from ''Series/TheOddCouple1970'', especially the TV series which {{Flanderized}} his allergies.
68	* ''Series/StargateSG1'': [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] severely with Dr. Daniel Jackson. He wears glasses, is often referred to as a "nerd" by Jack (albeit [[InsultOfEndearment affectionately]]), and takes allergy pills (said pills were a plot device in an early episode when they provided the key to curing an alien disease). Despite that, he is a BadassBookworm with plenty of combat experience and knows how to use all manner of firearms very well, he has refused to break under torture multiple times, and he's at least in the same ballpark as the rest of the team when it comes to physical and athletic skills.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Theater]]
72	%%* The eponymous character in ''The Nerd'' is like this.
73	* William Barfée in ''Theatre/TheTwentyFifthAnnualPutnamCountySpellingBee''. Among other things, it's mentioned that a severe allergic reaction forced him out of the previous year's bee. He also has a "rare mucous membrane disorder" that produces chronic nasal congestion and is sensitive about his personal space (among many other problems of socialization).
74	* The eponymous character in the several versions old Yiddish play ''The Two Kuni-Lemls'' is like this--limps, thick glasses, easily confused. Has a long speech about his health problems, including "I get indigestion when I walk." (The first version was a satire of Hasidism. He's an "ancestor" of the Jerry Lewis character.)
75	[[/folder]]
76
77	[[folder:Video Games]]
78	%%* [[TheSmartGuy Bentley]] from ''VideoGame/SlyCooper'', at least until he [[TookALevelInBadass takes a level in badass]] in the sequels.
79	* Lester Crest, the geeky MissionControl from ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV''. Justified since he actually has a wasting disease, and needs a cane to walk short distances.
80	* Communication Specialist Samantha Traynor from ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'': "I'm allergic to dust. And cats. And public speaking. And I take a proton pump inhibitor for my stomach. And an inhaler for asthma." She also takes what Shepard informs her is a placebo for headaches.
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Web Original]]
84	* Judith Dinsmore, Rachel Tice's BestFriend, from ''WebAnimation/TheMostPopularGirlsInSchool''. For starters, she can't have gluten; she'll throw up blood.
85	* Cody from ''WebVideo/SuperMarioLogan'' during his [[CharacterizationMarchesOn early appearances]], down to the long list of pills he has to take for his medical conditions.
86	[[/folder]]
87
88	[[folder:Western Animation]]
89	* Carl from ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'' is a kind, nerdy boy who never goes anywhere without his trusty inhaler.
90	* ''WesternAnimation/AngelaAnaconda'': Gordy is skinny, sensitive, knowledgeable and has countless allergies.
91	%%* Macie from ''WesternAnimation/AsToldByGinger''
92	* Andrew on ''WesternAnimation/BigMouth'', who is JewishAndNerdy, apparently suffers from eczema, hemorrhoids, plantar fasciitis, and a number of obscure allergies. Colophony in particular triggers a very bad allergic reaction. His Kangol hat causes him to suffer from blisters that literally sizzle and ultimately causes his skin to bond with the hat so that when it is ripped off his hair goes with it.
93	* ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo'': Samson is a nerdy guinea pig who has to resort to his "asthma buddy" (his inhaler) once an hour. His ideal camp is one where everything, from the plants to the campers, [[BubbleBoy is contained in a bubble.]]
94	* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'': [[StrongAsTheyNeedToBe Depending on the needs of the plot]], Dexter may be a short weakling averse to physical contact and activity or an outright BadassBookworm.
95	* ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'':
96	** Ed is a sci-fi and comic book geek who has been known to have multiple allergies, like rabbits, dandelions, eels, and butterscotch pudding. It's implied in "Mission Ed-Possible" that he's allergic to cats as well.
97	** Double-D is yet another Filburt-inspired example, becoming most prevalent whenever he's in panic (in other words, [[NervousWreck every few minutes]]).
98	* Dr. Mendel Craven from ''WesternAnimation/GodzillaTheSeries''. He's got allergies to ''everything''.
99	* In a creepy example, Cousin Arnie from ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold''. He's pale and has postnasal drip/sinus problems, and he's also a CreepyChild with some kind of ambiguous isorder.
100	** Also [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Brainy]]. WordOfGod says that the reason he talks so little is that he has extremely bad asthma, but that otherwise he would be just as articulate and poetic as Helga.
101	* Arnold from ''Literature/TheMagicSchoolBus'', though his claims of illness/allergies ''could'' be a desperate attempt to avoid being taken on the (frequently bizarre and sometimes ''very dangerous'') field trips that Ms. Frizzle seems to be so fond of. The bus's trip inside a flower did trigger nonstop pollen-induced sneezing from him, though.
102	* Subverted by Gretchen from ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}''. She has the nasal voice but otherwise doesn't have any known illnesses. Although she did catch a cold in the episode where Gus [[CompressedVice became]] TerrifiedOfGerms.
103	* Filburt from ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' who becomes physically ill even from the most mundane of tasks. [[OverlyLongGag "I'm nauseous. I'm nauseous. I'm nauseous. I'm nauseous..."]]
104	* In ''WesternAnimation/RubyGloom'' Misery's cousin Malady (an occasional guest character) will always treat the phrase "How are you?" as a cue for an epic description of her ailments, usually finishing with something like "...it's a scrape. I'll be fine."
105	%%* Kyle Brovlofski's cousin Kyle in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''.
106	%%* Chuckie and his dad from ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/AllGrownUp''
107	* [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Bart Simpson's]] [[CoolKidAndLoserFriendship best friend]] Milhouse Van Houten is this -- in an episode where peanut products are banned from Springfield Elementary due to someone (later revealed to be Principal Skinner) having a life-threatening peanut allergy, Bart wonders aloud who it could be. He and a bunch of other students initially think it's Milhouse since he suffers from a bunch of different allergies -- but Milhouse denies being the reason for the ban on peanut products, explaining that he's "only" allergic to honey, wheat, dairy, non-dairy, and ''his own tears.''
108	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' is occasionally implied to be this. He's certainly pretty geeky to begin with (wears a button-down shirt tucked into his pants and a tie, has dorky interests, etc.) When he gets too [[DramaQueen worked-up]] about something, he'll start wheezing loudly. Mr. Krabs also implied in one episode that [=SpongeBob=] takes allergy medication. In the first Christmas episode, he's so shocked to see Santa Claus that he basically has an extremely happy, excited asthma attack and then faints.
109	-->'''Spongebob:''' [[OverlyLongGag S-S-S-S-S-SAAA- ''wheeze!'' S-S-S-S-S-SAAA- ''wheeze!'' S-S-S-S-S-S-S-SAAA- ''wheeze!'' S-S-S-S-S-S-SAAA- ''wheeze!'']]
110	* Harold from ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' has shades of this. A lot of it is [[AllThereInTheManual confined to his online bio]], though he also has NerdyNasalness and is very scrawny (not that this keeps him from [[BadassBookworm having some badass moments]].) Cody and [[HomeschooledKids Ezekiel]] are two other nerdy characters who mention having allergies at some point in the series.
111	* Panda from ''WesternAnimation/WeBareBears'' is a geeky {{otaku}} with several allergies, including peanuts, pollen, and cat fur.
112	* Tino's cousin in ''WesternAnimation/TheWeekenders'' is a subversion: when they were younger his health problems were so demanding that he slept with a humidifier ''and'' dehumidifier on for each nostril, and Tino dreads hanging out with him because of it. Once he finally lets his cousin get a word in edgewise, though, it turns out that he's now both healthy and cool.
113	%%* Gordy Rinehart from ''WesternAnimation/AngelaAnaconda''.
114	[[/folder]]
115

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