I forgot to include a character that says "Uh, I don't think that's such a good idea", at every juncture.
In many media, especially in children's shows, there is a character who is passive to the point of being annoying. While everyone else is wanting to go off and try a dangerous adventure, they think that maybe everybody would be better off if they just stayed put or
went bowling.
This is what the character says as a weak argument against the adventure. Usually the character is blown off as being stupid, unfun, out-of-touch, and uptight. But the overall portrayal is based on whether the adventure is seen as a good thing or a bad thing. If it's the wimpy character in a group of good guys,
it's bad. But if we're trying to teach an Aesop, then we were supposed to be listening to the wimpy guy.
Usually the
Straight Man does this in in comedies. The wacky guy wants to do something stupid, the
Straight Man cautions against it, Mr. Wacky does it anyway, and
Hilarity Ensues.
Straight Man rolls his eyes and laments,
What an Idiot! At least for the moment.
Compare
The Drag Along,
The Complainer Is Always Wrong.
Examples:
open/close all folders
Film
- Aliens:
Frost: Man, I'm telling you, I got a bad feeling about this drop.
Crowe: You always say that, Frost. You always say, "I got a bad feeling about this drop."
- C-3PO from Star Wars.
Artoo—I'm not sure that's such a good idea. It's a very long drooooooppp!
Surrender is a perfectly viable alternative! The Empire may be gracious enough to— *click*
Live Action Television
- One episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 made fun of the use of this trope on Baywatch:
Mike (or was it Joel?): Now, don't you kids go swimming off the pier! It's dangerous! Five minutes later...
Robots: Ah! Help! We're drowning off the pier! Heeelp!
- Dad's Army's Sgt. Wilson has something very similar as his Catch Phrase, in response to The Neidermeyer's Zany Scheme of the week.
Do you think that's wise, sir?
- My Name Is Earl:
Randy: Earl, I need you to go to Joy's and punch her in the face.
Earl: I don't think that's such a good idea Randy.
Randy: Are you saying that because it's a great idea?
- Kel of Kenan & Kel usually thinks this about Kenan's ideas. Kel's often right.
Newspaper Comics
- Hobbes from Calvin and Hobbes is known for being this way around Calvin, only reluctantly going along with his crazy ideas related to the Cardboard Box (the time travel scenes in particular), and stepping off at the last moment before their toboggan careens down into the abyss.
Calvin: C'mon, what could go wrong?
Hobbes: Whenever you ask me that, my tail goes all fuzzy.
Calvin: Oh, knock it off.
Tabletop Games
- A well-known rule of thumb in Role Playing Games: "When the GM asks you 'are you sure?', that is a warning sign."
Western Animation
