History Main / TheWatson

* Literature/InheritanceCycle: Eragon is always asking questions, [[LampshadeHanging to the point where a description of him one character gives to another includes "always asking questions"]].

* The entire ''premise'' of ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' is Fry ending up in situations that need to be explained to him because of the thousand years that went by without him. Holy crap, there's a theme park on the moon!? Hilariously, on multiple occasions a new character will be thawed out (Fry's ex-girlfriend and That Guy from TheEighties) and become ''Fry's'' Watson, which not only demonstrates his [[LikeADuckTakesToWater considerable ability to acclimatize]] (read: there's still TV and beer, so he's just dandy), but also gives him a chance to show how little he retains of what he's learned. Originally, the creators envisioned the show being about Fry's difficulties adapting to the future, however they eventually realized there's only so many FishOutOfWater moments you can make, so they instead started to focus on Fry being stupid instead. Watching an episode from the first season then one from any after, there is a clear difference in both the plots and Fry's attitudes.

* ''Manga/ThePromisedNeverland'' has three protagonists, Norman, Ray and Emma. The latter is usually the one who has to be explained the plans the first two come up with to prepare their escape from their PeopleFarm. She's supposed to be one of the smartest kids in the orphanage, but is still a bit behind the other two when it comes to analysis power.

* The titular character of ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' frequently had to play this role early on, being a shining example of BookDumb. It's almost mystifying that ten episodes in you'll probably know more about the geography, FunctionalMagic, and infrastructure of the story's world than he did ''when he graduated''. [[note]] This is likely why he failed to graduate so many times. [[/note]]

* ''Literature/DrThorndyke''[==]'s usual assistant and narrator is Dr. Christopher Jervis[[note]]Both Thorndyke and Jervis are trained in medicine and law. Thorndyke also teaches the former.[[note]], who started out as a straightforward Watson {{expy}}, and soon turned into much more of a DeadpanSnarker than Watson, including in his narration. Thorndyke's constant remarks that [[FairPlayWhodunnit Jervis could figure things out if he'd just look at the evidence collected]] often seem like LeaningOnTheFourthWall.

On occasions, you get The Watson being cleverer than MrExposition, which results in some problems, but occasionally works. However, another popular interpretation (especially common in {{Flanderization}}s of the TropeNamer) is to play up the Watson's constant need to question everyone else into comedic stupidity or thickness, making the Watson also a ComicRelief. This version is usually male.

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Once she learned his secret identity, Peter Parker's wife, Mary Jane Watson occasionally served this role for him, asking him things about the superhero business. One of the best examples of her being used in this fashion was in the story ''Hobgoblin Lives!'' where Peter had to fill her in on the background for the story (since the stories it happened in were written ''years'' ago) and she asked the simple question that led to a plot breakthrough. And yes, we are aware the [[IncrediblyLamePun Incredibly Lame]] StealthPun at work here.

* Creator/AgathaChristie's ''Literature/HerculePoirot'':

** The serial "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E3TheDeadlyAssassin The Deadly Assassin]]" is the only one in the classic series to feature no companion, and was done to show Tom Baker that one was needed, since there was no Watson to act as audience surrogate to explain the plot to.

** In fact, Watson often ''doesn't'' act very much as The Watson (i.e., asking Holmes to explain what's going on throughout the plot) because Holmes usually dislikes explaining his reasoning as he goes -- the stories' mystery often hinges on the fact that we (and Watson) have no idea what's going on in Holmes's head. Watson usually either a) picks up on it himself and explains it to the readers via narration or b) wryly notes that Holmes is loathe to explain his conclusions until he's sure he's right, and just follows along patiently waiting for him to solve the puzzle. The "Watson" trope is most likely derived from film adaptations, where Watson's narration in the books understandably needed to be replaced with dialogue, or from the books' various famous prelude scenes in which Holmes drops some near-telepathically-accurate deduction about Watson's personal affairs out of the blue, and an astonished Watson asks him to explain how the hell he knew that. And even that is becoming something of a DiscreditedTrope in modern adaptations. ''Series/{{Elementary}}'', for example, eventually makes Watson Holmes' ''apprentice'', and she becomes an investigator at or near his level, to the point where [[spoiler:Moriarty considers Watson her second WorthyOpponent. Because Watson beat her.]]

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Ros's function, particularly during the first season (besides being MsFanservice), is to receive exposition. She was apparently created for the show to avoid "AsYouKnow..." conversations.

* Parodied in ''WebAnimation/TheAmazingDigitalCircus'', when [[RepulsiveRingmaster Caine]] is prompted to exposit for the latest adventure by his sidekick [[AnimateInanimateObject Bubble]], only for Bubble to end up asking ''too many'' questions and annoy Caine into popping him ([[TheyKilledKennyAgain again]]).

* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "[=MMMystery=] on the Friendship Express", Pinkie Pie tries to investigate who sabotaged a cake she was guarding, and forces Twilight Sparkle (normally TheSmartGuy) into the role of "my lowly assistant who asks silly questions with obvious answers." When Pinkie's methods (which largely consist of making wild, baseless accusations) prove ineffective, Twilight manages to get Pinkie to switch roles. Once Pinkie starts to understand the importance of getting all the facts, they switch again so she can solve the mystery of who ate all the other desserts on the train.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': [[LovableRogue Sun]] grew up in [[ApocalypseAnarchy Vacuo]] and is being educated in [[{{Dystopia}} Mistral]]. He has never been associated with the [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters White Fang]] or visited the [[LittleBitBeastly Faunus]] island of [[FantasticGhetto Menagerie]]. As a result, he isn't privy to the inner workings of the terrorist organisation or the realities of life on Menagerie. As [[DarkAndTroubledPast Blake]] is from both, she is able to teach him what they're like; through this the audience learns how the White Fang turned from a peaceful civil rights group to a terrorist organisation and why life on the island is difficult.

* George tends to be this to Nico in ''VideoGame/BrokenSword''. George is a clever adventurer and problem-slover, but he knows virtually nothing about his environment (Paris). Nico's main contribution to the plot is reminding George being a foreigner allows Nico to be MrExposition for the player without seeming like she's repeating pedantic information.

* Once she learned his secret identity, [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Peter Parker's]] [[ComicBook/OneMoreDay wife]], Mary Jane Watson occasionally served this role for him, asking him things about the superhero business. One of the best examples of her being used in this fashion was in the story ''Hobgoblin Lives!'' where Peter had to fill her in on the background for the story (since the stories it happened in were written ''years'' ago) and she asked the simple question that led to a plot breakthrough. And yes, we are aware the [[IncrediblyLamePun Incredibly Lame]] StealthPun at work here.