Just wondering how one would pull off a character who is genuinely silly and yet remains the most serious and level headed one on the cast.

See Unfunny.

There are some things that become inherently funny when a stoic character does them. See Hajime Saitou from Rurouni Kenshin or Jin from Samurai Champloo for all sorts of examples. Saitou has Imagine Spots. Weird stuff happens to Jin, like that one instance when he had to crossdress, failed miserably at cooking, hurt his back after a night with unattractive courtesans ("...My back!"), and various other things that I am forgetting at the moment.

All of those were inherently funny just because the stoic/serious character was involved.

Stoic doesn't necessarily mean Unfunny, although that can work well. You could have a stoic character who is a Deadpan Snarker, which fits well with the not showing much emotion.

Yeah, I forgot to mention that.

What about a stoic character who was clumsy and thus had silly slapstick scenes that might be even funnier if the victim is all unemotional instead of yelling.

edited 31st Mar '11 11:21:15 AM by Rainbow

Two possibilities come to mind. One, the other characters are over-the-top silly. Two, the stoic has a whimsical/absurd sense of humor and sees the comedy in the world around him, even though he chooses not to participate. He's typically a fifth wheel.

Breathless Non Sequitur comes to mind.

I'd prefer to stay away from The Unfunny territory. The character I have in mind likes cracking jokes along with a friendly smile but the situation she is in keeps trying to push her into a grim mood. But she's no Stepford Smiler as she's grateful for the good things she has in her life.

Have you played Dragon Age?

Remember Sten?

Then... not really The Stoic.

Another source of humour for this sort of quiet, serious character is for them to be a complete and utter Cloud Cuckoolander, making the most absurd suggestions and reaching the most ridiculous conclusions in a completely matter-of-fact manner. See also, Sergeant Sousuke Sagara.

The big thing about Stoics is that they display no emotion, positive or negative. You just described a character who is some variation of The Pollyanna. However, a character who cracks jokes with a straight face and no visible emotions and is also grateful for the good things in her life would be a Stoic.

What if her straight face is naturally warm and inviting?

Hm. I'm not exactly sure how that would work, but so long as they aren't voluntarily showing emotion, I think it would still count.

(EDIT: Thank God the April Fool's Joke is over.)

edited 1st Apr '11 7:37:05 PM by CrystalGlacia