History Main / DramaticDeadpan

* General Charles Napier announced his conquest of Sind province, India to his commander (the then Governor-General) in a telegram containing only a single word "peccavi", a Latin word translating as "I have sinned". This also qualifies as both GeniusBonus and JustForPun too.

-->-- '''Batman''', ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueUnlimitedS1E10DarkHeart Dark Heart]]"

* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode [[Recap/SupernaturalS09E02DevilMayCare "Devil May Care" (S09, Ep02)]], Irv Franklin, an old-time hunter, is unimpressed when Dean tells him about all the angels falling to earth from heaven. He responds with a flat "Huh, that's a wrinkle."

[[folder:Literature]]
* In ''Literature/DrNo'', Literature/JamesBond receives a basket of fruit that he sends for testing. The telegram he receives in reply says, "Each object contained enough cyanide to kill a horse. Suggest you change your grocer."
* From ''The Far Side of the Stars'', a novel in David Drake's ''Literature/{{RCN}}'' series: Adele Mundy is ambushed on the street. Three in front, eight in back mean eleven big, strong men with clubs vs two slightly built women. "I have the ones behind," her aide Tovera murmured. She did, too, killing them all by the time Adele had competently handled the three in front.
* In ''[[Literature/TheGeneral The Forge]]'',
** Once Raj is asked, "Sir, what if you're wrong?" "We die."
** When riding through the horrors of a crushed enemy force, Raj instructs a guest officer, "This is defeat. Avoid it."
* In ''Literature/GuardsGuards'' by Creator/TerryPratchett, Carrot reacts to the story of Leggy Gaskin's death by saying flatly "That shouldn't happen." When Sergeant Colon, rain streaming down his face, says "But it does," Carrot is unmoved. "But it shouldn't."
* In ''Literature/TheLongShips'' the protagonists are at the Yule Feast at king Harald Bluetooth. Toke gets into an argument with another guest, but the king has forbidden bloodshed in the hall. Toke suggests that they "go out to pee and bring their swords". When he comes back, they ask about his opponent. "He's done peeing."
[[/folder]]

->''"Batman to all points. I could use some air support, since I can't fly. At all. Now would be good."'''

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'': "Omae wa mou shindeiru." (YouAreAlreadyDead.)
* Ozen the Immovable from ''Manga/MadeInAbyss'' is a {{Sadist}} and likes to do this intentionally to make the harsh truths she dispenses even more upsetting to the receiver.

* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'': In ''[[Recap/AsterixAtTheOlympicGames The Olympic Games]]'', the Spartan spectators react to their athletes winning a contest with a simultaneous "Sparta." while the Gauls are yelling and cheering for Asterix.

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Film/{{Jaws}}'': Chief Brody's quote ([[ThrowItIn ad-libbed by Roy Scheider]]), above, comes after he sees the shark for the first time. It's dramatic and hilarious -- so much that editing tricks were done so the screams from the shark JumpScare didn't mute it!

* When trapped in Moria in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'', Boromir looks out the door and announces, "They have a cave troll." The tone is almost conversational. The circumstances, that ''this'' is important information in an already critical situation, make it dramatic. At the very worst, he sounds annoyed, instead of freaking out as most people likely would that something that can pick you up and throw you with one hand is about to attack.

* ''Film/{{Snatch}}'':
** When Turkish realizes that Mickey is going to win a fight that they have [[ThrowingTheFight promised a psychotic gangster he will lose]], his voice-over quietly says "Now... we are fucked."
** Earlier, before the fight, Turkish's ditzy but good-natured associate Tommy had been tremendously anxious, worrying over everything that could go wrong with the fight. He's less than reassured when Turkish's answer to all of Tommy's "What if this happens? What if that happens?" questions is "We get murdered before we leave the building and I imagine we get [[FedToPigs fed to the pigs]]."

* ''Film/{{Soldier}}'': Creator/KurtRussell's laconic character Todd (104 words total spoken in the movie).
-->'''Sandra:''' But one soldier, against seventeen. What are you going to do?\\
'''Todd:''' I'm going to kill them all, sir.
* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi says "Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan... Now, that's a name I've not heard in a long time. A long time." It's his expression and [[DramaticSitDown carefully taking a seat]] that says it all.
* ''Film/SupermanII'': "Why do you say these things to me, when you know I will kill you for it?" -- General Zod.
* ''Film/TrueLies'': Harry, while under the influence of {{Truth Serum|s}}, announces in a monotone [[ToThePain exactly how he is going to kill two villains]] seconds before doing so.

* Creator/ToshiroMifune used this frequently.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', Mei's parents give her a trigger test to see if she can truly keep her panda powers under control. They first start with pictures of deforestation and a sad orangutan, then a photo of her pouting after coming in second place during a spelling bee. When she manages to get through those, her father walks out to bring a box in. The scene is played dramatically, until Mei opens the box to find a bunch of kittens inside. She nearly loses composure at [[CutenessProximity how cute they are]]. But once she regains control of herself...
-->'''Mei:''' ''[kittens crawling all over her head and shoulders; completely calm and unemotional]'' How... adorable.
* In ''Film/NoNameOnTheBullet'', John Gant barely ever raises his voice and remains calm even while facing down an enraged mob.

* In the ''Series/{{Mash}}'' TV series' ChristmasEpisode, "Death Takes a Holiday," Winchester is comforted by Klinger and says in a calm tone of voice, "Thanks, [[FirstNameBasis Max]]." Remarkably affecting for a simple statement of gratitude.
* ''Franchise/{{Dragnet}}'': "[[BeamMeUpScotty Just the facts, ma'am.]]"
* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', the Ninth Doctor had a few of these (in addition to some requisite [[LargeHam hammy]] speeches):
-->"My planet's gone."
* From ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'': A few episodes into the season, we find out that the Rangers' {{Mentor}}, [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Dr. K]], was responsible for the creation and accidental release of the Venjix computer virus which has wrecked nearly the entire world except for [[DomedHometown Corinth City]]. A few episodes later, one of the Rangers named Dillon, a HalfHumanHybrid with Venjix implants, has become infected with that same virus, accelerating his transformation into a complete cyborg under Venjix's control. The only way it could be stopped was by Dr. K implanting the base code for the virus. What she says next, in a completely deadpan manner (as [[BrokenBird her personality is very deadpan because of her upbringing]]), shocks her team:
-->'''Dillon''': I'm getting ''really'' tired of asking this, but what happened?
-->'''Dr. K''': What just happened was I entered the base code for the Venjix virus. I know it because I wrote it. I'm the one who released it. Everything that's happened, everything you've all been through--it's all my fault.

* In ''Literature/GuardsGuards'' by Creator/TerryPratchett, Carrot reacts to the story of Leggy Gaskin's death by saying flatly "That shouldn't happen." When Sergeant Colon, rain streaming down his face, says "But it does," Carrot is unmoved. "But it shouldn't."

* In ''Literature/DrNo'', Literature/JamesBond receives a basket of fruit that he sends for testing. The telegram he receives in reply says, "Each object contained enough cyanide to kill a horse. Suggest you change your grocer."

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZyxYL753w4 Luka]], a song by Suzanne Vega about child abuse. Have some tissues handy.

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', after Admiral Hackett hears that Shepard managed to [[spoiler:enter the Citadel, which is under Reaper control]], he states in complete deadpan:
-->'''Hackett:''' Holy shit. They did it.
** Also upon encountering the Thorian in the first game, complete with a Jaws reference.
-->'''Shepard:''' We are going to need bigger guns.
* ''VideoGame/{{Homeworld}}'', [[FirstEpisodeTwist mission 3]].
-->'''[[MissionControl Fleet Intelligence]]:''' [[spoiler:Kharak is being consumed by a firestorm. The Scaffold has been destroyed. All orbital facilities destroyed. Significant debris ring in low Kharak orbit. Receiving no communication from anywhere in the system. Not even beacons.]]

[[quoteright:250:[[Webcomic/DMOfTheRings https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/surprise_63.png]] ]]

[[quoteright:237:[[Webcomic/DMOfTheRings https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/surprise_1.png]] ]]

[[quoteright:211:[[Webcomic/DMOfTheRings https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/surprise_6.png]] ]]

->''"You're gonna need a bigger boat."'''
-->-- '''Police Chief Brody''', ''Film/{{Jaws}}''

* [[Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar Omae wa mou shindeiru]] (YouAreAlreadyDead).
* Ozen the Immovable from ''Anime/MadeInAbyss'' is a {{Sadist}} and likes to do this intentionally to make the harsh truths she dispenses even more upsetting to the receiver.

* ''{{ComicBook/Asterix}}'': In ''The Olympic Games'', the Spartan spectators react to their athletes winning a contest with a simultaneous "Sparta." where the Gauls are yelling and cheering for Asterix.

-->'''Persian Messenger:''' No man – Persian or Greek – no man threatens a messenger! This is blasphemy! This is madness!\\

[[folder:Fan Fics]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''Webcomic/TheLastDaysOfFoxhound'' - In [[http://www.gigaville.com/comic.php?id=18 The Psycho Test]] Decoy Octopus is disguised as Psycho Mantis purely to get Liquid Snake in trouble with the rest of the team. He ends up catching Sniper Wolf when Revolver Ocelot pushes her over, thereby giving the game away.
-->Sniper Wolf: "Octopus?"
-->Decoy Octopus: "Yes'm?"
-->Sniper Wolf: "Start running"
-->Decoy Octopus: "Yes'm"

Compare TranquilFury, MajorInjuryUnderreaction, DangerDeadpan, ThisIsGonnaSuck, CasualDangerDialogue.

Compare TranquilFury, MajorInjuryUnderreaction, DangerDeadpan, ThisIsGonnaSuck, CasualDangerDialog.

* ''VideoGame/TombRaider: Anniversary''.

** Napoleon's [[EliteMooks Imperial Guard]] ended up in a similar position during the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Historical accounts render the commander's response as either "La Garde meurt, elle ne se rend pas." ("The guard dies, it does not surrender."), or the similar "Merde." ("Shit."[[note]]Not in the OhCrap sense.[[/note]]).

-->'''Takeru''': ''"I will hold no responsibility for those children's deaths. Understood?"''
-->'''Davis''': ''"Damn, TJ, are you insane!"''
-->'''Takeru''': ''"If those two stay in this world, I assure you that they will die, as well as their parents. And if you call me…that, again, I will break your jaw so hard that you'll have to swim to the bottom of the lake for the pieces."''

* ''Film/{{Jaws}}'': Chief Brody's quote ([[ThrowItIn ad-libbed by Roy Scheider]]), above, comes after he sees the shark for the first time. It's dramatic and hilarious - so much that editing tricks were done so the screams from the shark JumpScare didn't mute it!
* ''Film/TheBourneIdentity''. When trapped in the farmhouse Bourne is asked if the children will be harmed. "Not gonna happen," is his reply.

* ''Film/Hellboy2004'': Liz Sherman: [to John as she ignites her powers] "You should be running."

** When Turkish realises that Mickey is going to win a fight they have promised a psychotic gangster he will lose, his voice-over quietly says "Now... we are fucked."

-->'''Ko-Dan Officer:''' She won't answer the helm! We're locked into the moon's gravitational pull. What do we do?
-->'''Lord Kril:''' [[FaceDeathWithDignity We die.]]
* ''Film/TheLittleShopOfHorrors'' (Roger Corman's version). Two cops are talking with no more emotion than if they were discussing the weather.
.-->'''Cop 1:''' How're the kids?
-->'''Cop 2:''' Lost another one this week..
-->'''Cop 1:''' How?
-->'''Cop 2:''' Playing with matches.

--->"I fight for '''[[VillainousBreakdown ME!!]]"'''
* ''Film/{{Soldier}}''. Creator/KurtRussell's laconic character Todd (104 words total spoken in the movie).
-->'''Sandra:''' "But one soldier, against seventeen. What are you going to do?"
-->'''Todd:''' "I'm going to kill them all, sir."

* ''Film/{{Superman}}'' - General Zod: "Why do you say these things to me, when you know I will kill you for it?"
* In ''Film/TrueLies'' Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger's character, while under the influence of TruthSerum, announces in a monotone [[ToThePain exactly how he is going to kill two villains]] seconds before doing so.
* Lampshaded in ''Film/{{Serenity}}'':
-->'''Mal:''' Fear's nothing to be ashamed of, Doctor.
-->'''Simon''' (with a perfectly straight face and calm voice): This isn't fear. This is anger.
-->'''Mal:''' Well, kinda hard to tell one from t'other, face like yours.
-->'''Simon:''' Yes, well, I imagine if it were fear, my eyes would be wider.
-->'''Mal:''' I'll look for that next time.

* In the ''Series/{{Mash}}'' TV series' ChristmasEpisode, "Death Takes a Holiday". Winchester is comforted by Klinger and says in a calm tone of voice, "Thanks, [[FirstNameBasis Max]]." Remarkably affecting for a simple statement of gratitude.

* ''Manga/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'' (manga):