History Main / NonActionSnarker

The tendency in fiction for a NonActionGuy to also be a DeadpanSnarker. Often, a character who displays this trait is one of the few non–action-oriented characters in a show full of {{Action Girl}}s and {{Big Guy}}s. One possible explanation for this trope is that sarcasm is one way to show that a character is dissatisfied with his life, and of course no guy could be happy if he isn't [[{{MANLINESS}} MANLY]] enough. Another explanation might be that Non Action Guys tend to be {{geek}}s, and geeks [[MostTropersAreYoungNerds tend to be snarky]].

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* WoodyAllen. This is his stock character.

* Tucker Foley from ''DannyPhantom''.

* Joker in ''MassEffect''.

** Of course, after 6 years of CharacterDevelopment, he's gotten slightly more action-y, and has done a number of things his early self would never have dreamed of attempting. Still counts because the WorldOfBadass around him has gotten much more dangerous around him as well.

* Corporal Miller in the film version of ''TheGunsOfNavarone''.

This trope is more likely to be male than female. A non–action-oriented girl may get this treatment, but more likely she will be a more feminine character type, such as TheChick, TheFashionista, the DistressedDamsel, the TeamMom or {{Moe}}.

* Stiles from Series/TeenWolf. At any given moment, expect him to either be snarking or avoiding getting caught in werewolf crossfire.

* Stiles from Series/TeenWolf. At any given moment, expect him to either be snarking or avoiding geting caught in werewolf crossfire.

* Fitz, from the [[DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse Eighth Doctor Adventures]] novels, is a Deadpan Snarker and [[TheKlutz has been known to trip over his own feet]]. Shortly after he's introduced, he convinces an old woman that [[strike:Creator/JRRTolkien]] R.J. Tolkien named Frodo after a beggar woman in France with whom he had a child, as it [[GannonBanned bothered Fitz that she got Tolkien's name wrong]]. Fitz is not just a bit of a geek, but a [[GeekPhysiques skinny one, at that]].

* ''Series/OnceUponATime'': Aurora. She's not a fighter, but she snarks with the best of them, even sassing ''[[CompleteMonster Cora]]'' despite the very strong likelihood that she would die for it.

* Jason Lee as Banky Edwards in ''ChasingAmy''. It is not an action movie, but the guy is a comic book artist.

* Riley in ''National Treasure''.

** Xander, from ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer''.
** Doyle, from ''{{Angel}}''. Also Cordelia, who's one of the rare female examples of this trope. Subverted with Wesley in later seasons, though.

** Topher, from ''{{Dollhouse}}''.
** Wash, from ''{{Firefly}}''.

* Daniel Jackson in ''StargateSG1'', although he becomes an action-guy after the first few seasons, and he is definitely not the only snarker on the show.

* Yorrick from ''YTheLastMan'', though five years of WalkingTheEarth and tuition from his bodyguard toughen him up.

* Alec Hardison on Leverage has this fairly often, given his two main partners for the various cons: [[TheBigGuy Eliot]] and [[ActionGirl Parker]]
* Darryl from {{Charmed}} is this. While he is a cop, he doesn't really stand a chance against magical creatures like witches, demons, and warlocks.

* [[{{Discworld}} Rincewind]] technically qualifies; he's frequently snarky and definitely a NonActionGuy, unless you count running as an action.

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* Fitz, from the [[DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse Eighth Doctor Adventures]] novels, is a Deadpan Snarker and [[TheKlutz has been known to trip over his own feet]]. Shortly after he's introduced, he convinces an old woman that [[strike:[[Creator/JRRTolkien J.R.R. Tolkien]]]] R.J. Tolkien named Frodo after a beggar woman in France with whom he had a child, as it [[GannonBanned bothered Fitz that she got Tolkien's name wrong]]. Fitz is not just a bit of a geek, but a [[GeekPhysiques skinny one, at that]].

* Seamus Zelazny Harper from ''{{Andromeda}}''.

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* Shaun Hastings in ''AssassinsCreed II''. He's even called out on it by Desmond.
* Hisao of ''KatawaShoujo'' has a [[HeartTrauma heart]] [[DisabledSnarker disorder]] that can potentially kill him if he overexerts himself, and is in less than optimal shape at the start of the story. He also [[DeadpanSnarker has a habit of snarking]], [[FirstPersonSmartass especially in his narration]].

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* Fitz, from the [[DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse Eighth Doctor Adventures]] novels, is a Deadpan Snarker and [[TheKlutz has been known to trip over his own feet]]. Shortly after he's introduced, he convinces an old woman that [[strike:[[JRRTolkien J.R.R. Tolkien]]]] R.J. Tolkien named Frodo after a beggar woman in France with whom he had a child, as it [[GannonBanned bothered Fitz that she got Tolkien's name wrong]]. Fitz is not just a bit of a geek, but a [[GeekPhysiques skinny one, at that]].
* [[{{Discworld}} Rincewind]] technically qualifies; he's frequently snarky and definitely a NonActionGuy, unless you count running as an action.

** Doyle, from ''{{Angel}}''. Also Cordelia, who's one of the rare female examples of this trope. Subverted with Wesley in later seasons, though.
** Lorne. The man is made out of pure lounge music and snark.

* Alec Hardison on Leverage has this fairly often, given his two main partners for the various cons: [[TheBigGuy Eliot]] and [[ActionGirl Parker]]
* Darryl from {{Charmed}} is this. While he is a cop, he doesn't really stand a chance against magical creatures like witches, demons, and warlocks.

* Hisao of ''KatawaShoujo'' has a [[HeartTrauma heart]] [[DisabledSnarker disorder]] that can potentially kill him if he overexerts himself, and is in less than optimal shape at the start of the story. He also [[DeadpanSnarker has a habit of snarking]], [[FirstPerrsonSmartass especially in his narration]].