History PlayingWith / BumblingSidekick

* '''Lampshaded''': "Why do you keep Joe around?!?"

* '''Zig-Zagged''': Joe is a skilled combatant and expert computer guy. But he's extremely clumsy out of combat and has NoSocialSkills, and for some reason the hero keeps assigning him to duties that don't include shooting or hacking.

* '''Defied''': "You know what, I will hold off on the job interview."

* '''Played for Drama''': Joe manages to get his employer and several bystanders killed because he was too ashamed of not knowing how to use equipment to ask and so just tried anyway.

* '''Exaggerated''': When trying to make a cup of tea, Joe touches off a war between UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} [[TheNeutralZone and]] UsefulNotes/{{Switzerland}}.

* '''Exaggerated''': When trying to make a cup of tea, Joe touches off a war between Japan and Switzerland.

* '''Justified''': Joe is so monumentally thick this kind of menial grunt work is the only job he can get.

* '''Deconstructed''': Joe gets abandoned by the main character for the sheer total and utter pain he causes.
* '''Reconstructed''': Joe tries so hard and is so loyal that the main characters value him above more competent assistants, because at the end of the day, he goes further for them.

* '''Played for Horror''': Joe is such a hindrance to Bob because he's a puppet of an EldritchAbomination.

* '''Exaggerated''': When trying to make a cup of tea, Joe instigates war between Japan and Switzerland.

* '''Averted''': All members of the team are competent and capable of performing their functions.

* '''Invoked''': "You remember Joe, that utter incompetent from high school? What we need to do is set him up as [[ReverseMole secretary to your opponent]], that way we're bound to win."

'''Basic Trope''': Due to vast stupidity and/or incompetence the main character's sidekick is far more trouble than he is worth.

* '''Downplayed''': Whenever Joe tries to make his employer a cup of tea, he makes the wrong kind (such as English Breakfast rather than Earl Grey), spills some on his employer, or makes some other sort of small mistake.

* '''Subverted''': Joe seems utterly worthless as a sidekick, but that is just because he is out of his area of expertise.

* '''Zig Zagged''': Joe is a skilled combatant and expert computer guy. But he's extremely clumsy out of combat and has NoSocialSkills, and for some reason the hero keeps assigning him to duties that don't include shooting or hacking.

* '''Invoked''': "You remember Joe, that utter incompetent from high school? What we need to do is set him up as [[ReverseMole secretary to your opponent]], that way we are bound to win."
* '''Exploited''': The villain captures Joe and asks him about his boss' plans, since he's easy to capture and incapable of keeping a secret.

* '''Conversed''': "Why does he keep employing him? I mean he gets them into trouble almost every episode!"

* '''Implied''': Whenever people meet Joe, they make sure to ask Bob "WhatExactlyIsHisJob"

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%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
%%
%%* '''Plotted a Good Waste''': ???

* '''Straight''': When trying to make a cup of tea Joe gives himself 1st degree burns and scalds several bystanders.
* '''Exaggerated''': When trying to make a cup of tea Joe instigates war between Japan and Switzerland.

* '''Inverted''': HypercompetentSidekick

* '''Double Subverted''': ...Which he is also totally incompetent at.
* '''Parodied''': No matter what Joe does, or ties to do, people get hurt and plans are ruined.

* '''Averted''': The team are all competent and capable of performing their functions.

* '''Invoked''': "You remember Joe, that utter incompetent from high school? What we need to do is set him up as secretary to your opponent, that way we are bound to win."
* '''Exploited''': The villain captures Joe and asks him about his boss's plans, since he's easy to capture and incapable of keeping a secret.
* '''Defied''': "You know what, I will hold an on the job interview."
* '''Discussed''': "I bet you this Joe guy is going to be a totally moronic and incompetent."

* '''Reconstructed''': Joe tries so damn hard and is so loyal that the main characters value him above more competent assistants, because at the end of the day, he goes further for them.
* '''Played For Drama''': Joe manages to get his employer and several bystanders killed because he was too ashamed of not knowing how to use equipment to ask and so just tried anyway.

%%* '''Implied''': ???
%%* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': ???
%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???

* '''Zig Zagged''': ???

* '''Straight''': When trying to make a cup of tea Joe gives himslef 1st degree burns and scalds several bystanders.

* '''Downplayed''': ???

* '''Exploited''': ???

* '''Inverted''': [[HypercompetentSidekick While making a cup of tea Joe manages to help several feuding parties reach common ground.]]

* '''Deconstructed''': Joe gets abandoned by the main character for the sheer total and utter pain he causes.
* '''Reconstructed''': Joe tries so damn hard and is so loyal that the main characters value him above more competent assistants, because at the end of the day, he goes further for them.

* '''Played For Laughs''': ???

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'''BumblingSidekick''': Due to vast stupidity and/or incompetence the main character's sidekick is far more trouble than he is worth.

* '''Played For Laughs''': [[{{Blackadder}} Baldrick]]