Just because a character's as jolly as a sloth with major depression doesn't mean they can't be funny. A Comically Serious character's lack of reaction to embarrassing, undignified, or just plain bizarre situations can subvert our expectations of embarrassment, hysteria, or insanity and make for comedy gold. When they're not serving as the 'straight man' for all the wacky hijinks the universe throws their way, the character is likely to be a Deadpan Snarker, The Stoic, The Killjoy, or The Quiet One. Expect them to be a Perpetual Frowner.
The Comically Serious frequently overlaps with the Straight Man. Both maintain a serious manner, with the difference being the former tells their own punchlines while the latter helps to set up other characters' punchlines. They may also serve as an Only Sane Man, and oftentimes become the victim of Not So Above It All, especially if they have a quirky Achilles' Heel.
Comically Serious characters often turn up in Brit Coms.
Bizarrely enough, has a very similar comedic style to the certain kinds of Cloudcuckoolander, in that the Cloudcuckoolander's comedy often comes from serious reactions to their own oddities, while The Comically Serious's comes from serious reactions to other peoples' oddities. Might also be the Butt-Monkey in settings where being serious is seen as an offense.
A Sub-Trope of Bathos. A Sister Trope to Serious Business, Comical Overreacting.
Compare No Sense of Humor; So Unfunny, It's Funny; Narm; Straight Man and Wise Guy. Contrast Laughably Evil; Dude, Not Funny!.
The Comically Serious has been suggested to play 8 roles. Click below to see other actors suggested for each role, and vote for who you think would play the role best.
