Deadpan Snarker

"Wow, sarcasm. That's original."

—Dr. Horrible, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

"Rarity, who knows just when to come in with a witty comeback or one liner, represents the Element of: Comedic Timing"

—Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Camaraderie is Supernatural, "The Elements of Parody"

A character given to gnomic, sarcastic, sometimes bitter, occasionally whimsical asides.

The Deadpan Snarker exists to deflate pomposity, point out the unlikelihood of certain plans, and deliver funny lines. Typically a Deadpan Snarker is the most cynical supporting character. In most cases, it is implied that the snarker would make a good leader, strategist, or consultant given their ability to instantly see the flaws in a constructed plan. More often than not, their innate snarkiness is the only thing preventing the other characters from comprehending this for themselves. In other cases, the Deadpan Snarker resorts to sarcasm because they're the Only Sane Man.

Often deconstructed by showing that the Deadpan Snarker is actually incapable of avoiding sarcasm due to their insecurity about expressing any genuine thought or feeling. This may make them a Stepford Snarker.

While the Snarker has existed (in both fiction and Real Life) since time immemorial, its most contemporary incarnation emerged in the early 1930s with the new popularity of sound cinema and the rise of "zinger" comedy. In fact, it was in 1933 that the word "wisecrack" (the Snarker's most trusted sidearm) entered English-language dictionaries. (And, in a stroke of genius, the word "wisecrack" is itself a wisecrack, carrying the sarcastic connotation of "Oh yeah, you're a real Socrates, smart guy.")

A Deadpan Snarker in a Five-Man Band is almost certainly The Lancer.

Compare The Snark Knight, Little Miss Snarker, Weasel Mascot, The Mean Brit, First-Person Smartass, Servile Snarker, Silent Snarker. See also Snark Bait, Non-Action Snarker, Snarky Non-Human Sidekick, Cats Are Snarkers, Tall, Dark and Snarky, Surrounded by Idiots, and Sarcastic Devotee. Sometimes overlaps with Genre Savvy and No Sense of Humor. A common role for a Straight Man. May wear Jade-Colored Glasses. If there are too many of these, you might be in a World of Snark. Expect plenty of Snark-to-Snark Combat.

Examples of Deadpan Snarker are listed on these subpages: