History Main / ServileSnarker

* The eponymous maid from Ted Key's ''Hazel''. Later adapted as a [[Series/{{Hazel}} TV sitcom]] starring Shirley Booth.

* ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku''

* Roland, Kaiba's right-hand man, is generally in the background of ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries''. He still gets in one good shot in "A Grand Day In": when Kaiba asks Roland what he should name his tournament, specifying that he wants something "that has the [[{{Jerkass}} Kaiba]] brothers written all over it," Roland suggests the Grand Prix. Pronounced with the x.

* Hobson in ''Film/{{Arthur 1981}}'':

'''Hobson:''' It's what I live for. (''waits for Arthur to leave'') Perhaps you would like me to come in there and wash your dick for you, you little shit.

-->'''George:''' (''toward kitchen door'') ... did ya ''hear'' that, Annie?\\
'''Annie:''' (''behind door'') I ''heard'' it; it's about time one'a you lunkheads ''said'' it!

-->'''Agnes:''' Katie...where's my cat? Where is she?\\
'''Katie:''' I don't know...a little while ago she got in my way so I kicked her down the cellar steps. I could hear her spine hit on every step!\\

--> '''Stella:''' [[ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder I'm being paid to be a cook, not a cross-country runner.]] \\

* ''Film/WonderWoman2017'': While she's more subtle than most, Etta takes quite a few snarky shots at Steve and Sir Patrick.

* Liza from ''Theatre/{{Peter Pan|1954}}''. She doesn't necessarily start out like this, but once Mr. Darling starts living in a dog kennel and riding it to work, well.

-->'''Yes Man''': ''This is going to be great! I'm going to help you accomplish so much, whether I want to or not!''

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Webcomic/{{Nodwick}} is a henchman rather than a butler, but still fits in here because he's, well, a henchman. If you were employed by two {{Jerkass}}es and [[DumbIsGood a cleric who fuses naivety and stupidity into one]] GenreBlind package, wouldn't you fit in this trope too?

* Erwin in ''Webcomic/IrregularWebcomic'' serves in the German Army under [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany Nazi]] Colonel Haken, yet often makes snarky comments about Nazi policies.

* Mr Kornada's robotic assistant Clippy in ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'' isn't above sarcastically commenting on his master's profoundly limited intelligence.
-->'''Kornada:''' I shall play dumb and run him out of time.\\
'''Clippy:''' A part I'm sure you shall play excellently, sir.
* [[MyNaymeIs Belvidier]] from ''Webcomic/{{Evon}}'', Alfred to Hero's Batman and kicker of ass, [[http://evoncomics.com/?p=1202 when the need arises.]]
* Admiral Piett is this for Darth Vader in ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'', which is a feat given Vader's [[YouHaveFailedMe usual reaction]] to failure and disrespect.
-->'''Vader:''' Your competence and your impertinence continue to maintain an unsteady equilibrium.

** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': In the AprilFoolsPlot episode "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE4TheLastLaugh The Last Laugh]]", Bruce is in a ModestyTowel walking to the bathroom, eager for the bath Alfred "draw" for him. But he finds the bathtub empty and Alfred proceeds to give Bruce an [[ExactWords actual literal drawing of a bath]] as a prank. Bruce is not amused.

** The "Beware the Creeper" episode, where Alfred gives this gem:
--->'''Alfred:''' Sir, something you may find interesting.\\
'''Batman:''' Go ahead, Alfred.\\
'''Alfred:''' The police just received a call about a [[BreathlessNonSequitur giggling lemon-yellow maniac trashing a thrift-shop, but here's the strange part]]: he paid for his purchase with Jack Rider's credit card.
** He has some gems in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' as well. For example, when the team leaves Wayne Manor after defeating some Hawkmen, leaving one out front, and Alfred walks up:
--->'''Alfred:''' I've asked Master Bruce to refrain from leaving trash in the yard...
** When [[ComicBook/TheFlash Wally West]] takes a tour of the Bat Cave:
--->'''Wally:''' Hey, that's a giant dinosaur!\\

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Bronn is not afraid to speak his mind to Tyrion, which is one reason Tyrion keeps him around since he knows Bronn will tell him the truth.
-->'''Tyrion:''' Stannis has more infantry, more ships, more horses. What do we have?\\

See SassySecretary for another variation of this character. Also see SarcasticDevotee, NoHeroToHisValet, HonestAdvisor, CourtJester, HaughtyHelp and FrenchMaid.

* Film/{{Maleficent}}'s raven-man servant, Diaval, while being [[UndyingLoyalty entirely loyal to her]], is willing and capable of snarking back to her when she's [[BalefulPolymorph offended him]] or he [[WhatTheHellHero disagrees with her actions]].

You wouldn't like taking orders from some pompous, rich [[UpperClassTwit higher-up]] for a living, would you? Well, neither does the Servile Snarker. Often the only way to express that resentment or question your employer's decisions is to snark at them for all it's worth--after all, [[UltimateJobSecurity what are they going to do, fire you?]]. Some employers may genuinely enjoy the banter or value the valet's second opinion (even if they end up disregarding it.). Some might even consider them [[TrueCompanions a member of the family]] and know that there's genuine love behind the mocking.

** Zazu in ''WesternAnimation/{{The Lion King|1994}}'' regularly snarks at or about Mufasa and his son Simba. It gets him in trouble with [[TheCaligula Scar]] who treats him as a court jester and makes him sing, with Zazu pressing Scar's BerserkButton by mentioning his brother's name, saying "But no I would have never have had to do this with Mufasa." Even his excuse sounds vaguely snarky: "Yes sire, you are the king, I was merely noting the difference in your royal, managerial approaches." Taken UpToEleven in the stage version to the point that you find yourself wondering how he's still alive by the time the curtain goes down. When Scar asks "What's wrong with this picture?" Zazu replies under his breath "You're in it." Scar goes on to say "I need bucking up" prompting Zazu to reply "You are bucked up ... royally" earning a DeathGlare from Scar.

* Corrick of ''Webcomic/{{Plume}}'' snarks as a way to deal with his often obnoxious and unfriendly {{protectorate}}s. He ramps it UpToEleven after [[spoiler:Dom becomes his new charge.]]

** Taken UpToEleven in the movie ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDoom'', which features quite possibly the snarkiest incarnation of Alfred yet:

* Spectacle in ''Webcomic/{{morphE}}'' is one of the servants of the mansion and has a very dry sense of humor to anyone who he speaks with, regardless of rank or position.

** Sir. Hiss to Prince John in ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood''. "I knew it, I just knew this would happen, I tried to warn you but oh no, you wouldn't listen" is practically his {{Catchphrase}}. He gets more abuse for it than most however.

* Cloak from ''Literature/TheRulesOfSupervillainy'' can only barely hide his exasperation and affectionate contempt for the BunnyEarsLawyer and CardCarryingVillain star of the series. [[spoiler:The fact he's the ghost of an {{Expy}} of Batman makes it even funnier.]]

* Ozvaldo von Hrafnavines from ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'' is a raven familiar who is staunchly loyal to {{Chuunibyou Fischl}}, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, and is willing to go along with her antics, even acting as her TranslatorBuddy by simplifying her quasi-Elizabethan speech. This, however, does not mean he hesitates to sass back at her every now and then. To cite one example, when it snows, this exchange occurs:

* Ozvaldo von Hrafnavines from ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'' is a raven familiar who is staunchly loyal to {{Chuunibyou Fischl}}, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, and is willing to go along with her antics. This, however, does not mean he hesitates to sass back at her every now and then. To cite one example, when it snows, this exchange occurs:

[[quoteright:249:[[Franchise/{{Batman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/batmansnarkshrunk_8960.jpg]]]]

* Hobson in ''Film/{{Arthur}}'':

** And another with Hobson, who is certainly a ShoutOut to John Gielgud's character from ''Film/{{Arthur}}''.

You wouldn't like taking orders from some pompous, rich [[UpperClassTwit higher-up]] for a living, would you? Well, neither does the Servile Snarker. Often the only way to express that resentment or question your employer's decisions is to snark at them for all it's worth--after all, [[UltimateJobSecurity what are they going to do, fire you?]]. Some employers may genuinely enjoy the banter or value the valet's second opinion. Some might even consider them [[TrueCompanions a member of the family]] and know that there's genuine love behind the mocking.

* Linith from ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha''. She has ''very'' little respect for her creator Precia, and is not above talking back or using sarcasm even during her FamousLastWords ("my never kind master, Precia"). Has a better relationship with Fate, but is not above teasing her a little over her being sleepy in her LotusEaterMachine dream.

* Bertram in ''Series/{{Jessie}}'' who usually responds to any misadventures the kids and the title character have (or anything, really) with snarky commentary.

* α (Alpha) of ''Franchise/LapisReLights'' is the RobotMaid of the noble half-succubus Emilia. In spite of her being so fond of her mistress she enrolled in the same prestigious school as her to continue serving her, she is constantly being brutally honest and snarky with her. This is allegedly due to a flaw in her "Linguistics Systems".

The Servile Snarker is a combination of a DeadpanSnarker and TheJeeves (although the original Jeeves, as the above quote shows, can be pretty snarky). Thus, any butler, maid, slave, servant, whatever, who is heavily sarcastic to their master and/or their master's guests and yet still manages to keep their job is this trope. They are often a master of the StealthInsult.

See SassySecretary for another variation of this character. Also see SarcasticDevotee, NoHeroToHisValet, HonestAdvisor, TheJester, HaughtyHelp and FrenchMaid.

--> '''Maxwell:''' Where the devil is C.C.?\\

-->'''Loader Bot:''' [[spoiler:<having just pried a door open out of [[SpaceStation Helios']] thruster room>]] We really should stop meeting like this.\\

'''Kaliban:''' That’s what you said last time.

--->'''Alfred:''' I made you chicken soup. You can eat while you brood, and I'll put in your stitches myself. It will be delightful, I'm sure.
** He follows it up with this:
---> '''Alfred:''' By the way, Master Bruce? ''That'' was sarcasm.

* Scrooge's butler Duckworth on ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'':
-->'''Scrooge:''' I've been slimed by the Blob!\\

* Mrs. Beakley with Scrooge in ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017''. In the first episode, she flat-out says that he's only going back to adventuring because a couple of children insulted him.

* Evangelyne from ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'' is technically Princess Amalia's follower and bodyguard, but in truth, they've grown together and are very much like a pair of sisters. As such, the older Eva rarely has qualms against putting down the little [[SpoiledBrat spoiled princess]].

* In ''VisualNovel/MysticMessenger,'' Jaehee Kang is the BeleagueredAssistant to Jumin Han, who is in line to become the CEO of his father's mega-corporation. Jumin relies on and trusts Jaehee immensely, and not just because she's amazing at her job and taking care of whatever he asks of her (including watching his cat while he's away) but because he values the fact that she's willing to say what she thinks of him (although she's always relatively polite about it). He doesn't mind when she says that his enthusiasm for his business ventures related to his cat can be outlandish, or that he has a hard time relating to others--he's been surrounded by [[YesMan people who have never disagreed with or challenged him]] his whole life, and because of it, he greatly appreciates those who are honest with him.

* In ''VisualNovel/MysticMessenger,'' Jaehee Kang is the BeleagueredAssistant to Jumin Han, who is in line to become the CEO of his father's mega-conglomerate. Jumin relies on and trusts Jaehee immensely, and not just because she's amazing at her job and taking care of whatever he asks of her (including watching his cat while he's away) but because he values the fact that she's willing to say what she thinks of him (although she's always relatively polite about it). He doesn't mind when she says that his enthusiasm for his business ventures related to his cat can be outlandish, or that he has a hard time relating to others--he's been surrounded by [[YesMan people who have never disagreed with or challenged him]] his whole life, and because of it, he greatly appreciates those who are honest with him.