History Main / SociallyAwkwardHero

-->'''Donna:''' You...go ahead and mingle.
-->'''Dick:''' Mingle?
-->'''Donna:''' You know. Have an [[MarriedToTheJob interaction that's not agenda-driven]]? Conversation instead of an interrogation?
-->'''Dick:''' Why?
-->'''Donna:''' You could use some work on your small talk.
-->'''Dick:''' I know how to make small talk.
-->'''Donna:''' Sometimes you're confrontational.
-->'''Dick:''' No I'm not.
-->'''Donna:''' Like right now.
-->'''Dick:''' I am not.
-->'''Donna:''' Wow, that was adult.

* ''LightNovel/LogHorizon'': Shiroe is a master strategist who managed to take down the most elite of monsters and raid bosses, and commandeered an army to stop a goblin invasion. This same calculating person falls apart when not talking about important business, but things friends talk about.

* ComicBook/{{Batman}}, at least [[DependingOnTheWriter as written by Chuck Dixon]], doesn't really have a clue how to behave like a RichIdiotWithNoDayJob in his civilian identity and finds hosting a Wayne Foundation party more stressful than taking on the Joker. Creator/GrantMorrison's [[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman take on the character]] has elements of this as well.

* While her mother, Ariel, had some difficulties due to being a ''Main/FishOutOfWater'', it's her daughter, Melody, who gets hit with this full force in ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaidIIReturnToTheSea''. It's due to the fact that she inherited her mother's ability to talk to animals. Disobeying her parents or taking action to save Atlantica comes naturally. Interacting with the other kids her age who regard her as a freak? Not so much.

* Tiffany Aching from the Literature/{{Discworld}} books may have bested the Queen of the Elves at age nine in ''Literature/TheWeeFreeMen'', but in that same book she admits she doesn't always "get" people, and she's quite at sea at her first coven meeting in ''Literature/AHatFullOfSky''.

%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* ''Literature/{{Sharpe}}'': This is one of his defining characteristics.
* Literature/HarryPotter has a moment of this in book 4: After facing a fierce and dangerous Hungarian Horntail in the first task, he finds himself thinking that "now that he was facing the prospect of asking a girl to the ball, he thought he'd rather have another round with the dragon." (He later manages to pick up ''two girls'', spontaneously, at once. One to go with him and one with Ron, just so we're clear.) He also feels embarrassed or uncomfortable with excess attention from his peers due to his fame, and confides solely to his two best friends throughout most of the series.
* ''Literature/{{Less}}'': Arthur Less is, at one point, described as being so constantly anxious that, "Because he is afraid of everything, nothing is harder than anything else. Taking a trip around the world is no more terrifying than buying a stick of gum. The daily dose of courage."
* Eliott in ''Literature/FindingSnowflakes'' is this to the extent he barely holds a conversation properly. It's a deconstruction of the trope since not only others and his lack of social skills are to blame, but it's also due to him not even trying to fix them. This is PlayedForDrama and is one of the central conflicts of the story.
* In ''Literature/ThePaleKing'', Lane Dean attempts to converse with his fellow IRS employees during his fifteen minute break and fails miserably.
* Kambili, from ''Literature/PurpleHibiscus'' can't hold a conversation with girls her own age, even though she desperately wants to.

* [[Literature/JohnCarterOfMars John Carter]] believes in this trope, lamenting how often a man's skill in battle is inversely proportional to his skill with women. He includes himself in this category.

* ''Literature/TheLostFleet'' series gives us Captain (later Admiral) John Geary. Excellent tactician and leader of men, unimpeachable personal honour, CannotTalkToWomen if his life depends on it.

* David from ''Literature/TheReckonersTrilogy'' tends to fall into this. He was planning to buy a gun and shoot Steelheart at ''ten years old'', but has trouble making simple conversation at a party. It's sort of justified, though, considering he lived in a weapons factory since he was eight and spent a lot of time studying for school and avenging his father.

* ''Literature/{{Forbidden}}'': Lochan has severe social anxiety when in school, spending breaks by himself on the stairs and hardly ever speaking in class or to other students. [[spoiler:He even has a panic attack in class when asked a question that he thinks is specifically aimed at him.]] However, he is much more comfortable around his family. His sister, as well as his English teacher, make attempts to coach him through it, with some success.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Harry Dresden practically owns this trope. Despite having a crush on Murphy, it took him literal ''years'' to broach the subject. He has a major chivalrous streak that gets him in all kinds of trouble, though he's mostly set it aside. In his own words, he's essentially a magic nerd. There are also other key issues. As Harry is about 6'9" tall, he must move carefully or hurt someone. [[WalkingTechbane He can short out any technology from a radius of 100 feet]] on a ''bad'' day, and so spends a lot of time avoiding electronics. To avoid [[NoEyeInMagic soulgazes]], [[EyesAlwaysAverted he never looks anybody directly in the eye]]. In a side story from Murphy's point of view, she mentions he gives the impression of being mildly autistic. It doesn't help that he hangs out with Thomas Raith. [[HornyDevils White Court Vampires]] are actually irresistible, so much that Thomas can't get a muggle job because [[AccidentalPornomancer he keeps getting his bones jumped]].

* Franchise/DocSavage was raised from birth to be a hero and is both the greatest athlete and intellect on the planet, however, he has no idea how to deal with women. He does better with men, though.

* In a ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' issue, when Kory and Donna were discussing boyfriend woes, Donna asked Raven for her opinion. Keep in mind, Raven is a [[HalfHumanHybrid a demon's daughter]] who was basically raised in isolation, with her main (and almost only) interaction a ''really'' old woman. Raven lampshades this:

* ComicBook/{{Superman}}, while his Clark Kent persona is a dead-ringer, modern writers have explained this as just a humble mid-western farmboy trying to cope with life in the big city, creating some genuine dorky moments when interacting with women--specifically Lois Lane. DependingOnTheWriter this can even cross over into ''Captain America'' levels of DorkKnight.
* Franchise/{{Batman}}, at least [[DependingOnTheWriter as written by Chuck Dixon]], doesn't really have a clue how to behave like a RichIdiotWithNoDayJob in his civilian identity and finds hosting a Wayne Foundation party more stressful than taking on the Joker. Creator/GrantMorrison's [[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman take on the character]] has elements of this as well.
* Barry Allen from ''Franchise/TheFlash''. Unlike his successor, Wally West, Barry would rather, when he is not protecting Central City as the Flash, be in his lab than interact with others. He has very few friends and is terrible at social relationships as a result.

* When ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' was created, this was a revolutionary concept; a superhero who's an awkward loser in high school. Ironically, he became so popular that this spilled over and became [[TropeCodifier the norm]].
* ''ComicBook/SinCity'':
** Marv is a [[AntiHero Socially Awkward Anti-Hero]]. Ignoring his [[SociopathicHero violent tendencies]], even in his more civilized moods, he is socially inept, particularly when it comes to women -- and being ugly as sin didn't really help his case either. This is why [[UnexpectedVirgin he was a virgin until late in life.]]
** John Hartigan is a lesser example. His scenes with Nancy Callhan are awkward since she is throwing herself at him but he tries to remain celibate since there is a huge age gap between them. Later, when his narration states "When it comes to consoling a nineteen-year-old girl, I'm as competent as a palsy victim performing brain surgery with a hammer."

* Harry Vanderspeigle, alien protagonist of ''ComicBook/ResidentAlien'', can be rather socially awkward, especially after living with little outside contact for three years in order to protect his identity as an extraterrestrial. He's slowly overcoming it, though, as he interacts with the townspeople more.
* ComicBook/Supergirl1972: Linda is one of the most powerful heroes, she has fought countless villains… but she can hardly keep a boyfriend.
* ComicBook/Supergirl1982: At this point in her career, Linda is a veteran crime-fighter and one of the mightiest heroes on the planet. However, attending college, making friends and having romantic relationships is as hard as ever.

* The page quote is from a coast-guard-themed movie called ''Film/TheGuardian2006''.
* Film/{{Hancock}} after years of manic depression, drunkenness, and generally being ostracized by the people he tries to help. Taking the advice given to him to heart, he says "good job" to every cop he sees and asks their permission to save them from a hail of bullets.

* In ''Film/TheSeaHawk'': "Him what's taken whole fleets of Spanish ships, can't say a word to a slip of a girl."
* ''Film/{{Transformers}}'': Ladies and Gentlemen...''Sam Witwicky''. He has a habit of putting his foot in his mouth, and [[MsFanservice the girls]] [[GiveGeeksAChance seem to dig that about him]]. [[WordOfGod The writers]] did state their inspiration for Sam's character was basically [[Franchise/BackToTheFuture Marty]] [[Creator/MichaelJFox McFly]]--on crack. Also helps that Sam is played by Shia [=LaBeouf=].
--> '''[[Podcast/RiffTrax Ms. Witwicky:]]''' ''And remember, son: if you meet any girls, make sure to stammer and act as awkwardly as possible around them. Model-hot women inexplicably find that attractive in the movies--it worked for [[Film/SayAnything Lloyd Dobbler]]! Bye!''
* Steve Rogers from ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'', even after receiving the SuperSoldier serum. Due to his pre-transformation small stature, Steve was very shy and intimidated by women and his apprehensiveness remains as Captain America, even as women throw themselves at his feet.

* Lampshaded in ''Film/AgentCodyBanks'' as the director of the CIA demands to know how they spent ten million dollars turning a teenager into a super spy capable of extreme feats of athleticism and combat and somehow they neglected to train him in how to talk to girls. Which is kinda important considering his entire mission is to get close to a scientist's extremely beautiful daughter.
* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'': [[TheChampion Samwise Gamgee]] may be willing to face down any sort of danger as long as it involves protecting Frodo, but is too shy to ask a girl of his dreams out and is forced into dancing with her by [[ShipperOnDeck Frodo]] during Bilbo's birthday party. He overcomes his insecurity by the end.
* ''Film/TheHungerGames'' shows the protagonist has very few friends and intense fear of public speaking, but is capable of combat and [[HeroicSacrifice heroic sacrifice]] for loved ones or the greater good.

* ''Series/Titans2018''. Donna Troy (the former Wondergirl) tries in vain to get Dick Grayson (the former Robin) to just relax at a party and enjoy himself.

* Wrestling/DeanAmbrose. Performs in front of 20,000 fans regularly without hesitation, but is very awkward and stilted in one on one interviews and, as seen on Series/TotalDivas, usually [[INeedAFreakingDrink drinks when he has to socialise]].

-->'''Dick:'''' Mingle?

-->'''Dick:'''' Why?

-->'''Dick:'''' I know how to make small talk.

-->'''Dick:'''' No I'm not.

-->'''Dick:'''' I am not.

* ''Literature/HarryPotter'' has a moment of this in book 4: After facing a fierce and dangerous Hungarian Horntail in the first task, he finds himself thinking that "now that he was facing the prospect of asking a girl to the ball, he thought he'd rather have another round with the dragon." (He later manages to pick up ''two girls'', spontaneously, at once. One to go with him and one with Ron, just so we're clear.) He also feels embarrassed or uncomfortable with excess attention from his peers due to his fame, and confides solely to his two best friends throughout most of the series.

* ''Franchise/YuGiOh'': Yami Yugi is normally very confident and fearless in any game, duel or life-threatening situation but when going on a date with Tea, he is very awkward (especially in the anime where he is actually flustered and yells at Yugi for switching on him into a situation that is not a duel). When he is sent back to relive his time as a pharaoh, he panics at the sight of his subjects and barely manages an awkward "hello".
* Put [[Anime/YuGiOh Yugi Muto]] in a duel against an EldritchAbomination, and he'll pull a winning combo every time. Put a flirtatious girl in front of him, or put him on a stage before his fans, and he loses the ability to speak in complete sentences.

* Shinnosuke Arisu from ''LightNovel/ApocalypseAlice'' is so used to danger that his classmate believes him to be unafraid entirely, and his lack of social skills isn't obvious due to him being TheGadfly who gains control of the situation by teasing others. However, when that fails, he's horribly awkward. Case in point: karaoke is nerve-wracking enough for him to the point where he feels as if he were on a life-threatening mission.
* Bertolt Hoover of ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' is awkward in social situations, but he's ranked 3rd in his class and an exceptional soldier. [[spoiler:Surprisingly, he turns out to be a [[TheMole villainous]] example.]]

* Jacuzzi Splot of ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'' is prone to [[ProneToTears breaking down into tears]] [[ShrinkingViolet at the mere attempt to introduce himself to new people]]. Crippling social anxiety, however, doesn't prevent him from [[OneManArmy single-handedly raiding eighteen mafia-run speakeasies in one night]].
* Yuno from ''Manga/BlackClover'' is a prodigious mage who defeats many powerful enemies of the kingdom as a Magic Knight. Even as a child, Yuno was very shy and timid. Although he intentionally became more aloof and composed to never cry again, he's still very reserved, unable to converse with anyone who isn't Asta until he becomes closer to his squadmates, and at times moping whenever he doesn't want to answer something.
* ''Manga/DragonBall''':

* Sousuke Sagara from ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' is one due to being raised by the KGB and Mujahidin guerillas at different points in his childhood. He isn't actually afraid of socializing, he's just ''terrible'' at it.

* Shiroe from ''LightNovel/LogHorizon'' is a master strategist who managed to take down the most elite of monsters and raid bosses, and commandeered an army to stop a goblin invasion. This same calculating person falls apart when not talking about important business, but things friends talk about.

* Fate of ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' rarely loses her cool when risking her life in battle but is very easily flustered in social situations thanks to having been raised in a lonely and abusive household before being [[HappilyAdopted adopted by Lindy]]. She gets better with this in her adulthood, though she still has moments of awkwardness.

* Shinji Ikari from ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' isn't just shy and awkward, but quite probably suffers from an undiagnosed case of Avoidant Personality Disorder. This doesn't stop him from becoming the best Eva pilot midway through the series.
* Yami Yugi in ''Franchise/YuGiOh'' is normally very confident and fearless in any game, duel or life-threatening situation but when going on a date with Tea, he is very awkward (especially in the anime where he is actually flustered and yells at Yugi for switching on him into a situation that is not a duel). When he is sent back to relive his time as a pharaoh, he panics at the sight of his subjects and barely manages an awkward "hello".

* On a similar note, the main trio in ''WesternAnimation/{{Clarence}}'' - [[TheDitz Clarence]], [[NervousWreck Jeff]], and [[MotorMouth Sumo]], want to be exactly like the other kids, but their dysfunctional relationship often makes it difficult.

* Dipper Pines from ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls''. Especially when it comes to trying to impress his crush, Wendy; in "Double Dipper" he came up with an extremely convoluted twenty point plan just to ask her to dance with him at a party, only to end up fighting and outwitting nearly a dozen clones of himself he created for the plan who tried to pull an AntiMutiny.
* Ever since she first moved to Trolberg, [[WesternAnimation/{{Hilda}} Hilda]] doesn't understand how to interact with kids her age. [[CharacterDevelopment Luckily she gets better with time]], which is why she became friends with David and Frida in episode 4.

* Wirt from ''WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall'' frequently manages to take heroic action in the Unknown, despite the fact that he is, in Beatrice's words, "a real loser back home." [[spoiler:It turns out that he ended up in the Unknown in the first place while fleeing in embarrassment after his crush got her hands on the poetry recordings he'd made for her.]] In general, he fears imminent danger far less than the threat of, for instance, social humiliation at a party.
* Marco Diaz from ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' is skilled in karate and can fight monsters, yet has a bad reputation at school as an awkward NeatFreak. He's also [[CannotSpitItOut very bad at initiating anything romantic]], and is friends with ThoseTwoGuys.
* The eponymous ursines of ''WesternAnimation/WeBareBears'' are always trying to make new friends and become popular, but between [[BoisterousBruiser Grizzly]], [[NervousWreck Panda]], and [[TheQuietOne Ice Bear]] their combined hang-ups make it difficult.

* Sousuke Sagara from ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' is one due to being raised by the KGB and Mujahidin guerillas at different points in his childhood. He isn't actually afraid of socializing, he's just ''terrible'' at it.

* Jacuzzi Splot of ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'' is prone to [[ProneToTears breaking down into tears]] [[ShrinkingViolet at the mere attempt to introduce himself to new people]]. Crippling social anxiety, however, doesn't prevent him from [[OneManArmy single-handedly raiding eighteen mafia-run speakeasies in one night]].

* Bertolt Hoover of ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' is awkward in social situations, but he's ranked 3rd in his class and an exceptional soldier. [[spoiler:Surprisingly, he turns out to be a [[TheMole villainous]] example.]]
* Shinji Ikari from ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' isn't just shy and awkward, but quite probably suffers from an undiagnosed case of Avoidant Personality Disorder. This doesn't stop him from becoming the best Eva pilot midway through the series.

* Shinnosuke Arisu from ''LightNovel/ApocalypseAlice'' is so used to danger that his classmate believes him to be unafraid entirely, and his lack of social skills isn't obvious due to him being TheGadfly who gains control of the situation by teasing others. However, when that fails, he's horribly awkward. Case in point: karaoke is nerve-wracking enough for him to the point where he feels as if he were on a life-threatening mission.
* Put [[Anime/YuGiOh Yugi Muto]] in a duel against an EldritchAbomination, and he'll pull a winning combo every time. Put a flirtatious girl in front of him, or put him on a stage before his fans, and he loses the ability to speak in complete sentences.
* Shiroe from ''LightNovel/LogHorizon'' is a master strategist who managed to take down the most elite of monsters and raid bosses, and commandeered an army to stop a goblin invasion. This same calculating person falls apart when not talking about important business, but things friends talk about.
-->'''Shiroe:''' I'd rather fight a dozen raid bosses at once!
* In ''Anime/{{Endride}}'', Emilio isn't the greatest with people thanks to a long RevengeBeforeReason emo phase and his general gloomy aura. [[GenkiGuy Shun]] and [[PluckyGirl Alicia]] laugh over how embarrassed he seems when the Royal Guard hoist him on their shoulders and congratulate him after seeing him in battle for the first time.

* Yuno from ''Manga/BlackClover'' is a prodigious mage who defeats many powerful enemies of the kingdom as a Magic Knight. Even as a child, Yuno was very shy and timid. Although he intentionally became more aloof and composed to never cry again, he's still very reserved, unable to converse with anyone who isn't Asta until he becomes closer to his squadmates, and at times moping whenever he doesn't want to answer something.
* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'':
** Matsuri never had much of a social life outside of [[OnlyFriend Suzu]], and though training to became an exorcist ninja gave him great skill, it came at the cost of worsening his relationship even with her. Though Suzu managed to push him to make other friends, he can still be very shy and easily flustered by interpersonal problems.
** Soga is even more fearless in battle, but even ''worse'' at dealing with people's mundane affairs, [[CannotTalkToWomen especially girls]]. His FaceOfAThug doesn't help things.
--->''It makes me so nervous to be sitting with a girl. It’s far easier to battle ayakashi!!''

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Zuko has never had any opportunity to become normally socialized as part of a BigScrewedUpFamily, but he does improve a bit once he has his HeelFaceTurn and joins the TrueCompanions. Stoic silence serves him in good stead while he's WalkingTheEarth in season two.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'': [[TheAce Mako]] grew up on the streets of Republic City, doing everything he could to protect himself and his little brother, Bolin. As a result, he's very brash and dismissive of people he doesn't know, and isn't the best at conversation. He's not exactly in-touch with his feelings, either, not even noticing his growing crush on Korra until Asami, [[LoveTriangle his girlfriend at the time]], calls him out on it. Like Zuko, he does get better, but it takes a few seasons.

* Ever since she first moved to Trolberg, [[WesternAnimation/{{Hilda}} Hilda]] doesn't understand how to interact with kids her age. [[CharacterDevelopment Luckily she gets better with time]], which is why she became friends with David and Frida in episode 4.
* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'': Danny was already pretty awkward before getting his powers, but especially when he first gets them [[PowerIncontinence he has a hard time controlling them]] causing him to "randomly" trip or sink into objects, turn his eyes green, and other stuff that might further harm what little reputation he has.
* Dipper Pines from ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls''. Especially when it comes to trying to impress his crush, Wendy; in "Double Dipper" he came up with an extremely convoluted twenty point plan just to ask her to dance with him at a party, only to end up fighting and outwitting nearly a dozen clones of himself he created for the plan who tried to pull an AntiMutiny.
* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'': Taking down supervillains comes easy for Kim. Asking the boy she has a crush on to the school dance is another issue entirely, although she is a popular student and cheerleader. Her sidekick [[ButtMonkey Ron]], however, is neither, but still has the problem of social awkwardness.
* The eponymous ursines of ''WesternAnimation/WeBareBears'' are always trying to make new friends and become popular, but between [[BoisterousBruiser Grizzly]], [[NervousWreck Panda]], and [[TheQuietOne Ice Bear]] their combined hang-ups make it difficult.
* On a similar note, the main trio in ''WesternAnimation/{{Clarence}}'' - [[TheDitz Clarence]], [[NervousWreck Jeff]], and [[MotorMouth Sumo]], want to be exactly like the other kids, but their dysfunctional relationship often makes it difficult.

* Eliott in ''Literature/FindingSnowflakes'' is this to the extent he barely holds a conversation properly. Actually a deconstruction of the trope since it is not only others to blame and his lack of social skills is also due to him not not ever trying to fix them. PlayedForDrama and one of the central conflicts of the story.
* In ''Literature/ThePaleKing'', Lane Dean attempts to converse with his fellow IRS employees during his fifteen minute break, and fails miserably.

* ''Theatre/CyranoDeBergerac''. Kill a man in a swordfight to the death while composing a poem about it? It's what he lives for. Admit any kind of romantic affection? Too scary for him.

* Sousuke Sagara from ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' is one due to being raised by the KGB. He isn't actually afraid of socializing, he's just ''terrible'' at it.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Harry Dresden practically owns this trope. Despite having a crush on Murphy, it took him literal ''years'' to broach the subject. He has a major chivalrous streak that gets him in all kinds of trouble, though he's mostly set it aside. In his own words, he's essentially a magic nerd. There is also other key issues. As Harry is about 6'9" tall, he must move carefully or hurt someone. He can short out any technology from a radius of 100 feet on a ''bad'' day, and so spends a lot of time avoiding electronics. To avoid soulgazes, he never looks anybody directly in the eye. In a side story from Murphy's point of view, she mentions he gives the impression of being mildly autistic. It doesn't help that he hangs out with Thomas Raith. White Court Vampires are actually irresistible, so much that Thomas can't get a muggle job because he keeps getting his bones jumped.

** Matsuri never had much of a social life outside of [[OnlyFriend Suzu]], and though training to became an exorcist ninja gave him great skill, it came at the cost of worsening his relationship even with her. Though Suzu managed to push him to make other friends, he can still be very shy and easily-flustered by interpersonal problems.

* Franchise/{{Batman}}, at least [[DependingOnTheWriter as written by Chuck Dixon]], doesn't really have a clue how to behave like a RichIdiotWithNoDayJob in his civilian identity, and finds hosting a Wayne Foundation party more stressful than taking on the Joker. Creator/GrantMorrison's [[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman take on the character]] has elements of this as well.

** John Hartigan is a lesser example. His scenes with Nancy Callhan are awkward since she is throwing herself at him but he tries to remain celebate since there is a huge age-gap between them. Later, when his narration states "When it comes to consoling a nineteen year old girl, I'm as competent as a palsy victim performing brain surgery with a hammer."

** Yes, Scott is the best fighter in the province, having fought against people with supernatural abilities, robots or whatever you may throw at him, all while being a somewhat confident, cheerful and amicable person. Whenever Stephen Stills [[OnceAnEpisode has a nervous breakdown]] or Kim begins acting surlier than usual, Scott is there to keep the band together as TheHeart of the group. But put it on talking of his past, or about relationships, or even the future, and his awkwardness gets over the mark, with stutters, avoiding themes and acting like a shy kid. He's maturing out of this, of course. [[spoiler: He's a bit of an UnreliableNarrator, but it's not difficult to see when he is hiding details or such.]]

* The page quote is from a coast-guard themed movie called ''Film/TheGuardian2006''.

* [[BritishStuffiness Malcolm]] [[ShrinkingViolet Reed]] in the Literature/StarTrekEnterpriseRelaunch novel ''Rise of the Federation: A Choice of Futures'', even more so than in the [[Series/StarTrekEnterprise TV series]]. He admits that he has a lot of trouble making new friends, and his promotion to captain puts him in charge of an entire crew that he doesn't know. Also, he has recently found out that [[spoiler: he may never be able to have children due to the recently discovered negative effects of excessive transporter usage]], which causes him to become a lot more reserved. Only by having the very gregarious Travis Mayweather as a first officer is he able to eventually connect with his new crew, and he is even surprisingly open about his reasons when he [[CharacterDevelopment apologises for distancing himself from them.]]

** Series/{{Angel}} was even more socially-awkward, especially once he outgrew the MysteriousProtector role and became the star of his own show. His ability to switch from "brooding, tortured anti-hero" to "[[TheComicallySerious complete dork]]" on a dime was a RunningGag.

*** The Eleventh Doctor is outgoing, but still awkward. He occasionally comes across as a ChasteHero — he's a MasterOfTheMixedMessage and basically goes stock-still and squeaky when kissed. When he spends a few days renting a room from an ordinary human, he [[MomentKiller ruins his landlord's attempt to have a romantic evening with a nice girl]], and he starts delivering a [[KirkSummation huge lecture]] about [[TechnicalPacifist pacifism]] when encouraged to "annihilate" the other team in a football(/soccer) game, before embarrassingly realizing he was just being encouraged to defeat them.

* On ''Series/{{Leverage}}'' [[ClassyCatBurglar Parker]] is this, able to jump off a building or do carwheels through a laser security system, she is unable to make smalltalk when she is given jury duty and when she tries to seduce a mark she ends up stabbing him with a fork. She also is unable to admit her feelings for Hardison and [[CannotSpitItOut ends up saying that she has feelings for pretzels.]]

* ''Series/{{Monk}}''. He and his psychiatrist get kidnapped, tied to chairs and thrown in a truck, and Monk's upset because the psychiatrist is on his left when he usually sits to his right.

* Again, sometimes TruthInTelevision. People will be ''much'' more afraid of the way their peers will judge them for, say, taking a cab home after leaving a party drunk, than of the ''life-threatening danger'' of driving their own cars home in that state. Back in the Old Days, a man would rather risk life and limb in a duel with horribly random pistols when challenged, rather than face the ''public shame'' and the ''reputation'' for cowardice, weakness and unmanliness that would come from doing the sensible thing, i.e. telling the challenger to go screw themselves and simply refusing the challenge.
** Quite a few of those examples seem to fall at one particular end of the [[SortingAlgorithmOfTropes Sliding Scale of Testosterone versus Common Sense]]. In general though, strong adherence to various social mores is what makes human society work. Guilt and shame have very little purpose for loners, but instead serve to keep an individual working within the confines of a social structure. Also why people who do not experience them are often alarming and dangerous, or powerful and charismatic depending on what they do.
*** Many studies have shown that the main thing that keeps people working efficiently in dangerous occupations is fear of being rejected by their TrueCompanions. That is, a fireman may become a fireman [[NobleProfession to save lives]]. However when he rushes into a burning building it is most likely for his buddies, not for the people he is rescuing.