History Main / TensionCuttingLaughter

* The infamous forced laughter scene from ''FinalFantasyX'' is in the spirit of this.

* The infamous forced laughter scene from ''FinalFantasyX'' is in the spirit of this. [[MostAnnoyingSound Probably.

* ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'': The massive laughter coming from the courtroom after [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Dash's]] EmbarrassingOldPhoto is shown almost makes forget the fact that she was going to be declared guilty just a few seconds ago. Of course, this being ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'', MoodWhiplash strikes again quickly.

Laughter that deflates the tension built up over a scene or sequence. You've SeenItAMillionTimes

Laughter that deflates the tension built up over a scene or sequence.

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* The infamous forced laughter scene from ''FinalFantasyX'' is in the spirit of this. [[MostAnnoyingSound Probably.]]

* In ''BreakingBad'', Tuco is the master of this.

* Done famously in ''{{Goodfellas}}'' after a prolonged scene where [[HairTriggerTemper Tommy DeVito]] (JoePesci) appears to be offended at being called "funny" by Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), his rage visibly building over the course of several minutes. A bit of a twist in that it is Ray Liotta who breaks the tension.
* Subverted in ''PiratesOfTheCaribbean: At World's End'' after they escape the Locker. [[MexicanStandoff Everybody pulls guns on everyone else]], and after a minute they all start laughing... but then they remember that, yes, they ''do'' all have people to threaten.

* In ''TheHuntForRedOctober'', when Jack Ryan, Captain Bart Mancuso and Seaman "Jonesy" Jones arrive aboard the titular sub, there is dead silence as the Americans and Russians stare at one another. But when Ryan accepts a cigarette from one of the Russian officers, he coughs while smoking (earlier, he'd explain that he doesn't smoke, repeatedly turning down cigarettes), which amuses the Russians and soon eases the tensions between both sides.

* In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', [[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E22Grave Buffy ]] lists all the ways the Scoobies have stuffed up since he left, ending with "And I'm sleeping with Spike." She then looks nervous as she waits for Giles to tear strips off her...only for Giles to burst into laughter. After a moment Buffy can't help but join him.

* In ''{{JTHM}}'', there's a scene where Devi and Nny are on a date. Devi jokes about killing Nny and leaving his dead body. Both fall silent, but after a moment they both laugh.

* [[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E22Grave Buffy ]] lists all the ways the Scoobies have stuffed up since he left, ending with "And I'm sleeping with Spike." She then looks nervous as she waits for Giles to tear strips off her...only for Giles to burst into laughter. After a moment Buffy can't help but join him.

Laughter is a reaction normally associated with good humor, shared insight, and merriment being had. Other times, it signals that your are not going to get shivved in the back. TensionCuttingLaughter is that second kind, the kind that says "Ah, so the Don ''doesn't'' think [[TheInformant I'm a rat selling him out to the Feds]]" or "So Bob ''isn't'' going to [[OverprotectiveDad kick my ass for insulting his daughter]]" or even simply "Mary ''does'' get I was kidding about [[TropeyComeHome selling her cat on]] EBay." It is akin to an exhale of relief after a particularly tense bit of drama has been wound up, the source of which is usually a misunderstanding.

Laughter is a reaction normally associated with good humor, shared insight, and merriment being had. Other times, it signals that your are not going to get shivved in the back. TensionCuttingLaughter is that second kind, the kind that says "Ah, so the Don ''doesn't'' think [[TheInformant I'm a rat selling him out to the Feds]]" or "So Bob ''isn't'' going to [[OverprotectiveDad kick my ass for insulting his daughter]]" or even simply "Mary ''does'' get I was kidding about [[TropeyComeHome selling her cat on]] [[EBay eBay]]." It is akin to an exhale of relief after a particularly tense bit of drama has been wound up, the source of which is usually a misunderstanding.

* There are several occasions in ''{{Discworld}}'' novels when the narrator notes that characters are laughing at not-very-funny lines, because people who thought they were about to die will laugh at ''anything''. In ''Discworld/TheTruth'', Sacharissa's TensionCuttingLaughter lasts too long, and William realises the tension isn't cut at all, and this is "[[DieLaughing the kind of laughter you die from]]".

* On ''{{Series/Farscape}}'' D'argo and John Crichton frequently did this.

* On ''{{Farscape}}'' D'argo and John Crichton frequently did this.

* Found at the beginning of ''BatmanReturns''. [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Max Shreck]], a villain, and [[Comicbook/{{Catwoman}} Selina Kyle]], his secretary, break out in this after Max makes like he's going to choke her to death. After the laughter subsides, he [[DestinationDefenestration pushes her out of the 45th floor window]].

* ''FanFic/TurnaboutStorm'': The massive laughter coming from the courtroom after Dash's EmbarrassingOldPhoto is shown almost makes forget the fact that she was going to be declared guilty just a few seconds ago. Of course, this being ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'', MoodWhiplash strikes again quickly.

[[AC:Film]]

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]

[[AC:Comics]]
* In ''{{JTHM}}'', there's a scene where Devi and Nny are on a date. Devi jokes about killing Nny and leaving his dead body. Both fall silent, but after a moment they both laugh.

[[AC:{{Fanworks}}]]
* ''TurnaboutStorm'': The massive laughter coming from the courtroom after Dash's Embarrassing Old Photo is shown almost makes one forget the fact that she was going to be declared guilty just a few seconds ago. Of course, this being Ace Attorney, Mood Whiplash strikes again quickly.

[[AC:Literature]]
* In ''[[{{Deryni}} Deryni Rising]]'', though the protagonists are anticipating trouble from Charissa at Kelson's coronation, there's some larking about whilst dressing for the ceremony. Morgan strikes a pose in his finery and Duncan calls him conceited, wagging a finger in the role of scolding priest, whereupon both men burst out laughing, Morgan holding his sides and Duncan collapsing into a chair. [[LampshadeHanging The chapter's epigraph is "For surely laughter masks a nervous soul."]]
* There are several occasions in ''{{Discworld}}'' novels when the narrator notes that characters are laughing at not-very-funny lines, because people who thought they were about to die will laugh at ''anything''. In ''Discworld/TheTruth'', Sacharissa's TensionCuttingLaughter lasts too long, and William realises the tension isn't cut at all, and this is "[[DieLaughing the kind of laughter you die from]]".

* There are several occasions in ''{{Discworld}}'' novels when characters laugh at not-very-funny lines, because people who thought they were about to die will laugh at ''anything''. In ''Discworld/TheTruth'', Sacharissa's TensionCuttingLaughter lasts too long, and William realises the tension isn't cut at all, and this is "[[DieLaughing the kind of laughter you die from]]".

* Found at the beginning of ''BatmanReturns''. [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Max Shreck]], a villain, and [[Comicbook/{{Catwoman}} Selina Kyle]], his secretary, break out in this after Max makes like he's going to choke her to death. After the laughter subsides, he pushes her out of the 45th floor window.

Laughter is a reaction normally associated with good humor, shared insight, and merriment being had. Other times, it signals that your are not going to get shivved in the back. TensionCuttingLaughter is that second kind, the kind that says "Ah, so the Don ''doesn't'' think [[TheInformant I'm a rat selling him out to the Feds]]" or "So Bob ''isn't'' going to [[OverprotectiveDad kick my ass for insulting his daughter]]" or even simply "Mary ''does'' get I was kidding about [[TropeyComeHome selling her cat on]] [[EBay e\Bay]]." It is akin to an exhale of relief after a particularly tense bit of drama has been wound up, the source of which is usually a misunderstanding.