The 'Nostalgia Critic What' meme features Doug Walker in his long-running web series The Nostalgia Critic, specifically originating from his 2012 review of the film The Odd Life of Timothy Green. In this scene, Doug Walker, playing his titular character, is seen staring directly into the camera with an expression of pure, unadulterated shock. He repeatedly utters the word 'What?' with increasing frequency and a rising pitch, perfectly capturing a moment of mental breakdown caused by a nonsensical plot point. This clip has become a foundational reaction meme used to signal total disbelief or confusion in response to illogical statements or strange internet content. It is frequently employed in 'me when' scenarios where a person encounters something so baffling they cannot process it. Relatable situations include looking at a test paper, reading a confusing text message, or witnessing a bizarre public event. Example captions include: 'When the teacher says the homework isn't for a grade after you pulled an all-nighter,' 'Me reading the same sentence for the 10th time in a row,' and 'When you check your bank account after a night out.'