History Main / BackstabBackfire

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11730208/17/Darth-Vader-Hero-of-Naboo Darth Vader: Hero of Naboo]]'', Palpatine betrays Plagueis when it seems the latter is replacing him with Darth Vader. Besides Plagueis proving to be his equal, Palpatine eventually realizes that his mentor never intended to replace him. Plagueis agrees but solemnly warns his apprentice that "It's too late to turn off his lightsaber".

* Gaston in ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast'' (although original production materials did indicate that this [[DrivenToSuicide may not]] [[TakingYouWithMe have been a backfire]]).

* The Disney version of ''Disney/PeterPan'' has Peter, after his climatic duel with Hook on the ship, in which he puts HonorBeforeReason, takes Hook's sword and threatens him with it, to which Hook says something to the tune of "PleaseIWillDoAnything" Peter complies, but only if Hook says that he is a codfish. Hook is only too happy to oblige and Peter decides to let him go. But when Peter crows in triumph, Hook raises his hook at Peter to backstab him with it. However, Peter, with his ability to fly, takes to the air in the nick of time, leaving Hook to lose his footing on the mainbrace where they dueled and fall right into the jaws of the waiting crocodile.
* ''Disney/TheLionKing'': Cornered by his enraged nephew, Scar vainly [[NeverMyFault tries to shift the blame to the hyenas]]. Unfortunately for him, the hyenas overhear and become extremely pissed. Simba then chooses exile on his treacherous uncle, [[IronicEcho repeating the last words Scar spoke to him as a cub]]. Scar instead sneak attacks Simba with some hot coal to try and put him off balance. Though it does wing Simba, he's still as combat adept as ever and eventually tosses him off a cliff down to where the enraged and ''very hungry'' hyenas await and they attack their traitorous boss and literally tear him apart.

* A variation occurs in ''Franchise/StarWars: VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed''. After Palpatine was defeated by Galen Marek, Palpatine urges Marek to submit to the Dark Side and then kill him using the Dark Side. Marek, with some help from Kota, ultimately refuses. However, Palpatine doesn't try to backstab Marek. Instead, he tries to attack Kota for interfering, resulting in Marek holding back the Emperor's attacks long enough for the rebels to escape safely. It counts as a backfire because although Palpatine ultimately survived, those actions also ultimately robbed him of a proper replacement apprentice of Darth Vader, since his holding back the Emperor's powers (as well as [[HeroicRROD bearhugging the Emperor and then proceeding to detonate most of the throne room]]) [[spoiler:[[HeroicSacrifice killed Marek in the process]]]].

* A downplayed example in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'': [[spoiler:after the final battle with Kai Leng, Shepard & company ignore the fallen foe to investigate the Illusive Man's computers. Kai Leng attempts to sneak up on Shepard and backstab him/her. If the player makes the Renegade interrupt, Shepard [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome smashes Kai Leng's blade with his/her gauntlet, readies his/her own Omni-blade, and stabs Kai Leng in the gut]], gaining revenge for a fallen comrade in the process]].

* In ''Literature/LadyOfTheLake'', the final novel of the ''[[Franchise/TheWitcher Witcher]]'' series, [[spoiler: after besting her ArchEnemy, the psychopathic BountyHunter Leo Bonhart, a man who's abused her and tortured and killed those she cared about, and has frequently alluded to his desire to rape and kill her, when Ciri has Bonhart at her mercy, he [[AintTooProudToBeg wastes no time in begging for his life]], insisting [[VillainsWantMercy Ciri wouldn't kill an unarmed, defenceless old man]]. When Ciri turns her back, Bonhart pulls a knife and attacks; Ciri [[NoSneakAttacks hears him coming]], dodges his attack and [[SlashedThroat opens Bonhart's throat with her sword]], then watches him bleed to death with a [[NotAfraidOfYouAnyMore defiant look on her face]].]]

* In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' [[spoiler:this is the last mistake ComicBook/TheJoker makes. Batman has the cure for the Joker's blood poisoning, but asks why on Earth he should save the life of someone who's caused so much death and destruction. Joker stabs Batman in the shoulder (apparently intending to steal the cure), but this causes Batman to drop the vial, robbing Joker of his last chance. As he dies, Batman makes one final observation:]]
--> '''Batman:''' Do you wanna know something funny? Even after everything you've done...I would have saved you.
--> '''[[spoiler:ComicBook/TheJoker]]''': [[spoiler:(''laughing'') [[FamousLastWords That actually is..]] [[ActuallyPrettyFunny pretty funny!]]]]

* In ''Videogame/BorderlandsThePreSequel'', upon reaching the Meriff's office and getting all the info he wants from him, Jack decides to let the guy go. The Meriff then takes the chance to shoot him when he turns around, but [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy spectacularly misses the very close-range shot]] [[EpicFail and then jams his gun]]. Jack kills him and from that point on decides that [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished showing mercy to anyone will just end up biting you in the ass]], [[StartOfDarkness so he stops]].

A form of SelfDisposingVillain. Not to be confused with TakingYouWithMe, which differs from this trope in two important ways: first, "Bob" is either dying or expects to die in the process of killing "Alice"; and second, Alice has not previously made an offer to spare Bob's life. See also AssassinOutclassin for the case of the attacker being backfired by by the supposed victim. Occasionally overlaps with DeathSeeker and SuicideByCop, if Bob goes through it knowing he'll die and welcoming it, and indeed may {{invoke}} this trope to get it.

[[folder:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

* In ''Anime/{{Gundam 00}}'', [[spoiler:Lyle]] is in a position to take revenge on [[spoiler:[[BloodKnight Ali Al-Saachez]]]] for killing [[spoiler:his brother Neil]], but ultimately decides to give him one last chance. As he lowers his gun, [[spoiler:Ali]] yells "DUMBASS!" and grabs his gun... then [[spoiler:Lyle]] proves why he's called '''Lockon''' Stratos as he [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome lands a headshot with a lightning-fast quickdraw]], following up with a few more torso shots to [[DoubleTap make sure he's dead]].

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* In ''Literature/LadyOfTheLake'', the final novel of the ''[[Franchise/TheWitcher Witcher]] series, [[spoiler: after besting her ArchEnemy, the psychopathic BountyHunter Leo Bonhart, a man who's abused her and tortured and killed those she cared about, and has frequently alluded to his desire to rape and kill her, when Ciri has Bonhart at her mercy, he [[AintTooProudToBeg wastes no time in begging for his life]], insisting [[VillainsWantMercy Ciri wouldn't kill an unarmed,defenceless old man]]. When Ciri turns her back, Bonhart pulls a knife and attacks; Ciri hears him coming, dodges his attack and [[SlashedThroat opens Bonhart's throat with her sword]], then watches him bleed to death with a [[NotAfraidOfYouAnyMore defiant look on her face]].]]

A form of SelfDisposingVillain. Not to be confused with TakingYouWithMe, which differs from this trope in two important ways: first, "Bob" is either dying or expects to die in the process of killing "Alice"; and second, Alice has not previously made an offer to spare Bob's life. See also AssassinOutclassin for the case of the attacker being backfired by by the supposed victim.

* ''Disney/TheLionKing'': Cornered by his enraged nephew, Scar [[NeverMyFault tries to shift the blame to the hyenas]], but not only does Simba not buy it, but the hyenas overhear and become extremely pissed. Simba chooses exile on his traitorous uncle, [[IronicEcho repeating the last words Scar spoke to him as a cub]]. Scar instead sneak attacks Simba with some hot coal to try and put him off balance. Though it does wing Simba, he's still as combat adept as ever and eventually tosses him off a cliff down to where the enraged and ''very hungry'' hyenas await and they attack their traitorous boss and literally tear him apart.

**

* ''Disney/TheLionKing'':
** Scar [[JustGivingOrders tries to shift the blame to the hyenas]] before his final confrontation with Simba. Unfortunately for him, the hyenas overhear and they aren't very pleased, and they were hungry...
** Additionally, ''during'' the two's faceoff, Simba actually does have Scar at his mercy but instead chooses to exile him, [[IronicEcho repeating the last words Scar spoke to him as a cub]]. Scar instead sneak attacks Simba with some hot coal to try and put him off balance. Though it does wing Simba, he's still as combat adept as ever and eventually tosses him off a cliff down to where the above-mentioned hyenas are.

* ''VideoGame/TheEvilWithin2'': A dying [[MadArtist Stefano]] attempts 'one last photo' with his MagicCamera as Sebastian walks away: Seb whips around and drills a bullet through said camera [[BoomHeadshot and its owner's deranged brains.]]

* In an early episode of ''Anime/RaveMaster'', Haru Glory spares Lance's life, citing ThouShaltNotKill. The bad guy tries to attack him from behind, only for Haru to hold his sword out and the Lance to (non-fatally) impale himself.

-->"No second chances. I'm that sort of a man."

** The fight with Mercenary Tao in the Red Ribbon Army Saga. Tao promises that he'll change his ways, but then throws a grenade at Goku as soon as the latter lets his guard down. Goku then throws it right back at him, resulting in it exploding in his face.
** In the fight between Frieza and Super Saiyan Goku, Goku spares Frieza ''twice''. The first time, Frieza's been beaten so badly that he's not even a challenge anymore, so Goku tries to leave, but nearly gets sliced open. The second time, [[spoiler:[[HoistByHisOwnPetard Frieza is cut in half by his own energy disc]]. Goku gives Frieza some of his energy to help him live, and starts flying away... only for Frieza to try to blast him again. One more blast from Goku ends the fight.]]

* Towards the climax of the ''Series/HoratioHornblower'' movie "The Even Chance"[[note]] Known as [[MarketBasedTitle "The Duel" in the US]][[/note]], Hornblower decides that Simpson is "Not worth the powder". Simpson attempts to stab him in the back for humiliating him, and is dispatched by [[TheCaptain Captain Pellew]] [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome via a several hundred yard precision snipe with a musket]].
-->'''Bowles:''' Exceptional shot, if I may say so, sir.\\

** Scar [[NeverMyFault tries to shift the blame to the hyenas]] before his final confrontation with Simba. Unfortunately for him, the hyenas overhear and they aren't very pleased, and they were hungry...

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWho2005CSTheChristmasInvasion "The Christmas Invasion"]], the Tenth Doctor did this to his first opponent without looking and using a ''satsuma''. Which is a small fruit, to the uninitiated.

->''"I warned you...but you didn't listen! I gave you one last chance to walk away, and you BLEW IT! FRIEEZAAAA!"''

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', the Tenth Doctor did this to his first opponent without looking and ''using a satsuma''. Which is a small fruit, to the uninitiated.
--> "No second chances. I'm that sort of a man."

* This happened at the end of a ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'' episode entitled "Criminal". One man has a gun to the head of another, intending to kill him, but is eventually convinced to spare his life and let the police take him into custody for a crime he committed. As he walks away, the guy he wanted to kill picks up the discarded gun and attempts to shoot him in the back--only to be gunned down by a police sniper.
* A villanous example occurs in the season 2 finale of the 2009 re-imaging of ''Series/{{V 2009}}''. The [[LaResistance Fifth Column]] convinces Lisa to kill her mother Anna (the supreme commander of all Vs), so that Anna's deposed mother Diana can re-take her role as Queen. To this end, they fake a kidnapping but leave clues for Anna to follow. When Anna arrives to the warehouse where Lisa is being held, she frees her daughter and turns around. Lisa quietly grabs a gun from a nearby drawer and points it at her mother. Anna sees it in a reflection and starts acting emotional, not letting in that she knows. She convinces Lisa that she has changed, and Lisa does not shoot. This is all a lie, of course. She kills Diana, imprisons Lisa, and forces her to watch as Lisa's sister (who looks like her) sleeps with Lisa's boyfriend and, possibly, kills him.
* On ''Series/TrueBlood'', Sam Merlotte gets into a fight with Marcus Bozeman, with both wanting to kill the other. Sam wins and chokes Marcus almost to death, but holds back at the last minute, opting instead to hit him with a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech and telling him to live with those truths before turning his back and walking away. Marcus is pisssed and goes for a gun lying nearby. He's tackled by Alcide before he can shoot Sam. Alcide accidentally hits him in the throat and kills him.

* Towards the climax of the ''Series/HoratioHornblower'' movie "The Even Chance"[[note]] Known as [[MarketBasedTitle "The Duel" in the US]][[/note]], Hornblower decides that Simpson is "Not worth the powder". Simpson attempts to stab him in the back for humiliating him, and is dispatched by [[TheCaptain Captain Pellew]] [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome via a several hundred yard precision snipe with a musket]].
-->'''Bowles:''' Exceptional shot, if I may say so, sir.
-->'''Captain Pellew:''' You may, Mister Bowles. You may.

* Happens to [[TheStarscream Starscream]] [[TooDumbToLive all the time]] throughout all ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' continuities.

* Towards the climax of the ''Series/HoratioHornblower'' movie "The Even Chance"[[note]] Known as [[MarketBasedTitle "The Duel" in the US]][[/note]], Hornblower decides that Simpson is "Not worth the powder". Simpson attempts to stab him in the back for humiliating him, and is dispatched by [[TheCaptain Captain Pellew]] [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome via a several hundred yard precision snipe with a musket]].

* In an early episode of ''Anime/RaveMaster'', Haru Glory spares the life of an adversary, citing ThouShaltNotKill. The bad guy tries to attack him from behind, only for Haru to hold his sword out and the villain to (non-fatally) impale himself.

* After [[LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex Accelerator]] beats Kakine, he is about to shoot Kakine, who is lying on the ground when Yomikawa stops him. Kakine then uses his dark matter to [[spoiler:[[TooDumbToLive stab]] [[VillainBall Yomikawa]]]]; Accelerator promptly snaps and proceeds to rip Kakine's arm off and smash him into nothingness.

%% * ''Film/KungFuHustle''

* At the conclusion of the film ''Ladyhawke'', Rutger Hauer has exposed the Evil Bishop by foiling his plot to cut him out of the picture so he can have Michelle Pfeiffer for himself. He turns his back on the cleric to leave him in his disgrace, when said cleric screams his frustration and turns to stab Michelle Pfeiffer with his cross of office. At that point he is pinned to his throne by the thrown sword of Mr. Hauer. Cue big kiss and curtain.

->''"I warned you...but you didn't listen! I gave you one last chance to walk away, and you BLEW IT! FRIIZAAAA!"''