History Main / CrossingTheBurntBridge

Time to let them know what you really think of them! Tell the ex-girlfriend off, insult the constant jerk, rob the old neighbor, leave a [[PoopingWhereYouShouldn't ''surprise'']] on the boss's desk, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking jack their last ice cream sandwich]], whatever fits! They deserve it, and you're never going to have to live through the repercussions anyway.

Time to let them know what you really think of them! Tell the ex-girlfriend off, insult the constant jerk, rob the old neighbor, leave a [[{{PoopingWhereYouShouldn't}} ''surprise'']] on the boss's desk, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking jack their last ice cream sandwich]], whatever fits! They deserve it, and you're never going to have to live through the repercussions anyway.

Time to let them know what you really think of them! Tell the ex-girlfriend off, insult the constant jerk, rob the old neighbor, leave a [[{{Squick}} ''surprise'']] on the boss's desk, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking jack their last ice cream sandwich]], whatever fits! They deserve it, and you're never going to have to live through the repercussions anyway.

Time to let them know what you really think of them! Tell the ex-girlfriend off, insult the constant jerk, rob the old neighbor, leave a [[Squick ''surprise'']] on the boss's desk, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking jack their last ice cream sandwich]], whatever fits! They deserve it, and you're never going to have to live through the repercussions anyway.

Time to let them know what you really think of them! Tell the ex-girlfriend off, insult the constant jerk, rob the old neighbor, leave a ''surprise'' on the boss's desk, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking jack their last ice cream sandwich]], whatever fits! They deserve it, and you're never going to have to live through the repercussions anyway.

Compare NotSoFinalConfession, WeMeetAgain, WeWillMeetAgain, WhereItAllBegan, MyGodWhatHaveIDone, TheExitIsThatWay, WhosLaughingNow, FairWeatherFoe, and TakeThisJobAndShoveIt. A character who suffers from KarmicShunning may do this, either out of [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone remorse]] or [[JerkWithAHeartOfJerk convenience]]

Compare NotSoFinalConfession, WeMeetAgain, WeWillMeetAgain, WhereItAllBegan, MyGodWhatHaveIDone, TheExitIsThatWay, WhosLaughingNow, FairWeatherFoe, and TakeThisJobAndShoveIt.

* ''Fanfic/BuildYourselfUpDontLetThemBreakYouDown'': Izuku's old teacher Aoki realizes that he and the entire staff of Aldera Middle School have placed themselves in this position. After spending years [[FantasticAbleism demeaning Izuku for being Quirkless and enabling his bullies to run roughshod over him]], they're now completely dependent upon him choosing to TurnTheOtherCheek. Otherwise, one word from him could trigger a massive investigation that could ruin the whole school.

** Kaolla Su was absolutely sure that ''somebody'' would [[spoiler:get her out of jail]], whether it was her family, Granny Hina, Keitaro or the other Hinata girls. Over time, she slowly realizes how serious her situation is, losing hope. Eventually, she wants to at least [[spoiler:apologize to Keitaro. Being denied even that, she accepts her fate and states that she hates Granny Hina for being a liar]].

* In ''[[Fanfic/QueensOfMewniSpinoffs Future of Mewni]]'', the school of Elfendor did nothing about Luminosa being assaulted, due to the culprit being [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections being the son of a high-ranking member]]. After she leaves, the number of assaults on campus rise, the culprits emboldened by the lack of punishment. Luminosa then [[StartMyOwn founds Mewniford]], and people stop sending their children to Elfendor. The school sends her a letter begging for help, which she ignores.

* ''Fanfic/MastermindRiseOfAnarchy'': After several of their classmates attack Tokoyami, driving him out of the Hero Course, Shouji, Satou and Kouda all transfer out of U.A. Later, the remaining students try reaching out and repairing their relationships, with mixed results; while Satou is willing to talk, Shoji refuses them outright.

* A common plot in ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' post-Chameleon [[AccusationFic salt fics]] is Marinette's classmates breaking off their friendships with her due to [[BitchInSheepsClothing Lila]]. Upon realizing their mistake (usually due to Lila [[LiarRevealed being exposed]] as a ManipulativeBitch, losing all the things that Marinette used to do for them as their "Everyday Ladybug", or learning that Marinette ''is'' Ladybug), they attempt to get back into her good graces, only to be rebuffed.

*** The above [[PlotParallel runs parallel]] to Adrien attempting to convince Marinette to help him "fix everything" by making another appeal based on their friendship. Adrien had previously let said "friendship" rot by [[BetrayalByInaction refusing to help deal with Lila]], insisting that Marinette was [[BecauseYouCanCope strong enough to handle the bullying alone]] even when she told him how much she was suffering. Much like his father, Adrien treats their "friendship" as a convenient card he can play to get what ''he'' wants out of their relationship [[AllTakeAndNoGive without doing anything in return]], only to be turned down.
*** Alya, Nino, and most of Marinette's former classmates also fall into this category. After repeatedly ditching and ignoring Marinette, having [[TakingAdvantageOfGenerosity taken their "Everyday Ladybug" completely for granted]], they learn that she actually ''is'' Ladybug when she and her TrueCompanions bring down Hawkmoth. Naturally, they're eager to buddy back up with their former friend, only for her to call them out on being [[FairWeatherFriend Fair-Weather Friends]] and make clear that they're not going back to their former AllTakeAndNoGive dynamic. Only a couple of them [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone recognize where they went wrong]] and make efforts to atone; the rest remain {{Entitled Bastard}}s whose efforts to "get her back" only serve to isolate them further.

* ''Series/BreakingBad'': In the pilot episode, after learning he has terminal cancer, Walter lashes out at his abusive boss, Bogdan, and dramatically quits his part-time job at the car wash. This ends up causing a bit of trouble in season four when Walt's wife Skyler decides to purchase the car wash (in order to use it as a front to launder her husband's ill-gotten cash), and Bogdan refuses to sell to her, despite her generous monetary offer, solely on the grounds of how insultingly Walt quit his business.

* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', Genn Greymane, the ruler of the Gilneas, left the Alliance after he [[AllTakeAndNoGive grew tired of helping provide for its commonwealth for seemingly nothing in return]]. He then built a wall around Gilneas, separating it from the rest of the world and refused to get involved in the Third War or the war against the Lich King, neither giving the Alliance aid nor allowing refugees to shelter within the walls. However, after Gilneas fell due to attacks by the Forsaken, as well as a worgen curse sweeping through the populace, a humbled Greymane attempted to rejoin the Alliance. However, King Varian Wrynn, the leader of the Alliance, was incredibly bitter at Greymane for his actions, and earning his respect and approval was not an easy task for the Gilnean king.

* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsForgottenFriendship'', Sunset Shimmer returns to Equestria, and has to seek the counsel of Princess Celestia. This was after [[APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil Sunset turned into a cruel and manipulative]] AlphaBitch under Celestia's watch. However, Sunset's undergone enough CharacterDevelopment after her HeelFaceTurn to genuinely apologize to Celestia, and the apology is accepted.

** In "[[Recap/SeinfeldS2E12TheRevenge The Revenge]]", [[TakeThisJobAndShoveIt George dramatically quits his job]], [[DidntThinkThisThrough only to realize he really needs it as he's not really qualified to do anything else]]. [[RefugeInAudacity He simply goes back to work the next day as if nothing happened]], but that doesn't quite work.

** In "[[Recap/SeinfeldS2E12 TheRevenge The Revenge]]", [[TakeThisJobAndShoveIt George dramatically quits his job]], [[DidntThinkThisThrough only to realize he really needs it as he's not really qualified to do anything else]]. [[RefugeInAudacity He simply goes back to work the next day as if nothing happened]], but that doesn't quite work.

** In "The Revenge", [[TakeThisJobAndShoveIt George dramatically quits his job]], [[DidntThinkThisThrough only to realize he really needs it as he's not really qualified to do anything else]]. [[RefugeInAudacity He simply goes back to work the next day as if nothing happened]], but that doesn't quite work.

** In "The Airport", George gets into an argument with a violent convict being escorted by federal marshals over the last ''TIME'' magazine on the rack and enjoys the moment to the fullest, taunting him about getting the magazine and wishes him ''"a nice life... sentence, that is!"'' Towards the end of the episode, George boards a plane looking for Jerry and Elaine, opens the lavatory door, and guess who he sees - ''without'' his shackles on. Nobody sees as the convict yanks George into the restroom and beats the ever-loving crap out of him.

* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'': In "The Revenge", [[TakeThisJobAndShoveIt George dramatically quits his job]], [[DidntThinkThisThrough only to realize he really needs it as he's not really qualified to do anything else]]. [[RefugeInAudacity He simply goes back to work the next day as if nothing happened]], but that doesn't quite work.

[[OhCrap Oh, hell...]]

** ''Fanfic/TheWolvesInTheWoodsMiraculousLadybug'': After it's revealed during Ms. Bustier's trial that Marinette was [[CassandraTruth telling the truth]] about [[LiarRevealed Lila]], Alya becomes hellbent on reclaiming her as her bestie...despite the fact that she spearheaded the efforts that forced Marinette to transfer to another school in the first place. Alya absolutely [[NeverMyFault refuses to acknowledge]] that she played any part in torching their friendship, even after it's revealed that [[spoiler:she'd known the whole time that Lila was lying and intentionally exploited the situation to try and [[TallPoppySyndrome destroy Marinette's self-confidence]] and force her to remain entirely dependent upon Alya's "support"]].

* ''Fanfic/AndrogyninjasADropOfPoison'': After Sasuke humiliates Sakura in front of their whole class by declaring she'll never be anything more than glorified CannonFodder, Ino realizes that they broke off their friendship for [[AllForNothing no good reason at all]]. However, she's reluctant to make the first move; in fact, when Shikamaru suggests that she [[StatingTheSimpleSolution let Sakura know how she feels]], Ino loudly denies wanting to reconcile with her, sabotaging their strained relationship further. This culminates in the two both hitting their [[RageBreakingPoint Rage-Breaking Points]] during their preliminary match in the Chuunin Exams, with Sakura pointing out afterwards how Ino DidntThinkThisThrough.

* In ''Fanfic/ForHisOwnSake'', Naru Narusegawa, Kaolla Su, and Sarah [=McDougal=] all find themselves in this position. [[DefiedTrope Defied]] with Mutsumi Otohime and Granny Hinata "Hina" Urashima, as both decide that attempting reconciliation is effectively pointless, instead trying to accept how their own actions are responsible for destroying what they once had.
** Naru's mother and stepsister offered her a LastSecondChance to reconcile, only for her to viciously reject and berate them both. After [[spoiler:Hina cuts her off]], she goes back to her mother, expecting to be forgiven and welcomed back, but is turned away. It's revealed that [[spoiler:she went to her father first, and to Keitaro, but was turned away by both]]. Ultimately, she ends up [[spoiler:being taken in by her uncle]]. This was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by her mother, who [[IWarnedYou warned her that would happen]] if she kept lashing out.

* In ''Manga/SPYxFAMILY'', George Glooman believes that the Desmond family is driving his own into bankruptcy, and that he'll have to leave Eden Academy once his family's wealth runs out. He angrily tells off Damian Desmond, and gets the rest of his sympathetic classmates to follow his whims, since he has to leave them soon. Then George realises that his family ''isn't'' going bankrupt and he's still going to Eden after all. His classmates aren't amused.

* ''Fanfic/BuildYourselfUpDontLetThemBreakYouDown'': Izuku's old teacher Aoki realizes that he and the entire staff of Aldera Middle School have placed themselves in this position. After spending years demeaning Izuku for being Quirkless and enabling his bullies to run roughshod over him, they're now completely dependent upon him choosing to TurnTheOtherCheek. Otherwise, one word from him could trigger a massive investigation that could ruin the whole school.

* ''Fanfic/TheKarmaOfLies'':
** Gabriel attempts to do this with Audrey after he's exposed as Hawkmoth and arrested, upon realizing that she's positioned herself to take control of Agreste Fashion. He tries appealing to her by citing their long-term friendship, only for Audrey to remind him of how he manipulated and akumatized her into Style Queen.
** The above [[PlotParallel runs parallel]] to Adrien attempting to convince Marinette to help him "fix everything" by making another appeal based off their friendship. Adrien had previously let said "friendship" rot by [[BetrayalByInaction refusing to help deal with Lila]], insisting that Marinette was [[BecauseYouCanCope strong enough to handle the bullying alone]] even when she told him how much she was suffering. Much like his father, Adrien treats their "friendship" as a convenient card he can play to get what ''he'' wants out of their relationship [[AllTakeAndNoGive without doing anything in return]], only to be turned down.
** Alya, Nino, and most of Marinette's former classmates also fall into this category. After repeatedly ditching and ignoring Marinette, having [[TakingAdvantageOfGenerosity taken their "Everyday Ladybug" completely for granted]], they learn that she actually ''is'' Ladybug when she and her TrueCompanions bring down Hawkmoth. Naturally, they're eager to buddy back up with their former friend, only for her to call them out on being [[FairWeatherFriend Fair-Weather Friends]] and make clear that they're not going back to their former AllTakeAndNoGive dynamic. Only a couple of them [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone recognize where they went wrong]] and make efforts to atone; the rest remain {{Entitled Bastard}}s whose efforts to "get her back" only serve to isolate them further.
* ''Fanfic/LadyBugOut'': Alya's relationships with Ladybug and Marinette fall apart when she uses the Ladyblog to spread TabloidMelodrama about the superheroine, with Marinette "helping" her alter ego [[StartMyOwn set up her own blog]] to counter Alya's BlatantLies. Alya [[NeverMyFault refuses to admit]] how she is responsible for said relationships falling apart, even after it becomes clear that Marinette was [[CassandraTruth telling the truth]] when she warned her about Lila. Instead, she insists that it's on Marinette to cross the brunt bridge by apologizing to ''her'', only to find that Marinette isn't interested in placating her.
* ''Fanfic/LeaveForMendeleiev'': While Marinette is more than happy to get away from her long-time bully Chloé, [[MisplacedKindergartenTeacher Mme Bustier]] repeatedly attempts to ''force'' her former student back across that bridge, trying to [[GotVolunteered 'volunteer' her]] to tutor Chloé and otherwise make them spend more time together. All because Chloé wants more access to her favorite victim, and Bustier [[SelectiveObliviousness refuses to see]] the reality of the situation, insisting that she never noticed any problems ''before''.

* The ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' Salt-Shot ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/44607043/chapters/121613383 A Price to Pay]]'' has Adrien attempting this after betraying Marinette. While he initially assumed that [[RealityWarpingIsNotAToy reality being rewritten]] in the course of granting his father's Wish would ensure that nobody knew what they'd done, said Wish is granted in such a way so that everybody knows Gabriel Agreste [[BalancingDeathsBooks killed Tom Dupain-Cheng]] in a car accident, then [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney bribed his way]] to a "victory" in court, leaving him ConvictedByPublicOpinion instead. What's more, Marinette ''also'' [[RippleEffectProofMemory remembers the original reality]], so she's fully aware of the scope of his betrayal beyond just [[PunishedForSympathy defending his father's flagrant disregard for the law]]. PlayedWith in that that Adrien is so [[EntitledBastard grossly entitled]] that he takes Marinette's support completely for granted, acting as though ''she's'' the one in the wrong for not accepting his BackhandedApology and helping him "fix everything".

* In ''Fanfic/AThousandAnswers'', Dio ends up becoming a vampire earlier than canon due to [[ForWantOfANail having the Stone Mask fall on him during his and Jonathan's fight]], and since he hadn't yet desired that kind of power, he ''hates'' being a vampire. Unfortunately, the only two people equipped to help him are Erina Pendleton (who he gave his infamous ForcefulKiss to earlier) and Jonathan Joestar (who started fighting him specifically to avenge Erina's honor). He's not happy with this arrangement, but sucks it up as best he can.

* ''Fanfic/TheWolvesInTheWoodsMiraculousLadybug'': After it's revealed during Ms. Bustier's trial that Marinette was [[CassandraTruth telling the truth]] about [[LiarRevealed Lila]], Alya becomes hellbent on reclaiming her as her bestie... despite the fact that she spearheaded the efforts that forced Marinette to transfer to another school in the first place. Alya absolutely [[NeverMyFault refuses to acknowledge]] that she played any part in torching their friendship, even after it's revealed that [[spoiler:she'd known the whole time that Lila was lying and intentionally exploited the situation to try and [[TallPoppySyndrome destroy Marinette's self-confidence]] and force her to remain entirely dependent upon Alya's "support"]].

* ''Film/{{Amadeus}}'' (in the director's cut only): Mozart, who has already mentioned that he would prefer to spend his time composing and that he is only giving music lessons to pay the bills, lets himself be hired by a wealthy Viennese burgher to give piano lessons to his daughter. The attempt ends in a fiasco because the man refuses to leave the room while Mozart tries to teach his daughter (who is visibly embarrassed by her parents), insists on keeping his pack of dogs with him--who interrupt all music by yelping and howling--and generally behaves as obnoxious as possible, causing Mozart to rudely storm off with a sarcastic comment. Later, as Mozart's financial problems have worsened, he (obviously drunk and staggering) turns up at the burgher again and asks whether he can give music lessons to his daughter. As the daughter is married and away, Mozart further humiliates himself by asking whether he can borrow money, and receives a curt refusal.
* ''Film/{{Flatliners}}'' was all about this, when the characters fry their brain-cells in a medical experiment, only to be faced with their own consciences. To overcome their dilemmas, they all have to make amends somehow.

* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': Cornelius Fudge spends the entirety of the fifth book going on a slandering campaign against Harry and Dumbledore, refusing to heed their warnings of Voldemort's return even when things continue to happen just as Dumbledore predicted and putting the whole magical community in danger. Once Voldemort shows up at the Ministry and Fudge sees him with his own eyes, he's forced to recant his previous statements, and the whole community immediately becomes enraged and demands for his resignation. The start of the sixth book reveals that Fudge did a last ditch effort to stay in office by begging Dumbledore to help him get Harry's support, which naturally Dumbledore refused knowing that Harry would find the idea ludicrous after all the things Fudge did to antagonize them.

* The first episode of the second season of ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'', "The One Where Michael Leaves", is focused on Michael's attempts to leave his family for good, but repeatedly getting pulled back to them again because the circumstances, mostly the results of said family's actions, forces him to.
* ''Series/BreakingBad'': In the pilot episode, after learning he has terminal cancer, Walter lashes out at his abusive boss, Bogdan, and dramatically quits his part-time job at the car wash. This ends up causing a bit of trouble in season four, when Walt's wife Skyler decides to purchase the car wash (in order to use it as a front to launder her husband's ill-gotten cash), and Bogdan refuses to sell to her, despite her generous monetary offer, solely on the grounds of how insultingly Walt quit his business.
* ''Series/{{Cheers}}'' had an episode where Diane told off the gang, vowed never to return and left ... but forgot her purse.

* In one episode of ''Series/TheDickVanDykeShow'', Buddy gets offered a job as head writer to Dan Howard, but first needs to break his contract with Alan Brady, and so he provokes Mel to the point that he has Rob write a memo to Alan terminating his position. Unfortunately for Buddy, the job with Dan Howard falls through (mostly due to Dan looking to Alan for a reference on Buddy, who then [[{{Irony}} reads him]] the [[HoistByHisOwnPetard termination memo]]), requiring Rob to help Buddy get his job with Alan back.
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' serial ''Inferno'', the Doctor thinks he's got his TARDIS operational, and he's about to leave. So he says (about the Brigadier, in front of him): "I've had about all I can stand of this pompous self-opinionated idiot here!" But when he dematerializes, he only gets as far as the rubbish tip, and walks back, covered in dust.

* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', Genn Greymane, the ruler of the Gilneas, left the Alliance after he [[AllTakeAndNoGive grew tired of helping provide for its commonwealth for seemingly nothing in return]]. He then built a wall around Gilneas, separating it from the rest of the world and refused to get involved in the Third War or the war against the Lich King, neither giving the Alliance aid nor allowing refugees to shelter within the walls. However, after Gilneas fell due to attacks by the Forsaken, as well as a worgen curse sweeping through the populace, a humbled Greymane attempted to rejoin the Alliance. However, King Varian Wrynn, the leader of the Alliance, was incredibly bitter at Greymane for his actions and earning his respect and approval was not an easy task for the Gilnean king.

* Subverted in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}''. Karkat thinks he's going to have to apologize to Vriska in order to get her to join the Red Team. When he finds out that Vriska's been kicked off the Blue Team, he instantly rescinds his apology, and apologizes to himself for even making it in the first place.

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': In "[[Recap/AmericanDadS6E9RapturesDelight Rapture's Delight]]", Stan blames Francine for them not getting chosen to ascend into Heaven when the rapture occurs, and he abandons her when a man approaches him claiming to be Jesus Christ and that he can get him into Heaven. When the the so-called messiah turns out to be a bum who wants oral sex from him, an embarrassed Stan tries to save face, but not only does Francine reject him and move out, but she also reveals that she's entered a relationship with the ''real'' Jesus.

** ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': In the second season finale, [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderZuko Prince Zuko]] is on the verge of joining Team Avatar when he suddenly defects to Azula's camp, betraying them. To make matters worse, he does this after he and Katara had an honest-to-god conversation, and the latter was willing to believe in him despite everything he did to Aang. Naturally, it takes a while for Zuko to rebuild the bridge with Katara after he chooses to support Aang for good in the third season; while the rest of Team Avatar welcome him the same episode he extends an olive branch, it is not until four episodes later that Katara is ready to do the same.

** Per WordOfGod, a character utilizing the show's once per season PrecisionFStrike is meant to represent that character's bridge with [=BoJack=] being burned for good. Although Todd uses it in season 3, he and [=BoJack=] do eventully reconcile and regain their friendship, albeit never coming as close as they once were.

** Subverted in the episode "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS10E1LotteryFever Lottery Fever]]" when Peter tells Lois about how he quit his job after becoming a millionaire. The way he talks about it, especially the part where he told his boss what she could do with his job, suggests he did or said something nasty but the flashback shows he was polite and professional (although at the very end he quickly mentions there was "a giant poo on [her] desk") . Played straight later with how he treats his friends. [[spoiler:They forgive him in the end.]]

** Another example is in the episode "[[Recap/SouthParkS19E7NaughtyNinjas Naughty Ninjas]]". With the news of police brutality going around, the townspeople of South Park start shunning everyone in the police force, harassing them and refusing to do business with them. Then the gentrified part of the town gets covered with homeless people due to the episode's B-plot. The townspeople realize that the only way they can get the homeless people out is to get the police to remove them. Needless to say, the policemen weren't really willing to help them out.

* For many jobs in general, it's generally agreed that giving your boss a two-week notice is the polite way to tell them that you're quitting, so that way they can start looking for a replacement and prepare for them once you actually do leave. Quitting ''without'' giving notice of any kind (i.e., you just stop showing up to work), quitting while giving last-minute notice, or quitting while flipping everyone off are not only surefire ways to ensure that you ''won't'' get rehired if you ever end up having to return to your old job (for whatever reason) but potential future employers can look at your employment history and contact your previous bosses to see why (and how) you had left them in the first place. Depending on who's running the place at your old job, they might be nice enough to give you another chance (and thus rehire you)--if not, then they'll show you the door and probably slam it behind you.
* Far too common with people that win it big with the lottery; they'll quit their jobs and live off their winnings, only to realize later on that A) their newfound wealth isn't infinite and B) they don't know how to manage their spending. Once they go broke, you can usually see these lotto winners returning to their old job. More astute winners will often balance their huge win by continuing to work, sometimes without even changing their employment at all, or investing their money in ways that either preserve or appreciate its value, and will usually fare much better.

* In ''[[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/190564/on-the-care-and-construction-of-bridges On The Care and Construction of Bridges]]'', Rarity and Applejack refuse to confess their feelings towards each other out of fear of burning bridges that they will need to cross later, while Rainbow Dash reflects on her own burnt bridge with her friend Gilda. In the end, however, Rainbow Dash asks herself the question of what ponies do after a bridge burns down, [[spoiler:and resolves to try and patch things up with her.]]

* ''Fanfic/{{What You Knead|Naruto}}'': Sakura broke off her friendship with Ino after realizing they were both interested in pursuing Sasuke romantically. However, after Sasuke recklessly endangers her life during the bell test, Sakura gets over her crush on him and decides to reach back out to her estranged friend, hoping to repair their relationship.
* ''Fanfic/{{The Wolves in the Woods|MiraculousLadybug}}'': After it's revealed during Ms. Bustier's trial that Marinette was [[CassandraTruth telling the truth]] about [[LiarRevealed Lila]], Alya becomes hellbent on reclaiming her as her bestie... despite the fact that she spearheaded the efforts that forced Marinette to transfer to another school in the first place. Alya absolutely [[NeverMyFault refuses to acknowledge]] that she played any part in torching their friendship, even after it's revealed that [[spoiler:she'd known the whole time that Lila was lying and intentionally exploited the situation to try and [[TallPoppySyndrome destroy Marinette's self-confidence]] and force her to remain entirely dependent upon Alya's "support"]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'': In "[[Recap/AmphibiaS1E25CroakAndPunishment Croak & Punishment]]", [[Characters/AmphibiaAnneBoonchuy Anne Boonchuy]] and Sprig try to search for a missing Blue Moon Shell, with [[GoodCopBadCop Anne as the "good cop", and Sprig as the bad cop"]]. However, Sprig takes his role a bit too seriously, yelling at various suspects and [[InterrogationByVandalism destroying their property]]. When his behavior ends up causing Gunther, a Southern Tusk Frog, to [[HulkingOut hulk out]], he and Anne try to find someplace to hide, but nobody is willing to protect them on account of how Sprig treated them.
-->'''Stumpy:''' You think I'm gonna let you in here after you called me a thief?\\

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': At the end of Season one, to save Eda, Lilith has to turn to Luz and King for help. Luz at first isn't interested, since Lilith is the one who captured Eda in the first place and used her as a hostage but is willing to work with Lilith once Lilith explains why she cursed Eda and returns Owlbert. Even during their truce, Luz admits she doesn't like the lady's style.

Compare NotSoFinalConfession, WeMeetAgain, WeWillMeetAgain, WhereItAllBegan, MyGodWhatHaveIDone, TheExitIsThatWay, WhosLaughingNow and TakeThisJobAndShoveIt.

* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', Genn Greymane, the ruler of the Gilneas, left the Alliance after he grew tired of helping provide for its commonwealth for seemingly nothing in return. He then built a wall around Gilneas, separating it from the rest of the world and refused to get involved in the Third War or the war against the Lich King, neither giving the Alliance aid nor allowing refugees to shelter within the walls. However, after Gilneas fell due to attacks by the Forsaken, as well as a worgen curse sweeping through the populace, a humbled Greymane attempted to rejoin the Alliance. However, King Varian Wrynn, the leader of the Alliance, was incredibly bitter at Greymane for his actions and earning his respect and approval was not an easy task for the Gilnean king.

* ''Film/HomeAlone1'': Kate is horrified when the realizes that she accidentally left her son Kevin home while the rest of the family went on vacation, especially because their last interaction was her sending him to the attic without dinner as the others heaped insults at him, [[EtTuBrute all to avoid being in the same boat as him]]. So when she finally gets home near the end, Kevin isn't exactly willing to welcome her back right away, only doing so when she gives him a heartfelt apology.

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': In "Rapture's Delight", Stan blames Francine for them not getting chosen to ascend into Heaven when the rapture occurs, and he abandons her when a man approaches him claiming to be Jesus Christ and that he can get him into Heaven. When the the so-called messiah turns out to be a bum who wants oral sex from him, an embarrassed Stan tries to save face, but not only does Francine reject him and move out, but she also reveals that she's entered a relationship with the ''real'' Jesus.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'': In "Croak and Punishment", Anne and Sprig try to search for a missing Blue Moon Shell, with [[GoodCopBadCop Anne as the "good cop", and Sprig as the bad cop"]]. However, Sprig takes his role a bit too seriously, yelling at various suspects and [[InterrogationByVandalism destroying their property]]. When his behavior ends up causing Gunther, a Southern Tusk Frog, to [[HulkingOut hulk out]], he and Anne try to find someplace to hide, but nobody is willing to protect them on account of how Sprig treated them.

** ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': In the second season finale, Zuko is on the verge of joining Team Avatar when he suddenly defects to Azula's camp, betraying them. To make matters worse, he does this after he and Katara had an honest-to-god conversation, and the latter was willing to believe in him despite everything he did to Aang. Naturally, it takes a while for Zuko to rebuild the bridge with Katara after he chooses to support Aang for good in the third season; while the rest of Team Avatar welcome him the same episode he extends an olive branch, it is not until four episodes later that Katara is ready to do the same.
** In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', fourth season BigBad Kuvira decides to conquer the city-state founded by her mentor, Suyin Beifong, and sacrifice her fiance and NumberTwo, Su's son Bataar Jr., by shooting a fantasy nuke at his location, since he's been captured by her enemies and she can kill them all off at once. They survive, and a shattered Bataar does what little he can to help stop her. Come the sequel comic ''[[ComicBook/TheLegendOfKorraRuinsOfTheEmpire Ruins of the Empire]]'', Kuvira is trying to pull a HeelFaceTurn and needs Bataar's engineering expertise to stop some of her former subordinates. She also ended up having to beg for help from Bataar's mother and needed his grandmother to use her LivingLieDetector abilities to vouch for her.

** In the episode "The Telescope" [=BoJack=] visits his former friend Herb Kazzaz when the latter is suffering from cancer, and whom [=BoJack=] left hanging when Herb was fired from ''Horsin' Around'' on account of a controversy over him being homosexual. [=BoJack=] wants to squash his beef before Herb is six feet under. At first, things seem to go well (apart from Herb chronically making jokes about how [=BoJack=] threw him under the bus), but when [=BoJack=] feels the need to apologize, Herb gives him one hell of a ReasonYouSuckSpeech about how [=BoJack=] abandoning him when he needed a friend most was plain [[ThisIsUnforgivable inexcusable]] and the horse then leaves his former friend with the bridge between them burnt forever.
** This happens again in the season 3 episode "That's Too Much Man!" when [=BoJack=] and Sarah-Lynn going on a drunk bender and making amends with the people they've wronged, only to actually worsen things.

** Happens in the episode "April in Quahog", when Peter blurts out that he doesn't care for his children the moment before the world is supposed to end... only for said warning to be revealed as an April Fool's prank from the Quahog news team. Peter spends the rest of the episode trying to make it up to the kids.
** Subverted in the episode "Lottery Fever" when Peter tells Lois about how he quit his job after becoming a millionaire. The way he talks about it, especially the part where he told his boss what she could do with his job, suggests he did or said something nasty but the flashback shows he was polite and professional (although at the very end he quickly mentions there was "a giant poo on [her] desk") . Played straight later with how he treats his friends. [[spoiler:They forgive him in the end.]]

* Catra from ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'' spends most of the series [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder betraying]] everyone who was ever close to her in her quest for power. However, halfway through Season 5, [[spoiler:after being captured by Horde Prime, Catra decides to invoke RedemptionEqualsDeath by [[HeroicSacrifice heroically sacrificing]] herself to save Glimmer, fully expecting to be executed or mind-wiped by Horde Prime for her trouble. When the Best Friend Squad decide to rescue Catra anyway, she berates Adora for going through so much effort for her, as she ''didn't'' want to be saved. Adora [[GoodIsNotDumb quickly surmises]] that the ''real reason'' Catra didn't want to be saved was that she didn't want to face all the people she hurt, and Catra would only be hurting her further just by not being around anymore. Adora then [[ToughLove tells Catra point-blank]] that she needs to suck it up and deal with her emotions like an adult, not keep hiding out in her room; Catra soon realizes she's right.]]

** {{Subverted}} when Cartman finally pisses off his "friends" so badly that they end up ignoring him-- making him think that he must be dead and stuck in Purgatory; and so he goes about trying to make amends for all the evil things he did, in order to get to Heaven.
** Played straight in the episode "Gluten Free Ebola". The previous episode had the boys smugly ditching all their friends and classmates off-screen when they started their crowdfunding company. When their business failed, they returned to school to find no one wanted anything to do with them anymore and they had to spend the episode trying to appease them. This also signified that the show would now have continuity between the episodes.
** Another example is in the episode "Naughty Ninjas". With the news of police brutality going around, the townspeople of South Park start shunning everyone in the police force, harassing them and refusing to do business with them. Then the gentrified part of the town gets covered with homeless people due to the episode's B-plot. The townspeople realize that the only way they can get the homeless people out is to get the police to remove them. Needless to say, the policemen weren't really willing to help them out.

** The above [[PlotParallel runs parallel]] to Adrien attempting to convince Marinette to help him 'fix everything' by making another appeal based off their friendship. Adrien had previously let said 'friendship' rot by [[BetrayalByInaction refusing to help deal with Lila]], insisting that Marinette was [[BecauseYouCanCope strong enough to handle the bullying alone]] even when she told him how much she was suffering. Much like his father, Adrien treats their 'friendship' as a convenient card he can play to get what ''he'' wants out of their relationship [[AllTakeAndNoGive without doing anything in return]], only to be turned down.

* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'': In "The Revenge", [[TakeThisJobAndShoveIt George dramatically quits his job]], [[DidntThinkThisThrough only to realize he really needs it as he's not really qualified to do anything else]]. [[RefugeInAudacity He simply goes back to work the next day as if nothing happens]], but that doesn't quite work.