History Main / EmptyPromise

* In ''WesternAnimation/TitanAE'', Cale's father's last words to him are "I will see you again. I promise," despite the fact that he must know it's likely that he won't. [[spoiler: Sure enough, Cale later encounters a recorded message from his father confirming that if it was activated, he is dead. The message then asks Cale to forgive him for breaking his promise]].

* In ''{{ComicBook/Fables}}'' book ''Peter and Max'', Peter wants to leave to fight his evil (and extremely powerful) brother, while his wife Bo wants him to leave it to the better fighters. Bo lampshades this trope by saying that him promising her he would come back is useless to her; either he does return in which case the fulfilled HeroicVow only serves to amplify his status as the big hero, or (more likely,) he gets himself pointlessly killed, and she wouldn't even be allowed to resent him for breaking his promise when he had "heroically" died trying to do the right thing. Either way, the promise would only serve to make ''him'' feel better about what he was doing, and would do absolutely nothing to help her, regardless of the outcome.

If the situation truly is [[DarkestHour hopeless]], expect them to say "close your eyes", possibly even [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled killing]] [[ShootTheDog them]] to [[IDidWhatIHadToDo make sure it's a painless death.]] If the loved one truly has no idea of what's going on, and is on the point of death, it becomes LetThemDieHappy. Expect the hero to [[PietaPlagiarism cradle their friend]] as their doom approaches.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Comics ]]

* In {{ComicBook/Fables}} book ''Peter and Max'', Peter wants to leave to fight his evil (and extremely powerful) brother, while his wife Bo wants him to leave it to the better fighters. Bo lampshades this trope by saying that him promising her he would come back is useless to her; either he does return in which case the fulfilled HeroicVow only serves to amplify his status as the big hero, or (more likely,) he gets himself pointlessly killed, and she wouldn't even be allowed to resent him for breaking his promise when he had "heroically" died trying to do the right thing. Either way, the promise would only serve to make ''him'' feel better about what he was doing, and would do absolutely nothing to help her, regardless of the outcome.

[[folder: Films -- Animated ]]

[[folder: Films -- Live-Action ]]

* In ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', Harvey Dent promises to Rachel that [[spoiler:she will get out of their predicament alive. He genuinely hopes for that, but has no way to influence it and no reason to expect it. Sure enough, she doesn't get out of it alive. Later on, after Dent has become Two-Face, he challenges Gordon to do the same with his son, while holding a gun to his son's head.]]
* In the original 1954 ''Film/{{Gojira}}'' -- which was a ''lot'' more serious than its camp successors -- the mother of a family trapped in the monster's path soothes her children with the promise that they would be with their father soon. No prize for guessing their father's status.
* Dr. Loomis to Jamie, in the school, in ''Film/Halloween4TheReturnOfMichaelMyers''. Subverted when she asks him if he really believes they'll make it out all right, and he gives a barely audible LittleNo.

[[folder: Literature ]]

* Towards the end of ''[[Literature/TheNightAngelTrilogy The Way of Shadows]]'', when [[spoiler: Logan]] and [[spoiler: Jenine]] have been assaulted on their wedding night, he holds her head and whispers to her that everything will be fine, she doesn't have to be afraid, it's all right... [[TearJerker while she is bleeding to death.]]
* In the sixteenth-century text ''Literature/ThePrince'', author Creator/NiccoloMachiavelli explicitly states that at times it is necessary for a ruler to make empty promises for the sake of his country.

* In ''Literature/SpocksWorld'', Kirk wants to tell [[spoiler: T'Pau]] that they're not going to die, but he feels as though the sheer blatant falsehood of it, given said character's condition, would be insulting.
* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', during the second book Jon Snow goes on a ranging mission with Qhorin Halfhand and two other veteran rangers. After being spotted, they begin traveling back to the camp and are pursued by Wildlings. When it is only Qhorin Halfhand and Jon Snow left, Qhorin orders Jon Snow to pretend to defect to the Wildlings in order to gather intelligence. Jon Snow, torn by the idea of betraying his vows (even if it's a false betrayal) asks Qhorin if he will let their Lord Commander know that he did not break his oath. Qhorin, knowing that the Wildlings will kill him when they catch up to them, responds "''When I see him next. I swear it.''”

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]
* ''Series/NirvanaInFire'': Any time Mei Changsu promises anyone anything regarding the future when he knows he has only months to live. See his promise to stay by Jingyan's side and watch him become emperor or his promise never to leave Nihuang again.
* This happened in an episode of ''Series/{{House}}'', where the son got sick because of radioactive scrap metal. The team was able to help him a little, but he still had cancer and no immune system with which to fight it. The father still told him everything was going to be all right, even though the son was dying and there wasn't anything the doctors could do about it. Also happens on the episode "Euphoria", between [[spoiler:Foreman]] and his dad, although [[spoiler:Foreman]] called him on it.
* Happens a lot on ''Series/LawAndOrder'', when the police tell a witness that they can protect him or (usually) her. The amount of reassurance the police give a witness is directly proportional to the odds they'll end up getting kidnapped or killed later. Cue "I told her it would all be okay!"

* On ''Series/MadMen'', it was Don's repeated empty assurances to Betty that everything would be all right after Kennedy was assassinated that finally drove her to end their marriage once and for all.
* In the series finale of ''Series/{{Angel}}'' Illyria shapeshifts into Fred and comforts Wesley in this fashion as he dies, telling him in particular that they'll be together afterward. However, Illyria consumed Fred's soul during the resurrection process.
** It's implied by Illyria's changing attitudes and uncomfortable emotions that at least a fraction of Fred's soul survived, though it may have incorporated itself with Illyria's demonic essence. However, whatever may remain of it is certainly not waiting for him in the afterlife. That's okay, [[FateWorseThanDeath Wesley isn't moving on either]].

* In ''Series/{{Haven}}'' Audrey will often tell someone that things will be okay as she tries to fix whatever damage the episode's Troubled person has caused. When [[spoiler: the police chief]] is about to die she can't do anything to help him and says nothing. This infuriates Nathan who would have preferred that she at least gave an EmptyPromise to comfort [[spoiler: his father]].
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. The "close your eyes" version happens in the Season 2 finale. Angel's soul has been restored, but Buffy can see over his shoulder the vortex that's about to pull them into the hell dimension. She kisses Angel and then runs him through with a sword, sealing the rift.

-->'''Amy Pond:''' So what's wrong with me? \\

'''The Doctor:''' ''[Scans her status]'' [[BrutalHonesty Everything, you're dying.]] \\

-->'''The Doctor''': You know how sometimes grown-ups will say "Everything's going to be fine." but you know they're lying to make you feel better?\\
'''Amy''': ''*eyeroll*'' Yes.\\

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Played for all its [[TearJerker tear-jerking]] worth in ''VideoGame/Persona3''. Aigis tearfully promises that [[spoiler: she'll devote her life to protecting the main character while, depending on your dialogue choices, he asks her not to cry and tells her it'll be okay. In reality, he's dying in her arms, and, though not outright said, it's likely they both know it]].
* In You's route in ''VisualNovel/{{Ever17}}'', You and the Kid are discussing the Kid's apparent ability to predict the future when the Kid says they'll definitely be rescued. You asks if that's a premonition; the Kid says that it's a promise. If you get the BadEnd, the Kid ends up lamenting his inability to keep his promise as they both die.
** Subverted in the same game: Takeshi promises [[spoiler:Tsugumi he won't die as he launches himself out of their submarine so it will float to the surface. He drowns. However, in the True Ending, he manages to survive thanks to Hokuto/Blick Winkel.]]
* ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon'' has a lot of this between the player character and his/her partner.
* Miles Edgeworth [[ThatLiarLies makes one of these]] in ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigations'' every time he infers that [[EndingFatigue the current confrontation with the]] BigBad [[EndingFatigue will be the final one]].

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' uses it in a [[NightmareFuel horrifically]] [[TearJerker bleak]], though still funny, BlackComedy way, as Anime/{{Voltron}}'s CombiningMecha sequence is taking so long (this being the Anime/DairuggerXV version rather than the usual Anime/GoLion version) that the enemy's destroying the space station that had called for help. The general's young sidekick is dying in the wreckage, blind and crippled from his injuries, and asks if Voltron's arrived. The general lies and tells him yes, Voltron's here and it's all going to be okay now, before [[MercyKill shooting him]] so he'll die painlessly.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'', this trope is subverted. When Enzo appears to be losing a game against the User, [=AndrAIa=] promises Frisket everything will be ok and resets their icons. The Game Cube vanishes and the system announces "Game over, User wins," so it appears as though [=AndrAIa=] had made an empty promise, which is partly true: by resetting their icons to game sprite mode, she ensured the three of them would live even if they lost the game by leaving Mainframe with the Cube.

--> '''Toph:''' He's lying.
* In ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'', we are eventually introduced to Finn's long-lost father, Martin, who is a con-man who constantly lies and takes advantage of people and appears to treat Finn no better than he treats anyone else. Detail-oriented viewers have noticed that a CharacterTic he does after making a false assurance is that he winks his left eye. In the "Islands" mini-series, we learn his backstory, and later, [[spoiler:when he's forced to leave baby Finn behind to protect him from a robot guardian trying to kill them, he tells Finn [[GoOutWithASmile with a smile and a wink]] that he'll come back for him — [[HeroicSacrifice he was ready to give up his life to save his son.]] Ironically, it's ''Finn'' who finds him, and due to Martin getting brain damage (including forgetting that he had a son) and lack of witnesses, everyone thinks that Martin was always a selfish jerk that took advantage of his wife and left his son to die.]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

The situation is dire, maybe even hopeless, and everyone is losing hope faced with certain death. TheChick or TheHero has to keep their friends and loved ones not just moving but ''hopeful'' in order to survive. So they lie. They hold their loved ones close and say "It's going to be all right", or "Help is coming." The loved one may very well know it's an empty promise, but needs and ''wants'' to believe it, because the alternative is panic or an emotional breakdown.

* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' uses it in a [[NightmareFuel horrifically]] [[TearJerker bleak]], though still funny, BlackComedy way, as Anime/{{Voltron}}'s CombiningMecha sequence is taking so long (this being the Anime/DairuggerXV [[LoadsandloadsofCharacters version]] rather than the usual Anime/GoLion version) that the enemy's destroying the space station that had called for help. The general's young sidekick is dying in the wreckage, blind and crippled from his injuries, and asks if Voltron's arrived. The general lies and tells him yes, Voltron's here and it's all going to be okay now, before [[MercyKill shooting him]] so he'll die painlessly.