History Main / EmptyPromise

* This happened in an episode of ''HouseMD'', 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.

* Pretty much happens every other episode in ''[[TwentyFour 24]]'', with Jack promising to get someone out of an impossible situation. It usually doesn't work out.

* On ''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.

** 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]].
* An episode of ''CriminalMinds'' had Hotch questioning the only witness to an arson, a woman who'd lost her husband and son in the same fire, and at the end reassuring her they were both waiting for her outside. He'd been specifically told by the doctor he could tell her whatever he wanted because she'd not live long enough to know any different.

* ''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.

* Dr. Loomis to Jamie, in the school, in ''Film/{{Halloween}}'' 4. Subverted when she asks him if he really believes they'll make it out alright, and he gives a barely audible LittleNo.

* Towards the end of ''[[NightAngelTrilogy 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 alright... [[TearJerker while she is bleeding to death.]]

* This happened in an episode of ''HouseMD'', 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 alright, 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.

* On ''MadMen'', it was Don's repeated empty assurances to Betty that everything would be alright after Kennedy was assassinated that finally drove her to end their marriage once and for all.

* Helo from the new ''BattlestarGalactica'' loves this one, although other characters do their fair share as well.

* In the series finale of ''{{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.

Not related to ThePromise. See also SurvivalMantra. Contrast with HeroicVow.

* ''PokemonMysteryDungeon'' has a lot of this between the player character and his partner.

* Dr. Loomis to Jamie, in the school, in ''{{Halloween}}'' 4. Subverted when she asks him if he really believes they'll make it out alright, and he gives a barely audible LittleNo.

* Happens a lot on ''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!"

* ''RobotChicken'' uses it in a horrifically bleak, though still funny, BlackComedy way, as {{Voltron}}'s CombiningMecha sequence is taking so long that the enemy's destroying the space station that'd called for help in the meantime. 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.

* ''PokemonMysteryDungeon'' Has a lot of this between player character and his partner.

* An episode of ''CriminalMinds'' had Hotch questioning the only witness to an arson, a woman who'd lost her husband and son in the same fire, and at the end reassure her they were both waiting for her outside. He'd been specifically told by the doctor he could tell her whatever he wanted because she'd not live long enough to know any different.

* Towards the end of [[NightAngelTrilogy 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 alright... [[TearJerker while she is bleeding to death.]]

* In StephenKing's ''{{Firestarter}}'', when Charlie finds out that her mother is dead, Andy tells her that everything will be all right, though he knows "as every adult knows in his secret heart that nothing is really all right, ever."

* In the original 1954 {{Godzilla}} film -- 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.

If the situation truly is hopeless, expect them to say "close your eyes", possibly even [[ShootTheDog killing 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 [[CradlingYourKill cradle their friend]] as their doom approaches.

->[[NoFourthWall It's okay,]] [[TvTropesWillRuinYourLife no-one else will ever waste their life editing 'this' page.]]

* ''FindingNemo'' doesn't quite deconstruct this trope, but it does highlight its ridiculousness. Marlin made Nemo an empty promise, which he could by no means keep and should not have made (or at least worded that way). That said, Dory's point (whether she realized it or not) was that he shouldn't beat himself up about being unable to keep an impossible promise.

* ''FindingNemo'' doesn't deconstruct this trope in the page quote, but it does highlight its ridiculousness. Marlin made Nemo an empty promise, which he could by no means keep and should not have made (or at least worded that way). That said, Dory's point (whether she realized it or not) was that he shouldn't beat himself up about being unable to keep an impossible promise.

->'It's okay, no-one else will ever waste their life editing 'this' page.'

->'''Marlin:''' I promised I'd never let anything happen to him.\\
'''Dory:''' Hmm. That's a funny thing to promise.\\
'''Marlin:''' What?\\
'''Dory:''' Well, you can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little [[MyNameIsNotDurwood Harpo]].\\
--'''FindingNemo'''

->'''Michael Scott:''' Of all the empty promises I've made, this is by far the most generous.\\
-'''TheOffice'''

** But Rachel had also promised Bruce, that she would wait for him...

This trope is very common, despite the currently small number of examples.

* This is the reason Adell holds HonorBeforeReason in ''{{Disgaea 2}}''. [[spoiler: His parents went off to fight the BigBad, promising to come back. They never did. It gets worse. They're those two masked minions!]]
** [[spoiler: Tragically, he doesn't ''know'' the identity of the masked minions -- he's forced to kill them before he can kill fake Zenon and free them.]]

[[AC: Literature]]
* Towards the end of [[NightAngelTrilogy 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 alright... [[TearJerker while she is bleeding to death.]]
* In the sixteenth-century text ''ThePrince'', author {{Niccolo Machiavelli}} explicitly states that at times it is necessary for a ruler to make empty promises for the sake of his country.

* In the sixteenth-century text ''The Prince'', author {{Niccolo Machiavelli}} explicitly states that at times it is necessary for a ruler to make empty promises for the sake of his country.