History Main / EndingByAscending

This can be a literal StairwayToHeaven, but more often it just [[{{Symbolism}} symbolizes]] redemption, escape, joining the [[TheOutsideWorld outside world]], relief after a long ordeal, or even new adventures yet to come. It's common for the audience not to be able to see exactly what the protagonist is walking into, perhaps because of a [[GoIntoTheLight blinding light]].

Like ClimbingClimax and ClimacticElevatorRide, it cites the feeling that Ultimate = Up, but unlike those tropes, where the ascent is mere prelude to a {{climax}} occurring in a high place, this trope is when the ascension itself is climactic or part of the {{Denouement}}. See also StairwellChase and ItsAllUpstairsFromHere.

* In Tim Burton's 2001 version of ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes'' the human astronaut, Leo, successfully escapes the future-Earth controlled by the Apes and crash-lands on the steps to the Lincoln Memorial. His apparent success turns to a nightmare, however, as the movie ends with him climbing the remaining steps, staring at the face of the statue, which is not Honest Abe, but is instead the very Ape General he had fled from the future: General Thade. Unlike other examples, the ascension does not lead to a "happy afterlife" in this case.
* Neo shoots directly into the sky, Superman-style, after the climax of ''Film/TheMatrix''.
* ''Film/HorseGirl'' ends with Sarah being levitated into the sky by a beam of light from heaven.

* Neo shoots directly into the sky, Superman-style, after the climax of ''Film/TheMatrix''.[[/folder]]

* In Tim Burton's 2001 version of ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes'' the human astronaut, Leo, successfully escapes the future-Earth controlled by the Apes and crash-lands on the steps to the Lincoln Memorial. His apparent success turns to a nightmare, however, as the movie ends with him climbing the remaining steps, staring at the face of the statue, which is not Honest Abe, but is instead the very Ape General he had fled from the future: General Thade. Unlike other examples, the ascension does not lead to a "happy afterlife" in this case.[[/folder]]

* In the [[ShowWithinAShow play within the play]] on ''Series/{{Friends}}'' [[Recap/FriendsS3E22TheOneWithTheScreamer Season 3 Episode 22]], a ladder magically descends from above, and Joey's character grabs onto it to ascend into the waiting spaceship, leaving his love interest behind to -- yes! -- melancholically watch him depart, so that he can "Go to Blogon 7 in search of Alternative fuels." No blinding light, in this case, but the ladder is beautifully decorated with flashing Christmas lights.

As everybody knows, [[HeavenAbove Heaven is above us]]. At the end of every individual's personal story, their soul will (if you're lucky and [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve believe in that sort of thing]]) [[WingedSoulFliesOffAtDeath head on up into the sky]] to join the {{afterlife}} or what-have-you. So it's no surprise that many creators subtly invoke this idea by ending their stories with a character doing [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything the same thing, but symbolically]].

* ''Film/TheTrumanShow'' ends with the title character sailing to the edge of the world (literally: [[spoiler:Truman is trapped in the world's largest RealityTV soundstage, after all]]), finding a staircase that leads up to the doorway out to the real world, and leaving -- after taking his final bows, of course.

* ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' ends with [[spoiler:Tyrael creating a staircase of light and rising to take the place of Malthael as the Archangel of Wisdom after Diablo's defeat.]]

* In Tim Burton's 2001 version of ''Film/PlanetOfTheApes'' the human astronaut, Leo, successfully escapes the future-Earth controlled by the Apes and crash-lands on the steps to the Lincoln Memorial. His apparent success turns to a nightmare, however, as the movie ends with him climbing the remaining steps, staring at the face of the statue, which is not Honest Abe, but is instead the very Ape General he had fled from the future: General Thade.
Unlike other examples, the ascension does not lead to a "happy afterlife" in this case.[[/folder]]

[[/folder]]

* ''Film/TheTrumanShow'' ends with the title character sailing to the edge of the world (literally: [[spoiler:Truman is trapped in the world's largest RealityTV soundstage, after all]]), finding a staircase that leads up into the sky and/or RealLife, and leaving -- after taking his final bows, of course.

[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* Some of the final shots of the music video to Music/TaylorSwift's [[Music/{{reputation}} "...Ready For It?"]] show her climbing a broken escalator into the light as her enemies burn behind her.

[[folder:Music]]
* Some of the final shots of the music video to Music/TaylorSwift's [[Music/{{reputation}} "...Ready For It?"]] show her climbing a broken escalator into the light as her enemies burn behind her.
[[/folder]]

As everybody knows, [[HeavenAbove Heaven is above us]]. At the end of every individual's personal story, their soul will (if you're lucky and [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve believe in that sort of thing]]) [[AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence head on up into the sky]] to join the {{afterlife}} or what-have-you. So it's no surprise that many creators subtly invoke this idea by ending their stories with a character doing [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything the same thing, but symbolically]].

A SubTrope of HatAndCoatShot, this is a good way to signal to the audience that the protagonist's story is coming to a close. Close sister-trope to OffIntoTheDistanceEnding; may overlap with DoorClosesEnding. Compare WingedSoulFliesOffAtDeath. Contrasted with FlyAtTheCameraEnding, this trope is usually slow and measured, giving the audience and the character time to reflect on all they've just seen and done. Compare PanUpToTheSkyEnding and FlyawayShot, when the camera does this instead of a character, and AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence, when your body can't come along with you. Contrast GrandStaircaseEntrance and StaircaseTumble, when a character comes ''down'' a staircase dramatically. See also AbsurdlyLongStairway.

A SubTrope of HatAndCoatShot, this is a good way to signal to the audience that the protagonist's story is coming to a close. Close sister-trope to OffIntoTheDistanceEnding; may overlap with DoorClosesEnding. Compare WingedSoulFliesAwayAtDeath. Contrasted with FlyAtTheCameraEnding, this trope is usually slow and measured, giving the audience and the character time to reflect on all they've just seen and done. Compare PanUpToTheSkyEnding and FlyawayShot, when the camera does this instead of a character, and AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence, when your body can't come along with you. Contrast GrandStaircaseEntrance and StaircaseTumble, when a character comes ''down'' a staircase dramatically. See also AbsurdlyLongStairway.

A SubTrope of HatAndCoatShot, this is a good way to signal to the audience that the protagonist's story is coming to a close. Close sister-trope to OffIntoTheDistanceEnding; may overlap with DoorClosesEnding. Contrasted with FlyAtTheCameraEnding, this trope is usually slow and measured, giving the audience and the character time to reflect on all they've just seen and done. Compare PanUpToTheSkyEnding and FlyawayShot, when the camera does this instead of a character, and AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence, when your body can't come along with you. Contrast GrandStaircaseEntrance and StaircaseTumble, when a character comes ''down'' a staircase dramatically. See also AbsurdlyLongStairway.

* Played with in the season 5 finale of ''Series/GreysAnatomy''. Izzie begins crashing due to complications from her surgery, and George does as well after being hit by a bus. As the other doctors try to revive them in different parts of the hospital, we cut to Izzie imagining herself getting on an elevator and going up. When the doors opens she finds George is already on the top floor. The following season it's revealed that Izzie was successfully revived, but George died.

* ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory'' ends with Charlie, Wonka, and Grandpa Joe shoot into the sky in the Wonkavator and Wonka giving the factory to Charlie, the final shot of the film showing the Wonkavator still ascending.

* ''Film/JacobsLadder'', whose name is an allusion to the StairwayToHeaven trope, ends with Jacob and his late son ascending the stairs in their home [[DyingDream as Jacob passes away]].

* In the [[ShowWithinAShow play within the play]] on ''Series/{{Friends}}'' [[Recap/FriendsS3E22TheOneWithTheScreamer Season 3 Episode 22]], a ladder magically descends from above, and Joey's character grabs onto it to ascend into the waiting spaceship, leaving his love interest behind to -- yes! -- melancholically watch him depart so that he can "Go to Blogon 7 in search of Alternative fuels." No blinding light, in this case, but the ladder is beautifully decorated with flashing Christmas lights.

** The first chapter of the {{DLC}}, "The Depths," ends with the Runaway Kid climbing a long set of stairs followed by a ladder to finally escape the deep, [[DownTheDrain flooded]] belly of the Maw . . . [[OutOfTheFryingPan only to be immediately captured by]] [[TheHeavy the Janitor]].

* In the [[ShowWithinAShow play within the play]] on ''Series/{{Friends}}'' Season 3 Episode 22, a ladder magically descends from above, and Joey's character grabs onto it to ascend into the waiting spaceship, leaving his love interest behind to -- yes! -- melancholically watch him depart so that he can "Go to Blogon 7 in search of Alternative fuels." No blinding light, in this case, but the ladder is beautifully decorated with flashing Christmas lights.

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Indices: EndingTropes, {{Symbolism}}, StockVisualMetaphors, ImageSource.LiveActionFilmsAToL

Administrivia/RollingUpdates. Thanks to Tropers/{{Unsung}} for the name!

Needs a good page quote.
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