History Main / PreemptiveApology

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[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'': Shinji Ikari would probably have been much better off without this tick, as it is what pisses Asuka off the most. Other than this personality difference, their backgrounds and current status would probably have resulted in some sorta relationship.

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* ComicBook/YTheLastMan has an interesting variation, where the apology is not over anything violent... Yorick apologizes to a girl for the two times he kissed her. Then he interrupts her confusedly asking when the second time was, with a kiss.

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-->'''O'Briain''': During the process, there's a point where a decision may have to be made... — Icannotappologizeenough — ...[[spoiler: between a tear and a ''[[GroinAttack cut]]'']].

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* In ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'' Seraph (the Oracle's bodyguard) pre-emptively apologizes for attacking Neo, as he needs to be certain Neo is the One.

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[[AC: WebOriginal]]
* Subverted in the ''Series/MurdochMysteries'' webseries ''The Murdoch Effect''. Just before the CowboyCop 21st century version of George punches Murdoch, he snarls "I would say I'm sorry for this, but I'm not!"

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

* ''{{A Song Of Ice And Fire}}'': The Sorrowful Men are a league of assassins who always apologize to their victims.

* The example above, from ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded''.

* In the last ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' book, Artemis apologizes to Holly before [[spoiler: sacrificing himself to save the human race from Opal Koboi]].

* Dean in ''TheIronGiant'': "Excuse me! I'd like to apologize to everyone in advance for this!" [[ItMakesSenseInContext He lets a squirrel out of his pants]] and HilarityEnsues.

* In ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'', right before he's about to open the airlock for Kirk and [[spoiler: Khan]] on the ''Vengeance'', Scotty is discovered by a mook and tells the mook that "[he is] so sorry" just before he opens the airlock to allow Kirk and [[spoiler:Khan]] to enter the ship and lets the guard exit the same way, and you can tell [[ThouShaltNotKill he's genuine.]]

* In ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'', right before he's about to open the airlock for Kirk and [[spoiler: Khan]] on the ''Vengeance'', Scotty is discovered by a mook and tells the mook that "[he is] so sorry" just before he opens the airlock to allow Kirk and Khan to enter the ship and lets the guard exit the same way, and you can tell he's genuine.

* In one of the ''NightHuntress'' books, Bones says "I'm sorry" before knocking Cat out. Lampshaded later, when he says it again in reference to the situation in general, and she caustically inquires if that means he's about to knock her unconscious.

* Used by the Tenth Doctor in ''Series/DoctorWho'' at least once with his catchphrase "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," just before he [[spoiler:wipes Donna's memory of their time together to keep her alive in "Journey's End"]].
** Also every other time Ten uses that phrase. Generally he's saying it to the VillainOfTheWeek just before killing them.
** Also done to Martha before the [[strike:kiss]] "genetic transfer", though she doesn't have time to be confused about the apology.
** Also used by the 11th doctor in the episode "The Eleventh hour" as he apologized to Rory for the phone bill for calling [[spoiler:the Atraxi]].

* Rikku pulls this before knocking Tidus out early in ''Videogame/FinalFantasyX'', though it means even less than usual since she does it in Al Bhed.

-->--''Film/TheMatrixReloaded''

* When Casey does this on ''{{Chuck}}'', Chuck assumes it's for one of the many things Casey has ''already'' done--nope, it's for being about to handcuff Chuck to a table.

* A show by ''Dara O Briain'' includes a part about a midwife he and his wife were visiting during his wife's pregnancy. When he comes to a part about childbirth, he runs over to two boys in the front row he talked to earlier, to explain what's going to happen when he tells this story, and the whole situation becomes more and more hilarious as he's [[OverlyPreparedGag constantly apologizing to the women in the audience about the joke he's going to make]].

* In ''Franchise/{{Superman}} Family #173'', ComicBook/JimmyOlsen realizes that Superman is infected with the virus that is wreaking havoc through Kandor. He mentally says "Sorry for what I'm about to do, pal" before knocking him out.

* In ''Superman Family #173'', Jimmy realizes that Superman is infected with the virus that is wreaking havoc through Kandor. He mentally says "Sorry for what I'm about to do, pal" before knocking him out.

* Shane says this to [[spoiler: Otis, before shooting him and leaving him for the walkers.]]

** And in 'The Man From Tallahassee' Locke apologizes to a confused Jack seconds before the submarine explodes.

* ''{{Transformers}}: WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' plays with this in one episode, when Silverbolt apologizes to Cheetor before knocking him out. When Cheetor doesn't go down, Silverbolt helps him back up, makes sure he's okay, then does it again, this time knocking him out.

* The example above, from ''Film/TheMatrix Reloaded''.

-->--''Film/TheMatrix Reloaded''

See also PreemptiveDeclaration.

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'': "Fullmetal Alchemist Sir! We Apologize in advance for this!" *Slap* "You behaved like a spoiled child!"
** For context, this was a couple of adult soldiers reprimanding Ed... except, as a State Alchemist, Ed technically holds the rank of Major and therefore outranks both of them. Hence [[WithDueRespect the apology]].

* [[NeonGenesisEvangelion Shinji Ikari]] would probably have been much better off without this tick, as it is what pisses Asuka off the most. Other than this personality difference, their backgrounds and current status would probably have resulted in some sorta relationship.