History Main / PreemptiveApology

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

* Phoebus does this to Esmeralda in ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' when she has him pinned to a pillar with his own sword at his throat, before kicking her and taking back his sword.

* ''Series/{{Merlin 2008}}'': In "The Drawing of the Dark" While Mordred is technically apologizing to Arthur for what he's already done (tried to help Kara evade capture), it is strongly implied that he's truly apologizing for what he's about to do: [[Break Kara out of the dungeon and flee Camelot with her.]] Arthur is oblivious to the true meaning of Mordred's words, but Merlin catches on.

* ''Series/{{Merlin 2008}}'': In "The Drawing of the Dark" While Mordred is technically apologizing to Arthur for what he's already done (tried to help Kara evade capture), it is strongly implied that he's truly apologizing for what he's about to do: ||Break Kara out of the dungeon and flee Camelot with her.|| Arthur is oblivious to the true meaning of Mordred's words, but Merlin catches on.

* In ''Discworld/InterestingTimes'', Rincewind gets a fortune cookie that reads "Many Apologies". He just has time to wonder what it means before [[LaResistance the Red Army]] knocks him out.

* ''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 sort of relationship.

--> Fullmetal Alchemist, Sir! We do apologize in advance for this! (Slap!) You behaved like a spoiled child!

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* In the ''[[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'', Donatello is trying to evacuate a power plant that is about to explode but is confronted by a worker.

* 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]]. The audience's reaction proves it was a JustifiedTrope.

* After AbhorrentAdmirer Craig confesses his love to Lois in one of the last episodes of ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'', she apologizes in advance before brutally, mercilessly shooting him down, telling Craig that "whatever sick fantasies you have in your head will never come true! Noooooo!" [[BlackComedy She then apologizes again]]. It didn't help that Craig said this during the middle of the store being robbed.
* In ''Series/TheWalkingDead'', Shane says this to [[spoiler: Otis, before shooting him and leaving him for the walkers.]]

*** He says it to Martha before the [[strike:kiss]] "genetic transfer", though she doesn't have time to be confused about the apology.
*** He says it to Billy Shipton before asking him to deliver a message to Sally Sparrow because "[[TheSlowPath it's gonna take you a while."]]
*** He says this to Donna [[spoiler:just before he wipes her memory of their time together to keep her alive in "Journey's End"]].
** It's 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]].
** The Eleventh Doctor also apologizes just before doing something incredibly reckless.
-->'''Doctor''': You know how I sometimes have really brilliant ideas?\\
'''Amy''': Yes...\\
'''Doctor''': Sorry.\\
'''Doctor''': [runs from cover and shouts] Look at me, I'm a target!
* In the ''Series/{{Lost}}'' episode "He's Our You," Sawyer walks into Sayid's cell, apologizes, and then head-butts him.
** And before that...
-->'''Michael''': "I'm sorry."\\
'''Ana Lucia''': "For what?"\\
[[spoiler:(Michael shoots Ana Lucia)]]
** And in "The Man From Tallahassee" Locke apologizes to a confused Jack seconds before the submarine explodes.
** This happens so often on Lost that the characters really should have learned to take cover whenever they were offered a seemingly unwarranted apology

-->''Nate hands Kadjic a bag full of cash''
-->''''Kadjic''': What is this for?
-->'''Nate''': Ah, it's an apology.
-->'''Kadjic''': What for?
-->'''Nate''': For what's about to happen.

* From ''Series/{{Angel}}'', when the titular character is being arrested for a brutal murder.
-->'''Angel''': "I'm sorry."
-->'''Kate''': "Save it for the judge."
-->'''Angel''': "No, I didn't do that. I'm sorry for this." *hits her, breaks free, and escapes*
* An episode of ''Series/HumanTarget'', in which Chance pretends to be a "cleaner" taking part in a jewel heist:
--> '''Chance:''' ''*knocks out his "partner"*''
--> '''Receptionist:''' "What the hell is going on?"
--> '''Chance:''' "Well, it's a little complicated. I know it doesn't seem like it, but I'm actually one of the good guys. Sorry."
--> '''Receptionist:''' "Sorry about what?"
--> '''Chance:''' ''*knocks out everyone else in the room*''

* In an episode of ''Series/TheATeam'', Murdock said the line, "Bless me father, for I am about to sin," before punching out a priest. The reason was the team had just been convicted in their trial and sentenced to death. The priest Murdock hit was the priest who was slated to give them last rites before their execution, and was one of the few people who would a) be allowed on the island prison the team were held at and b) have unsupervised access to them.
* The 2012 edition of ''Series/BigFatQuizOfTheYear'', which covered [[ILoveTheExties the '90s]], had Jack Whitehall mention that he'd been afraid of Music/MrBlobby since he was a child. No points for guessing [[https://youtu.be/97fw8xjB5u4 who the guest was that night]], which even Creator/JimmyCarr apologized for before inviting him out.
-->'''Jimmy''': Right, it's the final question of The Big Fat Quiz of the '90s, and to ask it, we're honored to have one of the decade's most iconic stars. Please welcome - apologies, Jack - Mr. Blobby!

** The adults in question, of course, are a Sergeant and a 2nd Lieutenant serving as the Elrics' escort, while as a State Alchemist Ed holds the rank of Major. Hence [[WithDueRespect the apology]], followed by acknowledgment that Ed was well within his rights to formally reprimand them for this insubordination.

'''Seraph:''' For this. * ''attacks Neo''*

** In the "ComicBook/{{Bizarrogirl}}" story arc, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} apologizes to Dr. Light before knocking her out and making off with her Bizarro clone.

** In the "Bizarrogirl" story arc, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} apologizes to Dr. Light before knocking her out and making off with her Bizarro clone.

'''Donatello''': We don't have time for this! Please accept my apology.\\

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* In the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]], Donatello is trying to evacuate a power plant that is about to explode but is confronted by a worker.
-->Donatello: We don't have time for this! Please accept my apology.
-->Worker: For what?
-->Donatello: For this. (hits the worker with his bo.)

* ''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.
* There's also a slight variation in ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', where Vegeta gives a little speech about taking care of the family and then apologizes, right before knocking out both his kid and Goten and then doing a HeroicSacrifice in an attempt to take out Buu.

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

-->'''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]]'']].
-->'''Audience''': [[ShareTheMalePain Ohhhhhhhh]].
-->'''O'Briain''': There's the noise.

-->'''Doctor''': You know how I sometimes have really brilliant ideas?
-->'''Amy''': Yes...
-->'''Doctor''': Sorry.
-->'''Doctor''': [runs from cover and shouts] Look at me, I'm a target!

-->'''Michael''': "I'm sorry."
-->'''Ana Lucia''': "For what?"
-->[[spoiler:(Michael shoots Ana Lucia)]]

* In an episode of ''Series/TheATeam'', Murdock said the line, "Bless me father, for I am about to sin," before punching out a priest.

--> Fullmetal Alchemist, Sir! We apologize in advance for this! (Slap!) You behaved like a spoiled child!

-->'''Audience''': Ohhhhhhhh

* The 2012 edition of ''Series/BigFatQuizOfTheYear'', which covered [[ILoveTheXTies the '90s]], had Jack Whitehall mention that he'd been afraid of Music/MrBlobby since he was a child. No points for guessing [[https://youtu.be/97fw8xjB5u4 who the guest was that night]], which even Creator/JimmyCarr apologized for before inviting him out.

* '''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': The Sorrowful Men are a league of assassins who always apologize to their victims.

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* In ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'' Seraph (the Oracle's bodyguard) pre-emptively apologizes for attacking Neo, as he needs to be certain Neo is the One.
* From ''Film/TheCowboys'', Jebediah Nightlinger is about to be killed by Asa Watts. Knowing that the BigDamnHeroes are on their way, he asks for a moment to make peace with God, then he prays aloud:
-->'''Jebediah Nightlinger:''' I regret trifling with married women. I'm thoroughly ashamed at cheating at cards. I deplore my occasional departures from the truth. Forgive me for taking your name in vain, my Saturday drunkenness, my Sunday sloth. Above all, forgive me for the men I've killed in anger... ''[looks directly at Asa Watts]'' ...and those I am about to.
* In ''Film/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone'', Hermione apologises to Neville before putting the full body-bind curse on him.

* 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 [[TechnicalPacifist he's genuine.]]

* There's also a slight variation in ''Manga/DragonBall Z'', where Vegeta gives a little speech about taking care of the family and then apologizes, right before knocking out both his kid and Goten and then doing a Heroic Sacrifice in an attempt to take out [[Main/{{BigBad}} Buu]].

* In ''Litearture/HarryPotter and the Philosopher's Stone'', Hermione apologises to Neville before putting the full body-bind curse on him.
* Dean in ''TheIronGiant'': "Excuse me! I'd like to apologize to everyone in advance for this!" [[SquirrelsInMyPants He lets a squirrel out of his pants]] and HilarityEnsues.

* An episode of ''HumanTarget'', in which Chance pretends to be a "cleaner" taking part in a jewel heist:

-->'''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]]'']].

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