History Main / RationalizingTheOverkill

* Admiral Kane in the ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'' series. For starters she's a Tauron, who are Space Sicilians as far as vendettas go, and then she discovers her lover is a Cylon saboteur. Kane cranks the vindictiveness UpToEleven.

This is when a character sees their excessive punishment on another as completely justified. Perhaps the character has been abused for far too long from their tormentor(s) and that going overboard with their revenge is exactly how they feel, which is quite common with a bullied character [[WhosLaughingNow turning into a villain]]. Perhaps they may be a self-righteous KnightTemplar who [[BlackAndWhiteInsanity puts too much value in morality]] and any "just" and "righteous" punishment must be extremely harsh. Perhaps the guy wants to MakeAnExampleOutOfThem, whether they're a KnightTemplar or a mob boss who wants to enforce the rules for his underlings and/or the people around them. For whatever reason, this will demonstrate how vengeful the character is and they have already [[HeWhoFightsMonsters allowed revenge to consume them so terribly.]]

This is when a character sees their excessive punishment on another as completely justified. Perhaps the character has been abused for far too long from their tormentor(s) and that going overboard with their revenge is exactly how they feel, which is quite common with a bullied character [[WhosLaughingNow turning into a villain]]. Perhaps they may be a self-righteous KnightTemplar who [[BlackAndWhiteInsanity puts too much value in morality]] and any "just" and "righteous" punishment must be extremely harsh. For whatever reason, this will demonstrate how vengeful the character is and they have already [[HeWhoFightsMonsters allowed revenge to consume them so terribly.]]

When a character wrongs another character, the victim is more likely to get back at them, usually by giving them [[ATasteOfTheirOwnMedicine the same treatment]] [[PayEvilUntoEvil they gave to them]]. Seems fair, does it? Not quite. That's not enough to satisfy the victim. So why not dishing out some DisproportionateRetribution? Wait, that's going too far! Then again, it doesn't matter to the character as long as "justice" is served.

This is when a character sees their excessive punishment on another as completely justified. Perhaps the character has been abused far too long from their tormentor(s) and that going overboard with their revenge is exactly how they feel, which is quite common with a bullied character [[WhosLaughingNow turning into a villain]]. Perhaps they may be a self-righteous KnightTemplar who [[BlackAndWhiteInsanity puts too much value in morality]] and any "just" and "righteous" punishment must be extremely harsh. For whatever reason, this will demonstrate how vengeful the character is and they have already [[HeWhoFightsMonsters allowed revenge to consume them so terribly.]]

Subtrope of ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill. Compare ItsTheOnlyWayToBeSure, MakeSureHesDead. An AssholeVictim can be subject to this. See also MinorInjuryOverreaction. Contrast WasTooHardOnHim if the character regrets punishing a character very harshly. Can be a unique way to refute a WhatTheHellHero speech from other characters who think they've done enough damage. Also contrast RestrainedRevenge where the character's "justified" punishment isn't excessive.

* In ''LightNovel/FateZero'', Saber chastizes Kiritsugu over not only blackmailing Kayneth into [[spoiler: killing Lancer]], but also having Kayneth and his fiancee [[spoiler: killed after promising them safety]]. Kiritsugu counters that a Master that has had their Servant killed can still re-enter the Grail War by making another contract with a Servant that has had their Master killed, and killing the Master no matter what is the only way to make sure that they are not a threat. Considering how much trouble could have been avoided by killing [[spoiler: Kotomine]] (who was protected by the Church) before he got another Servant and re-entered the war, he kind of has a point. This point is lessened, when FridgeLogic reveals he could have included that in his magically binding contract.

* In ''FanFic/EscapeFromTheHokagesHat'', the council wants to banish ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', want Sasuke's prison sentence forgotten and were smart enough to get the Daimyo to agree with any of their decisions. Tsunade's response? Shove Sasuke in one of the darkest ANBU cells being kept barely alive, setting up the collapse of Konoha's economy, taking money from the accounts of every clan that ever wronged Naruto and finally making Jiraiya (temporary) Sixth Hokage while she leaves with Shizune, Hinata and Naruto for a six month training trip. When she explains why she did it to Naruto, she has this to say:

* According to idle dialogue in the ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld,'' Templar [[AbsentMindedProfessor scholar]] [[BunnyEarsLawyer Iain]] [[EruditeStoner Tibet]] [[MadScientist Gladstone]] has been banned from lecturing at Oxford since 1968 and the university faculty ''will'' enforce this rule by ''hanging'' if he even sets foot on campus. Apparently, this is because Gladstone's last visit involved a mutiny. [[NoodleIncident Exactly who mutinied, what happened, what drugs were involved and whether or not Gladstone was really responsible for any of it remain a mystery.]] Let's just hope it didn't involve that cult experiment...

* At times in ''WesternAnimation/TheDreamstone'', after the Noops have thwarted the [[HarmlessVillain Urpneys']] plan, [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown they will continue a more elaborate slapstick revenge]], insisting they are jerks who need to be "taught a lesson". At least once however, the writers caught wise to the overkill and [[HoistByTheirOwnPetard had it backfire on them]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "And I'm Joyce Kinney", the titular reporter got revenge on Lois for a Carrie style prank in high school that made Joyce a laughingstock by revealing the latter did a porn in college, getting her shunned by the entire town. Lois pleads that she is sorry for what she did, but Joyce refuses to go back on her retribution.

* In ''LightNovel/FateZero'', Saber chastizes Kiritsugu over not only blackmailing Kayneth into [[spoiler: killing Lancer]], but also having Kayneth and his fiancee [[spoiler: killed after promising them safety]]. Kiritsugu counters that a Master that has had their Servant killed can still re-enter the Grail War by making another contract with a Servant that has had their Master killed, and killing the Master no matter what is the only way to make sure that they are not a threat. Considering how much trouble could have been avoided by killing [[spoiler: Kotomine]] (who was protected by the Church) before he got another Servant and re-entered the war, he kind of has a point.

* It is heavily debated that God's punishments on the wicked in the [[Literature/TheBible Old Testament]] as well as eternal punishment in {{Hell}} will be presented as perfectly justified by many religious followers. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment Nothing more should be said about this matter.]]

* At the end of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode ''[[Recap/DoctorWho2005CSTheChristmasInvasion The Christmas Invasion]]'', Harriet Jones [[RunningGag (Prime Minister)]] blasts the Sycorax spaceship out of the sky while they were retreating. She justifies it by saying that though the Doctor scared them off, they would show other, stronger, aliens the way to Earth. Given how frequently Britain had been invaded by aliens much mightier than these in the history of the series, past and future, the concern is warranted, although the Doctor still disapproves.
** The Cult of Skaro also had one in "Doomsday", when Rose told them that they didn't need to kill someone, their response was "neither did we need him alive".
* In the ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' episode "Shindig" Mal stabs Atherton Wing a couple times after disarming him. Wing had previously insulted Inara and injured Mal quite badly in the ensuing duel.
* In an episode of ''Series/RaumschiffGamestar'', Darth Vader orders his henchman to deliver a parcel bomb onto the eponymous starship. When the henchman rightly points out that the ''Gamestar'' is currently sinking, anyway, Vader retorts "Twice destroyed holds better."

* [[spoiler:Future Luke, a.k.a Clive]] from ''VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonAndTheUnwoundFuture'' created a gigantic underground futuristic version of London, built a giant robot, put up a great farce, and tried to blow up the real London only because his parents died in an unfortunate accident. He then attempts to justify it by saying that it's teaching the government not to callously disregard ordinary people (since Bill Hawks managed to not only avoid responsibility for his failed time travel, but reached high office).

* In ''The Jew of Malta'' by Creator/ChristopherMarlowe, Malta's Governor, Ferneze, taxes every Jew at half their income so he can pay the tribute he owes Turkey. When the title character, Barabas, protests this injustice, Ferneze confiscates ''all'' his wealth. Barabas plots to avenge himself on the Governor, but he doesn't stop there. He orchestrates the death not only of Ferneze's son Lodowick, but also of Lodowick's friend Mathias, an entire convent of nuns (deliberately including [[OffingTheOffspring his own daughter]] after she converts to Catholicism and takes holy orders), and two friars.[[note]]That's not even an exhaustive list of Barabas's [[KillEmAll actual or intended victims]], but it does cover the ones who, except for Ferneze, did him no harm whatsoever.[[/note]] Barabas rationalizes his actions thus: "It's no sin to deceive a Christian, / For they themselves hold it a principle / Faith is not to be held with heretics; / But all are heretics that are not Jews." (2.3.313-316)

[[folder: Anime ]]

[[folder: Fanfic ]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV ]]

[[folder: Religion ]]

[[folder: Theatre ]]

[[folder: Video Game ]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

* From ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'', the oft quoted Maxim: There is no overkill, only "Open fire" and "I need to reload"

[[folder: Web Videos ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* A more half hearted case in ''EdEddNEddy''. In an instance Sarah unleashes hell onto all three Eds (for a prank ''Eddy'' committed), she later laments that Double D probably didn't have anything to do with it, but "give those cute ones an inch and they take a mile!"

* The [[VideoGame/TheSecretWorld Templar]] scholar, Iain Tibet Gladstone, has been banned from lecturing at Oxford since 1968 and ''will'' enforce this rule by ''hanging'' if he even sets foot on campus. Apparently, this is because Gladstone's last visit involved a mutiny. [[NoodleIncident Exactly who mutinied, what happened, what drugs were involved and whether or not Gladstone was really responsible for any of it remain a mystery.]] Let's just hope it didn't involve that cult experiment...

* Admiral Kane in the ''Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined'' series. For starters she's a Tauron, who are Space Sicilians as far as vendettas go, and then she discovers her lover is a Cylon saboteur. Kane cranks the vindictiveness UpToEleven.

->'''Sir Warwick Harrow:''' You didn't have to wound him.\\
'''Malcolm Reynolds:''' Yeah, I know, it was just funny.
-->-- "Shindig", ''Series/{{Firefly}}''

->'''Sir Warwick Harrow:''' You didn't have to wound him.
->'''Malcolm Reynolds:''' Yeah, I know, it was just funny.
-->-- "Shindig", ''Series/{{Firefly}}''

This is when a character sees their excessive punishment on another as completely justified. Perhaps the character has been abused far too long from their tormentor(s) and that going overboard with their revenge is exactly how they feel, which is quite common with a bullied character [[WhosLaughingNow turning into a villain]]. Perhaps they may be a self-righteous KnightTemplar who [[BlackAndWhiteInsanity puts too much value in morality]] and any "just" and "righteous" punishment must be extremely harsh. For whatever reason, this will demonstrate how vengeful the character is and they have already [[HeWhoFightsMonsters allowed revenge to consume them so terribly.]]

In another variations, an unsympathetic character is suffering tremendously and other characters, especially those who were wronged, will tell them that [[KickTheSonOfABitch they deserve what was coming to them]] as opposed to others who feel that they didn't deserve a punishment like that, even if the character was a {{jerk|ass}}.

Subtrope of ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill. Compare ItsTheOnlyWayToBeSure, MakeSureHesDead. An AssholeVictim can be subject to this. See also MinorInjuryOverreaction. Contrast WasTooHardOnHim if the character regrets punishing a character very harshly. Can be a unique way to refute a WhatTheHellHero speech from other characters who think they've done enough damage. Also contrast RestrainedRevenge where the character's "justified" punishment isn't excessive.
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!!Examples:

[[AC: Anime]]

[[AC: Fanfic]]
* In ''FanFic/EscapeFromTheHokagesHat'', the council wants to banish ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', want Sasuke's prison sentence forgotten and were smart enough to get the Daimyo to agree with any of their decisions. Tsunade's response? Shove Sasuke in one of the darkest ANBU cells being kept barely alive, setting up the collapse of Konoha's economy, taking money from the accounts of every clan that ever wronged Naruto and finally making Jiraiya (temporary) Sixth Hokage while she leaves with Shizune, Hinata and Naruto for a six month training trip. When she explains why she did it to Naruto, she has this to say:
--> "I decided to teach those meddling old fools a lesson in respect. If the reason I came back to the village is kicked out, I am SO joining in the fun!"

[[AC: Live-Action TV]]
* At the end of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode ''[[Recap/DoctorWho2005CSTheChristmasInvasion The Christmas Invasion]]'', Harriet Jones [[RunningGag (Prime Minister)]] blasts the Sycorax spaceship out of the sky while they were retreating. She justifies it by saying that though the Doctor scared them off, they would show other, stronger, aliens the way to Earth. Given how frequently Britain had been invaded by aliens much mightier than these in the history of the series, past and future, the concern is warranted, although the Doctor still disapproves.

* In the ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' episode "Shindig" Mal stabs Atherton Wing a couple times after disarming him. Wing had previously insulted Inara and injured Mal quite badly in the ensuing duel.
* In an episode of ''Series/RaumschiffGamestar'', Darth Vader orders his henchman to deliver a parcel bomb onto the eponymous starship. When the henchman rightly points out that the ''Gamestar'' is currently sinking, anyway, Vader retorts "Twice destroyed holds better."
* Admiral Kane in the ''Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined'' series. For starters she's a Tauron, who are Space Sicilians as far as vendettas go, and then she discovers her lover is a Cylon saboteur. Kane cranks the vindictiveness UpToEleven.

[[AC: Religion]]

[[AC: Theatre]]

[[AC: Video Game]]
* [[spoiler:Future Luke, a.k.a Clive]] from ''VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonAndTheUnwoundFuture'' created a gigantic underground futuristic version of London, built a giant robot, put up a great farce, and tried to blow up the real London only because his parents died in an unfortunate accident. He then attempts to justify it by saying that it's teaching the government not to callously disregard ordinary people (since Bill Hawks managed to not only avoid responsibility for his failed time travel, but reached high office).

[[AC: Web Comics]]

[[AC: Web Videos]]
* The SWAG leader of WebVideo/DemoReel assumes that kidnapping someone at gunpoint and leaving them to starve to death slowly in an abandoned patch of woods is justifiable punishment for his territory getting threatened.

[[AC: Western Animation]]
* At times in ''WesternAnimation/TheDreamstone'', after the Noops have thwarted the [[HarmlessVillain Urpneys']] plan, [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown they will continue a more elaborate slapstick revenge]], insisting they are jerks who need to be "taught a lesson". At least once however, the writers caught wise to the overkill and [[HoistByTheirOwnPetard had it backfire on them]].
----

* In FateZero, Saber chastizes Kiritsugu over not only blackmailing Kayneth into [[spoiler: killing Lancer]], but also having Kayneth and his fiancee [[spoiler: killed after promising them safety]]. Kiritsugu counters that a Master that has had their Servant killed can still re-enter the Grail War by making another contract with a Servant that has had their Master killed, and killing the Master no matter what is the only way to make sure that they are not a threat. Considering how much trouble could have been avoided by killing [[spoiler: Kotomine]] (who was protected by the Church) before he got another Servant and re-entered the war, he kind of has a point.

* From SchlockMercenary, the oft quoted Maxim: There is no overkill, only "Open fire" and "I need to reload"

* In ''Escape From The Hokage's Hat'', the council wants to banish ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', want Sasuke's prison sentence forgotten and were smart enough to get the Daimyo to agree with any of their decisions. Tsunade's response? Shove Sasuke in one of the darkest ANBU cells being kept barely alive, setting up the collapse of Konoha's economy, taking money from the accounts of every clan that ever wronged Naruto and finally making Jiraiya (temporary) Sixth Hokage while she leaves with Shizune, Hinata and Naruto for a six month training trip. When she explains why she did it to Naruto, she has this to say:

* In FateZero, Saber chastizes Kiritsugu over not only blackmailing Kayneth into [[spoiler: killing Lancer]], but also having Kayneth and his fiancee [[spoiler: killed after promising them safety]]. Kiritsugu counters that a Master that have had their Servant killed can still re-enter the Grail War by making another contract with a Servant that have had their Master killed, and killing the Master no matter what is the only way to make sure that they are not a threat. Considering how much trouble could have been avoided by killing [[spoiler: Kotomine]] (who was protected by the Church) before he got another Servant and re-entered the war, he kind of has a point.

[[AC: Literature]]
* An Creator/HPLovecraft story has the ScienceHero protagonists going after the EldritchAbomination of the tale with guns, blades, a primitive LightningGun and [[KillItWithFire a flamethrower]], in the hopes they can kill it DeaderThanDead. [[CosmicHorrorStory This being a Lovecraft tale]], [[ApocalypticLog you can guess how that turned out]], but hey, it's at least the thought that counts...

* At the end of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode ''[[Recap/DoctorWho2005CSTheChristmasInvasion The Christmas Invasion]]'', Harriet Jones [[RunningGag (Prime Minister)]] blasts the Sycorax spaceship out of the sky, while they were retreating. She justifies it by saying that though the Doctor scared them off, they would show other, stronger, aliens the way to Earth. Given how frequently Britain had been invaded by aliens much mightier than these in the history of the series, past and future, the argument comes off as absolutely devoid of any weight.

When a character wrongs another character, the victim is more likely to get back at them, usually by giving them [[ATasteOfTheirOwnMedicine the same treatment]] [[PayEvilUntoEvil he gave to them]]. Seems fair, does it? Not quite. That's not enough to satisfy the victim. So why not dishing out some DisproportionateRetribution? Wait, that's going too far! Then again, it doesn't matter to the character as long as "justice" is served.

* It is heavily debated that God's punishments on the wicked in the [[Literature/TheBible Old Testament]] as well as eternal punishment in {{Hell}} will be presented as perfectly justified by many religious followers. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment Nothing more should be said about this matter.]]