History Main / SaveTheVillain

-->'''Franchise/{{Wolverine}}''': I don't like it.

* According to ''ComicBook/TheInvadersMarvel'', this is how UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler died. The Golden Age ComicBook/HumaTorch broke into Hitler's bunker during the Seige of UsefulNotes/{{Berlin}}, offering to let Hitler surrender to the Americans rather than the Russians -- as in our reality, the Red Army had earned a reputation for PayEvilUntoEvil. Hitler refused and attacked the Torch, prompting the Torch to kill Hitler in self-defense.

* According to ''ComicBook/TheInvadersComicBook'', this is how UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler died. The Golden Age ComicBook/HumaTorch broke into Hitler's bunker during the Seige of UsefulNotes/{{Berlin}}, offering to let Hitler surrender to the Americans rather than the Russians -- as in our reality, the Red Army had earned a reputation for PayEvilUntoEvil. Hitler refused and attacked the Torch, prompting the Torch to kill Hitler in self-defense.

* According to ''ComicBook/TheInvaders'', this is how Hitler died. The Golden Age Human Torch broke into Hitler's bunker during the Seige of Berlin, offering to let Hitler surrender to the Americans rather than the Russians -- as in our reality, the Red Army had earned a reputation for PayEvilUntoEvil. Hitler refused and attacked the Torch, prompting the Torch to kill Hitler in self-defense.

* Attempted at the end of ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' when [[spoiler: MessianicArchetype Makoto tries to talk the BigBad, Junko Enoshima, out of [[DrivenToSuicide killing herself]]. Junko, being a StrawNihilist [[AxCrazy lunatic]], doesn't take his words of encouragement very well and [[BadIsGoodAndGoodIsBad happily goes through with it]].]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKingIISimbasPride''. Kiara does this to Zira when she's trying to pull herself up. Kiara offers a hand (paw?) to Zira to pull her back up, but she swipes at her and falls to her death in the raging flood below.
** Early drafts of ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'' had Simba toss Scar over Pride Rock, only for Scar to grab hold of the cliff and beg Simba to save him. Simba, not wanting to prove he's as cold-blooded as Scar, helps him up... and is rewarded with Scar throwing him downward as Pride Rock is engulfed in flames.

*** Although Kirk knew what Nero's response would be. And he's all too happy to oblige him.

* Attempted in ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' after the party defeats [[TheReptilians Azala]] and her Black Tyrano. Ayla offers to rescue her, but being [[TheFatalist a supreme fatalist]] Azala refuses to be rescued as she's accepted it's the fate of her and her kind to die there.

* ''Film/{{Bullshot}}''. A flashback to World War One shows the hero Bullshot Crummond was about to shoot down Otto von Bruno's Fokker fighter plane but refused on seeing his gun had jammed. The narrator notes that the events the audience are about to see would never have happened if he'd just shot the [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar Fokker]].

** ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' ends with ComicBook/TheJoker invoking this trope and demanding [[spoiler:Batman give him the cure needed to save him from TITAN poisoning]]. This is after [[spoiler:he's poisoned 2000 people and killed Talia Al-Ghul]], ''on top'' of his comic-book track-record, and yet he points out Batman'll follow the trope and [[JokerImmunity save him anyway]]. [[spoiler:Batman hesitates, so Joker stabs him in the arm, [[PyrrhicVillainy causing him to drop and smash the cure.]]]] Turns out [[spoiler:Batman ''[[TheFettered would]]'' [[TheFettered have saved]] [[ThouShaltNotKill him anyway]]]].

* Attempted and failed in ''Anime/Interstella5555''.

* In ''Anime/MaiHime'', Natsuki [[spoiler:stops Shizuru from finishing off a Child-less Nao, having come to realize that she and Nao are NotSoDifferent]].
* Kenzo Tenma of ''Anime/{{Monster}}'', given that he's perhaps the best example of DudleyDoRightStopsToHelp, does this a ''lot''. There is more than one scene where he takes an antagonist to the hospital at gunpoint. This turns out better for him than it does for most of the people on this page, too. With one [[ShrugOfGod probable]] exception.

* Played with during the Terrorist Requiem arc of ''Psychometrer Eiji'' it involved a grandpa going on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge on the people who gang-raped his granddaughter and the hero’s trying to stop him, even going so far as TakingTheBullet for the final culprit. Ultimately however they couldn’t care less about the rapist they were just fully aware this was a MurderSuicide and was trying to prevent that.

** In a ''Comicbook/{{Robin|Series}}'' story, she and Robin are put in a building about to be demolished by [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain the Baffler.]] Except he knocks himself out, so he ends up there as well. The two manage to save themselves but Robin points out they need to save the villain as well, much to Steph's dismay. Yet when the Baffler says they could become a team, the duo beat him up and leave him for the police.

* A discussion of this concept is held between Chuck and the freedom fighters in [[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog Archie Sonic issue #74]]:

* Comicbook/{{Empowered}} once saved a PunchClockVillain who was guarding her. She saw with her X-ray vision that he had an aneurysm and was in mortal danger.

* Subverted in ''Comicbook/{{Bookhunter}}''. Agent Bay is pursuing a book thief (in possession of a priceless antique Bible) across rooftops. The thief misses a jump, and Bay shoots a power line in order to swing down on the cable... but he catches the book and lets the thief fall.
* [[ComicBook/MisterFantastic Reed Richards]] of the Comicbook/FantasticFour saved the life of ComicBook/{{Galactus}}, even after the latter had almost killed him and tried to drain the lifeforce of the earth. This prompted [[PlanetEater Galactus]] to (temporarily) declare that he would not attack Earth again, out of gratitude. However, Reed later wound up on trial before an interstellar court and nearly executed for his actions after Galactus consumed the Skrulls' home planet, killing billions.

** In ''Comicbook/UntoldTalesOfSpiderMan'' #15, Spidey saves his long-time antagonist J. Jonah Jameson from being framed by the mob. And was neither the first nor last time. Spidey has saved Jonah's behind so many times - [[UngratefulBastard with absolutely no gratitude from Jonah after all of it]] - you have to wonder why he bothers.

* Before being turned DarkerAndEdgier ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' felt very strongly about the sanctity of life:

** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987''

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]

* In ''FanFic/OriginStory'', Alex Harris actually averts this trope several times. She's got plenty of time, for example, to fly Songbird to the hospital in time to keep her from dying, but simply ''doesn't'', allowing Songbird to bleed out. Likewise, she displays a casual disregard about whether or not Reed Richards is going to be permanently injured when she freezes him in place with her super-breath. Mostly this is because she believes that people who attack her or Louise (something both Songbird and Richards did) deserve what comes to them.

* ''FanFic/QueenOfAllOni'': During their fight in the Hall of Ice, Jackie saves [[TheDragon Hebi]] from a potential DisneyVillainDeath by falling into the pit at the center of the chamber, [[EvilCannotComprehendGood much to her confusion]]. Though this is an especially justified case since, as Jackie points out, [[spoiler: Hebi is really a [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed Viper]], so her evil isn't her fault]].

* In Literature/DarkLife, Ty saves the outlaw Shade from being hanged by angry settlers--despite the fact that he still has broken ribs from his last encounter, AND the fact that only way to get the settlers to listen was by telling them all his most dangerous secret.
** In Rip Tide, it's a little different. [[spoiler: At the beginning, the Drift surfs are the villains, but by the time he saves them at the end, Ty's realized that they were never actually the bad guys.]]

* In ''{{Theatre/Wicked}}'', Elphaba spends quite a lot of time trying to save her [[StartOfDarkness increasingly unstable]] sister Nessarose, despite the fact that said sister has always hated Elphaba. [[spoiler: Madame Morrible eventually takes advantage of her protectiveness of Nessarose by murdering the latter [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident with Dorothy's falling house]] to bring Elphaba out of hiding.]] In "No Good Deed", after her sister's brutal death, Elphaba realizes how pointless her attempts to save her have been.

* ''Videogame/MegaMan10'': After defeating him, Mega Man discovers that Dr. Wily has [[spoiler: fallen dangerously ill and unhesitatingly decides to take him to a hospital to get treatment. It pays off, as Dr. Wily leaves behind a big stockpile of Roboenza antidotes when he makes his escape]].

** Ichigo later saves Muramasa from drowning. [[spoiler:Muramusa dies a few minutes later because his wielder Koga died, but at least he was able to die at peace with a friend by his side.]]

** Goku from does this, or at least tries to, constantly. Sometimes it works (like with [[HeelFaceTurn Vegeta]]), other times it doesn't, as [[UngratefulBastard Frieza]] proved.
** This is actually a major story point in ''Anime/DragonBallZResurrectionF'' as both Whiz and Beerus tell Goku that his mercy allowed Frieza to detonate the planet. [[spoiler:They give Goku a second chance by going back in time, and this time Goku rushes a weakened Frieza and kills him immediately. It is kept from being a villainous moment for Goku as he knows that all of Earth will be annihilated if he doesn't do this.]]. Vegeta wasn't showing mercy but was so busy posturing after Goku handed the fight off to him that he didn't kill him fast enough.

[[folder:Fan Works]]

* ''WebAnimation/ElementsOfJustice'': The defendant of a murder case Coco Pommel [[spoiler:regains her memory and realizes that another suspected witness, Suri Polomare, cannot have committed the murder, so she interrupts the final verdict to testify in Suri's favor. Defense attorney Phoenix Wright (along with everyone else in the courtroom) is shocked, but ultimately decides to defend both.]]
* ''WebAnimation/TurnaboutStorm'': The antagonist confesses to the crime, creating a straightforward road for [[Franchise/AceAttorney Phoenix]] to get a Not Guilty verdict. But he feels something's not right about the confession, [[spoiler:and following his CrusadingLawyer ideals, he stops the Not Guilty verdict in order to further question her and uncover the truth: That she is also completely innocent of the murder]].

* Deconstructed twice over in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' fangame ''VideoGame/FlawedCrystals''.
** Steven's attempt to argue for this in the opening is utterly rejected by the gems, leading to [[AHouseDivided strife and divisions]] before they ultimately decide his naivete makes him too much of a liability to take with them.
** The knowledge that Rose really shattered Pink Diamond, the final nail in the coffin against the possibility she could be saved, drove Steven [[spoiler:into a FreakOut that led him to use Rose's room to create a wish-fulfillment fantasy where he ''could'' save everyone: the canon ending]]. The final arc of the game explains why this desire was selfish: He valued saving the diamonds more than he valued justice for their victims. When dealing with villains as evil as the diamonds, attempting to save them will only create more harm; there comes a point where you have to be willing to pull the trigger.

* {{Defied|Trope}} by Polnareff in ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders''. Enya stabs Hol Horse and attacks him with her stand as punishment for [[KnightTemplarParent him abandoning her son to die]] back in India. Polnareff finds him shortly afterward, right before also getting attacked by Enya. Hol Horse begs Polnareff to save him from the crazy woman, but Polnareff reminds Hol Horse that he's the one who [[spoiler:shot Avdol]] and isn't getting a lick of sympathy.

* {{Defied|Trope}} by Polnareff in Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders. Enya stabs Hol Horse and attacks him with her stand as punishment for [[KnightTemplarParent him abandoning her son to die]] back in India. Polnareff finds him shortly afterward, right before also getting attacked by Enya. Hol Horse begs Polnareff to save him from the crazy woman, but Polnareff reminds Hol Horse that he's the one who [[spoiler:shot Avdol]] and isn't getting a lick of sympathy.

** Very pointedly averted, however, in [[Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame the novel.]] [[spoiler: Not only does Quasimodo deliberately push Frollo off of the cathedral (and not even in self-defense): when Frollo manages to cling to the building briefly and attempts to pull himself back up, the narration points out that Quasimodo could easily have reached out and helped him. Instead, he just stands there and watches him fall.]]

* In ''Fanfic/BurnTheWitch'', Marinette repeatedly attempts to protect Lila after all her lies are revealed and Rose is akumatised into Witch Hunter, who along with everyone who falls under her spell wants to burn Lila at the stake for what she's done, despite herself having plenty of motivation to let them and even Cat Noir and Tikki falling under the spell and urging her to let Lila have it. Lila herself doesn't provide much incentive to do otherwise by not only sabotaging Marinette's genuine attempts to help her, seeing them more as self-righteous and self-serving ego strokes to make the other girl look and feel better about herself, but persistently lying and slandering her, taking advantage of her parents' kindness when they let her into the bakery to snoop around Marinette's room for blackmail material and gleefully admitting to her willing alliance with Hawk Moth. Even after transforming into Ladybug and hearing that Lila tried to manipulate Oni-Chan into killing her, Marinette does not give in. Once Lila is out of imminent danger and Rose is de-akumatised, however, Ladybug makes it clear that she will be keeping a very close eye on Lila and ensuring that she can't interfere with the heroes during akuma attacks by seeking her out and dumping her in uncomfortable and humiliating places to "keep her safe" during said attacks.

* In ''Fanfic/BURNTHEWITCH'', Marinette repeatedly attempts to protect Lila after all her lies are revealed and Rose is akumatised into Witch Hunter, who along with everyone who falls under her spell wants to burn Lila at the stake for what she's done, despite herself having plenty of motivation to let them and even Cat Noir and Tikki falling under the spell and urging her to let Lila have it. Lila herself doesn't provide much incentive to do otherwise by not only sabotaging Marinette's genuine attempts to help her, seeing them more as self-righteous and self-serving ego strokes to make the other girl look and feel better about herself, but persistently lying and slandering her, taking advantage of her parents' kindness when they let her into the bakery to snoop around Marinette's room for blackmail material and gleefully admitting to her willing alliance with Hawk Moth. Even after transforming into Ladybug and hearing that Lila tried to manipulate Oni-Chan into killing her, Marinette does not give in. Once Lila is out of imminent danger and Rose is de-akumatised, however, Ladybug makes it clear that she will be keeping a very close eye on Lila and ensuring that she can't interfere with the heroes during akuma attacks by seeking her out and dumping her in uncomfortable and humiliating places to "keep her safe" during said attacks.