History Main / SavedByCanon

* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys4'' ends with [[spoiler:the Bite of '87 happening to the child protagonist]]. However, as Phone Guy said back in [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys the first game]], [[spoiler:"it's amazing that the human body can live without the frontal lobe"... [[SubvertedTrope Or perhaps not]], for as the child fades away at the end of Night 6, a distinctive flatlining can be heard and it is further implied that the actual 1987 bite victim is 2's protagonist Jeremy Fitzgerald. There's also an easter egg in ''4'' that heavily implies the game actually takes place in 1982]].

* ''VideoGame/StarWarsJediSurvivor'' has none other than Darth Vader show up as a boss battle late into the game. While it's not a HopelessBossFight, you still know that Vader's going to be OK given that the game takes place before ''Film/ANewHope''. [[spoiler:The one fighting him, however, isn't anywhere near as lucky]].

** ''Series/StarTrekStrangeNewWorlds'': Due to the series taking place in the prime reality before James T. Kirk took command of the USS ''Enterprise'', viewers already know Pike, Spock, Kirk, Uhura, M'Benga, Chapel, Scott, Kyle, George Kirk, and the ''Enterprise'' herself will survive the series. In fact, in-series, Pike tries to weaponize this throughout the first season since he knows his fate is to be horribly scarred once he leaves the ''Enterprise''.

** ''Series/StarTrekStrangeNewWorlds'': Due to the series taking place in the prime reality before James T. Kirk took command of the USS ''Enterprise'', viewers already know Pike, Spock, Kirk, Uhura, M'Benga, Chapel, Scott, Kyle, and the ''Enterprise'' herself will survive the series. In fact, in-series, Pike tries to weaponize this throughout the first season since he knows his fate is to be horribly scarred once he leaves the ''Enterprise''.

*** As a result of ''Film/RogueOne'' (which takes place two years after the series' then-present third season), now applies to [[spoiler:Hera]] (due to a ShoutOut), [[spoiler:Chopper]] (due to a cameo), and [[spoiler:the ''Ghost'' itself]] (due to a couple {{Freeze Frame Bonus}}es).

* VideoGame/MetalGear:

*** [[GameplayAndStorySegregation Being a prequel]] set decades before the events of the other ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' games, the game punishes the player if he [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim kills Ocelot]] (a key character from the chronologically later games) by proclaiming that the player has caused a {{time paradox}}. Killing Ocelot will also net a time paradox in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'' where this time, he's your ally.
*** Killing EVA will also net a {{time paradox}}, probably hinting her mission to retrieve the Philosophers' Legacy. [[spoiler:She will go on to become a volunteer at the Les Enfantes Terribles project, where she gives birth to Solid and Liquid Snake. Yes, without her, there is no Metal Gear.]]
** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'', Miller tries to take Big Boss down with a TakingYouWithMe moment, but Big Boss pulls his grenade and saves them both. Miller will go on to become Solid Snake's master, [[spoiler:and is killed by orders of Liquid.]]
** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPortableOps'', all tension of Roy Campbell and Null[[spoiler:/Gray Fox]] dying in the game is removed, as Campbell serves as Snake's MissionControl, and [[spoiler:Gray Fox]] becomes a member of FOXHOUND.
** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'' introduced a young boy, Eli, who becomes a (somewhat) enemy to Diamond Dogs later in the game. Venom and Skull Face are separately dedicated to capture and kill (respectively), the young boy. This seems unimportant but played straight by the fact that [[spoiler:Eli is a [[StartOfDarkness young Liquid Snake]].]]
** In the same game, [[spoiler:Huey is revealed to be a traitor to Diamond Dogs, [[MoralEventHorizon by unleashing a second wave of vocal parasites on unsuspecting soldiers]]. Much ado was raised for his execution, [[PayEvilUntoEvil for his betrayal of the highest order]]. Venom chooses instead to [[CruelMercy disable his artificial legs, and exile him on a raft aboard Seychelles sea]]. If we didn't know during Metal Gear Solid 2, from Otacon himself, that Huey went into clinical depression slowly and committed suicide in 1997, he possibly ''would'' have been executed.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaidIIIArielsBeginning'' gives Ariel a DisneyDeath. Since it's a prequel, it's a given that she's not dead.

** ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'' takes place in 1935, while the previous film ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'' took place in 1936, so it was obvious that Indy would survive the many near death experiences he faces.

* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateSiegeOfDragonspear'' takes place in between ''Baldur's Gate'' and ''Baldur's Gate II'', therefore whatever recurring character we meet both here and in the sequel is destined to live. It is particularly anti-climatic for [[spoiler:Imoen]], who is poisoned at the beginning but must necessarily survive in order to play a pivotal role after the events of the campaign. This led the developers to exclude her from the recruitable companions, as she will spend the whole time practicing magic in order to complete the dual class transition she is expected to have for the sequel, only showing up in the finale to set up the premises for a new story.

* In ''VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed'', you already knew that neither Darth Vader or Emperor Palpatine would die in their duels with Galen Marek, or that none of the rebel leaders would be executed by the Imperials since the game takes place two-six years before the original trilogy.
** ''Unleashed'' also saves Shaak Ti (at least until [[spoiler: Galen kills her]]), who was originally intended to die in ''Revenge of the Sith'' but whose death scenes were deleted.

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'', [[GameplayAndStorySegregation being a prequel]] set decades before the events of the other ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' games, punishes the player if he [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim kills Ocelot]] (a key character from the chronologically later games) by proclaiming that the player has caused a {{time paradox}}. Killing Ocelot will also net a time paradox in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'' where this time, he's your ally.
** Same with EVA. Killing her will also net a {{time paradox}}, probably hinting her mission to retrieve the Philosophers' Legacy. [[spoiler: She will go on to become a volunteer at the Les Enfantes Terribles project, where she gives birth to Solid and Liquid Snake. Yes, without her, there is no Metal Gear.]]

** It was inverted with Kirk in ''[[Film/StarTrekGenerations Generations]]'', who [[spoiler:is absorbed into the Nexus and is presumed dead]], even though in Scotty's TNG appearance he implied Kirk was still alive when Scotty left his own time period.[[note]]Of course Scotty had just emerged from a 75 year trip through a transporter pattern buffer while nursing a broken arm so he may have been a bit confused.[[/note]]

** Similarily, with Creator/LeonardNimoy having appeared as Spock in ''The Next Generation'' episodes "Unification" Parts [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E7Unification1 I]] and [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E8Unification2 II]] about a month before the release of ''[[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry The Undiscovered Country]]'', audiences went in knowing that whatever happened in the film that at least both [=McCoy=] and Spock would survive. Spock's father Sarek also appeared in the ''TNG'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E23Sarek Sarek]]" before passing away in "Unification I", so audiences knew he would survive as well.

** Similarily, with Creator/LeonardNimoy having appeared as Spock in ''The Next Generation'' episodes "Unification" Parts [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E7Unification1 II]] and [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E8Unification2 II]] about a month before the release of ''[[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry The Undiscovered Country]]'', audiences went in knowing that whatever happened in the film that at least both [=McCoy=] and Spock would survive. Spock's father Sarek also appeared in the ''TNG'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E23Sarek Sarek]]" before passing away in "Unification I", so audiences knew he would survive as well.

* In ''Series/BetterCallSaul'', Jimmy aka Saul, Mike, Gus, [[spoiler:Tuco]], [[spoiler:Hector]], [[spoiler:The Cousins]], [[spoiler:Hank]], [[spoiler:Gomez]], [[spoiler:Lydia]], [[spoiler:Bolsa]], [[spoiler:Eladio]], [[spoiler:Schuler]], [[spoiler:Gale]], [[spoiler:Walt and Jesse]], Victor, Tyrus, Krazy-8, Huell Babineaux, Ira (later of Vamonos Pest), and Francesca are safe at least until the series reaches the events of ''Series/BreakingBad''.

* In ''Series/BetterCallSaul'', Jimmy aka Saul, Mike, Gus, [[spoiler:Tuco]], [[spoiler:Hector]], [[spoiler:The Cousins]], [[spoiler:Hank]], [[spoiler:Gomez]], [[spoiler:Lydia]], [[spoiler:Bolsa]], [[spoiler:Eladio]], [[spoiler:Schuler]], [[spoiler:Gale]], [[spoiler:Walt and Jesse]], Victor, Tyrus, Krazy-8, Huell Babineaux, Ira (later of Vamonos Pest), and Francesca are safe at least until the series reaches the events of ''Series/BreakingBad''.

* In ''Series/BetterCallSaul'', Jimmy aka Saul, Mike, Gus, [[spoiler:Tuco]], [[spoiler:Hector]], [[spoiler:The Cousins]], [[spoiler: Hank]], [[spoiler: Gomez]], [[spoiler: Lydia]], [[spoiler:Gale]], [[spoiler:Walt and Jesse]], Victor, Tyrus, Krazy-8, Huell Babineaux, Ira (later of Vamonos Pest), and Francesca are safe at least until the series reaches the events of ''Series/BreakingBad''.

* ''Film/MissionImpossibleDeadReckoningPartOne'': Due to this being the first part of a two-film plot, Ethan, Luther, Benji and Gabriel all have to survive to Part Two -- Luther has [[PutOnABus left for parts unknown]] to check his equipment by the beginning of the third act, while Benji is safely away from the action the entire time (providing tech support while acting as MissionControl). Luther even outright tells Ethan not to kill Gabriel on the train as either Ethan killing Gabriel or Ethan dying on the train will result in the Entity [[TheBadGuyWins winning]] regardless. [[SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome Ilsa, on the other hand...]]

** The ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode ''[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS3E2Flashback Flashback''" features Tuvok reliving a memory of his time on the ''USS Excelsior'' during the events of ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry''. Not only are Sulu and Rand guaranteed to survive given that they survived the film, but so is Kang, who returns from the ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E7DayOfTheDove Day of the Dove]]", as he had previously appeared in the ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpace9'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS02E19BloodOath Blood Oath]]", which chronologically takes place about 80 years later.

** ''Film/RogueOne'' was fairly sparse with its cameos from other movies, but you still know that Mon Mothma, Tarkin, Darth Vader, General Dodonna, Hurst Romandi, Dr. Evazan, Ponda Baba, [[spoiler:Red Leader, Gold Leader, Wedge (who is heard via intercom), the droids, Captain Antilles, and Leia]] are going to survive. [[spoiler:Don't worry; they make up for it by killing [[EveryoneDiesEnding EVERYONE ELSE]]]].

** ''Film/RogueOne'' was fairly sparse with its cameos from other movies, but you still know that Mon Mothma, Tarkin, Darth Vader, General Dodonna, Dr. Evazan, Ponda Baba, [[spoiler:Red Leader, Gold Leader, the droids, Captain Antilles, and Leia]] are going to survive. [[spoiler:Don't worry; they make up for it by killing [[EveryoneDiesEnding EVERYONE ELSE]]]].

*** The series is set between ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' and ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' and there is a huge list of characters who show up in the latter[[note]]Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala, C-3PO, R2-D2, Yoda, Mace Windu, most of the Jedi Council (along with most of the rest of the members of the Jedi Order), Bail Organa, some of the clone troopers, most of the members of the Galactic Senate, Chancellor Sheev Palpatine/Sidious, Count Dooku, most of the council members of the Separatist Alliance, General Grievous, and even Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt, and Sy Snootles (who appear in chronologically later films)[[/note]] that cannot have anything significant happen to them as a result. ''The Clone Wars'' compensates by being ''[[AnyoneCanDie brutal]]'' towards any other characters, throwing out {{Family Unfriendly Death}}s left and right, and still manages to create tension with Ahsoka, who doesn't show up in the films and therefore doesn't have the protection the rest of the cast has.

** Anakin, Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Palpatine in the prequels, given they all show up alive in the original trilogy. As exciting as their climactic duels in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' are, it loses some of the impact when you know neither of them kills their opponent. C-3PO, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt, Bib Fortuna, Owen and Beru Lars, Mon Mothma, and Captain Antilles are also guaranteed to survive, as is Bail Organa, who is mentioned as still being alive before Alderaan is destroyed.

* In ''Film/TerminatorSalvation'', we already knew that Kyle Reese would survive Skynet because without him, no ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' movies. The original, unused ending would've subverted this trope: [[spoiler:John Connor was originally going to die, and his skin would be grafted onto Marcus' frame, [[ElCidPloy who would carry on as leader of the resistance.]]]]

** Similarily, with Leonard Nimoy having appeared in ''The Next Generation'' episodes "Unification" Parts [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E7Unification1 II]] and [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E8Unification2 II]] about a month before the release of ''[[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry The Undiscovered Country]]'', audiences went in knowing that whatever happened in the film that at least both [=McCoy=] and Spock would survive. Spock's father Sarek also appeared in the ''TNG'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E23Sarek Sarek]]" before passing away in "Unification I", so audiences knew he would survive as well.

** Similarily, with Leonard Nimoy having appeared in ''The Next Generation'' episodes "Unification" Parts [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E7Unification1 I]] and [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E8Unification2 2]] about a month before the release of ''[[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry The Undiscovered Country]]'', audiences went in knowing that whatever happened in the film that at least both [=McCoy=] and Spock would survive. Spock's father Sarek also appeared in ''TNG'', so audiences knew he would survive as well.