History Main / SurrenderBackfire

* In the 2006 series of ''Series/DoctorWho'', the Doctor and his companions encounter the Cybermen alongside a small team of FreedomFighters. The Doctor, knowing that the Cybermen are ImmuneToBullets, convinces the group to surrender and be taken to become Cybermen ([[ISurrenderSuckers or rather escape before then]]). Unfortunately, the Cybermen had already determined them to be dangerous elements that were to be deleted immediately, despite the Doctor's protests that they surrendered willingly. Fortunately, they manage to escape before they could be executed.

* In ''Film/ThePatriot'', Colonel Tavington locks some people who've been supporting the revolutionaries into a church, demanding they reveal where Benjamin Martin is. At first no one says anything. Finally one guy rushes forwards and blabs everything, believing the British will let everyone go if they get what they want. Tavington then burns the entire church down with the people inside.

* In ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', [[spoiler:after Steamboat Willie attacks TheSquad and loses his men, he surrenders to the squad. Upham murders him in cold blood. Justified because Upham was the one who insisted he be released before and this allowed him to rejoin the marching Nazi army... and ''back then'' he was going to be executed in cold blood after surrendering because the squad believed he was the one who killed Wade.]].

* In ''Film/ConAir'', the plot is triggered when Cameron listens to his stupid lawyer's advice to plead 'guilty' to his CrimeOfSelfDefense, on the grounds that the judge [[GetOutOfJailFreeCard would show Cameron mercy]]. The judge then turned out to be a HangingJudge [[HollywoodLaw who decided to deem Cameron a "lethal weapon" because of his training]] and [[AllCrimesAreEqual punished him to the fullest extent of the law]].

* In ''Film/ConAir'', the plot is triggered when Cameron listens to his stupid lawyer's advice to plead 'guilty' to his CrimeOfSelfDefense, on the grounds that the judge [[GetOutOfJailFreeCard would show Cameron mercy]]. The judge then turned out to be a HangingJudge [[HollywoodLaw who decided to deem Cameron a "lethal weapon" because of his training]] and [[AllCrimesAreEqual punished him to the fullest extent to the law]].

* In ''Film/ConAir'', the plot is triggered when Cameron listens to his stupid lawyer's advice to plead 'guilty' to his CrimeOfSelfDefense, on the grounds that the judge [[GetOutOfJailFreeCard would show Cameron mercy]]. The judge then turned out to be a HangingJudge [[HollywoodLaw who decided to deem Cameron a "lethal weapon" because of his training]] and [[AllCrimesAreEqual Cameron ended up being punished to the fullest extent to the law]].

* In ''Film/ConAir'', the plot is triggered when Cameron listens to his stupid lawyer's advice to plead 'guilty' to his CrimeOfSelfDefense, on the grounds that the judge [[GetOutOfJailFreeCard would show Cameron mercy]]. [[AllCrimesAreEqual Cameron ended up being punished to the fullest extent to the law]].

The reason this can happen varies: the villain could either be wise to how dangerous the heroes are, they could find this too good an opportunity to do away with the heroes for good, they might despise those who won't fight to the end, seeing them as {{Dirty Coward}}s, they might promise to agree to the heroes' terms of surrender, only to reveal [[ILied they lied]] later on, or are just plan cruel and want to KickThemWhileTheyreDown.

Needless to say, this is a NiceJobBreakingItHero moment for the one that suggested surrendering, usually the CowardlyLion. To rub salt in the wounds, it could be revealed later on that the heroes actually had a fighting chance, and in rare instances, [[StupidSurrender could've possibly won]] if [[GaveUpTooSoonthey hadn't given up]].

Needless to say, this is a NiceJobBreakingItHero moment for the one that suggested surrendering, usually the CowardlyLion. To rub salt in the wounds, it could be revealed later on that the heroes actually had a fighting chance, and in rare instances, could've possibly won [[StupidSurrender if they hadn't]] [[GaveUpTooSoon given up]].

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'', [[AC: [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2273 SCP-2273 ("Major Alexei Belitrov, of the Red Army's 22nd Armored Infantry Division")]] ]]. While on a mission inside American territory, SCP-2273 ordered its fellow troops to surrender to the Americans so they could become POWs and not have to fight any more. Instead, the Americans cold-bloodedly murdered the surrendering soldiers but kept SCP-2273 alive for some reason.

* In ''Film/ConAir'', the plot is triggered when Cameron listens to his stupid lawyer's advice to plead 'guilty' to his CrimeOfSelfDefense, on the grounds that the judge would show Cameron mercy. [[AllCrimesAreEqual Cameron ended up being punished to the fullest extent to the law]].

* In ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', [[spoiler:after Steamboat Willie attacks TheSquad and loses his men, he surrenders to the squad. Upham murders him in cold blood. Justified because Upham was the one who insisted he be released before and this allowed him to rejoin the marching Nazi army]].

* In ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', [[spoiler:after Steamboat Willie attacks TheSquad and loses his men, he surrenders to the squad. Upham murders him in cold blood]].

* A variation appears in ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' when Roy and Belkar are arrested for [[TheIllegal not having papers to enter the Empire of Blood]]. The [[RunningGag two lawyers]] convince them to plead 'Guilty' so that they won't [[HangingJudge enrage the judge]] by [[DefiantToTheEnd being stalwart of their claim that they were innocent]]. However, this results in the judge [[FelonyMisdemeanor sentencing Roy and Belkar to gladiatorial prison for life]].

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'', [[AC: [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2273 SCP-2273 ("Major Alexei Belitrov, of the Red Army's 22nd Armored Infantry Division")]] ]]. While on a mission inside American territory, SCP-2273 ordered its fellow troops to surrender to the Americans so they could become POWs and not have to fight any more. Instead, the Americans cold-bloodedly murdered the surrendering soldiers but kept SCP-2273 alive for some reason.
[[/folder]]

Unfortunately has the FamilyUnfriendlyAesop where it is better to fight to the end rather than give up. Similar to PacifismBackfire where trying to avoid a fight [[FromBadToWorse causes a confrontation to intensify]]. A rare moment where HonorBeforeReason is actually in the right. Not to be confused with ISurrenderSuckers or PoisonousCaptive where the one surrendering is doing so as part of [[GetIntoJailFree a]] [[BatmanGambit plan]], though the two can mix if the enemy sees through the scheme. Not the same as StupidSurrender, where one surrenders without realizing [[OneManArmy they didn't]] [[PlotInducedStupidity have to]]. Can be the [[LaserGuidedKarma karmic]] [[KarmicDeath fate]] of a DangerousDeserter who tried to pull a ScrewThisImOuttaHere, resulting in RewardedAsATraitorDeserves. Can go hand in hand with LeaveNoSurvivors. Compare RunOrDie. Contrast DefiantToTheEnd, LastStand, and StandYourGround. YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo is similar where one makes a deal with the villain for the safety of their friends, [[ILied only for the villain to pull a double cross]]. For those who protest the notion of surrendering turn out to in the right, see StrawmanHasAPoint. See also ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer.

* A variation appears in ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' when Roy and Belkar are arrested for [[TheIllegal not having papers to enter the Empire of Blood]]. The [[RunningGag two lawyers]] convince them to plead 'Guilty' so that they won't [[HangingJudge enrage the judge]] by [[DefiantToTheEnd being stalwart of their claim that they were innocent]]. However, this results in the judge [[FelonyMisdemeanor sentencing Roy and Belkar to gladitorial prison for life]].

[[folder:Video Games]]
* One mission in ''VideoGame/SaintsRowIV'' has you rescue Matt Miller from the simulation. During this mission, Zinyak gives you a choice between continuing the mission and surrendering. He promises to release the humans he's holding captive and let them leave, but you will be executed in return. If you take his offer, you get a closing credit sequence then a Mission Failure screen with the message "Zinyak was lying."
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action Television ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

The reason this can happen varies: the villain could either be GenreSavvy to how dangerous the heroes are, they could find this too good an opportunity to do away with the heroes for good, they might despise those who won't fight to the end, seeing them as {{Dirty Coward}}s, they might promise to agree to the heroes' terms of surrender, only to reveal [[ILied they lied]] later on, or are just plan cruel and want to KickThemWhileTheyreDown.

Unfortunately has the FamilyUnfriendlyAesop where it is better to fight to the end rather than give up. Similar to PacifismBackfire where trying to avoid a fight [[FromBadToWorse causes a confrontation to intensify]]. A rare moment where HonorBeforeReason is actually in the right. Not to be confused with ISurrenderSuckers or PoisonousCaptive where the one surrendering is doing so as part of [[GetIntoJailFree a]] [[BatmanGambit plan]], though the two can mix [[GenreSavvy if the enemy sees through the scheme]]. Not the same as StupidSurrender, where one surrenders without realizing [[OneManArmy they didn't]] [[PlotInducedStupidity have to]]. Can be the [[LaserGuidedKarma karmic]] [[KarmicDeath fate]] of a DangerousDeserter who tried to pull a ScrewThisImOuttaHere, resulting in RewardedAsATraitorDeserves. Can go hand in hand with LeaveNoSurvivors. Compare RunOrDie. Contrast DefiantToTheEnd, LastStand, and StandYourGround. YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo is similar where one makes a deal with the villain for the safety of their friends, [[ILied only for the villain to pull a double cross]]. For those who protest the notion of surrendering turn out to in the right, see StrawmanHasAPoint. See also ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer.

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC:LiveActionTelevision]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:WebComics]]
* A variation appears in ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' when Roy and Belkar are arrested for [[TheIllegal not having papers to enter the Empire of Blood]]. The [[RunningGag two lawyers]] convince them to plead 'Guilty' so that they won't [[HangingJudge enrage the judge]] by [[DefiantToTheEnd being stalwart of their claim that they were innocent]]. However, this results in the judge [[FelonyMisdemeanor sentencing Roy and Belkar to gladitorial prison for life]].

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* In ''[[WesternAnimation/DuckDodgersInTheTwentyFourthAndAHalfCentury Duck Dodgers and the Return of the 24th and One Half Century]]'', after coming face to face with Gossamer, Dodgers willingly surrendered to Marvin the Martian. Unfortunately, Marvin wasn't allowed to take prisoners (especially cowardly ones), and attempted to blast Dodgers if not for the Cadet.

* In ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', [[spoiler:after Steamboat Willie attacks the squad and loses his men, he surrenders to the squad. Upham murders him in cold blood]].

In rare moments, a villain can be on the receiving end of this. In this case, it shows that the heroes [[HeWhoFightsMonsters have become just as bad as the villains]], especially if the villain in question [[HeelFaceDoorSlam wanted to defect to the good guys]]. The heroes may justify this as IDidWhatIHadToDo.