History SadisticChoice / WesternAnimation

* Discord of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' gives one to Rainbow Dash when she encounters him in the labyrinth where the Elements of Harmony are hidden. Discord shows RD that her home Cloudsdale is on the verge of collapse due to her prolonged absence in the labyrinth and thus presents her with the wings that he took from her to prevent her from finding the Elements of Harmony the easy way. Discord gives her the choice of either continuing to wander the labyrinth aimlessly and allowing Cloudsdale to collapse due to her negligence or throwing the search for the Elements and recovering her stolen wings to prevent Cloudsdale's destruction. [[spoiler:Rainbow Dash chooses to abandon the Elements and her friends in favor of saving Cloudsdale, thus allowing Discord to [[WorldGoneMad rule Equestria with an iron and chaotic fist]].]]

** And he brainwashes her just to make sure she does what he wants, so there was never really any choice in the matter. He just presented the situation to her out of sheer sadism.

** And he brainwashes her just to make sure she does what he wants, so there was never really any choice in the matter. He just presented the situation to her [[ForTheEvulz out of sheer sadism]].

* Hilariously done in the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "Almost Got 'Im", where Harley Quinn attempts to engineer one of these for Batman, smugly telling him that he can either rescue Catwoman from the ConveyorBeltODoom she is strapped to and let Harley escape, or can let her die whilst subduing and arresting Harley. Unfortunately for her, she's neglected to consider the fact that she's telling Batman this [[TakeAThirdOption whilst they're standing next to]] [[CutTheJuice the conveyor belt's circuit breaker]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'s'' enemies love putting him through this -- Ghostfreak telling him to put down the gun or he'll kill Gwen, Vilgax demanding the Omnitrix or he'll kill her... In the ''[[WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce Alien Force]]'' episode "Primus," Vilgax steals the Omnitrix, dangles the trio over the Codon Stream, and tells Ben that he'll have to show him how to work the Omnitrix to save his friends... ''and'' still die afterwards regardless. [[note]]Ben only gets out of the latter by TrickingTheShapeshifter, which a terrified Gwen didn't realize until the last minute.[[/note]]

** Another scene has Peter asked whether he would save Chris or Meg from a homicidal maniac. He says to ask Lois since he isn't good with tough decisions. The cutaway shows him at a video store, unable to choose between renting "Ernest Goes to the Beach" and "Ernest Doesn't Go to the Beach".

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' parodies this in the "Rosebud" episode, with an example more trivial than most. Burns takes over all television networks available to Springfield, telling the whole town that he's not giving them back their television until someone steals Maggie's teddy bear and puts it on his desk. [[spoiler:Cut to an angry mob outside the Simpson home stealing the teddy bear from her, only to return it out of regret once they see Maggie, visibly upset, trying to crawl over to take it back]].
** In one of the annual Halloween episodes, Lisa has been given a slot on a spaceship escaping a doomed Earth, but is informed she can only bring along one family member. Lisa instantly chooses Marge, leaving Homer and Bart behind to die.
* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' when Towelie has the choice of keeping the boys from falling into an acid tank or getting high. He chooses [[TakeAThirdOption both]] by stretching over to get the joint.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': "If you join me, if you swear to serve me, if you never speak to your friends again, I will allow them to live."

* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/AvezVousDejaVu'': a villain kidnaps the hero's two girlfriends of the hero, ties each to a bomb in a different part of town, and goes to taunt the hero: [[WonderTwinPowers Super-Twins]], with the power of [[CaptainObvious actually being two people]], who save the girls with ridiculous ease. Bonus points for the villain wondering [[TheyJustDontGetIt how can Super-Twins win all the time]]. [[UpToEleven Double bonus points]] for the villain ''being a pair of twins as well''.

** In ''Summit to Save Earth, Part I'' Zarm makes Gaia choose to either stop him from wrecking the Earth Summit or save the Planeteers, whom he has just trapped in a polluted tornado. Being in the WesternAnimation/MamaBear mode, Gaia starts with rescuing "her" kids. Unfortunately, when she checks on Ma-Ti, she stops paying attention to Zarm who uses this very moment to attack her.

* ''WesternAnimation/HotStreets'' had the agents going to a nursery rhyme world where Chubbie Webbers is forced to choose whether a little boy or a little girl will be killed via guillotine. He chooses to kill the girl, whose ghost and other characters keep reminding him of what he did.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ducktales2017'': In "[[Recap/Ducktales2017S1E17FromTheConfidentialCasefilesOfAgent22 From the Confidential Casefiles of Agent 22]], Black Heron tells Mrs. Beakley to surrender the [[AppliedPhlebotinum bounce formula]] or else she'll kill Webby. Beakley quickly complies in order to save her granddaughter.

** Another scene has Peter asked whether he would save Chris or Meg from a homicidal maniac. He says to ask Lois since he isn't good with tough decisions. The cutaway shows him at a video store, unable to choose between renting "Ernest Goes to the Beach" and "Ernest Doesn't Go To The Beach".

* ''WesternAnimation/FinalSpace'': Episode 1, The Galaxy 1 ends up in an asteroid field orbiting a moon, with some asteroids damaging the ship, causing Gary and Mooncake to get sucked out into space. As the Asteroids approach them again, Gary is forced to chose between getting killed by the asteroids, or abandoning mooncake and try to make it back to the Galaxy 1 by using his own oxygen supply for propulsion (a move that will only have a chance at succeeding if he performs it alone). He ignores HUE’s warnings and tries the oxygen while carrying Mooncake. It fails, but fortunately Mooncake reveals his own powers, using an energy blast to destroy the asteroids and give Gary the extra momentum he needs.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' parodies this in the "Rosebud" episode, with an example more trivial than most. Burns takes over all television networks available to Springfield, telling the whole town that he's not giving them back their television until someone steals Maggie's teddy bear and puts it on his desk. [[spoiler:Cut to an angry mob outside the Simpson home stealing the teddy bear from her, only to [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming return it out of regret once they see Maggie, visibly upset, trying to crawl over to take it back]].]]

** Also subverted in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/SonicUnderground'', aptly titled "Sonia's Choice". Who does she rescue from the [[UnwillingRoboticisation Roboticizer]] - Sonic or Manic? [[spoiler:[[TakeAThirdOption She chooses to rescue both.]] [[DeusExMachina Queen Aleena is on hand to rescue Manic in time anyway,]], so even if she did choose, it would have still ended well.]]

--> "[[TearJerker I'm sorry, Appa.]]"

-->'''Harley''': [[OhCrap ... heh-heh. Good call]]. Help.

** In the "Hero Time" episode of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'', [[FallenHero Captain Nemesis]] attempt this by kidnapping [[LoveInterest Julie]] and an actress everyone thought Ben was dating [[SarcasmMode (who was clearly not the star of a series of movies based on]] ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''), and gives him the choice to save one or the other . [[spoiler: Ben saves Julie, but had Kevin and Gwen secretly come so they would save the other one.]]

-->'''Zarm:''' Wrong choice, Gaia! Now you lose it all!

--> '''Peter:''' Okay Brian, here's a riddle. A woman has two children and a homicidal maniac makes her choose which one he will kill. Which one does she choose?
--> '''Brian:''' That's not a riddle. That's just terrible!
--> '''Peter:''' Wrong! The ugly one!

* Both played straight and subverted in ''WesternAnimation/OverTheGardenWall'': [[spoiler: First, The Beast forces one on The Woodsman: let young child Greg's life be consumed by the Edelwood tree so that he would have more oil for the lantern containing his daughter's soul, or lose his daughter's spirit forever. The Woodsman chooses the latter, fighting to save Greg instead. Later, The Beast gives a similar choice to Greg's older half-brother Wirt: take the Woodsman's place as lantern bearer and he'll place Greg's soul within it, otherwise Wirt can just watch his brother slowly die. [[TakeAThirdOption Wirt completely rejects this]] by pointing out that both choices are stupid, before quickly piecing together that the lantern really contains The Beast's soul. [[VillainousBreakdown The Beast is not pleased at this]].]]
* On the ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' episode "The Beak", they have to choose between rescuing their friend Isabella or a crowd of random spectators from the villain of the week. [[spoiler: Fortunately, each brother can split up and go save them both.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' has an episode in Season 3 where half the girls are sent into a maze to retrieve [[MacGuffin the water stars]] which will supposedly save the world from [[BigBad Valtor]]. However, inside the maze, the girls are tempted with an example of this trope: Tecna can obtain the magical item in exchange for [[EmotionlessGirl giving up her emotions]], abandoning her friends and boyfriend and not being able to feel any feelings at all again; Musa has the option of seeing her dead mother again and bringing her back to life; and Stella would have to [[NightmareFuel give up her face]]. The effect is diminished when [[spoiler: the ResetButton is hit after they all do the right thing and save the world, making the sacrifice half as meaningful.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' has an episode in Season 3 where half the girls are sent into a maze to retrieve [[MacGuffin the water stars]] which will supposedly save the world from [[BigBad Valtor]]. However, inside the maze, the girls are tempted with an example of this trope: Tecna she can obtain the magical item in exchange for [[EmotionlessGirl giving up her emotions]], abandoning her friends and boyfriend and not being able to feel any feelings at all again; Musa has the decision of seeing her '''dead mother''' again and bringing her back to life; and Stella would have to [[NightmareFuel give up her face]]. The effect is diminished when [[spoiler: the ResetButton is hit after they all do the right thing and save the world, making the sacrifice half as meaningful.]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' episode "Morty's Mind Blowers", one of the mind blowers shows an alien has captured the family and tells Beth she must choose which child to save. She immediately picks Summer. [[EvenEvilHasStandards Even the alien that demanded she choose is surprised by how quickly she did so]].

* A heroic example in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse''. In the episode "That Will be All", [[spoiler:[[BadBoss Holly Blue Agate]] threatens to report the Crystal Gems to the Diamonds, who will [[KilledOffForReal shatter them]] for their rebellion. Pearl quickly shuts her up by remarking that if she did that, the Diamonds [[{{Understatement}} would]] ''[[{{Understatement}} not]]'' [[DisappointedInYou be pleased]] with the fact that Holly let them escape with Steven and Greg. Either Holly can report them and face the consequences, or she can keep her mouth shut to save her own skin.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' has an episode in season 3 where half the girls are sent into a maze to retrieve [[MacGuffin the water stars]] which will supposedly save the world from [[BigBad Valtor]]. However, inside the maze, the girls are tempted with an example of this trope.
** Tecna is given two choices; she can obtain the magical item, BUT...If she chooses to do so, [[EmotionlessGirl she will have to give up her emotions]], abandoning her friends and boyfriend and not being able to feel any feelings at all again. Or, she could choose to leave, inevitably dooming every realm in the universe, leaving her responsible.
** Musa probably has the most sadistic, played straight version of this trope; she has the decision of seeing her '''dead mother''' again and bringing her back to life, but if she decides to do so, she is in effect responsible for the apocalypse.
** Stella can save the world with the water stars... if she gives up her [[NightmareFuel FREAKING FACE.]]
*** [[spoiler: They all do the right thing and save the world... but, [[ResetButton they're back to normal next episode]], making the sacrifice half as meaningful.]]

** In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' episode "A New Spiritual Age", Korra is presented with an even more sadistic choice by [[spoiler:Unalaq]]. Either she [[spoiler:opens the Northern Spirit Portal, enabling BiggerBad Vaatu to escape from his [[SealedEvilInACan prison]] when the Harmonic Convergence comes]], or he'll [[spoiler:''[[WouldHurtAChild kill]]'' Jinora by destroying her astral body.]] Korra is horrified, but chooses the first option.

** In the "Hero Time" episode of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'', [[FallenHero Captain Nemesis]] attempt this by kidnapping [[LoveInterest Julie]] and an actress everyone thought Ben was dating [[SarcasmMode (who was clearly not the star of a series of movies based on]] ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''), and gives him the choice to save one or the other . [[spoiler: Ben saves Julie, but was GenreSavvy enough to have Kevin and Gwen secretly come so they would save the other one.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'', Evil-Lyn is GenreSavvy to TakeAThirdOption, so she puts ''three'' hostages in death traps and warns He-Man that tampering with any of them will cause the other two to activate.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': In "Voyage of Temptation", the bad guy of the episode is about to escape when Obi-Wan and Duchess Satine corner him. However, as lampshaded by the villain, they're in a bit of a quandary: if Satine kills him, she'll save the day at the cost of her pacifist morals. If Obi-Wan kills him, he'll be lauded as a hero by everyone on the ship... [[{{UST}} well, almost everyone]]. [[spoiler:[[TakingAThirdOption Thankfully, Anakin is able to sort this out]].]]

** Also subverted in an episode of SonicUnderground, aptly titled "Sonia's Choice". Who does she rescue from the [[UnwillingRoboticisation Roboticizer]] - Sonic or Manic? [[spoiler:[[TakeAThirdOption She chooses to rescue both.]] [[DeusExMachina Queen Aleena is on hand to rescue Manic in time anyway,]], so even if she did choose, it would have still ended well.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': In "Voyage of Temptation", the bad guy of the episode is about to escape when Obi-Wan and Duchess Satine corner him. However, as lampshaded by the villain, they're in a bit of a quandary: if Satine kills him, she'll save the day at the cost of her pacifist morals. If Obi-Wan kills him, he'll be lauded as a hero by everyone on the ship... {{UST well, almost everyone}}. [[spoiler:[[TakingAThirdOption Thankfully, Anakin is able to sort this out]].]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' parodies this in the "Rosebud" episode, with an example more trivial than most. Burns takes over all television networks available to Springfield, telling the whole town that he's not giving them back their television until someone steals Maggie's teddy bear and puts it on his desk. [[spoiler:Cut to an angry mob outside the Simpson home stealing the teddy bear from her, only to [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming return it out of regret once they see Maggie, visibly upset, trying to crawl over to take it back]].]]
** In one of the annual Halloween episodes, Lisa has been given a slot on a spaceship escaping a doomed Earth, but is informed she can only bring along one family member. Lisa instantly chooses Marge, leaving Homer and Bart behind to die.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' episode "Storm the Castle", Star is forced to choose between giving up [[MacGuffin her wand]] and letting Marco be slowly crushed to death.
* One episode of the ''WesternAnimation/SecretSquirrel'' segment of ''WesternAnimation/TwoStupidDogs'' had a race car driver named Hot Rodney attempt to prevent Secret Squirrel from beating him in the race by having his mechanic kidnap Morocco Mole and have him tied up somewhere far from the racing track with a belt of dynamite strapped to him, forcing Secret to choose between rescuing his friend at the cost of losing the race or beating the race while letting his friend die. Secret manages to rescue Morocco, and while he loses the race in the end, he tricks Hot Rodney into wearing the dynamite belt that was strapped to Morocco in order to give the villain some last-minute comeuppance.
* Occurs in WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars episode ''Voyage of Temptation''. The bad guy of the episode is about to escape when Obi-Wan and Duchess Satine corner him. However, as lampshaded by the villain,they're in a bit of a quandary: if Satine kills him, she'll save the day at the cost of her pacifist morals. If Obi-Wan kills him, he'll be lauded as a hero by everyone on the ship... {{UST well, almost everyone}}. [[spoiler: [[TakingAThirdOption Thankfully, Anakin is able to sort this out]].]]
* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/AvezVousDejaVu'': a villain kidnaps the hero's two girlfriends of the hero, ties each to a bomb in a different part of town, and goes to taunt the hero: [[WonderTwinPowers Super-Twins]], with the power of [[CaptainObvious actually being two people]], who save the girls with ridiculous ease. Bonus points for the villain wondering [[TheyJustDontGetIt how can Super-Twins win all the time]]. [[UpToEleven Double bonus points]] for the villain ''being a pair of twins as well''.

** In the "Hero Time" episode of ''Ben10UltimateAlien'', [[FallenHero Captain Nemesis]] attempt this by kidnapping [[LoveInterest Julie]] and an actress everyone thought Ben was dating [[SarcasmMode (who was clearly not the star of a series of movies based on]] ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''), and gives him the choice to save one or the other . [[spoiler: Ben saves Julie, but was GenreSavvy enough to have Kevin and Gwen secretly come so they would save the other one.]]

-->'''Evil-Lyn:''' It looks like those gorgeous muscles are completely useless!\\
\\