Line #266 Main/TheEasyWayOrTheHardWay


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6	->''"Now Gary, we can do this the hard way or the easy way. Or the medium way. Or the semi-medium-easy-hard way. Or the sort of hard with a touch of awkward-easy-difficult-challenging way."''
7	-->-- '''[=SpongeBob=]''', ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS2E13ShanghaiedGaryTakesABath Gary Takes a Bath]]"
8
9	A StockPhrase. The easy way is usually giving in, and the hard way usually involves some kind of violence or torment.
10
11	A popular variation for badasses is "We can do this the easy way or the really easy way." Offering two variations of "hard way" and no "easy way" or even "the fun way" is also common, as is stopping mid-sentence to "remember" that there isn't actually a choice being offered.
12
13	Sometimes, one of the tormentors will even say, [[GiveMeAReason "Please, choose the hard way!"]] to show just how much ''he'' likes it.
14
15	See also TheWindowOrTheStairs for a subversion where the "easy way" is worse than the "hard way". If the "easy way" turns out to be the ''same'' as the "hard way", that's MortonsFork.
16
17	----
18	!!Examples:
19	[[foldercontrol]]
20
21	[[folder:Advertising]]
22	* [[https://youtu.be/SnNis1DAAKo?si=TCfREUe6kHPkRYqy This "Got Milk?" commercial.]]
23	* Used in one of those dialogue redub commercials for ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' on Creator/KidsWB.
24	-->'''Blossom:''' ''[preparing to battle a monster]'' We can do this the easy way or the hard way.\
25	''[gets knocked into a building by said monster]''\
26	'''Blossom:''' Why do they always pick the hard way?
27	[[/folder]]
28
29	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
30	* ''Anime/DragonBallZKai'' episode #26. Vegeta confronts Krillin and Bulma, who have one of the Dragon Balls he wants. He threatens them by saying they they can do this the easy way or the hard way, meaning that they can either give him the Dragon Ball or be killed.
31	[[/folder]]
32
33	[[folder:Comic Books]]
34	* In the ''Comicbook/XMen'' storyline "ComicBook/CurseOfTheMutants", a vampirized Wolverine is leading Dracula's son's army against the X-Men, and announces that all the mutants have the option of following Cyclops over a cliff or joining the vampires.
35	-->'''Wolverine:''' But not ''you'', Slim. Everybody else gets to choose the ''hard'' way or the ''easy'' way. But I've taken the liberty of making that choice for you. ''[pops claws]'' Guess which choice I picked.\
36	'''Cyclops:''' Well that's a shame, Logan, because I think I'd prefer... the easy way. ''[calmly presses a button that reactivates Wolvie's HealingFactor, [[BatmanGambit unvamping him]]]''
37	* ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMegaseries'': Ultra Magnus used to say a variant of this whenever he was about to arrest someone. His way, or the hard way. Either way, things would usually end with whoever he said it to being subdued. It was mocked by the Combaticons at one point, as they escaped from him.
38	-->'''Onslaught:''' Tell me, does that ''ever'' work?
39	* In ''[[ComicBook/TheMultiversity Mastermen # 1]]'', the Human Bomb heals rapidly from a beating by [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Leatherwing]]. [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Overman]] offers him a chance to make it easy on himself and speak instead of getting a second beating.
40	[[/folder]]
41
42	[[folder:Fan Works]]
43	* In ''Fanfic/FracturedSovereignGFC'', a ''Franchise/MassEffect''/''Franchise/StarWars''[[spoiler:[=/=]''Borderlands'']] [[MassiveMultiplayerCrossover crossover]] there's a variation. The Trans-Galactic Republic [[TechnologyUplift offers its advanced technology]] to the Citadel races in limited form to help fend off the Reapers. However, such aid is distributed either the way the giver wants or not at all--the "hard way" being "Have fun while the Reapers [[CurbStompBattle destroy you]] because you wouldn't take help on our terms." It's not the Trans-Galactic Republic threatening the hard way consequences directly, but they [[MurderByInaction might as well have]]. In the sequel ''Fanfic/{{Origins}}'' it's played straight. [[AntiHero Garrus Vakarian]] engages in some JackBauerInterrogationTechnique after noting that as a Spectre-in-all-but-name, he is not bound to the usual set of rules and thus either the suspect can talk or deal with less-pleasant consequences.
44	* In the ''TabletopGame/{{Battletech}}'' AU fic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11662737/1/Along-Came-A-Spider Along Came a Spider,]]'' two Jade Falcon commanders are discussing their options; one has to launch a last desperate futile attack, while the other ... ''negotiates'' with the Federated Commonwealth. Pryde calls it the easy way or the hard way, and offers Malthus the choice of which he wants to do. When Malthus chooses negotiation, and worries that he's a coward for picking the easy way, Pryde clarifies; going against the Clans' ProudWarriorRace nature is the ''hard'' way, and he's glad he doesn't have to do it.
45	* In ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/46667/chasing-rainbows Chasing Rainbows,]]'' Rainbow Blitz says this after Applejack's homophobic coworkers beat him up, leading to a big fight which [[{{Gayngst}} broke his spirit]].
46	* In [[http://catwoman-cattales.com Cat-Tales,]] from a flashback to Batman's first encounter with Catwoman:
47	-->'''Batman:''' Alright, Catwoman... we can do this the easy way... or the hard way.\
48	'''Catwoman:''' Why Batman, [[DistractedByTheSexy how hard do you want it to get?]]
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	[[folder:Films — Animation]]
52	* Parodied in ''Film/OsmosisJones'': Some cops go a sleazy bar, and the lead one announces, "We can make this easy... or hard." One cop behind him will apparently settle for otherwise, saying "Or, somewhere in between. Like, semi-easy, or medium hard," causing the lead cop to admonish him. "You don't get to say that!"
53	* ''WesternAnimation/SpiritStallionOfTheCimarron''
54	-->'''The Colonel:''' You can break easy or you can break hard, mustang.
55	* ''WesternAnimation/FlushedAway'':
56	-->'''Spike:''' Are we going to do this the easy way, or the hard way?\
57	'''Whitey:''' Oh, I think they'd do it the easy way, don't you Spike?
58	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie'', Bad Cop doesn't even get to finish his sentence.
59	-->'''Bad Cop:''' Look, everybody, we can do this the easy way, or we can do it --\
60	'''Wyldstyle:''' GO, RUN!\
61	'''Bad Cop:''' They took the hard way! Fire! Fire!
62	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'':
63	-->'''Simba:''' The choice is yours, Scar. Either step down, or ''fight!''
64	* In ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'', when fighting with Woody on the conveyor belt, the second Woody is knocked onto his back, Stinky Pete ''promptly'' reopens the tear on Woody's arm, and delivers the following ultimatum:
65	-->'''Stinky Pete''': [[RageBreakingPoint Your choice, Woody.]] [[ToThePain You can go to Japan together, or in pieces.]] ''[[ToThePain If [Al] fixed you once, he can fix you again!]]'' '''[[MortonsFork NOW GET IN THE BOX!]]'''
66	-->'''Woody''': [[DefiantToTheEnd NEVER!]]
67	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}'', as Judy is investigating the disappearance of Mr. Otterton, she initially approaches Nick politely asking for help since he was the last to see Otterton before he went missing. When Nick outright refuses to cooperate, Judy says "Fine. Then we'll have to do this the hard way," puts a boot on his baby stroller, tells him that if he doesn't cooperate, she'll arrest him on tax evasion and plays back a recording of his boast of making "200 bucks a day, fluff, 365 days a year since I was 12".
68	[[/folder]]
69
70	[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
71	* ''Film/RaisingArizona'' when Gale takes the baby from H.I.: "Let's go hard or easy, H.I." It goes hard, but their fight is comically absurd.
72	* Inverted in ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartII''. Biff's {{Mooks}} say this to Marty -- "the easy way" is being [[TapOnTheHead knocked on the head]]. They didn't mean the easy way for ''Marty'', after all.
73	* ''Film/ChainLightning'': Brennan, when he is essentially demanding that Willis let him test the experimental plane that Brennan is flying.
74	-->'''Lt. Col. Brennan:''' How do you want it, Willis, the easy way or the hard way?
75	* ''Film/ExcessBaggage''
76	-->'''Vincent:''' We can do this the easy way or the hard way.\
77	'''Emily:''' What's the hard way?\
78	'''Vincent:''' It's harder... it's harder than the easy way. That's what I know.
79	* ''Film/GoneInSixtySeconds2000''
80	-->'''Det. Roland Castlebeck:''' The easy way or the hard way, Raines. Easy way or the hard way.
81	* ''Film/HiddenAgenda''
82	-->'''Sam Turgenson:''' We can do this the easy way or the hard way.\
83	'''Jason Price:''' Is that pillow talk, Sam?!
84	* One of many running gags in ''Film/ImGonnaGitYouSucka'' is the two henchmen told that there's "two ways to leave. [[TheWindowOrTheStairs The stairs or the window]]." When they choose the stairs, they are always thrown down them, til the end, when one exasperated henchman jumps out the window to his death. Turns out the other option in that instance was the freight elevator.
85	* Not exactly the same, but close, is ''Franchise/RoboCop'' and the recurring phrase "Dead or alive, you are coming with me."
86	* ''Film/ToothAndNail''
87	-->'''Jackal:''' We can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way. I don't really care which way, but by sunrise I'm gonna be gnawing on your bones!
88	* A variant appears in ''Film/TheRundown''. The Rock's character, a "retrieval expert" by the name of Beck, gives the people he deals with two options. Option A is shutting up and doing what Beck says. If Option B is chosen, Beck ''makes'' them do whatever was outlined in Option A, usually by kicking their ass. And no, you ''don't'' get an [[TakeAThirdOption Option C]].
89	-->'''Beck:''' [[CharacterCatchphrase You really don't want Option B.]]
90	* In the 45-minute video ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA Busted: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters]]'', a young man is threatened by a Maryland State Trooper to either "make it easy on himself" by consenting to a search of his car, or he can "make it hard on himself" (by refusing). They show two versions of the event: the guy stands on his rights, refuses the search, and gets only a traffic ticket; the guy lets the cop search, with him and all of the passengers in the car end up going to jail for possession of drugs. (Doesn't mention if he still gets the traffic ticket for which he was pulled over.)
91	* Variant in ''Film/TheColourOfMagic'' T.V. adaption; it features a part in which Rincewind and Twoflower are hiding under a sacrificial pyre from [[spoiler:wizards from the [[WizardingSchool Unseen University]] attempting to drag Rincewind back.]] They tell him that he can go the easy way or the very easy way. The easy way being that he comes out and goes along with them, the very easy way being that they light the pyre with him still under it.
92	* A fancy-sounding version in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'' from Saruman.
93	-->'''Saruman:''' I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly, but you have elected the way of pain!
94	* ''Film/ReignOfFire''. An American team of dragonslayers turns up at the protagonist's base with an armored convoy, asking for shelter and refueling time. He refuses. As the convoy's firepower vastly outweighs his, the American just says quietly, "Don't be a foooool. We can do this easy, or we can do this real easy."
95	* ''Film/{{The Avengers\|2012}}''. ComicBook/BlackWidow is trying to recruit [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]] for S.H.I.E.L.D. At one point Banner appears to lose his temper, causing her to draw a pistol in his face.
96	-->'''Banner:''' Sorry, I just wanted to see how you'd react. Why don't we do this the easy way, where you don't use that and [[YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry the other guy doesn't make a mess]].
97	* ''Film/{{Priest\|2011}}'': The title character is giving a Familiar this speech when the latter interrupts by spitting in his face.
98	-->'''Priest:''' Oh, I so prefer the hard way. '''stabs the Familiar in the leg'''
99	* ''Film/AdamAndPaul'': In a seedy apartment building, Adam and Paul see a group of thugs trying to break into the drug dealer Martin's apartment. One of them calls, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way, but either way you're gonna get your fuck kicked in!" When Adam and Paul leave, the thugs are about to use a battering ram.
100	* Implied in ''Film/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'' when the Queen's wolves track down Susan & Lucy.
101	-->'''Maugrim:''' Please don't try to run. We're tired and we'd prefer to kill you quickly.
102	[[/folder]]
103
104	[[folder:Literature]]
105
106	* Played with a few times in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' books.
107	** In ''Literature/TheFifthElephant'', somebody trying to sneak into a town will corner a guard and mention that this can be done the easy way or the hard way. The easy way is for the guard to ignore them, the hard way... is for the person to leave and try to find another way in.
108	** In the same book, another easy way turns out to involve using wolves to pull a sled.
109	** A more serious instance, from ''Literature/SmallGods'':
110	--->'''Brutha:''' I want it stopped. And I want it stopped the hard way.\
111	'''Simony:''' You want me to kill all the inquisitors? Right!\
112	'''Brutha:''' No. That's the easy way. I want as few deaths as possible.
113	** Another serious example, from ''Literature/CarpeJugulum'', about the nature of good and evil:
114	--->'''Granny Weatherwax:''' And the hard way's hard, but it's not half so hard as the easy way.
115	** Invoked in all but name, also from ''Carpe Jugulum'':
116	--->'''Granny Weatherwax:''' So all I'm really here for, d'you see, is to see whether you get justice or mercy... So here's my offer, you see. You hand back Magrat and the baby and we'll chop your heads off.\
117	'''The Count:''' And that's what you call justice, is it?\
118	'''Granny Weatherwax:''' No, that's what I call mercy.
119	** And another in ''Literature/MakingMoney'' when Cosmo offers Moist a bribe to give up. After Moist refuses, he explains that giving him the opportunity to surrender was, for Cosmo, doing it the hard way.
120	* ''[[Franchise/SherlockHolmes The Sign of Fear]]'' by Robert Ryan. Just before surgically blinding a hostage, the BigBad says, "Now, we can either do this the hard way or make it as easy, if not as painless, as possible."
121	* ''Literature/TortallUniverse'': In ''Literature/BekaCooper'', the phrase is jokingly used by a friend of hers (both of them are Provost's Guards, or protopolice) to get her to come to breakfast. Quickly followed by IAlwaysWantedToSayThat.
122	* ''Literature/VasquezPrivateEye'': [[spoiler:The killer offers Johnson this during the climactic confrontation, with the latter immediately surmising that the choice entails how much of a fight he will put up.]]
123	* ''Literature/WickedGood'': When Archer and Wayne are fighting over Rory's custody, Wayne says, "Are you going to make this easy and agree to give me custody or do we have to do this the hard way? Easy or hard? Which do you prefer?"
124	[[/folder]]
125
126	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
127	* ''Series/ThirtyRock'', episode "Tracy Does Conan".
128	-->'''Jack:''' Conan, this is important to me. So, we can either do this the easy way or the hard way.
129	* ''Series/AgentCarter''. After a crooked Roxxon employee is nabbed, Agent Dooley lays a [[LiteralMetaphor carrot and a stick]] on the table and offers him a deal where he gets a lighter sentence in exchange for naming his superior. When he refuses, Dooley says, "Remember, I offered you the easy way." He takes the carrot and leaves him with Agent Thompson, who starts using the stick to good effect.
130	* ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'':
131	-->'''Ward:''' There are two ways we can do this.\
132	'''Skye:''' Oh. [[SarcasmMode Is one of them the easy way?]]\
133	'''Ward:''' [[BrutalHonesty No.]]\
134	'''Skye:''' [[OhCrap Oh.]]
135	* ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. In "Midnight City", a rapist tells his intended victim they can do things the hard way or the harder way. The Black Canary then intervenes to show him the harder way.
136	* ''Series/TheATeam'', episode "[[Recap/TheATeamS2E11Steel Steel]]". Hannibal tells the villain that they can do this "the easy way or the hard way"... then makes it clear with his explanation that no way is going to be very easy for the villain.
137	-->'''Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith:''' There are two ways we can do this: the easy way and the hard way. In a few minutes my friends and I are going to come down on you like your worst nightmare. You're gonna wish the Earth had opened up and swallowed you whole.\
138	'''Crazy Tommy T:''' What's the easy way?\
139	'''Hannibal:''' That ''was'' the easy way.
140	* ''Series/BadGirls'', episode "Battle Lines".
141	-->'''Yvonne Atkins:''' Nah, I just feel its about time you picked on someone your own size. So what's it going to be, Al? The easy way, or the hard way?
142	* ''Series/BlakesSeven''. Avon puts it succinctly in "[[Recap/BlakesSevenS2E13StarOne Star One]]". "You can talk, or scream".
143	* Frequently played around with, as in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': "We can do this the hard way, or... actually, there's just the hard way."
144	** From "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E19SeeingRed Seeing Red]]":
145	--->'''Buffy:''' There's two ways this can end. And right now, I think they're both going to hurt.
146	** In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E17Enemies Enemies]]", after the requisite tongue-fest and attempted murder Faith finally gets Angelus pinned beneath her.
147	--->'''Faith:''' You wanna listen or you wanna die?\
148	'''Angelus:''' Long as you're there, I mostly want you to wriggle.
149	** In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E6AllTheWay All the Way]]", Giles says this to a vampire who's holding Dawn hostage. Suddenly lights come on to reveal they're surrounded by vampires.
150	--->'''Vampire:''' What were my choices again?
151	** Riley threatening Spike in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E15AsYouWere As You Were]]".
152	--->'''Riley:''' We can do this the hard way, or the fatal way.
153	** In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E14BadGirls Bad Girls]]", [[EvilIsHammy Balthazar]] has captured Wesley and Giles. Wesley suggests a HostageForMacGuffin deal. Giles suggests TakeMeInstead. Balthazar is not impressed.
154	--->'''[[NoIndoorVoice Balthazar]]:''' THERE IS ONE DEAL! YOU WILL DIE QUICKLY, OR YOU WILL DIE SLOWLY!
155	** Xander delivers the line straight in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS7E9NeverLeaveMe Never Leave Me]]", then worries after that it was too cliché, as he's playing GoodCopBadCop at the time.
156	** Or Fred in spinoff ''Series/{{Angel}}''
157	--->'''Fred:''' There's two ways we can do this: the easy way, or I cut you.
158	* ''Series/{{Chuck}}'', episode "Chuck Versus the Marlin".
159	-->'''John Casey:''' ''[to Lester and Jeff]'' We could do this the easy way or the hard way. The easy way is I shove his [Chuck's] foot up your ass.\
160	'''Jeff:''' What's the hard way?\
161	'''John Casey:''' I use '''my''' foot!
162	* ''Series/CowboyBebop2021''. In "Dog Star Swing", Spike Spiegel draws his gun on a bounty and says, "We can do this the easy way...or [[BloodKnight the fun way]]." The bounty chooses the fun way.
163	* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
164	** "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS15E4TheSunMakers The Sun Makers]]": The Doctor is threatened by a revolutionary who suspects him of being a spy.
165	--->'''Mandrel:''' Now listen, Doctor. We can either do this the easy way–\
166	'''Doctor:''' "Or we can do it the hard way", [[NeverHeardThatOneBefore I've heard that one too]]. ''[gets punched]''
167	** "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E4TheSontaranStratagem The Sontaran Stratagem]]": Two soon-to-be-brainwashed UNIT soldiers use the phrase when informing two already-brainwashed factory workers of their options.
168	* ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'', episode "My Best Girl's Wedding".
169	-->'''Hercules:''' ''[facing group of thugs]'' Okay, guys, look, we can do this the hard way or we can do this the easy way. ''[thugs prepare to attack him]'' Nobody ever wants to do it the easy way.
170	* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', episode "Matchmaker".
171	-->'''Ellen:''' You wanna do this the easy way or the hard way?\
172	'''Barney:''' What's the hard way? Security roughs me up and tosses me out?\
173	'''Ellen:''' No. That's the easy way. The hard way is that I slap the crap out of you myself.
174	* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'':
175	** In "Booked Solid", Reese has been captured by a government hitman who wants to know who he's working for.
176	--->'''Hersh:''' This can go one of two ways.\
177	'''Reese:''' Don't suppose one of those ways involves me walking out of here? ''[Hersh shoves him]'' Didn't think so.
178	** In "Aletheia", Root has been captured by Control, who offers her 'protection' from Team Machine if she cooperates. Root laughs in her face.
179	--->'''Control:''' Well, that's a shame. I was really hoping to do this the easy way. However...[[ColdBloodedTorture there are other options.]]
180	** In "Last Call", the unseen VillainOfTheWeek is coercing the VictimOfTheWeek into carrying out his EvilPlan.
181	--->"Because I asked nicely. I can be more emphatic, but people tend to get hurt when that happens."
182	** In the same episode, Reese has entered a BadGuyBar [[RunningGag for his usual]] PerpSweating.
183	--->'''Reese:''' Just want a quick conversation with him. The rest of you can... leave. Nobody gets hurt.\
184	'''Gangster:''' Nobody gets hurt? How about you, ''pendejo?''\
185	'''Reese:''' I was kinda hoping you'd pick the hard way.
186	* ''Series/PlanetOfTheApes'': In "The Interrogation", Wanda tells Burke that his interrogation can be either pleasant or unpleasant, depending on his cooperation.
187	* ''Series/{{Rome}}''. A [[TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior teenage Octavian]] asks HowWouldYouLikeToDie to a man suspected of adultery, then makes it clear he's offering a choice of confessing and dying quickly, or dying after hours of agonizing torture.
188	* Parodied on ''Series/SportsNight''. Casey has just had sex for the first time since his divorce, and Dan is trying to get him to say who the woman is.
189	-->'''Dan:''' We can do this the hard way or we can do this the easy way. \
190	'''Casey:''' What's the hard way? \
191	'''Dan:''' ...I don't know, but the easy way is you telling me her name.
192	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
193	** Meg offers our heroes the choice between letting her take them to Lucifer, or getting dragged to Lucifer by {{hellhound}}s. [[TakeAThirdOption They chose neither]].
194	--->'''Meg:''' Your choice. You can make this easy or you can make it really, ''really'' hard.\
195	''[{{beat}}]''\
196	'''Dean:''' When have you ever known us to do anything easy?
197	** Sam and Dean are trying to get information from [[Series/JerseyShore Snooki]] the Crossroads Demon.
198	--->'''Sam:''' We can do this the easy way…you talk, or the easier way... ''[takes out knife]'' you still talk.\
199	'''Dean:''' I vote for Number 2.
200	** Dean says the line straight when capturing a werewolf, but the context is somewhat different.
201	--->'''Dean:''' OK, time to go. Now we can do this the easy way ''[holds up a pair of jeans]'' or the hard way. ''[holds up a dog chain]''
202	* ''Series/TheMandalorian''. Given that the title character is a BountyHunter hunting people who are Wanted: Dead or Alive, his catchphrase is "I can bring you in warm...or I can bring you in cold." In a subversion, it's implied that "cold" actually refers to carbon-freezing while "warm" is being shot with a blaster.
203	* In the ''Series/HereComeTheBrides'' episode "The Crimpers," Jason interrogates the titular kidnappers about his brothers' whereabouts by saying, "Either you tell me with your teeth, or without."
204	[[/folder]]
205
206	[[folder:Music Videos]]
207	* At the start of "Honey," Music/MariahCarey, playing a captured spy, gets this choice.
208	[[/folder]]
209
210	[[folder:Radio]]
211	* In Creator/TheBBC's 1980's sci-fi drama ''Radio/{{Earthsearch}}'', the KillerRobot Fagor is rampaging through the spaceship, searching for those who killed his master.
212	-->'''Fagor:''' Come out slowly, and Fagor will kill you quickly. Come out quickly, and Fagor will kill you slowly.
213	[[/folder]]
214
215	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
216	* Referenced via BondOneLiner on [[https://scryfall.com/card/m13/124/chandras-fury]] in ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering''.
217	-->'''Chandra Nalaar:''' I asked if they wanted to do things the easy way. I meant easy for me.
218	[[/folder]]
219
220	[[folder:Theatre]]
221	* In ''Theatre/ArsenicAndOldLace'', after psychopathic Jonathan has his brother Mortimer tied up and gagged, he begins to speculate on what sort of way he will murder him. His stressed-out crony Dr. Einstein begs him to do it "the quick way", but Jonathan decides he'd get more satisfaction from doing it "the slow way."[[note]]He gets interrupted before he can do it either way.[[/note]]
222	[[/folder]]
223
224	[[folder:Video Games]]
225	* Played with in ''VideoGame/{{Bastion}}'':''"There's only one way into Cinderbrick Fort."'' The Kid comes crashing down into the level. ''"The Hard Way."''
226	* In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins'', at the end of a side quest Batman confronts Roman Sionis in a church.
227	-->'''Batman:''' One way or another, I'm taking you in. Now we can do this the easy way, or the--\
228	'''Black Mask:''' Yeah, yeah, or the hard way. But I think you know my choice.
229	* Vi in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' has this as one of her jokes.
230	-->'''Vi:''' We can either do this the hard way, or... Oh wait, no. There's just the hard way.
231	* Played with in ''VideoGame/SeriousSam'', when adressing a group of baddies in a cutscene.
232	-->'''[[BadassNormal Sam]]:''' We can do this the hard way, or my way. [[PreAsskickingOneLiner They're basically the same thing.]][[/folder]]
233
234	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
235	* Cecilia from ''VisualNovel/DaughterForDessert'' will stop at nothing to convince Amanda to come with her. When she initially refuses, Cecilia says that she will "destroy" the protagonist (and that Amanda will come with her afterwards) if Amanda is firm in her decision.
236	* In ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework'', when Dennis tells the protagonist to do things for him (and answers his dismissals with lines like “Tools don’t talk back”), he moves on to say that he can make the protagonist do what he wants. He warns the protagonist not to make him prove it, but he still refuses to do what Dennis wants. Then, Dennis reveals that he knows the extent of the protagonist’s and Tamara’s culpability in the Barbarossa incident.
237	[[/folder]]
238
239	[[folder:Web Animation]]
240	* In episode 4 of the semi-interactive Flash cartoon ''3\|Way'', to deal with some mooks you are given the choice between "the easy way... or the ''sleazy'' way." The easy way is violence; since this is a pornographic series, you can guess what's the sleazy way.
241	[[/folder]]
242
243	[[folder:Web Comics]]
244	* ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'':
245	** Combined with {{fetish}} in [[http://archives.erfworld.com/Book%201/30 this strip]].
246	** Again in [[http://archives.erfworld.com/Book+2/53 this strip]].
247	** Wanda's philosophy is that there are three ways to proceed: the easy way, the hard way, and the very hard way. The easy way is when you know what your Fate is and follow it, because this means that things will push you in the way you were already going. The hard way is when you don't know what your Fate is, as you then have no choice but to try things at random until Fate stops punishing you for going in the wrong directions. The really hard way is when you know your Fate and try to fight it, this results in continuous torment as the universe tries to {{Railroad\|ing}} you back onto your Fated path.
248	** Jillian once swore to always take the hard way. And she does. Boy, does she!
249	* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'':
250	** [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0358.html Strip #358:]]
251	--->'''Roy Greenhilt:''' Hey gnome! There are two ways this can go down: the easy way or the hard way.\
252	'''Leeky Windstaff:''' Druids always pick the hard way; it encourages natural selection.
253	** Also, strip #442 is titled [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0442.html "We Can Do This the Easy Way..."]]
254	* Mocked in ''Smash Comics'', one of the filler comics for ''Webcomic/KnightsOfTheOldCoding''. Ganondorf asks Marth and Jigglypuff if they want to do this the easy way or the hard way. He then Shadowkicks them before they can answer, stating "the hard way it is." When Marth points out that he hadn't said anything yet, Ganondorf admits that he's impatient.
255	* In [[http://www.weregeek.com/2008/03/12/ this strip]] of ''Webcomic/{{Weregeek}}''. Not that it worked too well.
256	* ''Marsh Rocket'': Although not explicitly stated, it's [[http://www.marsh-rocket.com/Pages.aspx?Pg_ID=213 implied here]].
257	* ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'': When the Butanian dragons refuse to side with Riboflavin against Voluptua, his response is, "[[https://bobadventures.thecomicseries.com/comics/458/ A pity. I guess I'll have to do this the messy way after all. And I must admit... that will be more fun!!!]]" He then starts blasting everything in sight with a {{BFG}}.
258	* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' had a [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2005-05-06 discussion on which way things will go]]. Kevyn thinks the easy way is usually mined, Petey thinks it's an optimistic view.
259	* In ''Webcomic/TooMuchInformation2005'', when Ace is [[http://tmi-comic.com/comic/mojo/ talking to Death]], she says "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. And lucky for you, the easy way would ruin my manicure."
260	[[/folder]]
261
262	[[folder:Western Animation]]
263	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'': In "Armory", Batman tells Armory, "You're going to jail. Easy or hard, it's up to you. Here's a tip... hard isn't fun."
264	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': As {{ComicBook/Zatanna}} (with her unique way of casting spells) says to supervillain Abra Kadabra:
265	-->'''Zatanna''': Surrender, Abra. Don't make me say it backwards.
266	* The [[MemeticMolester Booty Warrior]] from ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'', who is inspired by [[https://youtu.be/n9WClv4U5B8?t=95 an actual prisoner]] who used this very phrase.
267	-->'''Booty Warrior:''' If I see a man I like, I tell him [[CharacterCatchphrase like this]]: "I like you, and I want you. Now we can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way. [[BlackComedyRape The choice is yours]]."
268	* Lampooned on ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'' during the fight between [[Wrestling/MickFoley Mankind]] and Creator/ErnestHemingway:
269	-->'''Hemingway:''' Okay, son, there are only two ways this can end. The easy way, or the '''[[{{Pun}} Hemingway]]'''.
270	* In the ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'' episode where he confronts the guy who stole his blanket he says something along the lines of "We can do this the hard way or the... [[TheDitz other way that's even harder]], just step back 'cuz I'm gonna hurt you man."
271	* In ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'', Hank, Bill, and Boomhauer grabbed Dale if they want to handle this the easy way or the hard way. "Do it the hard way."
272	* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'':
273	** Played with in the short "WesternAnimation/OperationRabbit". After Bugs Bunny refuses Wile E. Coyote's invitation to give up willingly, Wile E. muses, "Why do they always want to do it the hard way?"
274	** Bugs himself would often try placating a foe as his first strategy in many cartoons. Only after they kept biting would he revert to a merciless HumiliationConga.
275	* Done in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' when Rainbow Dash is unable to coax Pinkie Pie into going to Sweet Apple Acres with her. She ends up dragging Pinkie across town ''by the tail.''
276	--> '''Rainbow Dash:''' Oh you wanna do this the hard way?! We'll do this the hard way!
277	* Spoofed in ''WesternAnimation/ParadisePD''.
278	--> '''Agent Clappers''': We can do this the easy way or--
279	--> '''Thester''': [[AnythingButThat Not the easy way! No! I'll tell you everything!]]
280	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'':
281	** "Popcorn Panic": "We can do this the easy way, or we can do this [[AxCrazy Rico's]] way."
282	** When the penguins faced an outlaw raccoon named The Archer, Skipper doesn't even get to finish the phrase.
283	--->'''Skipper:''' We can do this the easy way, or we can... ''[Archer escapes]'' Oh, have the decency to let me finish!
284	* In ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'': In "The Episode With No Name", Matrix follows a thief into a BadGuyBar. When the thief's friends show up, Matrix says, "We can do this the hard way..." He then has his gun target every lowlife in the bar and finishes, "...or we can do it ''my way''." The thief wisely returns the stolen item.
285	* ''WesternAnimation/SecretSquirrel'' says this to rogue panda One Ton, who's just eaten a clove of garlic. "One Ton choose... HAAAAAAARD!"
286	* On ''WesternAnimation/SheriffCalliesWildWest'', Sheriff Callie offers the bandits in "Train Bandits" the choice of the easy way or the hard way; they can either just give back what they stole or she can take it back. Peck LampShades the fact that they of course choose the hard way.
287	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'':
288	-->'''[=SpongeBob:=]''' Now Gary, we can do this the hard way or the easy way. Or the medium way. [[ParodiedTrope Or the semi-medium-easy-hard way]]. Or the sort of hard with a touch of awkward-easy-difficult-challenging way.
289	* In the ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' episode "On the Job", Buff Frog threatens to torture a rat-creature.
290	-->'''Buff Frog:''' We will do this the easy way ''and'' the hard way. Easy for me and hard for you.
291	* In 2012 ''WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles\|2012}}'':
292	-->'''Raphael:''' We can do this the easy way, or how I like it: the hard way.
293	* In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'', Optimus gives the speech to a speeding motorist... who turns out to be another Transformer, specifically [[PsychoForHire Lockdown]].
294	* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRobotsInDisguise2015'' gives us this line from Bulkhead:
295	--->'''Bulkhead:''' Howdy Con. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. PLEASE choose the hard way.
296	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'' season 2 episode 2, LoveableRogue Remington Smisse introduces himself to Evangelyne this way, with rhyming to boot.
297	-->'''Remington:''' And there are only two ways out:\
298	the good one, smooth and easy,\
299	or mine, much more painful and deadly.
300	* ''WesternAnimation/YinYangYo'': Yin and Yang do this one time
301	--> '''Yang''': Surrender now or we'll kick your butts!
302	--> '''Yin''': Or surrender now and we'll kick your butts anyway!
303	[[/folder]]
304
305
306	[[folder:Real Life]]
307	* Access to Tiberius's hilltop villa on Capri was via a winding path that ran along a steep cliff. Visitors knew that there were two ways off the island: being escorted back down the path to the dock (if you pleased the emperor), or suffering an "accident" as you walked along the clifftop (if you did not).
308	* In 1963, Wrestling/LouThesz came out of semi-retirement to challenge Wrestling/BuddyRogers for the World Heavyweight Championship. Supposedly Rogers was having second thoughts about dropping the belt to Thesz, so Thesz (backstage) told him "We could do this the easy way or the hard way." Knowing that Thesz was such a bona-fide badass that "the hard way" would involve getting himself tied into a pretzel in the ring for real, Rogers unsurprisingly opted for the easy way and dropped the title.
309	[[/folder]]

Context Main / TheEasyWayOrTheHardWay