Line #105 Main/ForcedToWatch


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4	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/we_made_him_watch_7608.jpg]]
5
6	->'''Weasel:''' Shall I repose[[note]]He means "dispose".[[/note]] of [Eddie Valiant] right now, Boss?\
7	'''Doom:''' Let him watch his toon friends get Dipped. Then shoot him.
8	-->-- ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit''
9
10	After capturing the hero, the {{villain\|s}} will threaten him with ColdBloodedTorture unless he reveals where he's hidden the MacGuffin, etc. Being a good hero, he dares him to do his worst. [[MadeOfIron Not only can he take it]], but will do so [[TooKinkyToTorture with a smile!]] The villain will then calmly rotate the chair they're strapped into and show them a friend or loved one in deep trouble instead. [[OhCrap Uh-oh...]]
11
12	This "deep trouble" can be just about anything: a camera feed showing a hit squad offing allies or [[TrueCompanions friends]] one by one, the LoveInterest in a slowly moving DeathTrap or being outright tortured. If the villain has the means, they might force the hero into WatchingTroyBurn or the RedShirtArmy being massacred by the villain's GasMaskMooks.
13
14	The possibilities are nauseatingly endless, but the one constant is that they are Forced to Watch, often with the offer that they can make it stop if they just give in. Sometimes the act isn't meant to make someone talk, but to KickTheDog in a truly heinous way, {{sadist}}ically {{Mind Rap\|e}}ing them by taking whatever they love and destroying it before their very eyes. If it does literally involve sex, expect it to be the darkest version of SexInASharedRoom, with the villain raping someone right in front of the hero. More cynically, this is a way for the writers to make sure that the heroes remain absolutely sympathetic -- caving under torture would make them "weak," but caving to a loved one's torture makes them ''[[AlwaysSaveTheGirl heroic]].''
15
16	In family-friendly works it can be a way of softening a torture scene: rather than getting out the knives, simply threatening the hero's loved ones can carry the story without rousing the censors. It can even be a moment of comedy if the subject of [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment the threat is absurd or the punishment is ridiculous]].
17
18	In more adult works the hero's head may be {{strapped\|ToAnOperatingTable}} to prevent them from [[ICantLookGesture looking away.]] In more extreme works their eyes may be taped open, or [[EyeScream their eyelids removed]]. An anesthetic or blow to the head may leave the hero too dazed to look away. Other times, like a car wreck, the hero just won't be able to look away. For bonus points, a hero trying to look away will have [[VillainousFaceHold the villain grab them by the chin]] and force them to face forward while screaming that they look on.
19
20	The hero may find they AintTooProudToBeg and might plead "PleaseIWillDoAnything"
21
22	We might discover this dark scene in fragments as a TroubledBackstoryFlashback.
23
24	[[AntiHero Morally dubious]] [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique heroes]] may also force a victim to watch. It can mark where the WellIntentionedExtremist just crossed the MoralEventHorizon.
25
26	The villain is TemptingFate by attempting this form of torture with {{Determinator}}s, {{Plucky Girl}}s or {{antihero}}es, [[ItsPersonal as the consequences]] will ''not'' [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown be pretty]] if they [[HeroicResolve do not succeed]] in breaking them. Especially if the hero manages to [[HeroicWillpower bust loose]] [[ConvenientlyPlacedSharpThing from their imprisonment]] -- in which case the villain is going to be facing torture and/or [[KarmicDeath death]] of their own soon enough.
27
28	See also WeHaveWaysOfMakingYouTalk. If circumstances prevent allies to team up in a fight and one has to helplessly watch the other being overpowered or killed by the enemy forces, it's LockedOutOfTheFight. If they're made to watch through a window, which they can't get through, it's HelplessWindowDeath. If it is an object being damaged/destroyed as opposed to a living thing, then it's InterrogationByVandalism.
29
30	Not to be confused with TheLudovicoTechnique, when one is forced to watch propaganda or brainwashing material, rather than something eliciting fear for another.
31
32	And yes, if you bring any real-life examples, you'll be forced to watch them being promptly deleted from here, [[Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease m'kay?]]
33
34	[[noreallife]]
35	----
36	!!Examples:
37
38	[[index]]
39	* ForcedToWatch/AnimeAndManga
40	* ForcedToWatch/ComicBooks
41	* ForcedToWatch/FanWorks
42	* ForcedToWatch/{{Film}}
43	* ForcedToWatch/{{Literature}}
44	* ForcedToWatch/LiveActionTV
45	* ForcedToWatch/VideoGames
46	* ForcedToWatch/WesternAnimation
47	[[/index]]
48
49	[[foldercontrol]]
50	[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
51	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1'', Syndrome does a variation of this to Mr. Incredible; he's made to listen to a radio transmission from his wife and children as their plane is being targeted by missiles. Worst of all, Syndrome didn't know it was Bob's family but thought they were his back-up. The reveal that there were children on board didn't stop Syndrome in the slightest.
52	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie'', Lord Business would prefer to let Emmett and the Master Builders have a front-row seat to the destruction of Bricksburg (Emmett's home city) to really torture them before the Think Tank self-destructs. He imprisons the latter in his Think Tank and ties the former to the self-destruct mechanism's battery. Emmett, being the one forced, is closest to the computer screen where the apocalypse is effectively taking place.
53	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheManCalledFlintstone'', the [[DiabolicalMastermind Green Goose]] tortures Barney Rubble on the rack to make Fred Flintstone talk. Subverted when Fred ''doesn't'' crack and tell the Green Goose what he wants to know, but ignores Barney's suffering.
54	* After turning human, the titular ogre of ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'' is prevented from reuniting with his wife and is forced to watch as another man pretends to be Shrek transformed and embraces his wife.
55	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'', the Penguin King and his soldiers are forced to watch their IcePalace being burned by Bowser, who intrudes to steal their Power Star. The Penguin King, in shock that this would happen, can only manage a LittleNo.
56	* In ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'', [[spoiler:during the climax, the Cy-Bug King Candy/Turbo tries to force Ralph to watch as Vanellope is about to be eaten by the other Cy-Bugs. This only prompts Ralph to attempt his big HeroicSacrifice. A few minutes later, the Turbo side can only watch as he is drawn towards incineration.]]
57	[[/folder]]
58
59	[[folder:Multiple Media]]
60	* In ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'', Karzahni's MaskOfPower has the effect of trapping the target in a vision where they're usually unable to move, and witness horrible alternate futures. In one instance, he made Jaller see what would have happened if he had frozen in place instead of saving his friend Takua, thus allowing the villain Makuta to win. In this alternate future, the terrorized islanders would have risen up against Makuta's rule, only to be brutally killed one by one by his henchmen. This also counts as MindRape, as it leaves the victim too shaken to try to escape Karzahni's realm.
61	[[/folder]]
62
63	[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
64	* Bad-guy wrestlers forcing their {{face}} opponents to watch beatings and other wicked actions has dates back a long time. Two examples come to mind:
65	** Wrestling/JimCornette and Wrestling/TheMidnightExpress forced Wrestling/DustyRhodes to watch as Cornette hit Baby Doll in the stomach with a tennis racket. This nearly caused a riot, and Cornette received death threats after it was stated that Baby Doll might not be able to have children because of the attack.
66	** In 1988, to help set up the first-ever Wrestling/SummerSlam main event (Wrestling/HulkHogan and Wrestling/RandySavage [the "Mega Powers"] against Wrestling/TedDiBiase and Wrestling/AndreTheGiant [the "Mega Bucks"]), Savage (with Wrestling/MissElizabeth in tow) delivered a promo throwing out an open challenge, to which Andre came out and taunted the "Macho Man." Savage accepted, only to have [=DiBiase=] sneak in and attack the champion, after which Andre and [=DiBiase=] double-teamed the champion; the trope-fitter here was Elizabeth being restrained by Virgil, forced to watch a brutal-for-the-time attack.
67	* In 1991, Wrestling/JakeRoberts vs. [[Wrestling/JohnTenta Earthquake]] was set up in memorable style: Roberts was scheduled to take on Earthquake, who eventually got the better of "the Snake" and tied him in the ring ropes. Manager Wrestling/JimmyHart threw the snake bag (containing Roberts' snake, Damien) into the ring as 'Quake told Roberts, "You are going to see me ... (pause for dramatic effect) ... '''''squash''''' that snake!" Roberts was crying and trying to break free, but could only watch as Earthquake repeatedly performed his "Earthquake splash" to ({{Kayfabe}}) crush the snake to death.[[note]]In reality, the snake bag contained pantyhose filled with raw ground beef, and an electric motor to simulate Damien "moving around" inside the bag.[[/note]] Roberts was disconsolate as he finally broke free of the ropes ... but by that time, 'Quake was being led from the ring. Commentators [=McMahon=], Wrestling/RoddyPiper and Savage remarked that it reminded some of the cruel childhood memory of being forced to watch a bully kill a beloved pet.
68	* A common trope used during the Attitude Era, particularly in the feud pitting Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin and Wrestling/VinceMcMahon. One example is Austin showing -- via the [=TitanTron=] -- that he had earlier poured tons of concrete in [=McMahon=]'s new Chevrolet Corvette!!!!
69	** Another time, as Austin and [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] were trading verbal jabs, Austin revealed, via video footage, that he had dropped a steel beam on top of the Rock's brand new Lincoln Continental!
70	** Yet another one occurred in 2000 when Austin came on the [=TitanTron=] and blew up Wrestling/DGenerationX's tour bus, the DX Express.
71	* Wrestling/ColtCabana tried to force Wrestling/ChristopherDaniels to watch Wrestling/CMPunk's murder of Wrestling/AllisonDanger, which he was to perform in retaliation for Daniels attacking CM Punk's girlfriend and Second City Saints manager [[Wrestling/DaffneyUnger Lucy]]. Danger was spared when it was revealed Wrestling/BJWhitmer was the one who attacked Lucy.
72	* When one of Wrestling/SerenaDeeb's protege's, [[Wrestling/{{Bayley}} Davina Rose]], showed up in Wrestling/{{SHIMMER}}, Wrestling/PortiaPerez was delighted, boasting that she would force Deeb to watch Rose's destruction.
73	* Better Than You forced Wrestling/SoloDarling to watch them break the leg of her Buddy System partner [[Wrestling/RubyRiott Heidi Lovelace]]. Wrestling/{{Daffney\|Unger}} brought [[Wrestling/SarahLogan Crazy Mary Dobson]] into SHINE to deal with BTY, which lead to the rest of Valifornia forcing them to [[SoreLoser watch Solo be put through a table]].
74	* "El Rebelde" Noriega handcuffed Eddie Colon's wrist to the bottom ring rope and held him in place to watch The Precious One Gilbert strip and beat Eddie's cousin Orlando to a [[BloodIsTheNewBlack bloody mess]] with the help of El Gran Armando, Pedro Portillo III and some shards of glass. Noriega even punched Eddie in the chest a few times to make sure his eyes were open.
75	[[/folder]]
76
77	[[folder:Religion and Mythology]]
78	* In Literature/TheBible, a priest named Pash-Hur throws Jeremiah into jail for the night because of his prophesying about Judah's sins and the upcoming invasion by Babylon. The next morning Jeremiah declares that [[MeaningfulRename God has changed Pash-Hur's name]] to Magor-Missaviv, "terror all around," because he will watch all his friends die in the attack before being dragged off to Babylon for the rest of his life.
79	* Happens in Literature/TheBookOfMormon. Two prophets, Alma and Amulek, preach in a wicked city and have a handful of conversions, but they are imprisoned by the evil people in the city, who also cast all the men who converted out of the city and throw all their wives and children (and scriptures) into a bonfire, forcing Alma and Amulek to watch. Amulek wants to use the power of God to stop such a horrific scene, but Alma prevents any interference, reasoning that God now has a reason to send those responsible to hell, and besides, if these women and children are righteous anyway, they're now in heaven and happy.
80	[[/folder]]
81
82	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
83	* One ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' monster is the Vaath, a horrible amalgam of insect and lizard from the Lower Planes. It hunts by injecting its victims with a paralyzing poison, then inserting a feeding tendril into its victim's body to consume choice organs. Not only is the Vaath sadistic enough to make sure its victims live just long to watch it consume their intestines, it's also telepathic, so everyone around it -- including the person being eaten -- gets to experience not just the Vaath's enjoyment of the meal, but the exact flavor and texture of the person's innards.
84	[[/folder]]
85
86	[[folder:Theatre]]
87	* In many stagings of ''Theatre/GiulioCesareInEgitto'', Sextus, held by Ptolemy's guards, has to watch his mother Cornelia being harassed by Achillas. Several productions (such as the 2013 one in Salzburg), however, proceed to subvert it when Achillas starts to have a gradual HeelRealization, has Sextus released, and lets him comfort Cornelia, and tentatively tries to make amends with both.
88	* In ''Theatre/{{Tosca}}'', Tosca is forced to listen to Cavaradossi being tortured, and Scarpia also describes the torture method to her. She eventually breaks down and reveals the escaped prisoner Angelotti's hiding place.
89	[[/folder]]
90
91	[[folder:Web Animation]]
92	* In the second ''WebAnimation/CampCamp'' Halloween special, [[spoiler:Daniel tells Max that he plans on livestreaming his death to a captive David. Cut to David, who notes that the camp's wi-fi isn't that good.]]
93	* ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle:'' Towards the end of "Black Adam vs Apocalypse", after violently stomping on his opponent's face, Apocalypse forces the near-death Black Adam to see Kahndaq being destroyed, knowing well that he let his people down when they needed him before killing him.
94	* This is how Alastor from ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'' got his [[RedBaron moniker]] as "the Radio Demon". After arriving in Hell as another mortal soul, Alastor began a rapid campaign of toppling, tormenting, and decimating some of the most powerful overlords Hell has ever known to establish his own claim to power. He also went so far as to broadcast his carnage over the radio waves so everyone in Hell would know his power.
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Webcomics]]
98	* Parodied in ''Manga/AoiHouse'' when Elle finds out two heterosexual men have joined their club. As they really can't lose two more members without getting closed by the university, she is determined to fix the minor problem with Alex and Sandy.
99	* This happened to ''Webcomic/TheBlondeMarvel'' when she didn't want to pay for Madame de Sade's broken window.
100	* Chapter 17 of ''Webcomic/FurryFightChronicles'' ends with [[spoiler: Muko being forced to watch as Nyarai defeats Adelgund to the point of hospitalization with her Leg-Jet Burst. She wants to tag in to save her, but Adelgund refuses to prevent Muko from committing a SenselessSacrifice against an opponent who outclassed Muko without using her real strength.]]
101	* ''Webcomic/TheGreatestGift'' has a disturbing example with [[spoiler:Astra/Venus. Her father forced her to watch her EvilTwin Jupiter/Fake Venus strangle their mother to death. Did we mention they were ''[[HarmfulToMinors fillies]]'' when this happened?]]
102	* Redcloak of ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' attempts this, threatening to throw groups of prisoners into a rift in front of O-Chul, unless O-Chul gives him information. O-Chul simply doesn't have the information Redcloak is after and tells him that if he's going to kill the prisoners, then do it quickly and be done with it. [[{{Hypocrite}} Redcloak]] [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0547.html is astounded at how vile humans are.]] Notably, Redcloak orders that the prisoners be informed of O-Chul's statement... [[EvilCannotComprehendGood and fails to realize they'll see it as a sign of resistance rather than one of cowardice.]]
103	* Any time Susan overpowers Anna in ''{{Webcomic/Sire}}'' she is forced to helplessly watch her "Sister" pilot the body that they share and commit impassioned crimes. This has included confirmed kills so far. One of which was their beloved uncle.
104	* In ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' Hereti-Corp tries [[http://sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/020618 torturing Gwynn]] to make Torg give up information on Dr. Steve and Oasis, until Torg [[MoodWhiplash points out]] that they ''hadn't asked him any questions yet''.
105	* In ''Webcomic/{{Unsounded}}'', Matty Quigley is blind, yet he is able to see through the eyes of his pymaric doll, Chitz. When [[BigBad Starfish]] orders [[spoiler:Matty's father]] killed, he holds up Chitz so that, [[TearJerker even though Matty is crying and trying to close his eyes]], he still sees everything. [[spoiler:Luckily, Jivi performs a BigDamnHeroes and manages to save both Matty and his father]].
106	[[/folder]]
107
108	[[folder:Web Original]]
109	* In an Creator/AchievementHunter Let's Play of ''VideoGame/DeadByDaylight'', Jeremy Dooley, playing the murderer for one round, drops Jack Patillo as he's trying to rescue Ryan Haywood from one of the spider traps and leaves him there to watch Ryan die.
110	* This is how [[spoiler:Marie]] feels in ''Literature/{{Pyrrhic}}'', having been forced to watch Joshua MercyKill Chase.
111	* In ''Literature/ReceiverOfMany'' in the nightmarish illusion weaved by Cronus for Persephone this happens in two ways: the illusionary Hades is forced to watch how Cronus rapes his wife and the real Persephone herself is forced to see this scene play out before her eyes.
112	* Item 1683 on the list of ''Blog/ThingsMrWelchIsNoLongerAllowedToDoInAnRPG'': "Killing the orc horde by drowning them all at once is heroic. Killing them by drowning them one at a time is an alignment check."
113	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ForcedToWatch