History Main / RedemptionRejection

** In ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'', Lord Shen's fleet is wrecked, his weapons are destroyed, and Po offers him a chance to reject his philosophy and repent. He instead tries to kill Po one last time. [[KarmicDeath It doesn't go well for him]], though unlike Tai-Lung [[FaceDeathWithDignity he seems to find peace right before the end]].

** In [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda1 the first movie]], Shifu apologizes to Tai Lung for helping to shape him into the monster he's become, saying that his pride blinded him to the fact that his pupil had a few darker tendencies that he should have noticed and possibly fixed. Tai Lung appears genuinely moved for a moment... and then angrily says that he didn't come here for apologies: he only wants the Dragon Scroll.

** [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda1 The first movie]] has a truly [[TearJerker heartbreaking]] moment when Shifu apologizes to Tai Lung for helping to shape him into the monster he's become, saying that his pride blinded him to the fact that his pupil had a few darker tendencies that he should have noticed and possibly fixed. Tai Lung appears genuinely affected for a moment... and then angrily says that he didn't come here for apologies: he only wants the Dragon Scroll. It's at this point when the audience realizes that Tai Lung is truly [[MoralEventHorizon beyond redemption]].
** This is repeated in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'' when Lord Shen's fleet is wrecked, his weapons are destroyed, and Po offers him a chance to reject his philosophy and repent. He instead tries to kill Po one last time. [[KarmicDeath It doesn't work any better for him]], though unlike Tai-Lung [[FaceDeathWithDignity he seemed to find peace right before the end]].

* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'': When [[spoiler:Lotso]] is about to be crushed by landfill machinery, Andy's toys go out of their way to save him. He repays them by [[spoiler:trapping them in a certain-death situation, which they're only saved from by the timely intervention of the Little Green Men]]. [[LaserGuidedKarma This costs him]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame''. Frollo fears going to Hell as much as any sane man, and he knows damn well that this will happen to him if he doesn't let go of his obsession with Esmaralda, but he throws away every chance to save his own soul.

* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'':
** The first movie has a truly [[TearJerker heartbreaking]] moment when Shifu apologizes to Tai Lung for helping to shape him into the monster he's become, saying that his pride blinded him to the fact that his pupil had a few darker tendencies that he should have noticed and possibly fixed. Tai Lung appears genuinely affected for a moment... and then angrily says that he didn't come here for apologies: he only wants the Dragon Scroll. It's at this point when the audience realizes that Tai Lung is truly [[MoralEventHorizon beyond redemption.]]

* According to [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} Christian]] thought, this is what causes damnation as all other sins can be forgiven if the sinner sincerely repents. This sin is called Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. UsefulNotes/OrthodoxChristianity considers {{despair|EventHorizon}}, in this context giving up hope of salvation, to be the [[SevenDeadlySins eighth and deadliest cardinal sin]].

* According to [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} Christian]] thought, this is what causes damnation as all other sins can be forgiven if the sinner sincerely repents. This sin is called Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

!!Examples:

** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'': Nebula refuses the LastSecondChance given by her step sister and exits the scene via HighDiveEscape.

* Captain Estar Goes To Heaven (side-comic in ''WebComic/{{Subnormality}}'') is about a miserable, self-hating hired assassin whose latest target claims he found a shortcut to Heaven. She doesn't believe him. Soon after, she's hunted down and captured by other hitmen, who decide to go to the shortcut so they can loot whatever ambush was set up there, and then they visit the "pearly gates" for kicks. Turns out, it definitely isn't paradise and the hitmen are slaughtered by the natives - but they spare Estar. They then rewrite reality so she never screwed up her life, giving her a second chance to be a normal person. She flips them all off and goes straight back to killing, claiming that heaven and hell don't exist - you end up right where you belong, and what matters is how fast you learn to live with it.

Not to be confused with ReformedButRejected. Compare IgnoredEpiphany (where the villain has a moment of self-realization but dismisses it), IveComeTooFar (where the villain feels that they've already gone too far down the path of evil to turn around), RedemptionFailure (where the villain makes a sincere effort to reform but isn't able to stick to it) and BeyondRedemption (where a hero decides that a villain isn't worth trying to reform anymore).

Not to be confused with ReformedButRejected. Compare with IgnoredEpiphany, where the villain has a moment of self-realization but dismisses it; IveComeTooFar, where the villain feels that they've already gone too far down the path of evil to turn around; RedemptionFailure, where the villain makes a sincere effort to reform but isn't able to stick to it; and BeyondRedemption, where a hero decides that a villain isn't worth trying to reform anymore.

* Near the end of ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' all the townspeople partake in a musical number where they sing about the benefits of bringing back real trees. Eventually the main villain joins in. "My name's O'Hare, I'm one of you!/ I live in Thneedville too./ The things you say just might be true./ It might be time to start anew/ And change my point of view... Nah! I say let it die! Let it die, let it die, let it shrivel up and... Come on! Who's with me?"

* The infamous pirate Edward Teach (better known as Blackbeard) was at one point pardoned and had the chance to reform himself. Blackbeard soon returned to piracy and continued to plunder the high seas, and paid for it in what may have been one of the toughest battles the British navy ever had to fight against pirates.

Maybe the bad guy doesn't see themselves as the villain, and so doesn't think redemption is necessary. Maybe they realize their own wickedness, but think [[IveComeTooFar after all they've done, redemption is impossible, and therefore pointless to pursue]]. Maybe their motives for doing evil are so powerful that a guilty conscience is a small price to pay. Maybe they think that if people are going to treat them as the bad guy no matter what they do, [[ThenLetMeBeEvil they might as well go in with a full head of steam]]. Maybe they just have no morals and think that EvilFeelsGood. Or rarely, they are honourable AntiVillain with either UndyingLoyalty toward their masters or possessing VillainousValour.

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In the last few episodes of the second season of ''Anime/{{Bakugan}}'', Mylene is offered a chance to join the Brawlers in their quest to defeat the BigBad. She decides to [[AlphaBitch to try and kill them]].
* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', after Ichigo beats Grimmjow for the last time, Grimmjow confronts him again, battered but still conscious. Ichigo tries to get him to back down, saying there's no reason to fight now, and he'll be happy to fight him any time he wants later. Grimmjow seems to ponder this for a second...before yelling at Ichigo to quit screwing around [[spoiler:right before Nnoitra shows up and ganks him]].
* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
** Happens to Frieza in ''Anime/DragonBallZ''. Goku [[spoiler:gives Frieza some energy so that he might survive Namek's explosion]]. Goku tells him that he might [[spoiler:use the energy to wander the cosmos and consider what he's done to so many others]]. Frieza considers for a moment, then launches an attack on Goku. Frieza's [[KarmicDeath bad karma catches up with him.]]
** Earlier, Goku tried to persuade Captain Ginyu to reform, but Ginyu refused on the grounds that [[EvilFeelsGood hurting and lording over other people was what made him happy]].
** During the Cell Games, Gohan makes it clear that despite everything Cell has done, he doesn't want to kill him and begs him to repent of his crimes and end things without violence. Cell just mocks him to his face for thinking he could actually talk him down, and upon hearing of Gohan's hidden power, he deliberately drives Gohan to his RageBreakingPoint for the sake of drawing it out and having a challenge; upon this, Gohan switches gears from not wanting to hurt Cell at all to wanting nothing more than to spill his blood and [[ColdBloodedTorture make it as painful and humiliating as possible]].
** ''Anime/DragonBallGT'': Gogeta effortlessly beats up Omega Shenron, then offers to spare his life if he promises never to hurt anyone again. Omega is completely furious and says he'll never do that, then keeps futilely attacking Gogeta.
** ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'': In episode 63, [[spoiler:Gowasu comes to the future alongside the Supreme Kai of Universe 7 to lecture both Goku Black and Future Zamasu on their actions and give them a LastSecondChance, begging them to stop what they're doing and revive everyone they've killed with the Super Dragon Balls. Instead, Black coldly reveals that he destroyed the Super Dragon Balls, making it impossible to undo their destruction, and it's only thanks to Goku and Vegeta's intervention that Gowasu and U7's Supreme Kai don't get blown up on the spot by Black and Future Zamasu]].
** It's even more blatant in [[Manga/DragonBallSuper the manga]]. [[spoiler:Black acts like he will accept Gowasu's offer to repent and grabs his hand, before [[TheFarmerAndTheViper promptly impaling him]]; Black [[DidYouActuallyBelieve then calls Gowasu an idiot for thinking that he could actually persuade him to stop and change his ways, especially since Black's already killed]] ''[[DidYouActuallyBelieve two]]'' [[DidYouActuallyBelieve incarnations of Gowasu for the sake of his plan]].]]
** In episode 131 this happens to [[spoiler:Frieza once again. After the Tournament of Power Frieza fully expects Goku and the others to send him straight back to hell without keeping their promise to revive him, because he has [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlived his usefulness to them]] and [[EvilCannotComprehendGood that's exactly what he would do]]. He is surprised when Whis revives him on the spot and says it was requested by Beerus due to Frieza's help. Despite this act of kindness and how he surprising proved himself to be a good teammate to the others during the tournament, he states he has no intentions of giving up being evil and vows to have his revenge on Goku one day. The episode includes a [[TheStinger stinger scene]] where Frieza has already rebuilt his army and declares "the ruler of the universe" has returned. Though he does at least now have [[VillainRespect some level of respect towards Goku]] after the two of them worked together in the tournament.]]
* In ''Anime/KillLaKill'', after successfully putting an end to [[BigBad Ragyo Kiryuin]]'s plan to [[AssimilationPlot have Earth assimilated by the Life Fibers]], Ryuko offers her to go back home and move on from this. Ragyo rejects the offers and [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled kills herself by tearing out and crushing her own heart]], leaving [[DyingCurse a promise the Life Fibers will eventually return.]]
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': Naruto verbally beats [[spoiler:Obito Uchiha]] down with one of his most epic [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech speeches]] and offers him a chance to at least not go down as one of the worst monsters in the ''Naruto''-verse's history. [[spoiler:Obito]] tries to ''choke him out'', saying he regrets nothing. In the end, he's {{Mind Rape}}d by his memory of his childhood love refusing to look at him and Naruto grabbing his hand and dragging him forward. This makes [[spoiler:all the Tailed Beast burst out of him and Obito lose entirely. Though he does eventually relent to take down TheManBehindTheMan]].
* During the Sinnoh saga of ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', Ash and his friends managed to convince Meowth that he would be a rising celebrity because of his skills, and made him reconsider whether or not to return to Team Rocket. In the end, StatusQuoIsGod, and Meowth still sticks with the Rockets, not because he likes being a villain ([[CharacterizationMarchesOn that comes later]]), but because they're his TrueCompanions.
* ''Anime/ReCreators'': [[MagicalGirl Mamika Kirameki]] attempts to convince [[BigBad Altair]] to give up her plan to destroy reality by appealing to her better nature. Altair responds ''[[KillTheCutie horribly]]''.
* In ''Manga/SoulEater'', [[spoiler:Tezca Tlipoca]] tries to convince [[spoiler:[[FaceHeelTurn former-colleague-went-rogue]] Justin Law]] to come back to DWMA, pointing out that [[spoiler:Justin]] still has the chance to redeem himself by [[spoiler:providing the info about Kishin's location to DWMA. Tezca]] also calls him out on [[spoiler:living solely by blind faith and [[LonersAreFreaks cutting himself away from others]], and offers to fix that with his friendship. Justin]] refuses and kills [[spoiler:Tezca]] instead.
* ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'': Edo Phoenix is an enforcer of the BigBad Leo Akaba and believes in his philosophy that dueling is about conquering and hurting people. Yusho Sakaki has the philosophy that dueling is about bringing smiles to people and managed to defeat Edo. Yusho offered him friendship and a copy of his favorite card Smile World. Enraged, Edo ripped it in half and dedicated his life to crushing Yusho and his philosophy. Later, Yusho's son Yuya manages to get Edo to turn around.

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* Christopher Cantwell's ''ComicBook/DoctorDoom'' series spent a lot of time asking the question of whether Victor von Doom could be a good person, as seen in a vision he kept having where he is HappilyMarried, has children, is unscarred and has turned the universe into a utopia. This was continuing on from Doom's redemption arc from the conclusion of ''ComicBook/SecretWars2015'' and the ''Infamous Iron Man'' series, where Doom made a genuine attempt at changing his ways after Reed Richards healed his face, before he was re-scarred after going out of his way to be noble. In the last issue, Doom finally travels to this alternate universe where his life apparently turned out perfect and meets his alternate self. It turns out that this life for him is only, and will only ''ever be'' possible when he and Reed Richards work together. The idea enrages Doom so much that he uses the Ultimate Nullifier to '''destroy the entire universe.''' Keep in mind, the Nullifier will destroy the user unless their thoughts are unclouded and their mind fully focused and intent on what they set to use it for, and Doom survives this. So there is no wiggle room here -- Doom completely intended to commit the deed and did, now having a bodycount higher than ''Thanos and Galactus combined''. It's safe to say the "redeemed Doom" saga closed out on a bit of a DownerEnding.
* Flag-Smasher (Karl Morgenthau) is obsessed with destroying the very concept of countries and national borders, believing this will make everyone equal and establish world peace, but resorts to terrorism and murder to achieve his dream. ComicBook/CaptainAmerica confronts him and says he supports his dream of equality and world peace, then says he can achieve it peacefully by being a positive example. Flag-Smasher refuses to listen and the Captain is forced to defeat him.
* [[EvilTwin Inertia]] pulls one in ''ComicBook/{{Impulse}}''. [[MentorArchetype Max Mercury]] reminds him that he has completely immersed himself in his Impulse role while impersonating him and actually became a great hero. Inertia seems willing, but Max mentions [[TheRival Impulse]], pushing Inertia's BerserkButton. He immediately backtracks and decides to kill both Impulse and Max. [[spoiler:He nearly succeeds, only stopped by Impulse's ArmorPiercingQuestion.]]
* The ending of ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'' is along these lines. Franchise/{{Batman}} reaches out to ComicBook/TheJoker that they've got to stop before one of them kills the other. Joker seems to want to but sadly rebuffs the offer, before telling his famous joke.
-->'''Batman''': Don't you ''understand''? I don't want to hurt you. I don't want either of us to end up killing the other. But we're both running out of alternatives... and we both know it. Maybe it all hinges on tonight. Maybe this is our last chance to sort this bloody mess out. If you don't take it, then we're both locked onto a suicide course. Both of us. To the death. It doesn't ''have'' to end like that. I don't know what it was that bent your life out of shape, but who knows? Maybe I've been there too. Maybe I can help. We could work together. I could rehabilitate you. You needn't be out there on the edge anymore. You needn't be alone. We don't ''have'' to kill each other. What do you say?\\
'''Joker''': No. I'm sorry, but... no. It's too late for that. Far too late. Hahaha. You know, it's funny. This situation. It reminds me of a joke...
* ''Majestic'': From the old ''Creator/{{Wildstorm}}'' run, Majestic's final confrontation with his old archenemy Helspont, with Helspont hooked to a machine that would allow him to destroy the planet and Majestic repeatedly stopping him but slowly dying of a disease the whole while. In one last bitter conversation between the two, Majestic explains that he now understands the Daemonites' worldview as oppressed slaves who fought back against their slave masters the Kherubim (Majestic's species). Majestic pleads for Helspont not to prove himself a "monster" after all with an offer of mutual peace, but Helspont turns him down with a giant smile on his face out of a perverse sense of "duty" -- now more motivated by spite towards Majestic and the entire Kherubim race.
* ''ComicBook/MegaManArchieComics'':
** Wily threw away many of his chances to come back to the side of the good. Doctor Light even lampshades this.
** When he is offered [[HeelFaceTurn purpose for the greater good of the world]], Quick Man pulls this. His reasoning is that changing his programming will kill off what characterises him. He then presents a solution: [[DyingAsYourself decommission him]].
* ''ComicBook/SuperboyPrime'': In ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' - Legion of 3 Worlds, Superman tries to redeem Superboy-Prime by reminding him of his loved ones, like his girlfriend and parents. By then he has accepted they are gone and is trying to be a villain, so he rejects Superman's words.
* ''ComicBook/XMen'': Colossus is prepared to sacrifice everything to save the soul of his sister [[ComicBook/{{Magik}} Illyana]], whom he still remembers as his "little Snowflake", even taking on the demonic power of the Juggernaut (losing his humanity and the love of ComicBook/KittyPryde in the process). By the end of ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'', Illyana makes it abundantly clear that [[ThatManIsDead "There are no snowflakes in Hell,"]] and that she has embraced her insanity. He appears to finally get the message; he vows that he would kill her if he ever saw her again. A few years in real life would go by before Illyana would come around and Colossus would happily reunite with his dear sister.

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In Volume II of ''FanFic/SpectacularSeven'', Moondancer is offered several chances to open up to someone about her troubles: the BigBad is essentially holding Moondancer and her father hostage, she has to [[BecomingTheMask put on different masks every time she goes outside]], she desperately wants Twilight Sparkle's love and affection, and she feels like [[IJustWantToBeSpecial she'll never be as good as other people in her life]]. Moondancer's uncle Artemis dotes on her and treats her nicely with no ulterior motive, and Twilight tries to lift Moondancer's spirits even [[ObliviousToLove without knowing that Moondancer is in love with her]]. Despite multiple chances to atone, Moondancer always rejects them and keeps SlowlySlippingIntoEvil.
* ''Fanfic/RosarioVampireBrightestDarkness Act IV'': For the first few chapters, Luna Cii's [[CainAndAbel evil sister]], Falla, appears willing to clean up her act through several acts of kindness... but in chapters 10 and 11, just as Luna is convinced that Falla has changed and finishes the spell to restore her magic, Falla promptly drops the act and slices Luna in half before cruelly gloating to the others that her attempts at redemption were all just an act in order to dupe Luna into giving her her magic back. By the end of chapter 11, however, Falla is killed by a far more genuinely benevolent AlternateTimeline version of herself, who takes her place in the mainstream timeline.
* In ''Fanfic/BadFutureCrusaders'' Silver Spoon is offered a second chance by Trixie but coldly shoots it down. [[spoiler:It's made into something of a TearJerker since it's implied Silver Spoon wants it but knows she can't accept it since she's a wanted criminal.]]
* ''Fanfic/TheBridge'': When the BigGood, [[spoiler:Harmony]], is finally confronted face to face by the BigBad, [[spoiler:Bagan]], she offers him a chance to abandon his [[OmnicidalManiac mad plans]] right then and there. He flatly refuses.
* ''Fanfic/AftermathOfTheGames'' has Villain!Starlight refuse to change her ways in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E26TheCutieRemarkPart2 her clash with Twilight]] on the grounds that Twilight is just trying to get the latter to stand down so she can capture her. This forces Twilight to RetGone her by taking her past self back to the future[[labelnote:*]][[Film/BackToTheFuture Don't you DARE.]][[/labelnote]] and making Filly!Starlight her student.
* ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'':
** Queen Chrysalis is offered ''several'' chances to end her plans to conquer Equestria and enslave the inhabitants. Even after it becomes clear that befriending and working with ponies is beneficial to the Changelings (as it creates much more love that does not get used up like when the Changelings drain it by force), and even after seeing alternate worlds where she accepted the chance to reform and was happy, Chrysalis still refuses out of misplaced pride and a bad case of RevengeBeforeReason.
** The Nameless Filly crafted the Concept Killing Spear and murdered Cupid with it, which {{Ret Gone}}d Cupid and every creature in the universe who existed because of him. After she died, the gods confronted her with the consequences of her actions and gave her several chances to repent and atone. However, even seeing all the damage she had done and being threatened with Hell failed to invoke a shred of remorse and she refused to apologize, so into Hell she went. Inmates in Hell will be released if they genuinely want to atone for their actions, but it becomes clear that she never will.
* ''Fanfic/{{Empathy}}'': Riley uses her empathic powers in an attempt to invoke a HeelRealization on Callaghan. It almost works, but then [[spoiler:the Gorg]] threatens to kill Abagail if he doesn't hold up his end of their bargain, so Yokai goes right back to fighting the heroes.
* ''Fanfic/LovedAndLost'': During [[spoiler:[[TheUsurper King Jewelius]]' attack on Ponyville]], Celestia flies to [[spoiler:[[EvilNephew her rotten nephew]]]] and offers him a chance to stop and make atonements, promising even that if [[spoiler:he wishes so, he can rule Equestria as the princesses' equal so that he won't have to [[GreenEyedMonster feel overshadowed]] by them]]. She gets in response cruel laughter from [[spoiler:Jewelius who doesn't want to share power with anypony]] before she's subdued by a magic-proof net.
* Tchang Zu from ''Fanfic/AdoptedDisplaced'' refuses to change his ways during the parole hearing, so his soul is forcibly returned to the cycle of reincarnation.
* In ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} promises her EvilTwin to help her find her child if she stops trying to kill her and everyone else. Her counterpart replies she can find her baby on her own and resumes her attack.
-->'''Supergirl:''' You won't believe this, but I'm sorry. On my honor, I am. And if you will swear to stop this battle, I will help you search for your child. That is my promise.\\
'''Satan Girl:''' (sneering) Ohhhhh, don't you wish, Lightsister. I can find my child. After our war, I will find him. Or her. There is nothing left to us now, except the fight. -You would not tolerate my existence, nor I yours. I am not capable of your empathy, of your petty virtue. You are not capable of my ruthlessness and power. Come, sister. Let us destroy each other.
* Chat Noir from ''Fanfic/BackToUs'' turns his back on Ladybug during her speech under Shaming the Mob. As noted elsewhere, it doesn't last.
* In ''Fanfic/{{Rivalry}}'', after surviving his encounter with Toothless, Hiccup decides that their family feud felt inconsequential and tries making peace with Astrid, even trying and failing to convince Stoick to give her the heirship instead. It is not until he accidentally slips that he thinks she's beautiful does she snap at him.
* ''Fanfic/SonOfTheSannin'': When Hinata finds out that [[spoiler:Toneri]] broke out of the Kotoamatsukami brainwashing, [[HopeSpot she tells him they don't have to be enemies anymore, and he agrees...]] but immediately refuses her offer to join them to take down Akatsuki, stating that he wants to let the war rage on so the current world can be destroyed, as he feels it's beyond saving. Him stating his plan to become the Ten-Tails' jinchuriki and become the ruler of the new era [[spoiler:[[WeCanRuleTogether with Hinata as his queen]]]] is what makes her realize he's beyond redemption.
* ''Fanfic/JadeDragon'': [[AdaptationalVillainy Viper]] pulls one on Lefevre after Po Kong's portal is opened — the detective offers to cut a deal in addition to extracting Fei Cui Huo [[DemonicPossession from her]] in exchange for Viper helping to bring Fei in, but [[GoodAngelBadAngel with a little persuasion from Fei]], Viper not just refuses but [[spoiler:outright lets Po Kong try to eat Lefevre]].
* ''Fanfic/TheWeaverOption'': The Traitor Primarch [[spoiler:Omegon]], facing an existential threat to his Legion from [[spoiler:Malal]], communes with the Emperor in hope of finding a solution. The Emperor offers to shield his son, but the Primarch and Legion must swear themselves once again to the Imperium. [[spoiler:Omegon]] refuses as he can't bring himself to trust the Emperor.
* In ''Fanfic/AllMixedUp'', Carlos tries to get Mariana Mag to stop what she's doing by reminding her of all the good times she had with him back when she was employed with Odd Squad as Agent Ocean, and by trying to get her to realize that what she's doing is wrong and full of flaws. Mariana is actually stricken by his words and appears to be won over by him, but then she reverts right back to being evil and tells him that she has to finish what she started. Unfortunately for her, Otto, who used the redemption offer and subsequent distraction to his advantage, figures out how her alphabet keyboard works and uses it to induce HoistByHisOwnPetard as Mariana fires a beam from her lifeline at him and he uses [[MirrorsReflectEverything his compact handheld mirror]] to [[AttackReflector return it to sender.]] Once she's revived by Oprah, she has a genuine HeelFaceTurn and begins to atone for her actions.

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueCrisisOnTwoEarths''. Batman attempts this on Owlman, saying he must have been a good man once.
-->'''Owlman:''' No. Not ''good''. Never ''good''. After all, [[HumansAreBastards I'm only human]].
* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'':
** The first movie has a truly [[TearJerker heartbreaking]] moment when Shifu apologizes to Tai Lung for helping to shape him into the monster he's become, saying that his pride blinded him to the fact that his pupil had a few darker tendencies that he should have noticed and possibly fixed. Tai Lung appears genuinely affected for a moment... and then angrily says that he didn't come here for apologies: he only wants the Dragon Scroll. It's at this point when the audience realizes that Tai Lung is truly [[MoralEventHorizon beyond redemption.]]
** This is repeated in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'' when Lord Shen's fleet is wrecked, his weapons are destroyed, and Po offers him a chance to reject his philosophy and repent. He instead tries to kill Po one last time. [[KarmicDeath It doesn't work any better for him]], though unlike Tai-Lung [[FaceDeathWithDignity he seemed to find peace right before the end]].
* Near the end of ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' all the townspeople partake in a musical number where they sing about the benefits of bringing back real trees. Eventually the main villain joins in. "My name's O'Hare, I'm one of you!/ I live in Thneedville too./ The things you say just might be true./ It might be time to start anew/ And change my point of view... Nah! I say let it die! Let it die, let it die, let it shrivel up and... Come on! Who's with me?"
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie'', upon learning that the government is about to destroy Springfield, Marge tries to convince Homer to come with them by saying [[IronicEcho "In every marriage you get one chance to say, 'I need you to do this with me.' And there's only one answer when somebody says that."]] Homer's response?
-->'''Homer:''' That's the stupidest idea I've ever heard!\\
'''Marge:''' [[FullNameUltimatum Homer Simpson!]]
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'': When [[spoiler:Lotso]] is about to be crushed by landfill machinery, Andy's toys go out of their way to save him. He repays them by [[spoiler:trapping them in a certain-death situation, which they're only saved from by the timely intervention of the Little Green Men]]. [[LaserGuidedKarma This costs him]].

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon'', Li Mu Bai confronted Jen after she stole his sword, the Green Destiny. After handily defeating her, he offered to make her his student, admiring her talent as a fighter and recognizing that unless that talent was nurtured, she might become corrupted by Jade Fox. Jen bitterly denounced Li Mu Bai and his teachings.
* In ''Film/TheGodfather'' movies, Michael is responsible for oh so many murders, earning him quite the guilty conscience. In the third movie a priest tells Michael that he can still make amends for his sins; however, the priest realizes that Michael won't believe his crimes can be forgiven, and so won't bother changing his ways.
* ''Film/Halloween5TheRevengeOfMichaelMyers'': During the climax of the film, Loomis tries to reason with Michael, proposing that he fight his [[UnstoppableRage rage]] and redeem himself through a positive relationship with his niece Jamie. It initially seems to work, with Michael calmly listening to Loomis and even lowering his knife, but when Loomis tries to take the knife away, Michael promptly slashes him across the gut and tosses him through the banister in a frenzy.
* ''Film/TheIrishman'': Nearing the end of his life, Frank is visited by two FBI agents who once again ask him what happened to Jimmy Hoffa. By this point everybody who had anything to do with the murder besides Frank himself is already dead, most of his family has disowned him, and even the mafia has basically forgotten he exists. Nevertheless, he still refuses to tell them anything rather than come clean.
* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:''
** In ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', Thor tells his brother Loki (the villain) that it's not too late to stop his plan after [[spoiler:unleashing an army of aliens on New York. For a second it seems like Loki will back down, but then he stabs his brother in the stomach and blows off his offer as 'sentiment'. This finally pushes Thor over the edge, and he quickly curb-stomps Loki]].
*** Loki makes a habit of this, up until his [[spoiler:actual redemption and subsequent death]]. In ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'', Loki is given a chance to help Thor avenge their mother by stopping the Dark Elves, and Loki, after much bickering, sincerely helps save Thor's love Jane and kills the monster that killed their mother. It appears to be a RedemptionEqualsDeath moment...except Loki instead uses this as an opportunity to ''fake'' his death, return to Asgard in disguise, kidnap Odin, and assume his place as king. In ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', after this was exposed and the two ended up on Sakaar, Loki is captured by Valkyrie before he can turn Thor over to the Grandmaster, and offers Thor a means to escape back to Asgard. During this plan, however, Loki attempts to betray Thor just as they seem to have an understanding, only for Thor to see this coming and incapacitate Loki with the control disk previously used on Thor, allowing Thor to give him a speech where he points out that Loki is always squandering his potential with betrayals when he could be something more. [[spoiler:Loki takes this to heart and arrives later to help evacuate the Asgardians, after which he sincerely redeems himself and rejoins his brother, [[Film/AvengersInfinityWar later dying while trying to protect him from Thanos.]]]]
** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'': Nebula refuses the LastSecondChance given by her step sister and exits the scene via HighDiveEscape.
** ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': The [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2 now-redeemed]] Nebula gives [[spoiler:her past self from an alternate timeline]] the opportunity to join her and Gamora, and is forced to kill her when she refuses to betray Thanos out of fear.
* At the end of ''Film/OzTheGreatAndPowerful'', Oscar tries to sympathize with the Wicked Witch of the West ([[spoiler:Theodora]]), stating her StartOfDarkness was not her fault, and should she ever find a speck of light within her rotted heart, he'd welcome her back with open arms. She replies with a BigNever, and flies away on a broom while cackling, setting [[KillItWithWater her eventual fate]] [[Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz 15 years later]].
* Amon Goeth from ''Film/SchindlersList'' has two major redemption rejections in the film. First, Schindler convinces him that pardoning people rather than killing them for minor infractions is a sign of true power. Goeth tries this for a while before shooting a young man for not cleaning his bathroom properly. Second is his relationship with his maid, Helen, who he seems to care somewhat for and who almost convinces him that Jews are more than just vermin, but he ends up beating her mercilessly.
* In ''Film/SodomAndGomorrah'', after receiving a message from Jehovah about the impending destruction of the title cities, Hebrew leader Lot tries to appeal to Queen Bera of Sodom and her subjects to repent their sinful ways and join the Hebrews in following Jehovah to spare them from His vengeance. But none of the Sodomites are interested (one in particular tells Lot he's happy in Sodom and throws a goblet of wine in his face), while Bera tells Lot that she feels she has nothing to repent, and even a final warning from Jehovah Himself does not sway her.
-->'''Bera:''' What you call sin, to me is virtue. And all-powerful Death, whom you hate, I worship. I turn my back on you, Lot. ''(stands up)'' On you... and your ''impotent'' god. ''(the Sodomites cheer as she turns to leave; Jehovah promptly signals that He means business with a bolt of lightning in a largely clear sky, and Lot looks meaningfully skyward, but Bera smirks defiantly)'' Clouds, lightning. Such simple wonders you teach your people to fear.
* In the ''Franchise/StarWars'' series, TheHeavy Kylo Ren does this twice:
** ''Film/TheForceAwakens'': Han Solo offers Kylo [[spoiler:(a.k.a: his son Ben)]] a chance to reject TheDarkSide and [[spoiler:come home to his family who love him]]. Ren appears to consider it, shedding tears and even handing Han his lightsaber, but ultimately [[spoiler:impales Han with it and throws his body into an abyss]], saying [[spoiler:his love for Han]] is a weakness he has to give up.
** ''Film/TheLastJedi'': Rey offers Kylo the chance to join her after [[spoiler:he kills his master, the GreaterScopeVillain Snoke, and they fight off his PraetorianGuard together]]. Instead, he tries to pull a WeCanRuleTogether on ''her'' and stays behind to [[spoiler:[[TheStarscream take over]] the First Order]].
* In ''Film/TalesFromTheHood'', the fourth and final story focused on a gangbanger named Crazy K. After getting shot by enemies from another gang, Crazy K is saved at the last minute by police and taken to prison. There he meets a MysteriousWoman in [[EtherealWhiteDress White]] who offers him a chance at redemption which he accepts. She begins by [[GoodIsNotNice forcing Crazy K]] to witness the horrors he inflicted over his years of gangbanging. At the end, she puts him in an isolated room, where he sees visions of the many people he killed: enemies, friends, even an innocent girl who was a bystander during one of his many drive-by shootings. Ultimately, however, Crazy K rejects redemption, telling the lady (who was really an angel) that he doesn't give a fuck. The lady finally gives up and Crazy K, who [[DeadAllAlong really died]] from his gunshot wound and was given a chance to save his soul, was sent to Hell. Discussed by the [[LouisCypher Narrator]] who mentions that people like him are too far gone and can't be saved.
* In ''Film/TronLegacy'', Kevin Flynn tries to talk sense into his creation, the Program Clu, who, in following Flynn's orders to create "the perfect system," turned [[{{Cyberspace}} the Grid]] into a dystopian society were Programs are oppressed. Flynn, having realized that such an order was doomed to fail, sincerely apologizes to Clu for giving said order to him (Clu, meanwhile, is bitter at his creator for breaking their promise of "[changing] the world together"). After apologizing, Kevin silently offers to give Clu a hug. Clu seems at first willing to embrace his creator... [[spoiler:but then quickly kicks him to the ground, revealing that he will never stop in his quest for perfection.]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Nevyn from the ''{{Literature/Deverry}}'' series urges his enemies to repent at various points in the story, because he knows that if they don't, this will have severe consequences in their next life. Most of them refuse his offer of redemption, but he notably gets through to [[spoiler:Sarcyn]].
* In ''Literature/DragonsOfRequiem'', Dies Irae almost has a HeelRealization when Benedictus calls him by his childhood nickname, which spurs a few childhood memories. He quickly disregards them and resumes attacking Benedictus.
* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' book ''Literature/SkinGame'' [[ThePaladin Michael Carpenter]] asks [[spoiler:Nicodemus to abandon his service to his FallenAngel, telling him to look at the path it's led him on. This comes shortly after Nicodemus has sacrificed his daughter, likely the only person in the world he actually cared about. For a moment Nicodemus seems tired, uncertain, and then he laughs. He declares that he's not a puppet of the Fallen, but that after two thousand years they follow him, and that he's forged his own path of war and plague through the ages]]. True to the second part of the trope, Michael then goes at his foe with all his might, not holding back at all.
* In ''Literature/GoingPostal'', the book ends with Reacher Gilt being offered a similar choice to what Moist was offered at the start. Vetinari tells Gilt he can either carry out a risky government job (in this case, sorting out the Royal Mint) or he can walk out the door and "never hear from me again." Unlike Moist, Gilt walks away. Unlike Moist, Gilt does not manage to avoid falling to his death through the hole in the corridor floor.
* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'', Harry, after seeing [[spoiler:[[AndIMustScream Voldemort's ultimate fate]]]], urges Voldemort to feel remorse for his crimes in order to make his soul whole again. Seeing as feeling remorse had a high probability of killing Voldemort and [[MortalityPhobia given how terrified Voldemort is of dying]], the Dark Lord refuses and unknowingly damns himself in the process.
* ''Literature/TheHeartstrikers'': When Julius defeats the EvilMatriarch of his clan and tries to reformat them into a more peaceful, democratic organization that doesn't kill each other on a whim, he decides to spare his mother, since killing her would be hypocritical. She ''hates'' him for this, and the only reason he is able to keep her from being StupidEvil (much less actively trying to kill him) is to lock her in a MagicallyBindingContract. While at first she has a lot of success getting her other children to try to kill him for her, it doesn't take long for her power to slip away as they all realize how crazy she really is. By the end, she's little more than a figurehead kept around because of tradition, but she's still yelling about how she's right and VirtueIsWeakness.
* Grima in Creator/JRRTolkien's ''[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings The Two Towers]]'' is offered the chance to redeem himself by fighting alongside Theoden, the king he has betrayed, but Grima just snarls and slinks away to Saruman.
** Saruman himself, thrice : first at Orthanc after his army has been defeated, second, after the war when he meets Gandalf and the Hobbits on they way home, then last after the Battle of Bywater.
** Also part of Sauron's backstory in ''Literature/TheSilmarillion''. After the War of Wrath and Morgoth's defeat and exile, Sauron was genuinely repentant at first, and did want to return to Valinor. Unfortunately the price of redemption proved to be too high for him. Having gotten a taste for power as TheDragon to the Lord of Evil, Sauron wasn't about to settle for much less, let alone whatever penance the Valar were surely going to impose on him for his rebellion. So instead he vanished into the unknown east of Middle-Earth for the next thousand years, returning in the guise of the sorcerer Annatar, with a Master Plan to manipulate everyone into helping him conquer the world.
* Lucifer in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'' - "he would rather rule in Hell than serve in Heaven".
* In ''Literature/TheScarletLetter'', Hester talks Chillingworth into realizing that he has hurt Dimmesdale, but he later ignores that realization.
* Harold Lauder from ''Literature/TheStand'' uses this trope when the Boulder Free Zone not only accepts him but begins to regard him as a hero. He realizes full well he has a choice between putting his childish grudges aside forever or holding onto them, even though he knows that they're poison. In the end he decides he's carried his hate for too long to just let it go, and joins up with [[BigBad Flagg]]. [[spoiler:As he lies dying after Flagg decides he has outlived his usefulness, [[DeathEqualsRedemption Harold finally lets go of his hate and writes an apology to everyone he hurt/killed before shooting himself]].]]
* In ''Franchise/StarWars'': ''Literature/DarthBane'': ''Rule of Two'', Zannah's cousin Darovit offers her more than one chance to turn away from the dark side. She [[spoiler:pretends to accept his final offer, then uses Sith sorcery to drive him insane and convince the Jedi Order that ''he'' is the Sith Lord they've been hunting]].
* In the last book of ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', [[TheChosenOne Rand]] tries to convince his EvilCounterpart [[TheAntichrist Moridin]] to abandon the Shadow and help him defeat [[GodOfEvil the Dark One]]. Moridin throws it in his face-after all, the Dark One has promised him [[CessationOfExistence oblivion]], for himself and [[OmnicidalManiac the world]], and Rand can't offer anything [[DeathSeeker that would tempt Moridin more than that]].

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/TwentyFour'':
** Two quarters through Day 4, a traitorous fighter pilot named Mitch Anderson has stolen a jet and has set his sights on Air Force One. Jack Bauer manages to get in contact with him and tells him that he can still walk away from everything. Anderson seems to consider what Jack says for a moment, but ultimately shuts down his comm link and blows Air Force One out of the sky.
** In the Day 7 finale as the now-rogue Tony Almeida prepares for his endgame that'll take out the man behind his wife's murder, a dying Jack attempts to appeal to whatever good is left in Tony by reasoning with him to drop his crusade. Tony responds by gagging Jack's mouth shut and arming a bomb on him that will be used to kill the man.
* ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'': Grant Ward, former member of the team who turned out to be a HYDRA mole, does this twice. First, during the late first season when given the chance to let Fitz and Simmons escape (instead choosing to drop them into the ocean to drown, which he'd later retroactively claim was ''actually'' [[IMeantToDoThat trying to 'give them a chance' to escape]]). And second, late in the second season when offered another chance when circumstance forces Coulson to ask him for help, only for him to use this as an opportunity to manipulate SHIELD so him and his brainwashed lover Kara Palamas can kidnap Bobbi Morse (who they decided was at-fault for Kara's brainwashing and were using as a scapegoat for revenge). In-between these, he ''does'' make what he ''thinks'' is a genuine attempt at redemption, by turning over information about HYDRA, but the team recognise that, given he's clearly a [[TheSociopath sociopath]], he doesn't really regret any of the things he's done and is only now attempting redemption because his other choice is life in prison, and even his [[LoveRedeems love for Skye]] is just a [[EntitledToHaveYou deluded obsession on his part]], so they wisely reject it.
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': After Angel ruins Jasmine's plan to create world peace at the expense of free will (and eating people), he finds her wandering distraught through LA. She chews him out, asking if her price for ending war, disease and poverty was really too high. He insists that it was, but suggests that she can still try and make the world a better place the old-fashioned way, even if she's lost her powers.
-->'''Jasmine:''' Not ''all'' of them. ''[punches him off a bridge]''
* ''Series/BabylonFive'' has Londo Mollari, who is told he'll have three opportunities to choose redemption, or suffer the consequences. [[spoiler:In a possible subversion, these moments are never directly revealed, and it's arguable whether he's saved his people or condemned them.]]
* In season 4 of ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'', the Cylon John's mother says he isn't a mistake and offers him redemption if he could just accept himself for the boy she made. He considers it for a moment before he angrily rejects her love and prepares to pick apart her brain to extract the information he wants.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': Faith expects this trope to be played out in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E19Choices Choices]]", but Willow [[DefiedTrope surprises]] her.
-->'''Faith:''' Give me the speech again, please. Faith, we're still your friends. We can help you. It's not too late.\\
'''Willow:''' [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech It's way too late. You know, it didn't have to be this way. But you made your choice. I know you had a tough life. I know that some people think you had a lot of bad breaks. Well, boo hoo! Poor you. You know, you had a lot more in your life than some people. I mean, you had friends in your life like Buffy. Now you have no one. You were a Slayer and now you're nothing. You're just a big selfish, worthless waste.]]
* Though the drivers on ''Series/CanadasWorstDriver'' and related shows aren't actually villains, there have been two contestants who fit the basic premise of this trope: Colin from Season Two and Scott from Season Six made a big joke of everything and refused to learn. Colin became the first to be expelled from any Driver Rehabilitation Center in the ''world'', while Scott became the first (at least on the Canadian show) to be effectively expelled by his own nominator (who cancelled Scott's insurance, meaning Scott was no longer a valid driver).
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E5EvolutionOfTheDaleks "Evolution of the Daleks"]], the Doctor and [[spoiler:the now-HalfHumanHybrid Dalek Sec]] try to redeem the Daleks by creating a new, non-evil race of Daleks, which would have ended their genocidal war with the rest of the universe. The other Daleks reject this idea, violently.
* Barney from ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' uses this trope quite often. Practically OnceASeason there's an episode that focuses on how shallow, selfish, and cruel his life as TheCasanova is. By episode's end it looks like he's about to learn [[AnAesop an important lesson]] and be more considerate of women from now on ... and then, without fail, Barney will explain that, no, seducing an endless stream of anonymous bimbos really ''is'' all he wants out of life.
-->'''Lily:''' So you made a life-changing decision not to change your life at all?\\
'''Barney:''' [[CatchPhrase True story.]]
* ''Series/{{Jessie}}'': Emma tells Bryn they can still be friends if she could just start being nice to people. However, Bryn refuses and throws cheesy nachos at Rosie before escaping.
* Mr. Eko from ''Series/{{Lost}}'' had a tragic backstory about being kidnapped and made into a child soldier, becoming a criminal, and feeling responsible for causing the death of his brother, Yemi. His main StoryArc on the Island was trying to talk to Yemi's ghost. As it so happens, Yemi was a Catholic priest, so their eventual meeting takes the form of a confession. Eko must be ready to ask for forgiveness, right? [[spoiler:Of course, as it turns out, "Yemi" is actually the Smoke Monster/Man In Black in disguise, and he promptly kills Eko after this. So any future chance of redemption is lost right then and there.]]
-->'''Mr. Eko:''' I ask for no forgiveness, Father, for I have not sinned. I have only done what I needed to do to survive. A small boy once asked me if I was a bad man. If I could answer him now, I would tell him that, when I was a young boy, I killed a man to save my brother's life. I am not sorry for this. I am ''proud'' of this. I did not ask for the life that I was given, but it was given nonetheless. And with it, I did my best.
* ''Series/OnceUponATime'':
** Rumpelstiltskin is ''almost'' de-powered by [[spoiler:Belle's TrueLovesKiss]]... but of course, he has a bit of a freak-out and rejects it. Quite possibly regrets that pretty hard. The same thing happened [[spoiler:when he gave up a chance to travel to another world with his son]], for the exact same reason.
** In the flashback sequence of "The Cricket Game", Snow lets Regina out of prison and offers the chance to leave all her evil deeds behind and start fresh, and Regina takes the opportunity to attempt once again to kill Snow. She even lampshades the concept, pointing out it's '''never''' that easy. No one ever just gives up that much hatred. This is contrasted against the present scenes in Storybrooke, where Regina [[TheAtoner really does want redemption]], but understandably Snow and Charming [[ReformedButRejected are unwilling to give her another chance.]]
** Both Rumpelstiltskin and Regina ''do'' ultimately find redemption by Season 3. [[spoiler:Regina sticks with it. Rumple...[[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor not so much.]]]]
* A recurring theme in ''Series/{{Oz}}''. Frequently, a prisoner will waste an opportunity at redemption because they simply don't care about doing so. Perhaps the most stark example is the prisoner "Poet", who manages to get a book contract on the basis of his poetry and is granted early parole (a rarity in the series; many of the convicts are hardened criminals and murderers with life sentences). He immediately uses his new income to buy drugs and is sent back to Oz after he shoots his drug dealer at a book signing event.
--> '''Hill:''' To be saved, you have to ''want'' to be saved.
* ''Series/PowerRangersWildForce'': In an attempt to end the conflict peacefully, Princess Shayla tells Master Org that it isn't too late to change, since Cole forgives him for [[spoiler:killing his parents]]. Master Org doesn't care about this and goes on with his plans to destroy the Rangers.
* ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' has one for [[spoiler:The Governor]] in episode 8 of season 4.
-->[[WhamLine "Liar!"]]
* ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'': Xena had a number of chances to redeem herself before her actual HeelFaceTurn, but she rejected them. Her most notable was in the land of Chin when she rejected ''two'' chances from Lao Ma in one day. The first time was when she let her rage over Borias' betrayal consume her desire for redemption with the leader. Later that day, when she had the chance to make peace with the leader, she instead kills him and offers Lao Ma the chance to rule together. Lao Ma relunctantly beats the crap of her and has her unconscious body dragged out the kingdom.

[[folder:Music]]
* In "Reviewing the Situation," from the musical ''Theatre/{{Oliver}}'', Fagin briefly considers the attractions (or lack of same) of a moral and upstanding life, but ends up deciding that a comfortable old age is much more important to him.
* Alluded to in "The Hounds" by Music/TheProtomen:
-->''If there ever was a time, if there ever was a chance\\
To undo the things I've done and wash these bloodstains from my hands\\
It has passed and been forgotten, these are the paths that we must take\\
'Cuz you and I, Tom, we are men and we can bend, and we can break''

[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
* According to [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} Christian]] thought, this is what causes damnation as all other sins can be forgiven if the sinner sincerely repents. This sin is called Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
* After [[Wrestling/VonErichFamily Kevin Von Erich]] defeated "Gentleman" Chris Adams, [[WeUsedToBeFriends who recently betrayed him]] with a Superkick after aligning with Gary Hart, the former stated to the latter that he was willing wipe the slate clean on the condition that Adams got rid of his [[ToxicFriendInfluence new manager]]. Adams responded with a brutal assult with a chair from behind.
* After The Nation Of Intoxication destroyed the makeshift team of Drew Blood, Ron Mathis and Rory Mondo at the 2014 ''Wrestling/{{CZW}} Tangled Web'', Danny Havoc was willing to apologize for trying to burn Mondo alive and put their bad blood behind him, with the crowd roaring his name in appreciation for the toughness he showed even though his team decisively lost the match...that was until Mondo cursed the name of Havoc, necessitating their feud continue.
* The heroic return montage World Wonder Ring STARDOM put together for Act Yasukawa before the final match of the 2015 ''Five*Star Grand Prix'', combined with a huge pop from the audience, actually brought her close to tears and had her spew a fountain of rum in appreciation... before she proceeded [[SpitefulSpit spit on all the audience members she could]], reject Haruka Kato and Momo Watanabe's welcome then had Kyoko Kimura preoccupy [[SwissCheeseSecurity the referee]] while she destroyed them.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
** ''TabletopGame/BaldursGateDescentIntoAvernus'': In the climax, the players have the chance to try to talk the FallenAngel and archdevil Zariel into accepting the spark of goodness that remains within her old sword and turning away from evil. This is a challenging task, and if they fail she violently rejects the idea of rejoining the hosts of heaven and shatters her sword, putting herself forever beyond redemption.
** ''TabletopGame/{{Dragonlance}}'': When the deity Mishakal offered Lord Soth a chance at redemption by stopping the Kingpriest of Istar and preventing the Cataclysm, he initially accepted the request but then put aside his mission to confront his second wife about her infidelity. As a result, he was cursed to become a [[TheUndead death knight]]. While in Ravenloft, Soth was given an opportunity by the Dark Powers to put his evil past behind him; he rejected their offer and was made into the Darklord of Sithicus. [[spoiler:After spending a long time with a magic mirror showing him all of the mistakes in his life, Soth finally accepts that all of his misery was ultimately his own fault. The Dark Powers send him back to Krynn since nothing they can do to him could be worse than his own guilt and apathy. When Takhisis comes calling again, Soth rejects her. She then restores his mortality and brings his castle down upon him.]]
* ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'': In the ''Gehenna'' sourcebook, one ending has the [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Antediluvians]] forcing open a gate into Heaven so they can devour God and become the rulers of the universe. An angel appears and pleads with them one last time to accept their Creator's forgiveness. [[TooDumbToLive They refuse and exultantly jeer that God MUST fear them, or he wouldn't be giving them a chance to surrender.]] They demand to face God. Their wish is granted, and they are wiped from existence in a heartbeat.
** In a different scenario Caine (the Biblical one, here the first vampire) comes face to face with the ghost of his slain brother Abel. Abel says he forgives his brother and offers him the chance to move on together with him. While the notes state that the gamemaster ''could'' have Caine accept this offer it is much more in character for Caine to tell his brother to shove it. At several points the same sourcebook it also implies that Caine could end his vampiric curse at any time by accepting God's forgiveness but refuses to do so until God apologises first for setting him up to sin, although depending on one's interpretation of the TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness version of God Caine might be in the right there.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* ''Theatre/BothYourHouses'': IncorruptiblePurePureness congressman Alan has a heart-to-heart with CorruptPolitician congressman Sol in which Alan appeals to Sol's better nature and says that he knows Sol doesn't really want to vote for the bill. Sol in turn tells Alan that it's way too late for him, that in his early days he had a Good Angel, Bad Angel thing going but the longer he stayed, the weaker the Good Angel got until it finally gave up.
* Marlowe's ''Theatre/DoctorFaustus'' wrings a lot of tension out of this trope as the time comes for the title character to relinquish his soul to the devil -- he wants to repent, but is too afraid of the physical torture the demons will inflict on him if he does. [[spoiler:He doesn't, and they do it anyway.]]
* ''Theatre/{{Heathers}}'': Veronica pleads with J.D. to abandon his murderous desires, dismantle the bomb, and come with her before it's too late, saying she wishes things had turned out differently. He just snarls, "I wish I had more TNT." [[spoiler:But when Veronica takes the bomb, intent on [[HeroicSacrifice taking the blast to protect everyone else]], J.D. has a genuine change of heart and rescues her.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/{{Darksiders}}'', when War finally encounters [[DragonsAreDemonic The Destroyer]] face-to-face, he seems legitimately sad and regretful [[spoiler:as he holds an [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes unconscious Uriel]] in his hand while reminiscing on their shared love from long ago]]. However, he then invokes ThatManIsDead and gives War a WeCanRuleTogether speech, making it clear that unlike the truly-repentant [[spoiler:co-conspirators Azrael and Ulthane, any regret [[FallenAngel Abaddon]] has for his [[WellIntentionedExtremist radical yet well-intentioned]] role in starting Armageddon early to defeat Hell has long since been snuffed out and he would rather [[DirtyCoward run from responsibility that face judgement for his role]], up to and including becoming a general of Hell's army]]. When War rejects him by calling him a coward, [[spoiler:Abaddon]] angrily tosses Uriel aside and begins the final battle.
* During the final battle in ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry'' against [[spoiler:Vergil]], Dante tells him "It's not too late". [[spoiler:Vergil]] responds "Yes, it is" and continues fighting.
* A heartbreaking example in ''VideoGame/GodOfWarChainsOfOlympus''. After [[BigBad Persephone]] reveals her [[EvilPlan scheme to undo reality]], Kratos was forced to put aside his redemption and ends up slaughtering the pure souls of Elysuim in order to gain his powers back that he can stop both her and [[TheDragon Atlas]]. The price he ends up paying is '''very''' high; in order to save the world and the underworld, he would never see Calliope again. The quicktime event where Kratos must push away his daughter and embrace his monstrous self again is possibly the most [[TearJerker/GodOfWar heartbreaking]] use of this type of gameplay ever created.
* In ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'', after Lana, Link and Zelda have beaten [[spoiler:Ganondorf]] away in the Temple Of Souls scenario and try to tell Cia to stop using magic that ultimately could kill her, [[BigBad Cia]] tells them to screw off. [[spoiler:Needless to say, Cia continues to use magic that uses her life force and she ultimately dies shortly after.]]
* In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' and [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords the sequel]], many dark side-aligned enemies can be persuaded to give up and redeem themselves, either through persuasion or using a JediMindTrick. However, the vast majority of force-sensitive dark side users will throw the offer right back at the player's face, either calling the player weak for not embracing the Dark Side, or more rarely saying that they are too far gone to go back now.
* ''Videogame/MassEffect3'': At the end of the ''Citadel'' DLC, a Paragon Shepard can [[SaveTheVillain attempt to rescue]] the [[spoiler:Shepard Clone]] while they are dangling off the ''Normandy's'' ramp. However, at that point, the [[spoiler:Shepard Clone]] has crossed the DespairEventHorizon at realizing that while they might [[spoiler:have Shepard's abilities and augmentations]], they don't have any friends, allies, or comrades like Shepard does, and the only companion they had has betrayed them. The despair at this causes them to reject Shepard's offer and drop to their death.
* In ''VideoGame/MegaMan11'', [[spoiler:when Mega defeats Wily again, Dr. Light shows up to point out that both of their dreams had come to light in the form of Mega Man and it's not too late to turn back. However, Wily flat out refuses and all he wants is both of them kneeling in front of him. As Wily escapes, Light laments that his friend might never return]].
* In the climax of ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'', [[spoiler:N comes to rescue your player character from being frozen alive by Ghetsis]]. He then offers Ghetsis a last chance after the latter has been beaten by the player, pleading him to overthink his doings and start anew. Instead of taking this chance, [[spoiler:Ghetsis just continues to hurl insults at N, calling him a monster over and over again]], at which point he completely loses his mind and the Shadow Triad appears and takes him away, never to be seen again. [[spoiler:When meeting the Shadow Triad in the postgame, they imply that Ghetsis has become completely insane and non-functional.]]
* Towards the end of ''VideoGame/SlyCooperThievesInTime'', [[spoiler:the gang learn of [[BitchInSheepsClothing Penelope's]] betrayal. She was only using her boyfriend Bentley [[UnfortunateImplications to build weapons to sell for billions of dollars]], and [[DealWithTheDevil sold her soul to Le Paradox for the lives of Sly and Murray]]. Bentley, after recovering from his HeroicBSOD, tells his ex-girlfriend that Le Paradox is only using her for his own desires, and intends to dispose of her when [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness she's outlived her usefulness]]. He still loves her, and hoped that by pointing this out, she'd reconsider her betrayal and return to the Cooper Gang. She rejects this spitefully, [[VillainousBreakdown and attacks him in murderous rage]], showcasing that Penelope is a [[TheSociopath sociopath]] who's [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish to the core]] and [[DidYouActuallyBelieve never loved Bentley]] in the first place. This ends in Bentley renouncing his love, and declaring Penelope an [[BeyondRedemption unredeemable monster]] and [[MyGreatestFailure the greatest mistake of his life]]]].
* In ''VideoGame/SuikodenIV'', there are several moments where [[TheHero Lazlo]] can offer his former best friend [[TheResenter Snowe]] [[UpperClassTwit Vingerhut]] the chance to join the rebellion. If the player chooses to do so, Snowe angrily rejects it. In their last encounter, this can then be inverted into a HeelFaceDoorSlam, with Lazlo deciding to execute the now thoroughly broken-down Snowe instead of offering him one last chance now that he's ready to accept it.
* In ''VideoGame/SushiStrikerTheWayOfSushido'': After finally beating the Emperor of the Empire, Octavias, in a sushi struggle. Musashi offer him some sushi and tells him he doesn't have to take it from others. Octavias does seem to consider it and starts to eat it until he throws it on the ground. Rejecting Musashi's philosophy that people can't be greedy (as Octavias' father was to him) and disappears to where "sushi comes from" declaring that people's greed will start up the sushi struggles once more someday.
* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'', AllLovingHero Lloyd repeatedly offers the BigBad the chance to join their side and work to fix the problems he caused, after learning the details of his FreudianExcuse [[spoiler:and traveling with him for a while.]] Every time, it's [[spoiler:Mithos]] who rejects the offer, and even in his final words he insists on holding fast to the path he'd chosen.
-->[[spoiler:Mithos Yggdrasill]]: Farewell, my shadow. You who stand at the end of the path I chose not to follow.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', this can potentially happen on a second playthrough, depending on player choice. [[spoiler:Asgore can be given a second chance in redemption if you choose to spare him after defeating him in battle (Flowey must be defeated in a previous playthrough to trigger the event). Asgore entertains the idea at first, but then rejects the redemption because he feels that it cannot make up for the sins he had committed and the idea may not have worked out anyway. Asgore kills himself, entrusting his soul to you so you can escape the underground.]]
** Seeing a [[KillEmAll Genocide Route]] to completion requires the player to do this twice, first with [[spoiler:Papyrus]], and then much later with [[spoiler:his brother, Sans. Papyrus openly offers friendship to the player character which can only be rejected in the form of killing him, whereas Sans is written to directly appeal to ''the player'' by reminding them of previous playthroughs they may have completed in which they became friends. [[note]]Sans does not literally know the player exists, however, all of the game's mechanics [[MetaFiction exist in-universe]] and Sans is one of the few characters who is aware of them, allowing him to address the character in such a way that [[OneDialogueTwoConversations he might as well be talking to the player]][[/note]] Notably, Sans [[RedemptionEqualsDeath immediately kills you]] if you do accept his offer, telling you that if you ''really'' want to redeem yourself, you'll put your money where your mouth is and reset the game, effectively undoing all the harm you've done. This is designed to test the players commitment to redeeming themselves, as they might be tempted to simply go right back to fighting him out of anger.]]
* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' has the Naaru Xe'ra offering [[spoiler:Illidan]] the chance to be cleansed of his demonic taint and reborn in the Light as TheChosenOne. [[spoiler:Illidan]] is ''enraged'' by the offer as it is a denial of everything he has endured and worked for in his life. When Xe'ra tries to ''force'' the redemption on him, [[spoiler:Illidan ''kills'' it]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza 2}}'': [[spoiler:At the climax of the game, with both men wounded and a bomb set to go off, Kaoru begs [[TheHero Kiryu]] and [[NobleDemon Ryuji]] (her LoveInterest and long lost brother, respectively) to come with her and drop their conflict. Instead, they lock themselves in with the bomb and have one final brawl to determine who's the real Dragon. After he's defeated and as he bleeds out, Ryuji confesses to Kaoru that while the idea of living a life of peace sounds nice, he's ultimately got too much Jingweon blood in him and his thirst for violence is too great, choosing instead to GoOutWithASmile and die at peace.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* Alucard of ''WebVideo/HellsingUltimateAbridged'' is on the Earth because Satan tasked him with killing worse monsters than himself, as he swore he would during his decapitation by God's worshippers, the same God whom he believed had been on his side throughout his mortal life. So when that very same God shows up to offer Alucard forgiveness, Alucard is having none of it and reads God the [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech riot act]] before affirming, No, he does not need God's forgiveness, thank you very much.
-->'''God:''' Alucard... you are forgiven. And if you are brave enough to accept it--\\
'''Alucard:''' Didn't ask; don't need it; go fuck yourself!
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Earthsong}}'', Willow offers the Mandragora the means to leave Beluosus service [[spoiler:when she develops her stonecrafting ability, which allows her to remove his infection from their soulstones]]. Only one of them chooses this--the rest of them return to him with varying degrees of hesitation. [[spoiler:Neuria and Jormand decide they want it after all once they learn that Beluosus consumed two of their comrades, but it leads to disaster.]]
* Captain Estar Goes To Heaven (side-comic in ''WebComic/{{Subnormality}}'') is about a miserable, self-hating hired assassin whose latest target claims he found a shortcut to Heaven. She doesn't believe him. Soon after, she's hunted down and captured by other hitmen, who decide to go to the shortcut so they can loot whatever ambush was set up there, and then they visit the "pearly gates" for kicks. Turns out, it definitely isn't paradise and the hitmen are slaughtered by the natives - but they spare Estar. They then rewrite reality so she never screwed up her life, giving her a second chance to be a normal person. She flips them all off and goes straight back to killing, claiming that heaven and hell don't exist - you end up right where you belong, and what matters is how fast you learn to live with it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* In the GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', [[spoiler:Aang offers a last-moment chance for Ozai to back down from burning down Ba Sing Se, and to leave the battle unscathed and unharmed. Ozai appears to consider it, and then promptly tries to backstab Aang when the latter let his guard down. After Aang was [[DePower done with him]], Ozai will surely spend the rest of his life in prison wondering what could have been if he backed down during the invasion of the Earth Kingdom.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': In "Scorn of the Star Sapphire!", Wonder Woman tells Baroness Paula Von Gunther that her warlike ways will bring her nothing but pain and sorrow, and asks if they can start over as friends and sisters. The Baroness says her speech made her sick and punches her in the face.
* During the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' episode "The Last Resort", Terry teams up with a delinquent named Sean to escape from a brutal correctional school. After exposing the director's abuses of power Sean still tries to kill him despite Batman's protests, ruining the second chance he'd earned.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'':
** In the original series, Ben offered his enemy Kevin 11 a chance to do good, but the latter refused the offer and attempted to take the Omnitrix. From then on, Kevin was treated as someone who's actions couldn't be redeemable; indeed, by the time of Kevin's second appearance, when Kevin mockingly asks Ben if he wants to help him, Ben refuses, telling Kevin point-blank that [[HeelFaceDoorSlam he's done trying to help him, because Kevin already had plenty of chances to get help and screwed them all up]].
** Still, that didn't stop Ben from making the offer again in the [[WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce second series]]. Apparently, after regaining his humanity and getting his head on straight (plus [[DependingOnTheWriter new writers behind him]]) Kevin became wise enough to accept the offer. It wasn't until much later, in the [[WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien third series]], that it was shown why Ben felt Kevin deserved another chance.
** ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'' has [[TheSociopath Malware]] being subject to this. In "Showdown", after [[spoiler:[[WhereIWasBornAndRazed destroying his own homeworld]]]], he confronts [[BigGood Azmuth]] about it, leading to this exchange (quite reminiscent of the ''Kung Fu Panda'' example above) between them:
--->'''Azmuth''': [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech Sowing chaos doesn't take any special talent, Malware. If that's the best you can do, I am not impressed]].\\
'''Malware''': [[WellDoneSonGuy No! Nothing I do could ever impress you, could it, "father"? In your eyes, I am nothing but your failed experiment. Your... shame!]]\\
'''Azmuth''': My only shame is that I have been unable to heal your pain. But it's not too late. Give up this vendetta of yours, and we will work together to make you whole.\\
'''Malware:''' ''(hesitates for a second, then breaks down)'' LIES! Even now, you conspire against me! It ''is'' too late!
** In the same series, reformed villain Hex tries to get his [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds troubled niece]] Charmcaster to join him in a peaceful life. But wanting revenge on her enemies and being [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity high as a kite on magic power]], she refuses. [[spoiler:In the end, Gwen and Hex capture and essentially force rehab on her.]]
* Happens a lot in ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' with Demona, largely because she's the queen of the IgnoredEpiphany- she's several times offered a chance to change her ways, but ultimately never repents for more than about a minute. [[TheHero Goliath]] still seems to wish she'd find redemption, but no longer considers it a realistic possibility.
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse2002'', He-Man offers a second chance to Evil-Lyn [[SaveTheVillain after rescuing her]] from a FateWorseThanDeath at Skeletor's hands (long story) telling her that he was sent by someone who thinks she deserved one. (He-Man doesn't know that it was her father, but she clearly does.) Evil-Lynn does seem to consider it for a few brief minutes, but then quickly decides against it, knocking him down and saying, "Think I'll pass." Ironically, He-Man did tell himself "I'll probably regret this later", before he rescued her.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
** During the episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E20VivaLasPegasus Viva Las Pegasus]]" Applejack and Fluttershy are forced to pull an EnemyMine with recurring villains [[ConMan Flim and Flam]] in order to bring down [[BitchInSheepsClothing Gladmane]]. After all is said and done, Fluttershy hopes that the con ponies will feel good about using their skills to help others and change their ways -- but the brothers quickly state that was a one-time thing only and go back to their normal behavior.
** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E26ToWhereAndBackAgainPart2 To Where and Back Again Part 2]]", as shown in the page image, Starlight Glimmer encourages Queen Chrysalis to become a positive leader to the newly-reformed changelings. Chrysalis [[HopeSpot seems tempted]], then [[HandshakeRefusal slaps Starlight's hoof away]] and [[RevengeBeforeReason vows revenge on her]].
** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E26SchoolRazePart2 School Raze Part 2]]", when [[spoiler:Cozy Glow is defeated, she refuses to repent or apologize for her crimes, so she is sentenced to Tartarus]].
** In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS9E8Frenemies Frenemies]]", [[spoiler:Grogar's LegionOfDoom, consisting of Queen Chrysalis, Lord Tirek, and Cozy Glow, slowly begin to realize that GoodFeelsGood when they complete their mission and discover they enjoyed working together. Before things go too far though, they realize what is happening and all refuse to become friends. Chrysalis in particular says that [[LoveIsAWeakness the Magic of Friendship is a disease]], agreeing only to work together until they can find a way to [[TheStarscream get rid of Grogar]] and then they can all go back to trying to destroy each other]].
* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': Adora gives Catra chance after chance to leave the Horde, but Catra refuses to join the Rebellion because that would mean [[GreenEyedMonster returning to Adora's shadow]]. [[spoiler:After Catra nearly destroys the world out of spite, [[BeyondRedemption Adora concludes that she's been wasting her efforts]].]][[spoiler:It's ultimately subverted when Catra decided to redeem herself and become a better person by saving Glimmer and joining the Rebellion.]]
* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "F.U.N", [=SpongeBob=] tries to make friends with Plankton in the hopes that having a friend will make him stop being evil. Plankton plays along, in the hopes that it will get him to the Krabby Patty secret formula, but [[HeelFaceTurn he appears to be reformed]] by ThePowerOfFriendship. Then [=SpongeBob=] catches him with a Krabby Patty, and this tearsome confession follows:
-->'''Plankton:''' All right, it's true! I tricked you to get to the Krabby Patty, but then you showed me friendship; and now I realize... that's all I ever really wanted.\\
'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Really?\\
'''Plankton:''' (grabs Krabby Patty) No, not really! Being evil is too much fun!
* In the ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' episode, "Earthlings", [[spoiler:Jasper's gem becomes corrupted and Steven attempts to heal her. However, Jasper shoves him away and rejects his help out of her hatred for Rose Quartz and a desire to not be seen as weak]].
* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'':
** Happens near the end of the ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' episode "Predacons Rising." When [[KidAppealCharacter Bumblebee]] discovered that his former comrade Wasp has been mutated during a lab experiment while vowing revenge on Bee for (accidentally) imprisoning him for being a spy, Bumblebee feeling guilty about what he did, immediately apologizes to Wasp. Wasp's response? "Wasp... ...forgive... ...Bumblebot... [[spoiler:[[ThatManIsDead ...BUT WASPINATOR NEVER FORGIVE!!!"]]]]
** In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', [[NobleDemon Dreadwing]] grows disillusioned with the Decepticons after finding out they turned his twin brother into a zombie robot. He delivers the Forge of Solus Prime to the Autobots hoping they will do some good with it. Optimus once again offers Dreadwing a place among the Autobots. Dreadwing refuses, claiming that just because he doesn't believe in the Decepticons anymore doesn't mean he's ready to believe in the Autobots. Dreadwing then tries to kill Starscream for turning his brother into a zombie [[spoiler:and is shot in the back by Megatron when he refuses to stand down.]]
* In the finale of ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'', [[spoiler:[[AllLovingHero Wander]] offers [[KnightOfCerebus Lord Dominator]] friendship, only for her to reject this, storming off into space]].
* At the end of one episode of ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'', after an EnemyMine situation between Jack and the heroes that has resulted in a great victory against Wuya, Omi offers this chance to Jack; he considers it briefly, but then tells them it would never work out. (He does, however, offer to take them out for ice cream one day when they aren't fighting over Shen Gong Wu, saying he'll buy.)
** Though later on he does sincerely try his hand at being a monk, only backing out of truly reforming out fear that he would hurt those who now care about him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* The infamous pirate Edward Teach (better known as Blackbeard) was at one point pardoned and had the chance to reform himself. Blackbeard soon returned to piracy and continued to plunder the high seas, and paid for it in what may have been one of the toughest battles the British navy ever had to fight against pirates.
* Eddie Slovik (1920-1945) was the only American soldier since the American Civil War to be executed solely for desertion. During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Slovik fled his unit in October 1944. He returned to headquarters later and, after admitting what he did, was offered not one but three chances to return to frontline combat duty without any punishment. Slovik refused and was promptly arrested; he was tried, convicted and sentenced to death. The death sentence came as a shock to Slovik; he had honestly expected to be imprisoned.
[[/folder]]

* In ''Manga/SoulEater'', [[spoiler:Tezca Tlipoca]] tries to convince [[spoiler:[[FaceHeelTurn former-colleague-went-rogue]] Justin Law]] to come back to DWMA, pointing out that [[spoiler:Justin]] still has the chance to redeem himself by [[spoiler:providing the info about Kishin's location to DWMA. Tezca]] also calls him out on [[spoiler:living solely by blind faith and [[LonersAreFreaks cutting himself away from others]], and offers to fix that with his friendship. Justin]] refuses and kills [[spoiler:Tezca]] instead.

* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', after Ichigo beats Grimmjow for the last time, Grimmjow confronts him again, battered but still conscious. Ichigo tries to get him to back down, saying there's no reason to fight now, and he'll be happy to fight him any time he wants later. Grimmjow seems to ponder this for a second...before yelling at Ichigo to quit screwing around [[spoiler:right before Nnoitra shows up and ganks him]].
* In the last few episodes of the second season of ''Anime/{{Bakugan}}'', Mylene is offered a chance to join the Brawlers in their quest to defeat the BigBad. She decides to [[AlphaBitch to try and kill them]].

* From ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' Naruto verbally beats [[spoiler:Obito Uchiha]] down with one of his most epic [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech speeches]] and offers him a chance to at least not go down as one of the worst monsters in the ''Naruto''-verse's history. [[spoiler:Obito]] tries to ''choke him out'', saying he regrets nothing. In the end, he's {{Mind Rape}}d by his memory of his childhood love refusing to look at him and Naruto grabbing his hand and dragging him forward. This makes [[spoiler:all the Tailed Beast burst out of him and Obito lose entirely. Though he does eventually relent to take down TheManBehindTheMan]].

* ''ComicBook/XMen'': Colossus is prepared to sacrifice everything to save the soul of his sister [[ComicBook/{{Magik}} Illyana]], whom he still remembers as his "little Snowflake", even taking on the demonic power of the Juggernaut (losing his humanity and the love of ComicBook/KittyPryde in the process). By the end of ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'', Illyana makes it abundantly clear that [[ThatManIsDead "There are no snowflakes in Hell,"]] and that she has embraced her insanity. He appears to finally get the message; he vows that he would kill her if he ever saw her again. A few years in real life would go by before Illyana would come around and Colossus would happily reunite with his dear sister.

* Christopher Cantwell's ''ComicBook/DoctorDoom'' series spent a lot of time asking the question of whether Victor von Doom could be a good person, as seen in a vision he kept having where he is HappilyMarried, has children, is unscarred and has turned the universe into a utopia. This was continuing on from Doom's redemption arc from the conclusion of ''ComicBook/SecretWars2015'' and the ''Infamous Iron Man'' series, where Doom made a genuine attempt at changing his ways after Reed Richards healed his face, before he was re-scarred after going out of his way to be noble. In the last issue, Doom finally travels to this alternate universe where his life apparently turned out perfect and meets his alternate self. It turns out that this life for him is only, and will only ''ever be'' possible when he and Reed Richards work together. The idea enrages Doom so much that he uses the Ultimate Nullifier to '''destroy the entire universe.''' Keep in mind, the Nullifier will destroy the user unless their thoughts are unclouded and their mind fully focused and intent on what they set to use it for, and Doom survives this. So there is no wiggle room here -- Doom completely intended to commit the deed and did, now having a bodycount higher than ''Thanos and Galactus combined''. It's safe to say the "redeemed Doom" saga closed out on a bit of a DownerEnding.
* Flag-Smasher (Karl Morgenthau) is obsessed with destroying the very concept of countries and national borders, believing this will make everyone equal and establish world peace, but resorts to terrorism and murder to achieve his dream. ComicBook/CaptainAmerica confronts him and says he supports his dream of equality and world peace, then says he can achieve it peacefully by being a positive example. Flag-Smasher refuses to listen and the Captain is forced to defeat him.
* ''ComicBook/MegaManArchieComics'':
** Wily threw away many of his chances to come back to the side of the good. Doctor Light even lampshades this.
** When he is offered [[HeelFaceTurn purpose for the greater good of the world]], Quick Man pulls this. His reasoning is that changing his programming will kill off what characterises him. He then presents a solution: [[DyingAsYourself decommission him]].

* Near the end of ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' all the townspeople partake in a musical number where they sing about the benefits of bringing back real trees. Eventually the main villain joins in. "My name's O'Hare, I'm one of you!/ I live in Thneedville too./ The things you say just might be true./ It might be time to start anew/ And change my point of view... Nah! I say let it die! Let it die, let it die, let it shrivel up and... Come on! Who's with me?"

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueCrisisOnTwoEarths''. Batman attempts this on Owlman, saying he must have been a good man once.
-->'''Owlman:''' No. Not ''good''. Never ''good''. After all, [[HumansAreBastards I'm only human.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'': When [[spoiler:Lotso]] is about to be crushed by landfill machinery, Andy's toys go out of their way to save him. He repays them by [[spoiler:trapping them in a certain-death situation, which they're only saved from by the timely intervention of the Little Green Men]]. [[LaserGuidedKarma This costs him]].

* In ''Film/TronLegacy'', Kevin Flynn tries to talk sense into his creation, the Program Clu, who, in following Flynn's orders to create "the perfect system," turned [[{{Cyberspace}} the Grid]] into a dystopian society were Programs are oppressed. Flynn, having realized that such an order was doomed to fail, sincerely apologizes to Clu for giving said order to him (Clu, meanwhile, is bitter at his creator for breaking their promise of "[changing] the world together"). After apologizing, Kevin silently offers to give Clu a hug. Clu seems at first willing to embrace his creator... [[spoiler:but then quickly kicks him to the ground, revealing that he will never stop in his quest for perfection.]]
* In ''Film/CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon'', Li Mu Bai confronted Jen after she stole his sword, the Green Destiny. After handily defeating her, he offered to make her his student, admiring her talent as a fighter and recognizing that unless that talent was nurtured, she might become corrupted by Jade Fox. Jen bitterly denounced Li Mu Bai and his teachings.
* In ''Film/TalesFromTheHood'', the fourth and final story focused on a gangbanger named Crazy K. After getting shot by enemies from another gang, Crazy K is saved at the last minute by police and taken to prison. There he meets a MysteriousWoman in [[EtherealWhiteDress White]] who offers him a chance at redemption which he accepts. She begins by [[GoodIsNotNice forcing Crazy K]] to witness the horrors he inflicted over his years of gangbanging. At the end, she puts him in an isolated room, where he sees visions of the many people he killed: enemies, friends, even an innocent girl who was a bystander during one of his many drive-by shootings. Ultimately, however, Crazy K rejects redemption, telling the lady (who was really an angel) that he doesn't give a fuck. The lady finally gives up and Crazy K, who [[DeadAllAlong really died]] from his gunshot wound and was given a chance to save his soul, was sent to Hell. Discussed by the [[LouisCypher Narrator]] who mentions that people like him are too far gone and can't be saved.

* ''Film/Halloween5TheRevengeOfMichaelMyers'': During the climax of the film, Loomis tries to reason with Michael, proposing that he fight his [[UnstoppableRage rage]] and redeem himself through a positive relationship with his niece Jamie. It initially seems to work, with Michael calmly listening to Loomis and even lowering his knife, but when Loomis tries to take the knife away, Michael promptly slashes him across the gut and tosses him through the banister in a frenzy.
* Amon Goeth from ''Film/SchindlersList'' has two major redemption rejections in the film. First, Schindler convinces him that pardoning people rather than killing them for minor infractions is a sign of true power. Goeth tries this for a while before shooting a young man for not cleaning his bathroom properly. Second is his relationship with his maid, Helen, who he seems to care somewhat for and who almost convinces him that Jews are more than just vermin, but he ends up beating her mercilessly.
* At the end of ''Film/OzTheGreatAndPowerful'', Oscar tries to sympathize with the Wicked Witch of the West ([[spoiler:Theodora]]), stating her StartOfDarkness was not her fault, and should she ever find a speck of light within her rotted heart, he'd welcome her back with open arms. She replies with a BigNever, and flies away on a broom while cackling, setting [[KillItWithWater her eventual fate]] [[Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz 15 years later]].
* In ''Film/SodomAndGomorrah'', after receiving a message from Jehovah about the impending destruction of the title cities, Hebrew leader Lot tries to appeal to Queen Bera of Sodom and her subjects to repent their sinful ways and join the Hebrews in following Jehovah to spare them from His vengeance. But none of the Sodomites are interested (one in particular tells Lot he's happy in Sodom and throws a goblet of wine in his face), while Bera tells Lot that she feels she has nothing to repent, and even a final warning from Jehovah Himself does not sway her.
-->'''Bera:''' What you call sin, to me is virtue. And all-powerful Death, whom you hate, I worship. I turn my back on you, Lot. ''[stands up]'' On you... and your ''impotent'' god. ''[the Sodomites cheer as she turns to leave; Jehovah promptly signals that He means business with a bolt of lightning in a largely clear sky, and Lot looks meaningfully skyward, but Bera smirks defiantly]'' Clouds, lightning. Such simple wonders you teach your people to fear.
* ''Film/TheIrishman'': Nearing the end of his life, Frank is visited by two FBI agents who once again ask him what happened to Jimmy Hoffa. By this point everybody who had anything to do with the murder besides Frank himself is already dead, most of his family has disowned him, and even the mafia has basically forgotten he exists. Nevertheless, he still refuses to tell them anything rather than come clean.

* Harold Lauder from ''Literature/TheStand'' uses this trope when the Boulder Free Zone not only accepts him but begins to regard him as a hero. He realizes full well he has a choice between putting his childish grudges aside forever or holding onto them, even though he knows that they're poison. In the end he decides he's carried his hate for too long to just let it go, and joins up with [[BigBad Flagg]]. [[spoiler:As he lies dying after Flagg decides he has outlived his usefulness, [[DeathEqualsRedemption Harold finally lets go of his hate and writes an apology to everyone he hurt/killed before shooting himself]].]]
* In ''Literature/TheScarletLetter'', Hester talks Chillingworth into realizing that he has hurt Dimmesdale, but he later ignores that realization.
* Lucifer in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'' - "he would rather rule in Hell than serve in Heaven".
* Nevyn from the ''{{Literature/Deverry}}'' series urges his enemies to repent at various points in the story, because he knows that if they don't, this will have severe consequences in their next life. Most of them refuse his offer of redemption, but he notably gets through to [[spoiler:Sarcyn.]]

* In ''Franchise/StarWars'': ''Literature/DarthBane'': ''Rule of Two'', Zannah's cousin Darovit offers her more than one chance to turn away from the dark side. She [[spoiler:pretends to accept his final offer, then uses Sith sorcery to drive him insane and convince the Jedi Order that ''he'' is the Sith Lord they've been hunting]].
* In the last book of ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', [[TheChosenOne Rand]] tries to convince his EvilCounterpart [[TheAntichrist Moridin]] to abandon the Shadow and help him defeat [[GodOfEvil the Dark One]]. Moridin throws it in his face-after all, the Dark One has promised him [[CessationOfExistence oblivion]], for himself and [[OmnicidalManiac the world]], and Rand can't offer anything [[DeathSeeker that would tempt Moridin more than that]].

* Also part of Sauron's backstory in ''Literature/TheSilmarillion''. After the War of Wrath and Morgoth's defeat and exile, Sauron was genuinely repentant at first, and did want to return to Valinor. Unfortunately the price of redemption proved to be too high for him. Having gotten a taste for power as TheDragon to the Lord of Evil, Sauron wasn't about to settle for much less, let alone whatever penance the Valar were surely going to impose on him for his rebellion. So instead he vanished into the unknown east of Middle-Earth for the next thousand years, returning in the guise of the sorcerer Annatar, with a Master Plan to manipulate everyone into helping him conquer the world.
* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' book ''Literature/SkinGame'' [[ThePaladin Michael Carpenter]] asks [[spoiler:Nicodemus to abandon his service to his FallenAngel, telling him to look at the path it's led him on. This comes shortly after Nicodemus has sacrificed his daughter, likely the only person in the world he actually cared about. For a moment Nicodemus seems tired, uncertain, and then he laughs. He declares that he's not a puppet of the Fallen, but that after two thousand years they follow him, and that he's forged his own path of war and plague through the ages]]. True to the second part of the trope, Michael then goes at his foe with all his might, not holding back at all.
* In ''Literature/DragonsOfRequiem'', Dies Irae almost has a HeelRealization when Benedictus calls him by his childhood nickname, which spurs a few childhood memories. He quickly disregards them and resumes attacking Benedictus.
* In ''Literature/GoingPostal'', the book ends with Reacher Gilt being offered a similar choice to what Moist was offered at the start. Vetinari tells Gilt he can either carry out a risky government job (in this case, sorting out the Royal Mint) or he can walk out the door and "never hear from me again." Unlike Moist, Gilt walks away. Unlike Moist, Gilt does not manage to avoid falling to his death through the hole in the corridor floor.
* ''Literature/TheHeartstrikers'': When Julius defeats the EvilMatriarch of his clan and tries to reformat them into a more peaceful, democratic organization that doesn't kill each other on a whim, he decides to spare his mother, since killing her would be hypocritical. She ''hates'' him for this, and the only reason he is able to keep her from being StupidEvil (much less actively trying to kill him) is to lock her in a MagicallyBindingContract. While at first she has a lot of success getting her other children to try to kill him for her, it doesn't take long for her power to slip away as they all realize how crazy she really is. By the end, she's little more than a figurehead kept around because of tradition, but she's still yelling about how she's right and VirtueIsWeakness.

* Marlowe's ''Theatre/DoctorFaustus'' wrings a lot of tension out of this trope as the time comes for the title character to relinquish his soul to the devil -- he wants to repent, but is too afraid of the physical torture the demons will inflict on him if he does. [[spoiler:He doesn't, and they do it anyway.]]

* In ''VideoGame/SuikodenIV'', there are several moments where [[TheHero Lazlo]] can offer his former best friend [[TheResenter Snowe]] [[UpperClassTwit Vingerhut]] the chance to join the rebellion. If the player chooses to do so, Snowe angrily rejects it. In their last encounter, this can then be inverted into a HeelFaceDoorSlam, with Lazlo deciding to execute the now thoroughly broken-down Snowe instead of offering him one last chance now that he's ready to accept it.

* A heartbreaking example in ''VideoGame/GodOfWarChainsOfOlympus''. After [[BigBad Persephone]] reveals her [[EvilPlan scheme to undo reality]], Kratos was forced to put aside his redemption and ends up slaughtering the pure souls of Elysuim in order to gain his powers back that he can stop both her and [[TheDragon Atlas]]. The price he ends up paying is '''very''' high; in order to save the world and the underworld, he would never see Calliope again. The quicktime event where Kratos must push away his daughter and embrace his monstrous self again is possibly the most [[TearJerker/GodOfWar heartbreaking]] use of this type of gameplay ever created.
* During the final battle in ''VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry'' against [[spoiler:Vergil]], Dante tells him "It's not too late". [[spoiler:Vergil]] responds "Yes, it is" and continues fighting.
* In the climax of ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'', [[spoiler:N comes to rescue your player character from being frozen alive by Ghetsis]]. He then offers Ghetsis a last chance after the latter has been beaten by the player, pleading him to overthink his doings and start anew. Instead of taking this chance, [[spoiler:Ghetsis just continues to hurl insults at N, calling him a monster over and over again]], at which point he completely loses his mind and the Shadow Triad appears and takes him away, never to be seen again. [[spoiler:When meeting the Shadow Triad in the postgame, they imply that Ghetsis has become completely insane and non-functional.]]

* ''Videogame/MassEffect3'': At the end of the ''Citadel'' DLC, a Paragon Shepard can [[SaveTheVillain attempt to rescue]] the [[spoiler:Shepard Clone]] while they are dangling off the ''Normandy's'' ramp. However, at that point, the [[spoiler:Shepard Clone]] has crossed the DespairEventHorizon at realizing that while they might [[spoiler:have Shepard's abilities and augmentations]], they don't have any friends, allies, or comrades like Shepard does, and the only companion they had has betrayed them. The despair at this causes them to reject Shepard's offer and drop to their death.
* In ''VideoGame/SushiStrikerTheWayOfSushido'': After finally beating the Emperor of the Empire, Octavias, in a sushi struggle. Musashi offer him some sushi and tells him he doesn't have to take it from others. Octavias does seem to consider it and starts to eat it until he throws it on the ground. Rejecting Musashi's philosophy that people can't be greedy (as Octavias' father was to him) and disappears to where "sushi comes from" declaring that people's greed will start up the sushi struggles once more someday.
* In ''VideoGame/MegaMan11'', [[spoiler:when Mega defeats Wily again, Dr. Light shows up to point out that both of their dreams had come to light in the form of Mega Man and it's not too late to turn back. However, Wily flat out refuses and all he wants is both of them kneeling in front of him. As Wily escapes, Light laments that his friend might never return.]]
* Towards the end of ''VideoGame/SlyCooperThievesInTime'', [[spoiler:the gang learn of [[BitchInSheepsClothing Penelope's]] betrayal. She was only using her boyfriend Bentley [[UnfortunateImplications to build weapons to sell for billions of dollars]], and [[DealWithTheDevil sold her soul to Le Paradox for the lives of Sly and Murray]]. Bentley, after recovering from his HeroicBSOD, tells his ex-girlfriend that Le Paradox is only using her for his own desires, and intends to dispose of her when [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness she's outlived her usefulness]]. He still loves her, and hoped that by pointing this out, she'd reconsider her betrayal and return to the Cooper Gang. She rejects this spitefully, [[VillainousBreakdown and attacks him in murderous rage]], showcasing that Penelope is a [[TheSociopath sociopath]] who's [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish to the core]] and [[DidYouActuallyBelieve never loved Bentley]] in the first place. This ends in Bentley renouncing his love, and declaring Penelope an [[BeyondRedemption unredeemable monster]] and [[MyGreatestFailure the greatest mistake of his life]]]].

* In ''VideoGame/{{Darksiders}}'', when War finally encounters [[DragonsAreDemonic The Destroyer]] face-to-face, he seems legitimately sad and regretful [[spoiler:as he holds an [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes unconscious Uriel]] in his hand while reminiscing on their shared love from long ago]]. However, he then invokes ThatManIsDead and gives War a WeCanRuleTogether speech, making it clear that unlike the truly-repentant [[spoiler:co-conspirators Azrael and Ulthane, any regret [[FallenAngel Abaddon]] has for his [[WellIntentionedExtremist radical yet well-intentioned]] role in starting Armageddon early to defeat Hell has long since been snuffed out and he would rather [[DirtyCoward run from responsibility that face judgement for his role]], up to and including becoming a general of Hell's army]]. When War rejects him by calling him a coward, [[spoiler:Abaddon]] angrily tosses Uriel aside and begins the final battle.
* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'', AllLovingHero Lloyd repeatedly offers the BigBad the chance to join their side and work to fix the problems he caused, after learning the details of his FreudianExcuse [[spoiler:and traveling with him for a while.]] Every time, it's [[spoiler:Mithos]] who rejects the offer, and even in his final words he insists on holding fast to the path he'd chosen.
--> [[spoiler:Mithos Yggdrasill]]: Farewell, my shadow. You who stand at the end of the path I chose not to follow.

* Happens a lot in ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' with Demona, largely because she's the queen of the IgnoredEpiphany- she's several times offered a chance to change her ways, but ultimately never repents for more than about a minute. [[TheHero Goliath]] still seems to wish she'd find redemption, but no longer considers it a realistic possibility.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "F.U.N", [=SpongeBob=] tries to make friends with Plankton in the hopes that having a friend will make him stop being evil. Plankton plays along, in the hopes that it will get him to the Krabby Patty secret formula, but [[HeelFaceTurn he appears to be reformed]] by ThePowerOfFriendship. Then [=SpongeBob=] catches him with a Krabby Patty, and this tearsome confession follows:
-->'''Plankton:''' All right, it's true! I tricked you to get to the Krabby Patty, but then you showed me friendship; and now I realize... that's all I ever really wanted.\\
'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Really?\\
'''Plankton:''' (grabs Krabby Patty) No, not really! Being evil is too much fun!
* In the original ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'' series, Ben originally offered his enemy Kevin 11 a chance to do good, but the latter refused the offer and attempted to take the Omnitrix. From then on, Kevin was treated as someone who's actions couldn't be redeemable; indeed, by the time of Kevin's second appearance, when Kevin mockingly asks Ben if he wants to help him, Ben refuses, telling Kevin point-blank that [[HeelFaceDoorSlam he's done trying to help him, because Kevin already had plenty of chances to get help and screwed them all up]].

'''Malware''' (hesitates for a second, then breaks down): LIES! Even now, you conspire against me! It ''is'' too late!

* Happens near the end of the ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' episode "Predacons Rising." When [[KidAppealCharacter Bumblebee]] discovered that his former comrade Wasp has been mutated during a lab experiment while vowing revenge on Bee for (accidentally) imprisoning him for being a spy, Bumblebee feeling guilty about what he did, immediately apologizes to Wasp. Wasp's response? "Wasp... ...forgive... ...Bumblebot... [[spoiler:[[ThatManIsDead ...BUT WASPINATOR NEVER FORGIVE!!!"]]]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', [[NobleDemon Dreadwing]] grows disillusioned with the Decepticons after finding out they turned his twin brother into a zombie robot. He delivers the Forge of Solus Prime to the Autobots hoping they will do some good with it. Optimus once again offers Dreadwing a place among the Autobots. Dreadwing refuses, claiming that just because he doesn't believe in the Decepticons anymore doesn't mean he's ready to believe in the Autobots. Dreadwing then tries to kill Starscream for turning his brother into a zombie [[spoiler:and is shot in the back by Megatron when he refuses to stand down.]]
* At the end of one episode of ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'', after an EnemyMine situation between Jack and the heroes that has resulted in a great victory against Wuya, Omi offers this chance to Jack; he considers it briefly, but then tells them it would never work out. (He does, however, offer to take them out for ice cream one day when they aren't fighting over Shen Gong Wu, saying he'll buy.)
** Though later on he does sincerely try his hand at being a monk, only backing out of truly reforming out fear that he would hurt those who now care about him.

* In the finale of ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'', [[spoiler:[[AllLovingHero Wander]] offers [[KnightOfCerebus Lord Dominator]] friendship, only for her to reject this, storming off into space]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' episode, "Earthlings", [[spoiler:Jasper's gem becomes corrupted and Steven attempts to heal her. However, Jasper shoves him away and rejects his help out of her hatred for Rose Quartz and a desire to not be seen as weak.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': In "Scorn of the Star Sapphire!", Wonder Woman tells Baroness Paula Von Gunther that her warlike ways will bring her nothing but pain and sorrow, and asks if they can start over as friends and sisters. The Baroness says her speech made her sick and punches her in the face.
* During the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' episode "The Last Resort" Terry teams up with a delinquent named Sean to escape from a brutal correctional school. After exposing the director's abuses of power Sean still tries to kill him despite Batman's protests, ruining the second chance he'd earned.

* In ''Manga/SoulEater'', [[spoiler: Tezca Tlipoca]] tries to convince [[spoiler: [[FaceHeelTurn former-colleague-went-rogue]] Justin Law]] to come back to DWMA, pointing out that [[spoiler: Justin]] still has the chance to redeem himself by [[spoiler: providing the info about Kishin's location to DWMA. Tezca]] also calls him out on [[spoiler: living solely by blind faith and [[LonersAreFreaks cutting himself away from others]], and offers to fix that with his friendship. Justin]] refuses and kills [[spoiler: Tezca]] instead.

** ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'': In episode 63, [[spoiler: Gowasu comes to the future alongside the Supreme Kai of Universe 7 to lecture both Goku Black and Future Zamasu on their actions and give them a LastSecondChance, begging them to stop what they're doing and revive everyone they've killed with the Super Dragon Balls. Instead, Black coldly reveals that he destroyed the Super Dragon Balls, making it impossible to undo their destruction, and it's only thanks to Goku and Vegeta's intervention that Gowasu and U7's Supreme Kai don't get blown up on the spot by Black and Future Zamasu]].

* ''Fanfic/TheBridge'': When the BigGood, [[spoiler: Harmony]], is finally confronted face to face by the BigBad, [[spoiler: Bagan]], she offers him a chance to abandon his [[OmnicidalManiac mad plans]] right then and there. He flatly refuses.

* ''Fanfic/{{Empathy}}'': Riley uses her empathic powers in an attempt to invoke a HeelRealization on Callaghan. It almost works, but then [[spoiler: the Gorg]] threatens to kill Abagail if he doesn't hold up his end of their bargain, so Yokai goes right back to fighting the heroes.

* ''Fanfic/JadeDragon'': [[AdaptationalVillainy Viper]] pulls one on Lefevre after Po Kong's portal is opened — the detective offers to cut a deal in addition to extracting Fei Cui Huo [[DemonicPossession from her]] in exchange for Viper helping to bring Fei in, but [[GoodAngelBadAngel with a little persuasion from Fei]], Viper not just refuses but [[spoiler: outright lets Po Kong try to eat Lefevre]].

* In ''Film/TronLegacy'', Kevin Flynn tries to talk sense into his creation, the Program Clu, who, in following Flynn's orders to create "the perfect system," turned [[{{Cyberspace}} the Grid]] into a dystopian society were Programs are oppressed. Flynn, having realized that such an order was doomed to fail, sincerely apologizes to Clu for giving said order to him (Clu, meanwhile, is bitter at his creator for breaking their promise of "[changing] the world together"). After apologizing, Kevin silently offers to give Clu a hug. Clu seems at first willing to embrace his creator... [[spoiler: but then quickly kicks him to the ground, revealing that he will never stop in his quest for perfection.]]

** In ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', Thor tells his brother Loki (the villain) that it's not too late to stop his plan after [[spoiler: unleashing an army of aliens on New York. For a second it seems like Loki will back down, but then he stabs his brother in the stomach and blows off his offer as 'sentiment'. This finally pushes Thor over the edge, and he quickly curb-stomps Loki]].

* Nevyn from the ''{{Literature/Deverry}}'' series urges his enemies to repent at various points in the story, because he knows that if they don't, this will have severe consequences in their next life. Most of them refuse his offer of redemption, but he notably gets through to [[spoiler: Sarcyn.]]

* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' book ''Literature/SkinGame'' [[ThePaladin Michael Carpenter]] asks [[spoiler: Nicodemus to abandon his service to his FallenAngel, telling him to look at the path it's led him on. This comes shortly after Nicodemus has sacrificed his daughter, likely the only person in the world he actually cared about. For a moment Nicodemus seems tired, uncertain, and then he laughs. He declares that he's not a puppet of the Fallen, but that after two thousand years they follow him, and that he's forged his own path of war and plague through the ages]]. True to the second part of the trope, Michael then goes at his foe with all his might, not holding back at all.

* ''Series/BabylonFive'' has Londo Mollari, who is told he'll have three opportunities to choose redemption, or suffer the consequences. [[spoiler: In a possible subversion, these moments are never directly revealed, and it's arguable whether he's saved his people or condemned them.]]

** Both Rumpelstiltskin and Regina ''do'' ultimately find redemption by Season 3. [[spoiler: Regina sticks with it. Rumple...[[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor not so much.]]]]

* Marlowe's ''Theatre/DoctorFaustus'' wrings a lot of tension out of this trope as the time comes for the title character to relinquish his soul to the devil -- he wants to repent, but is too afraid of the physical torture the demons will inflict on him if he does. [[spoiler: He doesn't, and they do it anyway.]]

* In ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'', after Lana, Link and Zelda have beaten [[spoiler: Ganondorf]] away in the Temple Of Souls scenario and try to tell Cia to stop using magic that ultimately could kill her, [[BigBad Cia]] tells them to screw off. [[spoiler: Needless to say, Cia continues to use magic that uses her life force and she ultimately dies shortly after.]]

* ''Videogame/MassEffect3'': At the end of the ''Citadel'' DLC, a Paragon Shepard can [[SaveTheVillain attempt to rescue]] the [[spoiler:Shepard Clone]] while they are dangling off the ''Normandy's'' ramp. However, at that point, the [[spoiler:Shepard Clone]] has crossed the DespairEventHorizon at realizing that while they might [[spoiler: have Shepard's abilities and augmentations]], they don't have any friends, allies, or comrades like Shepard does, and the only companion they had has betrayed them. The despair at this causes them to reject Shepard's offer and drop to their death.

* ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza 2}}'': [[spoiler: At the climax of the game, with both men wounded and a bomb set to go off, Kaoru begs [[TheHero Kiryu]] and [[NobleDemon Ryuji]] (her LoveInterest and long lost brother, respectively) to come with her and drop their conflict. Instead, they lock themselves in with the bomb and have one final brawl to determine who's the real Dragon. After he's defeated and as he bleeds out, Ryuji confesses to Kaoru that while the idea of living a life of peace sounds nice, he's ultimately got too much Jingweon blood in him and his thirst for violence is too great, choosing instead to GoOutWithASmile and die at peace.]]

* In the GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', [[spoiler: Aang offers a last-moment chance for Ozai to back down from burning down Ba Sing Se, and to leave the battle unscathed and unharmed. Ozai appears to consider it, and then promptly tries to backstab Aang when the latter let his guard down. After Aang was [[DePower done with him]], Ozai will surely spend the rest of his life in prison wondering what could have been if he backed down during the invasion of the Earth Kingdom.]]

** In the same series, reformed villain Hex tries to get his [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds troubled niece]] Charmcaster to join him in a peaceful life. But wanting revenge on her enemies and being [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity high as a kite on magic power]], she refuses. [[spoiler: In the end, Gwen and Hex capture and essentially force rehab on her.]]
* Happens near the end of the ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' episode "Predacons Rising." When [[KidAppealCharacter Bumblebee]] discovered that his former comrade Wasp has been mutated during a lab experiment while vowing revenge on Bee for (accidentally) imprisoning him for being a spy, Bumblebee feeling guilty about what he did, immediately apologizes to Wasp. Wasp's response? "Wasp... ...forgive... ...Bumblebot... [[spoiler: [[ThatManIsDead ...BUT WASPINATOR NEVER FORGIVE!!!"]]]]

* In the finale of ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'', [[spoiler: [[AllLovingHero Wander]] offers [[KnightOfCerebus Lord Dominator]] friendship, only for her to reject this, storming off into space]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' episode, "Earthlings", [[spoiler: Jasper's gem becomes corrupted and Steven attempts to heal her. However, Jasper shoves him away and rejects his help out of her hatred for Rose Quartz and a desire to not be seen as weak.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': Adora gives Catra chance after chance to leave the Horde, but Catra refuses to join the Rebellion because that would mean [[GreenEyedMonster returning to Adora's shadow]]. [[spoiler:After Catra nearly destroys the world out of spite, [[BeyondRedemption Adora concludes that she's been wasting her efforts]].]][[spoiler: It's ultimately subverted when Catra decided to redeem herself and become a better person by saving Glimmer and joining the Rebellion.]]

* Towards the end of ''VideoGame/SlyCooperThievesInTime'', [[spoiler:the gang learn of [[BitchInSheepsClothing Penelope's]] betrayal. She was only using her boyfriend Bentley [[UnfortunateImplications to build weapons to sell for billions of dollars]], and [[DealWithTheDevil soul her soul to Le Paradox for the lives of Sly and Murray]]. Bentley, after recovering from his HeroicBSOD, tells his ex-girlfriend that Le Paradox is only using her for his own desires, and intends to dispose of her when [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness she's outlived her usefulness]]. He still loves her, and hoped that by pointing this out, she'd reconsider her betrayal and return to the Cooper Gang. She rejects this spitefully, [[VillainousBreakdown and attacks him in murderous rage]], showcasing that Penelope is a [[TheSociopath sociopath]] who's [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish to the core]] and [[DidYouActuallyBelieve never loved Bentley]] in the first place. This ends in Bentley renouncing his love, and declaring Penelope an [[BeyondRedemption unredeemable monster]] and [[MyGreatestFailure the greatest mistake of his life]]]].

* Towards the end of ''VideoGame/SlyCooperThievesInTime'', [[spoiler:the gang learn of [[BitchInSheepsClothing Penelope's]] betrayal. She was only using her boyfriend Bentley [[UnfortunateImplications to build weapons to sell for billions of dollars]], and [[DealWithTheDevil soul her soul to Le Paradox for the lives of Sly and Murray]]. Bentley, after recovering from his HeroicBSOD, tells his ex-girlfriend that Le Paradox is only using her for his own desires, and intends to dispose of her when [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness she's outlived her usefulness]]. He still loves her, and hoped that by pointing this out, she'd reconsider her betrayal and return to the Cooper Gang. She rejects this spitefully, [[VillainousBreakdown and attacks him in murderous rage]], showcasing that Penelope is a [[TheSociopath sociopath]] who's [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish to the core]] and [[DidYouActuallyBelieve never loved Bentley]] in the first place]].

** ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'' has [[TheSociopath Malware]] being subject to this. In "Showdown", after [[spoiler:[[WhereIWasBornAndRazed destroying his own homeworld]]]], he confronts [[BigGood Azmuth]] about it, leading to this exchange (quite reminding of the ''Kung Fu Panda'' example above) between them:
--->'''Azmuth''': [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech Soiling chaos doesn't take any special talent, Malware. If that's the best you can do, I am not impressed]].\\