History Main / CatharticExhalation

* ''Series/{{Castle}}'': At the climax of a two-parter episode involving a domestic terrorist plot to set off a dirty bomb in the city. Castle and Beckett find the bomb, but with only mere seconds left on the clock. After seemingly resigning themselves to their fate, Castle goes ahead and [[PercussiveShutdown rips all the wires out]], preventing the explosion. Once the shock wears off, Beckett starts ''gasping'' with relief.

-->-- '''[[UsefulNotes/{{NASA}} NASA mission control]] [[YouHadUsWorriedThere during]] the [[UsefulNotes/TheSpaceRace Apollo 11 landing]]'''

** Held captive and under torture, Fusco can do nothing but sob and offer vain comfort while [[AdultFear his son is about to be executed]] over the phone. Once the gunshot is revealed to be Shaw [[BigDamnHeroes who arrived in time to save the kid]], Fusco has a [[ExaggeratedTrope sighing fit]].

* At one point in WebVideo/ChrisStuckmann's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hiy7yUTeV0Y review]] of ''Film/NineLives2016'', after going on an [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness uncharacteristic]] rant about how much he hates the film after talking about how the cat owners in the film put a cat's litter box ''[[WhatAnIdiot right next to its food]]'', he exhales sharply before quietly saying, "I'm actually physically sweating, I'm-I'm physically sweating."

** Low risk example: After being banned from the Garrison for espionage, Katie Holt infiltrates it as a male student named Pidge Gundarsson. For fear of being recognised by [[DrillSergeantNasty the headmaster]], she covers her face with her left hand as he walks past; he assumes she is saluting, says she is using the wrong arm, but continues walking. After he is far enough away, she lets out a sigh.

-->-- '''[[UsefulNotes/{{NASA}} NASA mission control]] during the [[UsefulNotes/TheSpaceRace Apollo 11 landing]]'''

* ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut'': A far more relaxed, TearJerker example. At the climax of the film, after Sadness is given the chance to let Riley pour her heart out to her parents, she hands control back to Joy. When this happens, Riley smiles as she sighs, having let go of the pain of moving.

Humans instinctually hold their breath during tense situations. This is probably an evolutionary holdover from back when we had to hide from predators, as holding one's breath reduces the amount of noise a person makes, possibly keeping them alive if a predator is nearby. This makes the act of taking a breath all the more rewarding when the predator finally leaves. Even now, when hiding from predators is no longer a regular occurrence for people, we still inhale and exhale deeply in response to stress relief.

Compare HyperventilationBag. Can present as VisibleSigh. Is sometimes paired with TakeAMomentToCatchYourDeath if the writers are feeling particularly cruel.

* ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot1996'': Sometimes Crash will let out a sigh when he steps on the level's "finish pad" before he's teleported out of it.

* In ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Return of the King]]'', immediately after the Battle of Pelennor Fields, the Dead Men of Dunharrow insist that Aragorn hold their oath fulfilled; despite Gimli's suggestion that he hold onto them, Aragorn grants their request. The King of the Dead lets out a sigh and gets this ''really'' relieved look on his face as he and the rest of the Dead Men all fade into the wind, as if he's saying, "Oh, that feels ''soo'' good."

* At one point in Creator/ChrisStuckmann's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hiy7yUTeV0Y review]] of ''Film/NineLives2016'', after going on an [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness uncharacteristic]] rant about how much he hates the film after talking about how the cat owners in the film put a cat's litter box ''[[WhatAnIdiot right next to its food]]'', he exhales sharply before quietly saying, "I'm actually physically sweating, I'm-I'm physically sweating."

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*** Taken to the next level in the follow-up scene, where Fusco escapes his restraints and overpowers his captor before strangling him to death. This is followed by another sighing fit.

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* ''Film/BatmanBegins'': The people monitoring the water mains get to do this after the pressure finally settles.

* ''Film/TheMatrix''. The protagonists must shut down the ship's power and hide from the [[KillerRobot Sentinels]]. The Sentinels appear, search around for a while, and leave. After they do, everyone breathes a sigh of relief.

->'' "You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We're breathing again. Thanks a lot." ''
-->--'''[[UsefulNotes/{{NASA}} NASA mission control]] during the [[UsefulNotes/TheSpaceRace Apollo 11 landing]]'''

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* At one point in Creator/ChrisStuckmann's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hiy7yUTeV0Y review]] of ''Film/NineLives2016'', after going on an [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness uncharacteristic]] rant about how much he hates the film after talking about how the cat owners in the film put a cat's litter box ''[[WhatAnIdiot right next to its food]]'', he exhales sharply before quietly saying "I'm actually physically sweating, I'm-I'm physically sweating.".

** Low risk example; after being banned from the Garrison for espionage, Katie Holt infiltrates it as a male student named Pidge Gundarsson. For fear of being recognised by [[DrillSergeantNasty the headmaster]], she covers her face with her left hand as he walks past; he assumes she is saluting, says she is using the wrong arm, but continues walking. After he is far enough away, she lets out a sigh.