History Main / HowWouldYouLikeToDie

-->'''Freeza:''' No, don't mind me. By all means...'''give me some ideas.'''

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'': In the episode "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS2E65TheObsoleteMan The Obsolete Man]]", the titular character is given this option of execution by any method for the crime of being "[[GoodIsOldFashioned Obsolete]]" (read: having a profession or belief that is no longer required or held by the fascist government). He chooses death by televised detonation of a bomb in his apartment. Why? Turns out it was a {{plan}} to get his executioner to accidentally lock himself in the room and ask, on national state-run television, "For the love of God, let me out." The convicted does so, for the love of God, with just enough time for only the executioner to get out. It's okay, because [[TakingYouWithMe the executioner is sentenced to die]] by a method of his choice... for the crime of being obsolete.

The hero has been captured by a villain, who intends to kill him. But before the hero dies, the sadistic villain offers the hero one final choice: to select the means of his own execution. A true hero will [[TakeAThirdOption take the option the villain didn't offer]].

* ''UsefulNotes/EdwardIV King Edward IV'' of England finally got fed up with his treasonous younger brother George, The Duke of Clarence and sentenced him to death. Legend has it that Edward gave George a choice as to his execution method, and he chose to be drowned in a vat of malmsey wine.

* In the ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E8IMudd I, Mudd]]", Harry Mudd begins his explanation of how he ended up on the android planet:
-->'''Mudd:''' Worse than that. Do know what the penalty for fraud is on Deneb Five?\\
'''Spock:''' The guilty party has his choice: death by electrocution, death by gas, death by phaser, death by hanging....\\
'''Mudd:''' The key word in your entire peroration, Mister Spock, was, ''death''. Barbarians. Well, of course, [[TakeAThirdOption I left]].

* In ''Creator/AbbottAndCostello Meet The Killer'', an evil hypnotist attempts to make Lou Costello commit suicide but fails repeatedly. Reasoning that Lou is resisting him, he asks Lou the trope question. Lou's reply: "Old Age."

-->'''Executioner''': "You must choose how you will die. Will you be burned at the stake, or have your heads chopped off?
-->'''Curly''': "We'll take burning at the stake!"
-->'''Moe''': "You lamebrain! Why'd you pick that one?"
-->'''Curly''': "Because a hot stake is better than a cold chop! Nyuk nyuk nyuk!"

* ''Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}'': Whenever Gozer is released to destroy the world, she asks whoever happens to be nearby to "Choose the form of the Destructor!" Whatever that person is thinking about is the form that the Destructor takes. While the other Ghostbusters try to clear their thoughts, Ray tries to think of something harmless, the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. Gozer obliges by manifesting the Marshmallow Man... and making him [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever 50-feet tall]].

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'' episode "The Obsolete Man": the titular character is given this option of execution by any method for the crime of being "[[GoodIsOldFashioned Obsolete]]" (read: having a profession or belief that is no longer required or held by the fascist government). He chooses death by televised detonation of a bomb in his apartment. Why? Turns out it was a {{plan}} to get his executioner to accidentally lock himself in the room and ask, on national state run television, "For the love of God, let me out." The convicted does so, for the love of God, with just enough time for only the executioner to get out. It's okay, because [[TakingYouWithMe the executioner is sentenced to die]] by a method of his choice... for the crime of being obsolete.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': Harry Mudd begins his explanation of how he ended up on [[Recap/StarTrekS2E8IMudd the android planet]]:
--> '''Mudd:''' Worse than that. Do know what the penalty for fraud is on Deneb Five?
--> '''Spock:''' The guilty party has his choice: death by electrocution, death by gas, death by phaser, death by hanging....
--> '''Mudd:''' The key word in your entire peroration, Mister Spock, was, ''death''. Barbarians. Well, of course, [[TakeAThirdOption I left]].

* ''Series/GameOfThrones''. Tyrion Lannister and his sellsword Bronn are surrounded by the Stone Crows whose leader Shagga asks Tyrion how he wants to die. His reply is, "At the age of 80, in bed, with a belly full of wine and a [[DepravedDwarf girl's mouth]] [[OutWithABang around my cock]]." Shagga find this ActuallyPrettyFunny...then tells the clansman to kill Bronn and take Tyrion prisoner.

* ''Series/{{Rome}}''. A teenage Octavian asks this of a man suspected of adultery, then makes it clear he's offering a choice of confessing and dying quickly, or dying after hours of agonizing torture.
* ''Series/DoctorWho''. At the start of "The Doctor Falls", the Doctor wakes up strapped to a wheelchair with his enemies musing how they should kill him this time.
-->'''[[spoiler:Saxon-Master:]]''' [[GoodThingYouCanHeal How many times have you died?]]
-->'''[[spoiler:Missy:]]''' [[TheManyDeathsOfYou How many different ways?]]
-->'''[[spoiler:Saxon-Master:]]''' Have you burned?
-->'''[[spoiler:Missy:]]''' I know you've [[Recap/DoctorWhoS18E7Logopolis fallen]].
-->'''[[spoiler:Saxon-Master:]]''' Have you ever drowned?
-->'''[[spoiler:Missy:]]''' Have you felt the blade?
-->'''[[spoiler:Saxon-Master:]]''' I suppose what we're really asking, my dear, is, well...
-->'''[[spoiler:Missy:]]''' Any requests?
* ''Series/{{Westworld}}''. [[ActionGirl Armistice]], lying in the dirt coughing BloodFromTheMouth after being gunned down by a posse, is given a choice of dying on her back or up on her feet. [[DefiantToTheEnd She chooses to die shooting]].

[[folder:Web Comics]]

Alternatively, some heroes will realize there are [[LockingMacGyverInTheStoreCupboard several resources they can use to escape]] and will ask the villain to bring the crucial ingredient closer. See also GloriousDeath, where a character has an ideal way to die.

Alternatively, some heroes will realize there are [[LockingMacGyverInTheStoreCupboard several resources they can use to escape]] and will ask the villain to bring the crucial ingredient closer.

* In ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic V'', the Demon Lord [[AntiVillain Agrael]] captures a rival demon, Erasial, then offers him a choice: Co-operate with an interrogation and Agrael will make sure Erasial's death is quick and relatively painless, resist and he'll be handed over to Agrael's [[HornyDevil succubus]] comrade, [[{{Sadist}} Biara]].

* In ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic V'', the Demon Lord [[AntiVillain Agrael]] captures a rival demon, Erasial, then offers him a choice: Co-operate with an interrogation and Agrael will make sure Erasial's death is quick and relatively painless, resist and he'll be handed over to Agrael's [[HornyDevil succubus]] comrade, [[{{Sadist}} Biara]].
* In ''VideoGame/FTLFasterThanLight'' one of the RandomEncounters is a pirate who hacks your ship, [[SubsystemDamage disabling]] either your weapons, shields, or life support. You get to choose which. Alternatively, if you have a hacking system, you can TakeAThirdOption and have your device cancel out theirs, disabling it instead.

* ''Literature/AMasterOfDjinn'': A JerkassGenie offers the teens who release it one "wish" -- to choose how they will die. On their behalf, Agent Fatma chooses old age, in bed, at the end of their natural lives, which even the djinn grudgingly respects. Fatma only hopes that it won't become a CruelMercy, since it will prevent them from dying of illness or injury, however debilitating.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones''. Tyrion Lannister and his sellsword Bronn are surrounded by the Stone Crows whose leader Shagga asks Tyrion how he wants to die. His reply is, "At the age of 80, in bed, with a belly full of wine and a [[DepravedDwarf girl's mouth around my cock]]." Shagga find this ActuallyPrettyFunny...then tells the clansman to kill Bronn and take Tyrion prisoner.

* From a radio spoof re FamousLastWords.

''...and don't say old age! ''

** Considering how desparate he seemed, one can only wonder what would have happened had they caught him.

* In ''Videogame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic V'', the Demon Lord [[AntiVillain Agrael]] captures a rival demon, Erasial, then offers him a choice: Co-operate with an interrogation and Agrael will make sure Erasial's death is quick and relatively painless, resist and he'll be handed over to Agrael's [[HornyDevil succubus]] comrade, [[{{Sadist}} Biara]].
* In ''VideoGame/FTLFasterThanLight'' one of the RandomEncounters is a pirate who hacks your ship [[SubsystemDamage disabling]] either your weapons, shields, or life support. You get to choose which. Alternatively, if you have a hacking system you can TakeAThirdOption and have your device cancel out theirs, disabling it instead.

* On the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.drwho, an author offered posters the chance to be cast as murder victims in his next novel, and even offered them the option that gives this trope its name. Favorite suggestion: "I'd like to be licked to death by blondes, please."

[folder:Web Comics]]

[folder: Web comics]]