History Main / ICantDoThisByMyself

Compare CombinedEnergyAttack, GondorCallsForAid and ProxyBreakup. Contrast InTheEndYouAreOnYourOwn and ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself.

* In ''LightNovel/MyTeenRomanticComedySNAFU'', Hachiman initially tried to take on Iroha's request on his own given that he's directly responsible for her problems. However, he's unable to solve the problem and eventually turns to the rest of his club seeking help.
* Sousuke runs into this in ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' after learning that [[OnlyICanMakeItGo the Arbalest's AI imprinted on him and refuses to let anyone else use the Lambda driver]]. After getting wound up over the idea of being "essential" personnel, he winds up blowing his underperformance in an otherwise entirely successful operation out of proportion and lashing out at Kaname, indirectly calling her TheLoad when she tries to comfort him. Luckily, Kurz subsequently beats the "superhero self-pity bullshit" out of him, and he quickly realizes that [[LivingEmotionalCrutch he probably needs Kaname]] a bit more than [[ActionSurvivor she needs him]].

* ''VideoGame/LastScenario'' gives us a ''villainous'' example. [[spoiler:Castor]] spends the entire final act alienating all his allies in the process of pursuing total self-reliance. When this predictably blows up in his face and [[TheHero Hilbert]] chooses to SaveTheVillain anyway, [[spoiler:Castor]] finally swallows his pride and asks for help.

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'':
** In ''[[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheRecollection Red vs. Blue: Reconstruction]]'', Agent Washington repeatedly uses this phrase or some variant of it to convince the Red and Blue teams to join his fight against the Meta, so much so that it's parodied in the first {{WebVideo/Rooster Teeth Short|s}}, where a fake recording session of Washington's voice actor Creator/ShannonMcCormick shows him saying this, along with several other satirical versions of Wash's frequent statements. None of them would consider Wash a "friend", though - they only join him because they each hope to get something for themselves out of the deal (except for Caboose, who always seems happy to help anyone - [[PlayerKilling even if they]] [[UnwantedAssistance don't want him to]]). In fact, Wash tries everything from pulling rank to outright bribery (though notably not asking nicely) to get the teams to cooperate.
** In ''[[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheBloodGulchChronicles Season 3]]'', Tex also invokes this trope when she realizes she needs one of the "idiots" (the Reds and Blues) to carry a bomb for her, as she doesn't have the upper body strength needed in her current body.

Compare CombinedEnergyAttack and GondorCallsForAid. Contrast InTheEndYouAreOnYourOwn and ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself.

* Music/{{Red}} 's "Pieces". "I tried so hard/Thought I could do this on my own/I've lost so much along the way..."

* In ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob,'' [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Galatea]] tries to get her [[http://bobadventures.comicgenesis.com/d/20080719.html sister Molly to help,]] because she doesn't want to have to [[WeCanRuleTogether conquer the world all by herself.]]

* In ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'', this is why [[spoiler:Batman]] [[AvengersAssemble forms the League]]. [[spoiler:The Earth has caught Darkseid's attention]], and Franchise/{{Superman}} [[spoiler:is dead--sorta]], necessitating a group of powerful Metahumans to do what none of them could do alone.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

[[folder: Anime ]]

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

[[folder: Music ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Web Animation ]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

** In ''[[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheRecollection Red vs. Blue: Reconstruction]]'', Agent Washington repeatedly uses this phrase or some variant of it to convince the Red and Blue teams to join his fight against the Meta, so much so that it's parodied in the first {{WebVideo/Rooster Teeth Short|s}}, where a fake recording session of Washington's voice actor Shannon [=McCormick=] shows him saying this, along with several other satirical versions of Wash's frequent statements. None of them would consider Wash a "friend", though - they only join him because they each hope to get something for themselves out of the deal (except for Caboose, who always seems happy to help anyone - [[PlayerKilling even if they]] [[UnwantedAssistance don't want him to]]). In fact, Wash tries everything from pulling rank to outright bribery (though notably not asking nicely) to get the teams to cooperate.

[[AC:{{Anime}}]]

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

* In ''Film/{{Maleficent}}'', Diaval is frustrated that the title character doesn't invoke this trope, and instead tries to send him away when she needs him most, as she's knowingly walking into a trap. He imitates her voice and says "I can't do this without you, Diaval." Hilarious and heartwarming at the same time.

[[AC:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' has one of these. Buffy does it to Giles after she saves him when he goes to kill Angelus, right after Jenny's death.

[[AC:{{Music}}]]

[[AC:{{VideoGames}}]]

[[AC:WebAnimation]]

[[AC:WebComics]]

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

* Spoofed in ''TheOnion'' article: [[http://www.theonion.com/articles/antidepressant-cant-believe-its-expected-to-fix-th,37309/ "Antidepressant Can't Believe It's Expected To Fix This Mess All On Its Own"]].

** In ''[[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheRecollection Red vs. Blue: Reconstruction]]'', Agent Washington repeatedly uses this phrase or some variant of it to convince the Red and Blue teams to join his fight against the Meta, so much so that it's parodied in the first {{WebVideo/Rooster Teeth Short|s}}, where a fake recording session of Washington's voice actor Shannon [=McCormick=] shows him saying this, along with several other satirical versions of Wash's frequent statements. None of them would consider Wash a "friend", though - they only join him because they each hope to get something for themselves out of the deal (except for Caboose, who always seems happy to help anyone - [[PlayerKilling even if they]] [[StopHelpingMe don't want him to]]). In fact, Wash tries everything from pulling rank to outright bribery (though notably not asking nicely) to get the teams to cooperate.

* In ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'', this is why [[spoiler:Batman[[/spoiler]] [[AvengersAssemble forms the League]]. [[spoiler:The Earth has caught Darkseid's attention, and [[Franchise/{{Superman}}it's most powerful defender is dead]][[/spoiler]], necessitating a group of powerful Metahumans to do what none of them could do alone.