History Main / NotSoFinalConfession

Subtrope of UnConfession. If someone is instead admitting something they've wanted to admit but couldn't and would rather survive the upcoming danger, it's IfWeGetThroughThis. Can be a subversion of many of the DeathTropes. Compare CrossingTheBurntBridge. Contrast ConfessionDeferred and PoorlyTimedConfession. See also AbortedDeclarationOfLove.

'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Squidward, I use your clarinet to unclog my toilet.\\

* In the ''{{Anime/Pokemon}}'' episode "Mutiny in the Bounty!", when Ash and Team Rocket are on an airship that's about to crash, Meowth confesses that he was the one who ate Jessie's donut the previous day. Jessie angrily starts shaking him and demanding that he give the donut back.

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* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'': Kirito and Asuna, after dying in SAO believe they will be KilledOffForReal, and thus reveal their real-world names and ages. [[spoiler:Kirito wakes up realizing that while he "died" in-game, the Nerve Gear did not kill him. He eventually finds Asuna in the real world]].

* In the second ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'', as the main characters are in a plane falling, Alex confesses that he was the one who broke Marty's iPod, which Marty doesn't take well. [[DyingDeclarationOfLove Melman confesses his love for Gloria]], who isn't listening because she's fast asleep. Marty and Alex stop fighting to exchange wry glances as he chuckles embarrassedly.

* In ''Series/GetSmart'' as they're in an unwinnable situation, Max tells 99 he loves her and if they get out he'll marry her. Cue 99 going medieval on the asses of the KAOS agents who have them surrounded.

Subtrope of UnConfession. If someone is instead admitting something they've wanted to admit but couldn't and would rather survive the upcoming danger, it's IfWeGetThroughThis. Can be a subversion of many of the DeathTropes. Compare CrossingTheBurntBridge. Contrast ConfessionDeferred. See also AbortedDeclarationOfLove.

* In ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'', Anakin and Padme have been keeping their feelings for each other under wraps because of their duties to the Jedi Order and their government, respectively. However, when they're set to die in the GladiatorGames, they confess their feelings for each other and share [[TheBigDamnKiss a kiss]]...and then eventually escape the arena. They later end up in a SecretRelationship, which plays a role in [[FaceHeelTurn Anakin's descent into the dark side of the Force.]]

** Barry and Iris have this moment just before a supervillain inundates Central City with a tidal wave. [[spoiler: Not only does he reveal his secret identity to her, but they also confess their feelings to each other and share TheBigDamnKiss.]] Another is given by Dr. Wells to Cisco, right when Cisco [[InternalReveal discovers Dr. Wells' identity]] as the Reverse-Flash. He tells Cisco that he's LikeASonToMe, and then that it's NothingPersonal--and then [[spoiler: ''puts a vibrating hand clean through his heart'']]. These seem like [[TheReveal game-changing reveals]], and they're treated as such InUniverse. The only thing that makes them this trope? [[spoiler:Barry accidentally travels back in time and [[CosmicRetcon undoes both of them.]]]]

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' has a variation in the episode "Sneak Peek." Terry, knowing his secret identity is about to be revealed on a tabloid-y news show, confesses to his mother and brother, wanting them to hear it from him. [[CassandraTruth They laugh at him.]] The broadcast ends up being canceled.

-->-- ''Machinima/RedVsBlue''

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue''

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* A story in ''Comicbook/GreenLantern'' 80th Anniversary special entitled "Last Will" has Hal Jordan crash in a desert on an unknown planet, with just enough ring charge to send three messages. He sends one to the Corps saying [[ItHasBeenAnHonor how proud he is to have served]], one to Batman saying that he's secretly always envied him, and one to Carol Ferris with a DyingDeclarationOfLove. Then the ring charge gives out, and his life support stops ... which is the point at which he realises he's actually on Earth, in the Nevada desert. He then desperately asks his unresponsive ring if there's any way of recalling the messages.

* In ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'', Lord Guru thinks he's about to die, so he confesses that he drank enough water to send the planet into a drought, and blamed it on the albino Namekians, which led to global genocide. Then he doesn't die, so the rest of the (now enraged) Namekians [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge eat]] [[ImAHumanitarian him]].

-->'''Lance:''' I used swords to dig a ditch... and I used you're tooth brush for a sex toy one night when Twilight was feeling a little extra horny...
-->'''Frederic:''' You used my swords to dig a freaking ditch? Wait... you did what with my tooth brush?
-->'''Lance:''' Well Twilight wanted a little extra stimulation on her marehood, so I used it there. She also tied me up and stuck it in my... you get the picture... we had a lot of fun with that little tooth brush that night... We sure do miss it.

* In ''Film/KindHeartsAndCoronets'', Louis D'Ascoyne Mazzini has been sentenced to death for the one murder that he didn't commit. While awaiting execution, he writes his memoirs in which he confesses to all of the murders that he did commit (every D'Ascoyne ahead of him in the line of succession to a duchy). Just before his hanging, [[ArtisticLicenseLaw exonerating evidence is discovered and he is pardoned]]. However, his realization that he has left the manuscript of his memoirs with the confessions to the murders of his family in his prison cell may make this example a subversion...
* ''Film/DieHard'': In a tense scene, John [=McClane=] tells Al Powell that he doesn't expect to make it through the terrorist situation (and considering he's pulling glass out of his feet, it's shown to be a pretty bleak situation). He then proceeds to apologize to his wife and tells Al to pass the message on. Al simply tells him that he will get through it (which of course, he does).

* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'': Kirito and Asuna, after dying in SAO believe they will be KilledOffForReal, and thus reveal their real-world names and ages. [[spoiler: Kirito wakes up realizing that while he "died" in-game, the Nerve Gear did not kill him. He eventually finds Asuna in the real world.]]
* In the ''Literature/{{Relativity}}'' story "Pressure Cooker," Sara and her brother Michael have been trapped in a coal mine by Phanthro, and the temperature is rising. Fearing that they'll die before they're rescued, Sara admits to Michael her last remaining dark secrets (finally!). After they're rescued, Michael tells Ravenswood that [[BigBrotherInstinct he now wants to kill her ex-boyfriend.]]

* In the fourth ''Literature/{{Gone}}'' book, Plague, [[spoiler: Dekka]] confesses her love for [[spoiler: Brianna]] while thinking that she is about to die, but Sam manages to save her by an impromptu surgery with [[HealingHands Lana's]] help.

* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'': In the first part of the two-part finale, as the plane crashes, several secrets come out; most importantly, George cheated in The Contest.

* ''Series/TheCloser'': A man involved in a serious car crash is administered last rites by a priest and confesses murdering his wife, only to survive. Even though the priest keeps the man's secret, the man murders the priest a few months later in fear that the priest will talk.
* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''

* At least two cases from ''Series/LoisAndClark''. One is during the pilot when Lois has earlier said she'd never sleep with a colleague, and later, when they are tied to an exploding bomb, tell of a case when she did. In a later episode, Lois and Jimmy are tied to a mast when a DoomsdayDevice is about to be activated, and Jimmy tells Lois about a wet dream he had of her.
* ''Series/TheNanny'': When Fran & Mr. Sheffield are in an airplane that's about to crash, Mr. Sheffield tells Fran that he loves her. Then after they survive, he takes it back. (He eventually un-takes it back and they get married.)
* In ''Series/GetSmart'' as they're in an unwinnable situation, Max tells 99 he loves her and if they get out he'll marry her. Cue 99 going medieval on the asses of the KAOS agents who have them surrounded.

* The ''Series/TheFlash2014'' episode "Out of Time" features a couple of odd examples:
** Barry and Iris have this moment just before a supervillain inundates Central City with a tidal wave. [[spoiler: Not only does he reveal his secret identity to her, but they also confess their feelings to each other and share TheBigDamnKiss.]] Another is given by Dr. Wells to Cisco, right when Cisco [[InternalReveal discovers Dr. Wells' identity]] as the Reverse-Flash. He tells Cisco that he's LikeASonToMe, and then that it's NothingPersonal--and then [[spoiler: ''puts a vibrating hand clean through his heart'']]. These seem like [[TheReveal game-changing reveals]], and they're treated as such InUniverse. The only thing that makes them this trope? [[spoiler: Barry accidentally travels back in time and [[CosmicRetcon undoes both of them.]]]]
* In an episode of ''Series/Babylon5'', Delenn and Lennier are together on a ship when they are about to be hit by Centaur missiles. Lennier confesses, "I love you," to which Delenn responds, "I know." Cue {{Big Damn Hero|es}} moment from Sheriden. Later, she simply states that in stressful times, sometimes it's hard to hear things.
* ''Series/{{Taggart}}''. In "Forbidden Fruit" a doctor decides to drown himself after being exposed as a fraud. His wife sees the overturned boat and rushes into the house to call for help, [[BungledSuicide only to find him inside dripping wet]]. Things probably would have worked out if he hadn't forgotten about the written confession he left behind, in which he confessed to murdering the VictimOfTheWeek.
* ''Series/{{Chuck}}'': After spending the first half of season 1 completely shutting down any suggestion of romance between her and Chuck, Sarah finally admits she feels something for him by giving him a NowOrNeverKiss when they can't stop a ticking timer, which immediately afterward turns out NOT to be a bomb. She chalks it up to the panic of the moment for a good while longer.

* In Creator/WilliamShakespeare's Theatre/TheMerchantOfVenice, Antonio is about to [[ItMakesSenseInContext have a pound of his flesh removed in court]] [[{{Symbolism}} (nearest the heart).]] He makes a noble, heartfelt speech to his supposed HeterosexualLifePartner Bassanio [[AmbiguouslyGay that ends up sounding a darn lot like a love confession]] . . . Only to be saved from his fate at the last minute.

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' Season 9 features Simmons calling his teammates idiots as they [[TooDumbToLive stand around in an open field while a bomb counts down from 30]]. Thankfully it was a dud.
-->'''Sarge:''' Did you want to finish your thought there, Simmons?\\

** In Season Six, when Grif and Simmons are about to be [[ItMakesSenseInContext executed by their own men:]]
--> '''Simmons:''' Grif, this looks like it's it. Listen, there's something I always wanted to tell you.
--> '''Grif:''' I have something I wanna say to you too, buddy.
--> '''Simmons:''' You first.
--> '''Firing Squad Leader:''' Ready!
--> '''Grif:''' It was me that stole your identity and ran up all those credit card charges at the pawnshops and peep shows. Sorry.
--> '''Firing Squad Leader:''' Aim!
--> '''Grif:''' Whew! I feel so much better now that I got that off my chest! So what do you wanna say to me?
--> '''Simmons:''' (through gritted teeth) I seem to have forgotten.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''
** One episode features Smithers, thinking that an Apocalypse of some kind is coming, getting the nerve to kiss Mr. Burns. They exchange a very awkward "see you in the office" after the Apocalypse turned out to be just a promotional gimmick by a Shopping Mall.
** In another episode, where there's about to be a nuclear meltdown:
--->'''Smithers:''' There may never be another chance to say: I love you, sir.\\
'''Mr. Burns:''' [[SarcasmMode Oh, hot dog]]. Thanks for making my last moments on Earth socially awkward.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode where everybody thinks the Earth will get crushed in a black hole (but it turns out to be an AprilFoolsPlot by the local news), Peter admits that he hates the kids. They settle their differences when he buys them a new Xbox.
* Subverted in the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "Secret of My Excess". After Spike goes back to being a baby dragon, he tries to admit to Rarity, who's falling to what could be her death with him, that he has a crush on her, but she just shuts him up because she already knew, before being saved by Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.

* The ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Graveyard Shift" has [=SpongeBob=] and Squidward doing this as the Hash Slinging Slasher approaches them.
--> '''Squidward:''' [=SpongeBob=], no matter what I've said, I've always sorta liked you.
--> '''[=SpongeBob=]:''' Squidward, I use your clarinet to unclog my toilet.
--> '''Squidward:''' Huh?

-->'''[[ManChild Soos]]:''' Guys, if we’re gonna die today I got some stuff I wanna get off my chest. Mabel, for half the summer I thought your name was "Maple," like the syrup. No one corrected me!
-->'''[[CloudCuckooLander Mabel]]:''' I only love ''some'' of my stuffed animals and the guilt is killing me!
-->'''[[AdorablyPrecociousChild Dipper]]:''' Sometimes I use big words and don’t actually know what they mean. I mean, I’m supposed to be TheSmartGuy! If I’m not the smart guy, then who am I?
-->'''[[CoolBigSis Wendy]]:''' I’m not actually laid back! [[StepfordSmiler I’m stressed like 24/7]]. HAVE YOU MET [[TestosteronePoisoning MY FAMILY]]?!
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'', the titular duo see an omen in the sky that signifies the end of the world. They and a bunch of other characters try and build an ark, but fail. While awaiting the impending doom, Mervis and Dunglap admit that they destroyed each other's favorite possessions, Cliff and Lube confess to each other their EmbarrassingFirstName, Shriek confesses to Dog that she loves him and kisses him, and Cat confesses that he loves Shriek and kisses her. When Winslow reveals that the omen they saw was really a peanut shell in the telescope, everyone proceeds to fight over all the secrets that were revealed.
* Used in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': Voyage Of Temptation, when the Duchess Satine is being held at gunpoint by a traitorous member of her court and confesses her undying love to Obi-wan Kenobi. He admits his own, although not without some reluctance.

-->'''[[StrawLoser Bill]]:''' I have a confession too Hank. In a moment of weakness on a dark rainy night, I slept with Peggy.
-->'''[[OnlySaneMan Hank]]:''' [[SubvertedTrope No, you didn't, Bill]].
-->'''Bill:''' ''(disappointed)'' I know.

Subtrope of UnConfession. If someone is instead admitting something they've wanted to admit but couldn't and would rather survive the upcoming danger, it's IfWeGetThroughThis. Can be a subversion of many of the DeathTropes. Compare CrossingTheBurntBridge. Constrast ConfessionDeferred. See also AbortedDeclarationOfLove.

** In the episode "Renaissance Man", the Doctor starts making a list of confessions believing he is about to go offline (including telling Seven of Nine he loves her). After finding he will not go offline, he hides in sickbay for a week out of embarrassment.

Subtrope of UnConfession. If someone is instead admitting something they've wanted to admit but couldn't and would rather survive the upcoming danger, it's IfWeGetThroughThis. Can be a subversion of many of the DeathTropes. Compare CrossingTheBurntBridge. See also AbortedDeclarationOfLove.

* In ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'', the kids and Happy are trapped in a vault with a [[AttackDrone killer-drone]] trying to break in. In desperation, they each confess things they never got the chance to say including regrets, personal failings, and a secret [[LoveConfession love confession]], before being saved [JustInTime just before the drone can attack them]].

When death is upon you, sometimes you have a burning need to [[DeadManWriting get something off your chest]]. Something that embarrassment or social stigma has prevented you from saying. Perhaps you want to share a particularity cringeworthy secret, come out of the closet, or admit your undying love to the person you can never have, or rant about [[SurroundedByIdiots how stupid everyone around you is]]. Well, now is definitely the chance, you think; it is literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ruffle all the feathers you'd ever want without having to sit through the fallout. Who cares what your friends and family would think? Certainly not you, seeing how you soon won't care about anything ever again. Regardless, no sooner do you make it known than you find out that, no, you're not going to die today.

** In "Quarantine", the crew find a potential hologram in a crashed vessel. The Dwarf can only generate one hologram at once however, and they do little to hide their eagerness at the prospect of deactivating Rimmer for more pleasant company, adding that Space Corps Directive overrules any objections he makes. Naturally the rescue goes pear shaped, and the crew are left to return to a very vengeful Rimmer, who has now researched Space Corps Directives enough to become a torturous RulesLawyer.

* ''Series/RedDwarf'': Rimmer creates a copy of himself and, following an extreme case of OtherMeAnnoysMe, everyone agrees that one of the Rimmers has got to go. Lister persuades the unlucky Rimmer to tell him his embarrassing secret about gazpacho soup before the procedure - then reveals that he's already erased the other Rimmer.