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"Gentlemen, it has been a privilege playing with you tonight."
Wallace Hartley, Titanic (1997)

Honor, loyalty, camaraderie. Some people swear by it, others quietly live by it, many ignore it altogether. When you are ready to say your Last Words to a friend or ally, what would be the most appropriate words to say between two Proud Warrior Race Guys, or, really, anyone who's feeling honorable and doomed at the moment? "It has been an honor... to fight beside you." Often followed by a response like: "The honor has been mine."

There is a simplicity in this statement that you rarely find; saying this will usually be the only thing you need to say, then you can make your Heroic Sacrifice or face your Bolivian Army Ending. Of course, this statement is frequently followed by the arrival of The Cavalry. Often a part of a Pre-Sacrifice Final Goodbye. Sometimes spoken to an enemy by the Worthy Opponent. May be the demonstration of Fire Forged Friendship, even if they left it to the last minute to acknowledge it.

The sentiment can be implied rather than spoken directly, through Something They Would Never Say, O.O.C. Is Serious Business, a handshake, salute or even a Precision F-Strike. Often a cause of Manly Tears, both for the characters involved and the audience. It may also be given a little gallows humour through more flippant variants such as 'It's been nice knowing you', which can be played either for comedic irony or poignancy depending on the source.

Note that only one character has to be certain of death for this trope; in the face of an impending Heroic Sacrifice (where More Hero than Thou is clearly ridiculous), the other characters may say it to the sacrificing hero, or the hero may say it to those who will survive. However, there is a chance that any hero who says those kinds of words might end up surviving the ordeal if Deus ex machina comes into play such as getting outside help from someone else.

May feature in the Final Speech.

Compare So Proud of You, I Die Free, Do Not Go Gentle, Face Death with Dignity, Obi-Wan Moment. One way to subvert this is to set up for It Has Been An Honor and have the character deliver a Dying Declaration of Hate instead.

Not always, but this can be a Death Trope. So beware of spoilers!


Examples:

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    Anime & Manga 
  • Subverted in Doraemon: Nobita and the Robot Kingdom, during the final goodbye. Maria and Doraemon are trapped in an out-of-control rocket about to crash, and they both deliver their last wishes respectively towards Poko and Nobita, telling them to take care, it's been a pleasure being their respective caretakers, they'll have to stand on their own feet, etc. But then Poko managed to find a way and teleport them both to safety, minutes after their respective speeches.
  • Neon Genesis Evangelion: Coloring the trope with romance, Hyuga - one of the male bridge crew members - says to Misato, "Dying beside you wouldn't be a bad way to go out."
  • Irresponsible Captain Tylor has the Worthy Opponent variety. Tylor and Dom, commanders of their respective ships, spend a good deal of time exchanging the sorts of pleasantries that come with asking for an honorable, die-fighting death, including compliments and a toast. Then, at the last moment, plot elements that were set in motion early on break the surface of the story and a massive semi-riot ensues out in space. In the end, nobody gets killed and Dom's mini-fleet is utterly paralyzed by a massive field of debris.
  • Treize Khushrenada in Gundam Wing does this in the Worthy Opponent way.
    Treize: It was an honor to fight with you pilots. Milliardo, I'll be waiting on the other side...
  • The last time Ed and Mustang meet before the climax of Fullmetal Alchemist (2003), they make it clear that while they had fun pissing each other off, they really did respect each other. They then depart separately to what they both believe to be their destinies.
  • Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's: Chrono's father's (Admiral Lindy's husband) last act before his ship was destroyed to stop the Book of Darkness is to salute Admiral Graham.
  • In YuYu Hakusho, a critically injured Kuwabara gives this speech to his teammates when he is prepared to use up his life energy to end his match with Risho. Then Yukina shows up and The Power of Love kicks in.
  • In Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yami routinely ends duels with "It's been an honor dueling you" if his opponent is a friend. (Or at least, not an outright enemy.) Usually this is a sign that he's about to kick their ass all over the place.
  • Dragon Ball Z: Shortly after Frieza transforms into his second form, Gohan and Krillin, while terrified of Frieza's transformed state, give this exchange.
    Gohan: Well, it's been nice knowing you, Krillin.
    Krillin: Yeah... Nightmare city.
  • The Lucifer and Biscuit Hammer may well be the king of this trope as far as manga goes. The war the knights are involved in has a fairly high body count, and each knight's animal familiar sticks around just long enough to say goodbye upon the event of their counterpart's death, so this trope tends to come up a lot. Nonetheless, every time it does, you can count on a stirring yet heartbreaking scene. Muu the Crow Knight says goodbye to Mikazuki after the war ends.
  • The final scene in Death Note: "Well, it was good while it lasted. We killed some boredom, didn't we? and did some various and interesting things..." This one is quite ironic because when the speech ends Ryuk kills Light just as he finishes saying this. On the other hand, he is a god of death, so normal standards don't apply here.
  • High School Of The Dead:
    • Just before Soichirou and Yuriko Takagi charge into battle against the zombies:
      Soichirou: Yuriko. You... are a fine woman!
    • Strange example, but when the group are searching the police station's evidence locker, Takashi finds a modern semi-auto shotgun and elects to leave his older, pump-action shotgun behind. He salutes his trusty old weapon before leaving.
  • In Hellsing Ultimate, Seras says this to Nazi-Walter, while thanking him for everything he's done for her. This causes him to show the first emotions since he vampirised himself, flinching as if struck.
  • Sailor Moon: Sailor Mars delivers a variant of this to Sailor Moon near the end of the first arc, after the deaths of Jupiter, Mercury and Venus, because she quickly realises that this will be her only chance to do so. She dies a minute later.
  • Claymore: Often implied in the series between characters, but the most obvious one is between Teresa and Cassandra before the former strikes the latter down as a Mercy Kill so that she can die as herself.
    Teresa: Thank you for fighting with me. It was fun, Cassandra.
  • EDENS ZERO: When in the middle of the Darkest Hour of the Belial Gore arc, where Shiki is wondering how what should've been a fun adventure has left them at the mercy of Drakken Joe, Rebecca and Homura muster the will to smile through their Tears of Fear that it was fun all the same, which gives him the courage to stick it to Drakken one last time. Sadly, this doesn't prepare them for when Drakken responds by blowing Shiki's brains out.
  • JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: During the entirety of Battle Tendency, Wamuu most likely sees Joseph Joestar as a walking joke who'd never win a fight against an immortal being such as himself. That changes after a tough and unsuccessful battle against him. In his last moments, Wamuu then acknowledges Joseph Joestar as a Worthy Opponent and both exchange respects as proud warriors.
    Wamuu: Perhaps I lived these thousands of years in order to meet you at the end...
  • Pacific Rim: The Black: Loa says this to Taylor and Hayley in the Season 2 finale right before evacuating them from Atlas Destroyer and then self-destructing the Jaeger to kill Breacher.

    Comic Books 
  • The Ghostbusters get another of these moments in the finale of the IDW miniseries "Displaced Aggression," as they face down an entire demonic army to save the planet. One of them isn't having it this time though.
    Ray: Gentlemen?
    Egon: It's been an honor.
    Winston: It still is! We aren't dead yet!!!
  • In the classic Fantastic Four story "This Man, This Monster," Reed gets one of these moments with Ben (or rather, a scientist posing as Ben) when he thinks the two of them are minutes from hitting the atmosphere of an anti-Earth.
  • Immortal Iron Fist: As Iron Fist and his former adversaries the Immortal Weapons team up to stop Hydra's plan to destroy K'un-Lun, Iron Fist says, "Ladies and gentlemen, it has been an honor to fight you, and to fight alongside you."
  • Buck Godot says this to 12-Zinc, before entering Shift Space. As it happens, he does come back, but still, the sentiment is the same.
  • In the Disney Ducks Comic Universe story "Scrooge's Last Adventure" miss Quackfaster (Scrooge's secretary) and Battista (Scrooge's butler in the Italian stories) say this to each other word for word after Glomgold and Rockerduck took over Scrooge's empire and they quit their jobs, as they valued immensely working for Scrooge and with each other... And when Scrooge takes back his empire they're back working for him.
  • The X-Files: At the climax of Season 10, the Elder says this to the rest of the cloned Syndicate, right before they all die for the final time.
  • During Robert Kirkman's run on Fantastic Four, Future Badass versions of Franklin and Valeria Richards jump into a time portal in a risky move to change the future by meeting with the present day Fantastic Four team. As they make the leap, this exchange occurs:
    Valeria: Hey, just so you know...you've always been my favorite hero.
    Franklin: Well...mine's still the Human Torch. (Valeria laughs)
  • Batman '66: In Issue #25, under the belief they'll soon die, Robin says it's been an honor to fight evil with Batman.
  • Angel: After The Fall #16, the comic sequel to Angel, features such a speech from Wesley's ghost, who knows that Angel's actions will obliterate the latter's existence. Added "being your friend" besides "fighting by your side" as the honor; then, Angel gives his thanks.
  • Wonder Woman: Black and Gold: After Diana convinces her old friend Cathy Perkins to accept that she's dying of lung cancer Cathy removes the talisman she was using to extend her life (that was drawing danger to her and those around her) and tearfully tells Diana she hates her, before thanking her for their adventures and her friendship.
  • Star Trek (IDW): Scotty tells Chekov this in the "Truth About Tribbles" story, just when it seems as though they'll be overrun by the natural predators on the Tribble-infested planet.

    Fan Works 
  • During an invasion of both Hell and Dormammu in A Twelve Step Programto Omnipotence, Tony Stark puts aside his previous antagonism towards Michael McCole to tell him that "you're a dick, but even so, it has been a genuine honor", with McCole reciprocating the sentiment.
  • In The Private Diary of Elizabeth Quatermain, Quatermain has a conversation of this nature with Captain Nemo, who essentially serves as her foster father, telling him that "It has been an honor to live as your daughter."
  • Parodied in Amazing Fantasy. When preparing for their Last Stand against the Nomu to buy time for the other students to escape, Todoroki points out that he and Bakugou probably going to die fighting the monster. Bakugou scoffs at the notion, saying that he plans to survive and mount the Nomu's head over a fireplace while Todoroki is free to die if he wants.
  • In The TSAB – Acturus War, DRA Rear Admiral Vaina says this to the crew of the Sacred War during their Last Stand.
  • The protagonist of Dragon Age: The Crown of Thorns tries this on his soldiers, for their own good. It fails, because they see through it and had come to trust and like him too much to let him go off without their protection. He settles for saying, "Then I consider it a fine honor and privilege to be your commander" and proceeds to the task of pulling off a Zero-Approval Gambit of epic proportions.
  • In DC Nation's version of Blackest Night, Monsieur Mallah and Robotman are trapped in Codville (the small town the original Patrol died protecting), surrounded by Black Lantern versions of their allies and enemies. When it's clear that they are completely screwed, Mallah admits that, despite Robotman being a long-standing enemy, it's been an honor under the circumstances.
  • In Ace Combat: The Equestrian War:
    • Firefly says this to the other members of the Mirage squadron. She's not dying however, she only resigns as a leader and designates Rainbow Dash as the new one.
    • In the epilogue, Rainbow Dash says it to Mobius as he leaves Equestria with Sky Eye.
  • The Immortal Game: Just before the final charge in the Battle of the Everfree, which she isn't entirely convinced they'll win, Twilight says this to her friends. Well, in the roundabout, slightly messed up way that fits her new personality, anyway.
  • In the Pony POV Series, just before pulling off a Crazy Enough to Work plan to escape a Hooviet attack squad, Shining Armor says this to the Griffin special forces group helping him, since failure would get them killed.
  • In Christian Grey vs. Pepper Potts, Hawkeye and Gambit give this to each other when it looks like they're going to die in a lab explosion. Fortunately, She-Hulk and Hulk save them.
  • In The Wrong Reflection a Klingon-Cardassian Alliance vessel is about to go down fighting against some Terran Empire ships. The first officer and viewpoint character for this segment says the Stock Phrase to the guy commanding the vessel, and he returns the sentiment, saying there's nobody he'd rather have with him. Of course right after that, one of the Terran ships opens fire on the others, as it's actually a Federation starship from the prime universe commanded by the fic's usual viewpoint character.
  • Subverted, in Sunshine, in that while she doesn't die a Heroic Sacrifice or anything of that nature, Satsuki does say something along these lines, as she's dying of leukemia, where she smiles and thanks her friends for staying with her, stating it has also been a privilege.
  • Twice in rapid succession in MGLN Crisis. From Griffith to Chrono, and then Lucino to Griffith. In both cases, it is followed by More Expendable Than You. They all survive.
  • During the epilogue of The Vow, this is said by Zhan the Wolf Boss to Lady Lianne and Lord Shen about his servitude to them before he departs to the West.
  • In Cycles Upon Cycles, EDI and Anderson exchange these regards with each other just before the latter's Heroic Sacrifice to save the Normandy.
  • In Neither a Bird nor a Plane, it's Deku!, K.E.L.E.X. tells Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van that it has been an honor to serve them while downloading himself into Kal-El's spaceship. Contrary to most versions of this trope, K.E.L.E.X. is the one to survive while Jor-El and Lara perish on Krypton.
  • Zim the Warlord: Irken Reversion: Just before the Childergy event reaches critical mass (and with no way of knowing if it will cause a Mass Super-Empowering Event or a World-Wrecking Wave), Dib expresses this sentiment to Gaz and Zim just in case of a worst case scenario, telling the former that he loves her despite being such a hellion, and the latter that it's been an honor to be his enemy. They return the feeling with backhanded compliments.
  • This Bites!:
    • Non-lethal, but still poignant example. Despite all of Cross's changes, Doflamingo's machinations, Kizaru's attack, and Kuma's ultimatum has hammered into everyone that the Straw Hats must separate for two years to be ready for the New World, though Kuma is at least allowing them to be sent off without a fight. With Luffy choosing to go last, all of the Straw Hats give these statements to their captain before Kuma sends them away.
    • And just before the above, Cross has one final conference call with the other leaders of the New World Masons to prepare them for what's to come. At the end, he wishes them luck and tells them that it's been an honor and a pleasure to work alongside them.
  • Code Prime: Before Urabe makes his final stand against Bruticus, he tells Tohdoh this:
    Urabe: Colonel... Tell Prime and Zero, it's been an honor serving with them. And an even greater honor to serve under you.
  • True Potential: FĹ« Yamanaka and Torune Aburame mentally tell this to each other after failing Danzo's plan to assassinate the Raikage, knowing that they will be executed.

    Film — Animation 
  • Implied, if not spoken, between Stoick and Gobber in How to Train Your Dragon when facing the Green Death:
    Stoick: I can buy our people a few minutes if I give that thing something to hunt!
    Gobber: (taking Stoick's hand in his, warrior-style) Then I can double that.
    • Later, before Hiccup and Toothless face the Green Death, Stoick makes up for his earlier I Have No Son! moment by telling Hiccup, "I'm proud to call you my son."
  • Incredibles 2: After Agent Rick Dicker announces that the Super Relocation Program was defunded, he tells Bob and Helen that he felt honored to work with them.
  • Justice League Dark: Apokolips War: When they're being overwhelmed by Paradooms, King Shark's last words and the only ones he says that aren't "King Shark is a shark" in are to Captain Boomerang and fall under this ("It's been a honor to fight by your side"). Captain Boomerang's last words in response to this are "Are you shitting me?!"
  • In Kung Fu Panda, before his battle with Tai Lung, Shifu says to Po and the Furious Five "I am very proud to have been your master!"
  • The penguins in Madagascar, before battling the fossas.
  • The Green Army Men say this at the beginning of Toy Story 3.
  • In Monsters vs. Aliens, Gallaxhar's ship is falling apart and is about to crash...along with The Missing Link, B.O.B. and Dr. Cockroach:
    The Missing Link: It's been an honor knowing you, Doc.
    Dr. Cockroach: The feeling's mutual, my friend.
    B.O.B.: I'll see you guys tomorrow...for lunch.
    The Missing Link: That's right, Bob.
    Dr. Cockroach: There'll be candy and cake...balloons.
    B.O.B.: CAKE AND BALLOONS FOR LUNCH? IT'S GONNA BE THE BEST DAY EVER! I LOVE YOU GUYS!
  • There is a Titanic reference in Osmosis Jones, but it's not played for laughs.
    Red Blood Cell Violinist: Gentlemen, playing with you has been the greatest pleasure of my life.
  • In The Road to El Dorado, Miguel and Tulio have this conversation when they are about to die, stranded in a rowboat with a horse:
    Miguel: Tulio, did you ever imagine it would end like this?
    Tulio: The horse is a surprise.
    Miguel: Any... regrets?
    Tulio: You mean besides dying? Yeah. I never... had enough... gold.
    Miguel: My regret, besides dying, is... our greatest adventure is over before it began, and no one will even remember us.
    Tulio: Well, if it's any consolation, Miguel, you... [sob] made my life... [sob] an adventure.
    Miguel: And if it's any consolation, Tulio, you made my life... [sob] rich.

    Film — Live-Action 
  • As they lie dying at the climax of 300:
    Stelios: It is an honor to die by your side.
    Leonidas: It was an honor to have lived by yours.
  • Aliens:
    • An unusual variant appears in the first film. Gorman and Vasquez are about to be slaughtered together by the killer aliens, and Lt. Gorman whips out a grenade so he can at least take the monsters with them. Vasquez remarks "You always were an asshole, Gorman," before holding the grenade with him until it explodes. In this case she meant what she said, but seeing how the only reason Gorman is about to die too is because he went back to try and save her, there's definitely some mutual respect in there. She does, after all, refer to him by name rather than rank.
    • Prometheus has a straighter version of this near the end. While joking about their previous bets, one of the remaining crewmen makes a remark along these lines while flying Prometheus in a kamikaze route toward the alien ship- he and the others on board die shortly after when their ship explodes from the impact, leaving Shaw and David as the only survivors.
  • Apollo 13, just before the (potentially fatal) reentry:
    Lovell: Gentlemen, it's been a privilege flying with you.
  • The A-Team: Murdock busts this trope out when preparing to land a flying tank in Wolgastsee.
    The last ride is always the greatest! Gentlemen, it's been an honor!
  • Battleship, with one last shell left on the USS Missouri, Hopper tells Captain Nagata it was an honor, who responds that the honor was his.
  • Battle Beyond the Stars. Saint-Exmin is a Blood Knight from a Proud Warrior Race, so when her Escape Pod is surrounded by enemy fighters she has no intention of going quietly.
    "I am Saint-Exmin of the Valkyrie. It's been a very enjoyable fight." (activates Self-Destruct Mechanism)
  • Beauty and the Beast (2017). As the objects turn inanimate, Lumiere and Cogsworth manage to exchange this sentiment.
  • Bicentennial Man: Galatea's farewell to Portia and Andrew on their deathbed includes a quoting Andrew; "One is glad to be of service."
  • At the end of the big chase scene at the end of The Blues Brothers, when their car is plummeting off an incomplete highway, one Nazi looks at the other one and goes, "I've always loved you," just before crashing.
  • Joe Gould in Cinderella Man says this as Braddock is going into the ring to face a boxer that has killed two men in the ring before.
  • Just before they begin their apparently suicidal quest in Clash of the Titans, Perseus says something akin to this to the companions who chose to remain with him. He remarks that his father was, at least initially, the only great man he knew. Now, he could say he knew four great men. He then directs his attention to the only female and supernatural being in the group, amending his statement with: "And one woman. .... and whatever the hell you are."
  • Duane the Secret Service agent in Dave.
    "Dave? I would have taken a bullet for you."
  • A brutal and sarcastic take on this comes from Day of the Dead (1985). Bub, having seen Rhodes murder Dr. Logan, chases him through the laboratory with a Colt .45, shooting him several times. Just as they reach a zombie horde, Bub blows out Rhodes's knee, causing him to fall into the zombies. As they begin to devour Rhodes, Bub salutes him.
  • Soichiro Yagami says this to L at the end of the second Death Note movie, shortly before L dies. Yuruga also says it to L in the third movie.
  • Deep Impact sports both versions (pleasure and honor):
    Andy: It's been a pleasure serving with you, Commander.
    Tanner: The honor's all mine, Andy.
  • The Eagle Has Landed. After seeing the writing on the wall, Colonel Steiner plans to escape the church via a secret tunnel. His men refuse to follow him, insisting they stay behind to cover his escape. Steiner salutes his men and tells them "it has been a privilege to have served with you."
  • In Eternals, when Kingo refuses to fight the Celestial or his fellow Eternals, instead opting out altogether, Karun leaves with him and tells the other Eternals before walking away that it has been an honor to have known them.
  • Flash Gordon. As Flash is about to pilot War Rocket Ajax into the teeth of Mingo City's defenses:
    Prince Vultan: Goodbye, Flash, it's been...
    Flash: I know. For me too, Vultan.
  • In Force 10 from Navarone, when Barnaby (Harrison Ford) and Mallory (Robert Shaw) realize they've run out of time (and in case anyone doesn't understand, Barnaby says so) to blow the dam, they shake hands, Mallory says, "It's been a pleasure serving with you, Colonel," and they stroll calmly away from a large pile of plastique with an absurdly short timer on it. Subverted because Miller "forgot" to tell them the dam would take some time to collapse, allowing them to escape.
  • One of the few serious moments in Galaxy Quest was Quellek saying this to Alexander Dane — whose TV character (that he thought was real) he greatly admired and modelled his lifestyle after — while he bleeds to death from his wounds. Dane then recites his character's catchphrase — which he utterly despises, mind you — with utmost sincerity and conviction for the first time in the film, rather than the half-assed way he had said it up until this point.
    Dane: By Grabthar's hammer... by the suns of Warvan... you shall be... avenged.
    • He does it.
  • In Ghostbusters (1984), just before crossing the streams:
    Dr. Peter Venkman: See ya on the other side, Ray.
    Dr. Ray Stantz: Nice working with you, Dr. Venkman.
  • Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019): Inverted. When Serizawa is preparing to depart into Godzilla's lair with a nuke as part of a Heroic Sacrifice, Dr. Stanton tells him it was an honor working beside him when they're saying their goodbyes. In a deleted scene depicting the death of Admiral Stenz, when his submarine is going down, he says to Colonel Foster via video call that he's proud of her and her troops and he almost quotes the trope name ad verbatim but is Killed Mid-Sentence by an explosion.
  • In Highlander: Endgame the exact words are never spoken but the final, tearful smile Connor gives to Duncan before he forces him to take his head and his quickening carry the unspoken sentiment of this trope.
    Goodbye, Duncan, my true brother.
  • In Good Company: A Spear Carrier employee Carter is forced to fire who had earlier felt encouraged by Carter's team-building tells Carter working with him has been an honor.
  • In Independence Day, Steve and David are trapped and decide to launch their nuke anyway. They smoke cigars and shake hands first — "It's been a pleasure." "Steve, you too."
  • At the climax of Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Harry says this nearly word for word to Merlin before the latter lures several henchmen to him by singing and blows them up along with himself with a landmine.
  • The Lord of the Rings trilogy:
    Boromir: Our people? Our people... I would have followed you, my brother... my captain... my king.
    Aragorn: Be at peace, Son of Gondor.
    • Also Gimli and Legolas in The Return of the King get over their Fantastic Racism:
      Gimli: I never thought I'd die fighting side-by-side with an elf.
      Legolas: How about fighting side-by-side with a friend?
      Gimli: ...Aye. I could do that.
    • Also Frodo to Sam in The Return of the King when he thinks they're about to die in the lava of Mount Doom:
    Frodo: I'm glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee... here at the end of all things.
  • Maid in Manhattan. When Marisa is fired for her actions—wearing a guest's clothes, using her identity, etc.—the hotel's butler quits in disgust and tells her it has been an honor to have worked with her.
  • The Matrix Revolutions. Just before Neo leaves on his trip to the machine city to make his Heroic Sacrifice, he has a final exchange with Morpheus, in a callback to their original meeting.
    Neo: It was an honor, sir.
    Morpheus: No. The honor is still mine.
  • Men in Black 3 K says this to J at the end of the film, once the former realises the latter has come back from the past.
  • The Monuments Men. As he's about to step off a mine, Granger says this to his fellow soldiers who refuse to leave in case they all get blown to bits. He survives however because the mine is a dud.
  • The Horsemen say this to each other near the end of Now You See Me.
  • Pacific Rim: Spoken by Chuck Hansen to Marshal Pentecost right before they have to make their Heroic Sacrifice.
  • Pearl Harbor: As the Doolittle Raiders' fuel tanks are beginning to run dry without any sight of China, Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle breaks radio silence to give his men in the bombers a final message:
    Jimmy Doolittle: "I'm sorry, gentleman. You're all brave souls. Among the bravest I've had the privilege of flying with... But we're on our own."
  • In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the two British soldiers about to climb on the ship and fight the immortal pirates don't even have to say anything. They shake hands, and let out twin wordless battle cries.
  • A variation in The Postman: Ford and another captive (whom he has never even met before) invoke this trope and shake hands when facing the villain's firing squad.
  • Power Rangers (2017). The Rangers make a last stand against Rita and Goldar to prevent them from reaching the Zeo Crystal, but their power proves too much for the heroes and their zords get pushed into the pit, overwhelmed by the heat and pressure of Goldar's attack. As the Rangers make peace with their fate, Billy thanks them all for being his friends. Fortunately things take a turn when they fuse into the Megazord.
  • In The Replacements (2000), just before the last play of the game, Falco says to his teammates, "It's been an honor to share the field of battle with you."
  • The Rock has Major Ted Baxter say this to Brigadier General Francis X. Hummel during a Mexican Standoff with a couple of mutineers. Before drawing his gun on Hummel. And then opening fire on the mutineers.
  • In Stan & Ollie, Oliver Hardy suffers an heart attack during Laurel and Hardy's 1953 European Tour and he is told by the doctors that he must retire. Afterwards, he is barely able to go through a last show. Before going out on stage to say goodbye to their public, he takes some time to let Stan Laurel know how much he enjoyed working with him:
    Ollie: It was fun while it lasted, wasn’t it, Stan?
    [Stan nods and heads onstage. Ollie hooks him back as part of their act]
    Ollie: I’ll miss us when we’re gone.
    Stan: So will you.
  • Spock's final words in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan:
    "I have been, and always shall be, your friend. Live long... and prosper."
    • Spock and McCoy have this scene in Star Trek Beyond:
      Spock: Leaving me behind will significantly increase your chances of survival, Doctor.
      McCoy: Well that's damn chivalrous of you, but completely out of the question!
      Spock: It is imperative that you locate any surviving crew.
      McCoy: Here I was thinking you cared.
      [Three of Krall's drone ships approach]
      Spock: Of course I care, Leonard. I always assumed my respect for you was clear. The dialogue we have had across the years has always...
      McCoy: It's okay, Spock. You don't have to say it... Well, at least I won't die alone.
      [Spock is beamed away from behind Bones]
      McCoy: Well that's just typical.
  • Star Trek: Nemesis, in the scene between Riker and Picard at the end of the film.
    Riker: Serving with you... has been an honor.
    Picard: The honor was mine, Captain.
  • Terminator 2: Judgment Day. While Sarah Connor doesn't say it, when she shakes the T-800's hand at the end of the film, that handshake carries the weight of this trope.
  • In a slightly unusual context, when Captain Staros is removed from command in The Thin Red Line he says goodbye to his friends.
    Staros: You've been like my sons. (pause) You are my sons.
  • Titanic (1997) has the bandleader say it to the band as they keep playing while the ship goes down. Most parodies and references quote it as "It's been an honor"; in the movie he actually says "It has been a privilege".
  • Optimus Prime delivers this line in Transformers (2007) before the Autobots storm Hoover Dam.
    • In Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Wheelie tells Brains this after sabotaging a Decepticon Vessel.
      Wheelie: We had a good run Brains, me and you.
      Brains: Yeah, but we're gonna die.
  • Troy:
    • The Trojan captain: "Soldiers of Troy! To fight with you has been my honor. On the other side of the river, the Boatman waits for us... I say we make him wait a little longer!"
    • And Eudorus to Achilles: "Fighting for you has been my life's honor, my lord."
  • X-Men Film Series:
    • X-Men: First Class: The commanders of the American and Soviet fleets both say this to their crews when Magneto redirects their missiles back at them.
      American commander: Gentlemen, it's been an honor to serve with you.
      Soviet commander: Comrades, thank you for your service.
    • In X-Men: Days of Future Past, Future Magneto and Xavier have such a moment as Magneto lays dying while the Sentinels are closing in and expresses regret that they spent so many years fighting each other.
      Magneto: All those years wasted fighting each other, Charles... To have a precious few of them back...

    Literature 
  • Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident. Holly (to Butler and Root): "Gentlemen, it's been a pleasure." They respond with "Likewise."
  • In the final book of Andrew Clements's Benjamin Pratt & The Keepers of the School series, We Hold These Truths, the janitor Lyman says this to the Keepers after they manage to succeed in saving the school. Though he'd been working against them, it was only a job and not personal for him.
  • Discworld: The trope is subverted and parodied in The Science of Discworld. When it appears that the newly constructed Magical Reactor is about to blow up and destroy the universe, the Dean tells the Arch-chancellor of the Unseen University...
    "I'd just like to say...."
    "Yes, old friend?"
    "I'd have made a much better Arch-Chancellor then you."
  • Near the end of The Elenium, Sparhawk thinks his only option is a Heroic Sacrifice. He tells the other knights with him:
    "Let's not get sentimental about this. We don't have the time. I'm honored to have known you — all of you. Now get out of here. That's an order."
  • Good Omens does it right before Satan himself comes up to give the Antichrist a piece of his mind.
    Aziraphale: I'd just like to say, if we don't get out of this, that... I'll have known, deep down inside, that there was a spark of goodness in you.
    Crowley: [...And] I'll have known that, deep down inside, you were just enough of a bastard to be worth liking.
  • The Host (2008): Doc says a variant of this to Wanderer, right before her Heroic Sacrifice.
  • Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games: In Catching Fire, the only member of Katniss' prep team who manages to avoid crying (and so leaving to avoid upsetting Katniss) finishes the job and tells her that it has been a privilege making her look her best.
  • Salvatore's The Legend of Drizzt: Elven soldiers, who go without a name, in The Hunters Blades saga of Drizzt. They are surrounded by orcs and know that they will die, they all come to this realization together and share an unspoken moment, served with just a nod, and then they Hold the Line. Very touching.
  • In the Magic: The Gathering novel Time Streams, Karn and Jhoira find themselves surrounded by a horde of Phyrexians. Certain that they're about to die, Karn tells Jhoira that it's been a pleasure to be her friend. Jhoira returns the sentiment, stating that she's glad to die alongside him. They're then saved by the intervention of Mage Master Barrin.
  • Quiller's Run by Adam Hall. The protagonist is listening to a black box flight recording of the last moments of a Thai airliner as it's about to crash, killing everyone on board.
    Translator: He's saying... Jesus can you beat these guys... he's telling the captain it's been an honor to serve with him...
  • From the second book of David Drake's RCN series, just before their corvette attacks a battleship, a heavy cruiser, and four destroyers:
    "Captain... We won't have much time after we exit for observations so I thought I'd say this now. Goddam little in my life went the way I'd have liked it to, not till I met you. I guess on average I've come out ahead."
  • When the T'swa face their Last Stand in John Dalmas' The Regiment, the officer commanding what's left tells them, "All right, T'swa, on my signal we will charge the enemy. Each of you has my admiration." Then he orders the trumpeters to, "Sound the dirge, then the attack." And then they get wiped out.
  • Safehold:
    • Off Armageddon Reef has this as a dying king's last words as his galley is stormed. That he says it to an eleven-year-old (really 10 year old thanks to the difference between Safehold and Earth years) midshipman for whom the king just Took The Bullet pushes it towards Tear Jerker territory.
    • By Heresies Distressed, Edwyrd Seahamper and Sharleyan have a brief conversation while waiting for the assassination squad to make their next attack.
      Edwyrd: Your Majesty — Sharleyan, if I don't have the chance to tell you this later, it's been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your armsman.
  • In Bernard Cornwell's novel Sharpe's Tiger, Sharpe tells Gudin that it was an honor to serve under him. Specifically, he tells him this while Gudin is in the act of arresting him as a spy; the compliment is given, and received, with genuine feeling. Gudin responds by offering Sharpe a chance to defect for real. He refuses.
  • Pulled off with flair in the first of the Skulduggery Pleasant series.
    "Valkyrie Cain, it has been an absolute pleasure knowing you."
  • Star Wars Legends: Outbound Flight: Before their Heroic Sacrifice, Lorana and Thrass clasp hands and have this exchange.
    Thrass: I've known you and your people only briefly, Jedi Lorana Jinzler. But in that time, I've learned to admire and respect you. I hope that someday humans and Chiss will be able to work side by side in peace.
    Lorana: As do I, Syndic Mitt'ras'safis of the Eighth Ruling Family.
  • Steel Crow Saga: When Prince Jimuro is forced into an Enemy Mine situation with one of his former captors and believes they're about to be killed in battle, he sincerely thanks her for everything and says she has "a prince's courtesy and gratitude". They survive and end up Fire-Forged Friends.
  • In Tour of the Merrimack, two different characters say this to Captain Farragut. One of them survives; the other does not.
  • In Victoria, Colonel John Kelly offers one over the radiophone as his command faces annihilation:
    Kelly: "Thanks, Ire. Thanks for everything, not just this. Whatever happens to us, what the Christian Marines have done has made a difference. In the end, that’s all that counts. Out here."
  • In Graham McNeill's Warhammer 40,000 Ultramarines novel The Warriors of Ultramar, after giving the (futile) order to abandon ship (escape pods can't escape the blast, but he has to try), Admiral de Corte says, "It has been an honor to serve with you all."
    • In Dead Sky Black Sun, in the Eye of Terror, Uriel and Pasanius see an atrocity about to be committed on helpless prisoners and decide they can't pass by, though they are heavily outnumbered.
      If we do not survive, then it has been an honor to call you my friend.
    • In The Killing Grounds, Uriel inverts this. After the battle, he tells Leodegarius that it had been an honor to fight beside him; Leodegarius says that the honor has been his.
    • Played with in The Emperor's Finest, when Cain thinks he and Mira are about to be either killed or implanted by genestealers.
      Cain: It's been an honour to serve with you, colonel.
      Mira: We both know that's a big fat lie, but I appreciate the thought.
      [Space Marine Terminators teleport in and kill all the genestealers.]
  • In Warrior Cats Whitestorm says these words to Firestar, just before the battle with BloodClan, knowing that he will not survive the battle.
  • Watership Down: Hazel and Dandelion's parting at Nuthanger Farm, during Hazel's desperate attempt to save their warren from the Efrafan assault.
    Dandelion: If we ever meet again, Hazel-rah, we ought to have the makings of the best story ever.
    Hazel: And you'll be the chap to tell it.

    Live-Action TV 
  • Arrow. In the Season 4 finale, a nuclear missile is about to obliterate Star City and Curtis Holt starts to tell Felicity Smoak that working with her and the rest of Team Arrow has been the highlight of his life...until Felicity tells him to shut up because she's busy trying to hack into the missile and save everyone's lives.
  • In Band of Brothers, this appears in the German general's speech at the end. Although they aren't facing death, just surrender, it serves to humanize the German troops. Liebgott, who speaks fluent German, translates his speech to the Americans. His facial expression implies the former enemy is, after all, not that different.
  • Battlestar Galactica (2003):
    • Ironically, Adama's crew keep saying this to him in the mini-series, as he's due to retire. As it turns out, his retirement gets postponed somewhat.
    • Done during the Battle of New Caprica. Galactica has taken heavy damage while desperately trying to hold off three Cylon Baseships so the civilians can jump away. When he learns the FTL drive can't be brought back online and Galactica is beyond hope of escape, Adama delivers this line to his bridge crew. Just before the Battlestar Pegasus arrives for a Gunship Rescue.
    • Adama does this again in when he and Tigh face the rebel Marines in "The Oath".
  • Blackadder Goes Forth:
    • First parodied by Edmund with the line "If I should die, think only this of me... I'll be back to get ya," and then played straight in the final episode with his quiet "Good luck everybody" as they go over the top.
    • Also alluded to in the final episode when Captain Darling is ordered to the front. Blackadder and Darling had always been bitter enemies but now that they've both facing the same fate, they cease their fighting.
  • Bones:
    • Hodgins says this to Brennan when they're Buried Alive in a car, right before implementing an escape plan that could either free them or kill them instantly.
    • This exchange between Brennan and Cam when the team was heading their separate ways in "The Beginning in the End".
      Cam: I've ... really enjoyed working for you, Dr. Brennan.
      Brennan: In fact, Dr. Saroyan, I worked for you.
      Cam: We both know better.
  • Breaking Bad: Comes up twice, and both times subverted.
    • With Gus inevitably coming to murder his entire family, Walt arranges with Saul to set them up with a man who will give them all new identities and take them far, far away where Gus will never find them. As this will inevitably mean none of them can ever contact their acquaintances ever again, Saul prepares to shake Walt's hand goodbye and tells him "Can't say it's been a pleasure-". It doesn't end up going as planned however.
    • After Gus's secret criminal empire is uncovered, his laptop containing security footage of Walt, Jesse, and Mike in the superlab is confiscated by the police as evidence. Realizing this means the end is nigh, Mike prepares to get the hell out of Dodge while there's still time, but not before throwing out one last barb to Walt and Jesse.
      Mike: You know how they say "it's been a pleasure"? It hasn't.
  • Burn Notice:
    • Victor before Michael's Mercy Kill to him: "It's been good playing with you, sport."
    • Sam delivers the Miami version of this in an episode, while defusing a very dangerous bomb: "It's been real."
    • In the fourth season finale, "Last Stand":
      Michael: And for what it's worth, Agent Porter, I am sorry for what I did to you. I never said it, but I am truly sorry.
      Jesse: (embarrassed, and a little choked up) Come on, man, just... I signed up to fight the bad guys, right? That's all you were ever doing, so we're in this together. You good with that?
      Michael: Yeah, I'm good with that.
  • In the Defiance season three finale, facing up to sacrificing herself to save the Earth...
    Doc Yewll: An artificial person is a tolerable loss.
    Datak Tarr: No. You're a real person with enormous honour and infinite soul.
    Yewll: Just stick it in me, sailor.
  • Doctor Who:
    • During the Tom Baker era, in "The Pirate Planet", when the Doctor drops the TARDIS's defensive shields in an effort to defeat the evil Queen Zanxia, Romana simply says, "It's been a pleasure working with you."
    • "World War Three": As they're sheltering in a reinforced closet waiting for a missile to hit 10 Downing Street in order to stop the villains' plan, knowing they could die, Harriet Jones (MP, Flydale North) tells the Doctor and Rose, "Nice knowing you both."
    • "The Parting of the Ways" plays with it: Just before he regenerates, the Ninth Doctor tells Rose:
      "I just wanna say you were fantastic... absolutely fantastic. And you know what? So was I."
    • "The Poison Sky": When it looks like the Doctor will have to sacrifice himself stopping the Sontarans, he thanks Donna and Martha for all they've done for him — and advises Luke Rattigan to do something clever with his life. Luke does — he takes the Doctor's place.
    • In "The Stolen Earth", Harriet Jones (Former Prime Minister) says this just before she dies.
    • Another potential example: In "The End of Time", in reference to a previous comment by the Master, the Doctor tells Wilfred Mott that he would be proud to have Wilf for a father. Considering the hostility and mortality faced in that episode alongside the fact that one of them is carrying a gun for the other to use, it sort of works.
      • In the same episode, the Doctor's last words before sacrificing himself for Wilfred are in fact, "It's my honour."
    • "Flesh and Stone":
      The Doctor: I wish I'd known you better.
      Bishop Octavian: I think sir, you know me at my best.
      The Doctor: Ready?
      Octavian: Content.
    • "The Day of the Doctor": Before the War Doctor leaves, he tells the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors, "it has been an honour, and a privilege," to which Ten says "Likewise."
  • Doom Patrol (2019). In "Cyborg Patrol", the General in charge of the Bureau of Normality says this just before he blows his brains out rather than face an army of killer anuses on legs. It's that kind of series.
  • Zane tries to give Carter one of these in Eureka before activating a device that will either save or destroy the town, but Carter will have none of it.
    Zane: Whatever happens, it's been fun.
    Carter: No it hasn't! Push the button!
  • Farscape loves this trope, but likes to mix up the words. Just a few examples:
    • John to D'Argo in the season 1 finale.
      Crichton: I love hanging with you, man.
    • Before John sets off a nuke in season 4.
      John: Love you.
      Aeryn: Love you, too.
    • Bittersweet goodbye in The Peacekeeper Wars.
      John: You're the closest friend I have.
      Ka D'Argo: You could have done better.
      John: Not in the entire universe.
  • Fear the Walking Dead: At the end of the webisode miniseries Dead in the Water, Riley says this to the other surviving crew members of the U.S.S. Pennsylvania as he give the order to Abandon Ship.
  • The Flash (2014): In "Armageddon Part 4", Barry Allen and Damien Darhk have a few minutes to undo the changes Eobard Thawne made to the timeline or else Barry will cease to exist, but are aware that if they do, Damien will die since he was dead in the original timeline. Damien agrees to do it because his daughter Nora was supposed to be alive, but is dead in the altered timeline. Right before they start, they shake hands, expressing this trope.
  • Horatio Hornblower, "Retribution": These are Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower's and Lieutenant Archie Kennedy's parting words just before Archie Kennedy dies. Each character reassures the other about their biggest insecurities: Horatio tells Archie that he's honored to have served with him as Archie doubts that he's a good officer, and Archie tells Horatio that he's honored to have known him because Horatio doubts he's worthy as a person.
    Horatio: Archie... I'm honored to have served with you.
    Archie: And I to have known you. See? Better already. (dies)
    Horatio: My dear friend.
  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit when Capt. Cragen begins his temporary dismissal after the Downer Ending of the past season finale:
    Chester Lake: It was an honor serving under you, sir.
    Don Cragen: I'm not dead yet, Detective Lake.
  • Marvel Cinematic Universe.
    • Daredevil (2015). Played for laughs in "The Path of the Righteous". After an unknown party tries to poison his boss Wilson Fisk, James Wesley sends Leland Owlsley to Madame Gao to confirm that they have her support for when they move on those responsible. When Leland worries what will happen to him if Gao is the one responsible, Wesley quips that in that case it's been an honor working with him.
    • Iron Fist (2017). Played for laughs in "The Blessing Of Many Fractures". Madame Gao orders her mooks to spare Danny Rand but kill Colleen Wing and Claire Temple. As they face off...
      Claire: I just wanted you to know... I should never have come to China with you.
      Danny: [deadpan] Seems fair.
  • M*A*S*H
    • In the finale episode:
      • Hawkeye and BJ give Col Potter a silent one by standing at attention and saluting him, something that they did very rarely throughout the course of the series.
      • Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan tells everyone in the 4077th that it has been an honor serving with them.
    • Hawkeye salutes Radar in "Good-bye Radar Part 2", while in the operating room to top it off, as well as when presenting him his Purple Heart at the end of "Fallen Idol".
    • In an early Christmas episode, Hawkeye (dressed as Santa) is flown via chopper to the front line to tend to a wounded soldier:
    Hawkeye: Hey! If I don't see you...Merry Christmas.
    Trapper: Tell me when you see me.
  • Lisbon gives one of these to Cho when she thinks she and Jane are going to die in The Mentalist episode "Code Red".
  • In the final episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Mr. Rogers and Mr. McFeely shake hands. David Newell, who played Mr. McFeely, said this was his way of showing Fred his gratitude and joy at having been able to work with him for more than thirty years.
  • Mythbusters has a congratulatory example in the second Alaska Special, with the newspaper-pykrete speedboat.
    Adam Savage: [to Jamie] It's been an honor building strange crap with you.
  • NCIS. In "Detour", Jimmy and Ducky have been abducted by terrorists. They devise a plan to escape, but before putting it into action, Jimmy declares, "Dr. Mallard, I just want to say, in case your plan, brilliant as it is, doesn't work. . ." His voice trails off before he can finish, but Ducky realizes what he's trying to say and replies, "Likewise, Jimmy."
  • Night Court: In "Crossroads: Part 2", when the whole cast are quarantined in the courtroom, believing they've been exposed to a deadly biological weapon, Mac says that, no matter what happens, he wouldn't have given up his job or his friendship with the rest of them; everyone reciprocates warmly, except Jerkass Dan Fielding:
    Dan: Yes, I'd give up knowing you to avoid dying in this lousy courtroom. Call me a stick-in-the-mud.
  • The Office (US): Dwight says this to Michael in the episode "Branch Closing", thinking that the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin is being shut down.
  • In The Originals Elijah tells Klaus it has been his greatest honour before they die together.
  • Person of Interest
    • A variant when Reese, suffering a gunshot wound and pursued by the CIA, thanks Finch for giving him the chance to help people.
    • Another variant in "Asylum". Reese and his Friendly Enemy Elias have been captured by the Brotherhood with no apparent escape. Elias says, "You're an honorable man, John. It's been nice knowing you."
    • A subversion occurs in "Bad Code". A member of the government discovers Finch is the hidden genius behind the Machine, so he says this to Finch as he's about to kill him.
  • Combined with So Proud of You: Implied in the final episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot ("Curtain") when, during a conversation at dinnertime, one of the guests, Toby Luttrell, tells Hercule Poirot that though he is very old he still never gives up on solving cases like this. Poirot answers in front of everyone that he has enjoyed being here with them and that "I do not want to miss every single moment. But the clock, it ticks. Such is the will of God." (implying that he has a few days left to live) Luttrell's response to Poirot: "Oh, we'll miss you, old chap, but you won't be forgotten."
  • An unspoken one in the finale of Power Rangers in Space when Bulk and Skull lead the charge against Astronema's forces. Just before they rush in, the two shake hands, clearly expressing this trope.
  • Spoofed in Red Dwarf: "Over the years, I have come to regard all of you as... people I met." Said by jerkass Arnold Rimmer, who is dead already, but continues to exist in the form of a hologram, when he is about to transfer to a ship full of hologram geniuses and leaves slob David Lister, android Kryten and Cat.
  • Rome:
    • After his defeat by Marc Antony at the Battle of Philippi, Brutus' soldiers urge him to flee. Brutus replies, "It has been an honor and a pleasure leading you. I am sorry we could not do better. You must look to yourselves now. Save your skins." He then strips off his armor and walks into the advancing enemy formation, attacking with his sword to goad them into killing him.
    • A bittersweet touch when Marc Antony orders Vorenus to kill him after the failure of his rebellion, and is surprised when Vorenus says goodbye to him with those parting words.
    Antony Has it? I hope so.
  • In Smallville, "Salvation", Clark says this to the Justice League before he intends to lock himself and all other kryptonians in another dimension.
  • Stargate Atlantis:
    • Used by Ronon Dex to John Sheppard in the fifth season opener. They didn't die.
      Ronon: All right, how do you want to play this?
      Sheppard: Shoot till we can't shoot anymore.
      Ronon: All right.
      Sheppard: Been a pleasure.
      Ronon: Same.
    • Invoked (sorta) later on by Rodney McKay, who starts to tell Daniel Jackson that he's always respected him, before the latter dies. After they're rescued, Rodney denies that this was what he was going to say.
      Daniel: You can only give compliments to the dying??
  • Stargate SG-1:
    • In the episode "Solitudes", O'Neill tells this to Carter as she tries to make her way to the surface. After she discovers that it's an ice planet, she comes back down, snuggles up to him, and tells him "It's been an honor serving with you too." As a matter of fact they're on Earth, in Antarctica - but it might as well be an Ice Planet given their condition and lack of equipment.
    • In the episode "Meridian", where Daniel Jackson dies (the first time it stuck), Teal'c has a tearful moment where he tells Jackson that if he succumbs, the battle against the Goa'uld will have lost one of its greatest warriors... and he will have lost one of his greatest friends.
  • Star Trek: The Original Series, "Balance of Terror". After Captain Kirk defeats a Romulan captain in space combat, and before the latter activates his self-destruct to avoid capture:
    Romulan captain: I regret that we meet in this way. You and I are of a kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend.
    Captain Kirk: What purpose will it serve to die?
    Romulan captain: We are creatures of duty, Captain. I have lived my life by it. Just...one more duty...to perform.
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation:
    • In "The Icarus Factor", Troi says this to Riker while he's considering accepting his own command.
    • In "Final Mission", Picard told Wesley, who had been accepted into Starfleet Academy, "You will be missed."
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine:
    • In the pilot episode, "The Emissary", Picard and O'Brien's final exchange before O'Brien leaves the Enterprise to begin his assignment on Deep Space Nine is pretty much this trope.
    • The trope is Played for Laughs in "The Circle", in which Major Kira is reassigned and various characters come by to say this to her. Unfortunately, they all show up at once, turning this into a Marx Brothers-worthy scene.
    • In "Armageddon Game" a dying Chief O'Brien says this to Julian Bashir, only to clearly wish he could take it back after they've all been rescued when Julian claims this makes them Fire-Forged Friends. As this is only Season 2, O'Brien is still at the "working with you is a pain in the ass" stage.
    • O'Brien finally manages to reciprocate in the Series Finale, "What You Leave Behind"; during the final battle with The Dominion, an injured O'Brien admits to Bashir that he will miss him. Not because he thinks he is dying from his injuries, but because he had decided to take a teaching position at Starfleet Academy. At the end of the episode, O'Brien and Bashir hug each other as O'Brien leaves the station.
  • In the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Discovery season 2, Captain Pike (temporarily in command of Discovery) returns to Enterprise before Discovery jumps to the future to keep a rogue A.I. from using her to carry out galactic omnicide. Just before he leaves The Bridge for the last time, he gives a speech about how much he enjoyed being their captain and how much he will personally miss all of them. In return, the bridge crew all stand at attention to give him a proper send-off.
  • At the end of Episode 10 of the "Revolution" season of Strike Back after the team has successfully completed the mission and everyone has survived, their leader has this to say:
    Coltrane: "Could have been worse. Let's go."
    • It's far more sentimental in the series finale even though the words are never explicitly spoken, but the gist is there.
  • Dean from Supernatural does not appreciate this, as shown from this exchange from the penultimate episode of Season 1, as they're preparing to confront the Yellow-Eyed Demon.
    Sam: [winding up a long speech] I just wanted to let you know, just in case.
    Dean: Are you kidding me? Don't say 'just in case something happens to you'! I don't want to hear that freaking speech, man! Nobody's dying tonight. Not us, not that family, nobody.
  • Said by steward John Bridgens in attempt to comfort the dying Captain Fitzjames’s in episode 9 of The Terror.
    Bridgens: It’s been an honor, serving with you sir. You’re a good man. There will be poems…
  • Stinger/Sasori Orange of Uchuu Sentai Kyuranger says this at the end of the message he leaves for the team before heading off to die fighting his brother.
  • Ultraman Z: As he's about to be obliterated due to absorbing the D4 Ray, Beliarok tells Haruki and Z that he enjoyed fighting and cutting down things alongside him and bids him farewell. Though he ends up coming back after Z defeats Destrudos and leaves Earth.
  • The West Wing: In the Grand Finale during the final conversation between Jed Bartlet and C.J. Cregg just before they both leave the White House for the last time.
    Jed: It's been a pleasure, Claudia Jean.
    C.J.: The pleasure's beeen all mine, sir.
  • Without a Trace. When an Internal Affairs investigation looks like it might result in the termination or transfer of several agents, two of them essentially exchange this sentiment. Quite touching considering the two of them couldn't stand each other at first:
    Danny: Hey, Martin. When this is all over and you and I are looking for our next gig, I think that you and I make a hell of a team.
    Martin: What, selling shoes?
    Danny: Shoes, boots, pumps, whatever.
    Martin: Sounds good to me.

    Music 
  • A "less is more" version in the Garth Brooks song "Ireland":
    And there are no words to be spoken,
    Just a look to say "Goodbye".
    I draw a breath and night is broken,
    As I scream our battle cry.
  • In Gordon Lightfoot's "The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"
    When supper time came the old cook came on deck,
    Saying fellows it's too rough to feed ya.
    At 7PM a main hatchway caved in,
    He said fellas it's been good to know ya.
  • The Smiths' "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"
    If a ten-ton truck
    Kills the both of us
    To die by your side
    Well, the pleasure - privilege is mine
  • Voltaire's "This Ships Going Down" has this as the chorus:
    'Cause this ship's going down
    All on account of the weather
    Though we'll drown
    There's no need to frown
    'Cause we're all going together
    And I won't say "Woe is me"
    As I disappear into the sea
    'Cause I'm in good company
    As we're all going together

    Other Sites 
  • SCP Foundation
    • SCP-1936 ("Daleport"). In a transcript of a speech by Reverend Hawshore, he tells the other members of the Victory Society that it has been an honor to work with them in their attempt to summon and trap the Eldritch Abominations.
    • SCP-2069 ("AEGIS"). When the E-3 Sentry plane monitoring the NOVA bomb attack on the alien invaders is hit by the aliens and is going down, the pilot tells the rest of the crew "It's been an honor, gentlemen."
    • SCP-2461 ("Aftermath"). Two of the GOC (Global Occult Coalition) agents who stole the Nazi UFO apparently didn't like each other very much, but their last words indicated their true feelings.
    VAV-2: For what it's worth, Fritz, you weren't so bad for a stuck up German ass.
    VAV-1: I feel the same way, you headstrong Ami bitch.

    Radio 
  • Used verbatim by the Ice Warrior Lord Zaarl to the Doctor in the Big Finish Doctor Who audio play "Red Dawn", as he prepares to sacrifice himself by standing in the path of the radioactive Martian sunrise.

    Tabletop Games 
  • Star Fleet Battles. Captain's Log magazine #47, short story "Into the Eagle's Nest". As a group of hostile Romulan warships approaches, the executive officer of a police ship (a Coast Guard cutter, essentially) tells his captain, "It's been an honor to serve with you." The captain survives, the executive officer doesn't.

    Theatre 
  • The song "For Good" in Wicked is this trope in music form. Preceded by this exchange:
    Elphaba: You're the only friend I've ever had.
    Glinda: I've had so many friends. And only one that mattered.

    Video Games 
  • Ravio's last words to Link in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, spoken just before Hilda sends Link and Zelda back to Hyrule.
  • World in Conflict: Sawyer says this twice. Once to Bannon as he does his Heroic Sacrifice, then a second time to Parker at the end of the campaign.
  • Similarly, in the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Winter Assault Imperial Guard ending, Chaplain Varnus says it's been an honor to have served with General Sturnn and his men. While those two certainly survive that particular battle, it is almost certain that they will never happen to fight alongside each other again. In return, Sturnn delivers his "We die standing" speech.
  • Spoofed in Uncharted: Drake's Fortune: Nathan Drake and Eddy Raja, the leader of the pirate gang who have been trying to kill him for most of the game and an apparent old rival of his, are surrounded by freakish mutants:
    Eddy: Drake... In case I don't make it, I just want to say... I hate your guts!
    Nathan: Yeah, likewise, pal!
  • In Resistance 2, after being pretty hostile to him throughout the course of the game, Capelli says this (more specifically, "Forgive me sir. It was an honor") to the lead, Nathan Hale, before shooting him in the head, as Hale has been taken over by the Chimeran virus.
  • Halo:
    • Used during the end cutscene of Halo 3.
      Cortana: If we don't make it...
      Master Chief: We'll make it.
      Cortana: It's been an honor serving with you, John.
    • And again in Halo: Reach; these are Emile's last words to Carter, who is mortally wounded and later sacrifices himself to destroy a Scarab.
      Emile: It's been an honor, sir.
      Carter: Likewise.
    • And in Halo Wars, spoken by Jerome-092 to Sergeant Forge, after Forge tells the Spartans to let him detonate the FTL-drive manually.
      Forge: Son, I have a feeling before this is over, we'll need every last Spartan in the fight. I can do this. Report back to the ship.
      Jerome: Good luck, sir. It's been an honor.
  • Final Fantasy:
    • In at least the Game Boy Advance version of Final Fantasy IV, Rubicante's last words are, "Farewell, valiants."
    • Final Fantasy X: Wakka delivers this as his contribution to the party's collective Crowning Moment of Awesome just before the fight against Yunalesca:
      Wakka: I can't believe we're gonna fight Lady Yunalesca! Gimme a break!
      Lulu: You could always run.
      Wakka: Hah! I'd never forgive myself - no way! Not if I ran away now. Even in death, ya?!
    • In Final Fantasy XII:
      Dr. Cid: Let him by, Venat. It is done. Ah, how I have enjoyed these six years.
      Venat: The pleasure was all mine.
    • In Final Fantasy XV in a mid-credits scene, showing Noctis' last night with his friends as he comes to terms with his destined Heroic Sacrifice.
      Noctis: Well... What can I say? You guys... are the best.
  • Done as part of the Downer Ending for Unreal II: The Awakening: your entire crew is proud of you and having served you.
  • Spoofed in Mana Khemia Alchemists Of Alrevis. Flay had to find a replacement for Vayne during the Tournament Arc. Who did he recruit? The referee (the Master of Ceremonies didn't mind, he allowed it for the entertainment value). When Vayne returns, the referee responds with the quote.
  • In Perfect Dark, Dr. Caroll says this as he bids his farewell to Joanna, before triggering a self-destruct that will take with him the entire Cetan spaceship on the seabed.
  • At the very end of Planescape: Torment, Morte tells the Nameless One "It's been a pleasure, chief." Interestingly, this is after the final battle, but just before the Nameless One finally dies and goes to hell.
  • Mass Effect:
    • In the first game, either Ashley or Kaidan says something to this effect ("I don't regret a thing") to Shepard before their imminent death by either a nuke or an army of geths.
    • All over the place in Mass Effect 3. Various members of the crew (both current and former) say it to Shepard as they prepare for the final mission towards Earth. Definitely a tearjerker moment.
    • Mordin's death in particular, sacrificing himself to cure the krogan of the genophage.
    • In a less tear-jerking example, at the end of his Romance Sidequest in the first game, Kaidan tells Shepard that, whatever happens, it has been a pleasure serving under her. One of her possible responses is "Kaidan, I don't think I've had the pleasure of you serving under me yet."
  • In Dragon Age: Origins, if the player's approval rating with Oghren is high enough but you leave him at the city gates before the final battle, it's possible to make this your farewell to him, or he may say it to the player first.
    • Teyrn Loghain invokes this towards the Warden, if they defeat him in a trial-by-combat and decide to execute him for his crimes. Resigning himself to his fate, he calmly states he that was wrong about them and that he's glad that his beloved homeland of Ferelden will be left in their capable hands. Alternatively, if they recruit him but decline to have him commit the necessary Heroic Sacrifice to slay the Archdemon in their place so that he may live to make up for his mistakes, he accepts this and tells them it was an honor to fight by their side, however briefly.
    • In Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, should the PC decide to defend Vigil's Keep during the final battle, Seneschal Varel is mortally wounded in combat, and will say this to the PC before dying in the thick of battle.
  • Parodied in Episode 4 of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People. As Uzi Bazooka shuts down, he suggests that, perhaps, in another life, he and Dangeresque could have been friends; Dangeresque tells him no dice, but Uzi Bazooka has gotta be the coolest robot name he's ever heard.
  • Half-Life 2: Episode 2 at the end of the chapter "Freeman Pontifex": The Vortigaunt who helped you through Victory Mine says this after you retrieve the car and prepare to go your separate ways.
  • All protagonist deaths in the Digital Devil Saga games involve this in some way shape or form. Even more epic since at the start of the first game, no one knew what honor was.
  • Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords: Near the end of the campaign, as things take a turn for the worse, you get this line from the Arceans.
    Our backs are against the wall, friend. There is nothing more to do but try to take out as many Drengin and Yor fleets as possible before we're overwhelmed. We are proud to have fought alongside the humans, YourLeaderName.
  • General Leang in Command & Conquer: Generals
    "This has been an interesting contest. Perhaps you will challenge me again?"
  • Near the end of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Snake essentially tells EVA this when they are (almost) shot down by two MiGs while escaping on a WIG.
    Snake: You were great, EVA.
    EVA: Huh?
    Snake: Thanks.
  • At one point in the penultimate level of Star Fox: Assault, Peppy Hare states "Fox, Krystal, Falco, Slippy... I'm proud to have served alongside you.", although when asked what he means, Peppy claims he was just babbling. Turns out, it was foreshadowing his attempted Heroic Sacrifice where he rams the almost-Aparoidized Great Fox into the shield generator of the planet.
  • Jak 3: Wastelander:
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim opens with captured Stormcloak rebels being lead to the headsman's block.
    Imperial Captain: Step towards the block when we call your name, one at a time!
    Hadvar: Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm.
    Hadvar: Ralof of Riverwood.
    Ralof: It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric.
  • In Dishonored, if you are in a low chaos run Samuel will not only tell you the following, but he will also be one of the characters drinking with Corvo in celebration during the Outsider's ending montage:
    Samuel: All I can say is it's been a pleasure serving with you. Maybe after all this is settled, we'll see each other again. Good luck Corvo, If anyone deserves it, you do. Give my best to Emily, after she is on the throne, she won't have time for an old man like me. I knew you were sharp Corvo, but somehow you managed to get through all this mess without losing sight of what really matters. For that, I respect you. This city is going to pull itself up, I believe, too many good people to let it all turn to ashes. I best be going, the battlefield's no place for an old sailor like me, that time is long past. Good luck, my friend.
  • World of Warcraft: Nazgrim says this to you when you defeat him (as a Horde player) in Siege of Orgrimmar. He didn't support what Garrosh was doing, but fought for him anyway due to a mix of Honor Before Reason and My Country, Right or Wrong.
  • Near the end of Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, Sissel and Lynne have this moment just before he and Missile leave the sinking submarine and are sent to the place where Detective Jowd, their last hope to come out of the bottom of the ocean, is:
    Lynne: (sad) Sissel?
    Sissel: Yes?
    Lynne: We never found out who you really were... but that doesn't matter right now. All I know is, I'm truly glad I met you tonight. (openly grins) Thank you... for everything.
    Sissel: And I'm glad I met you, Detective.
    Lynne: I'll never forget you... no matter what happens.
    Siseel: Here goes, then...
    Lynne: Good luck... friend!
  • In Destiny 2, the last mission features the powerless Vanguard and Guardians launching an attack to retake the city from Ghaul, stop him from stealing the light, and achieving godhood. As Zavala, Ikora, and Cayde are being slowly overrun they start saying their goodbyes just in case...except Cayde, who's...well...
    Zavala: Ikora. Cayde. If we don't make it out of this alive...know that I have never been prouder to be part of your fireteam.
    Ikora: If we have to die, at least we'll die in the shadow of the Traveler, old friend.
    Cayde-6: We're about to die, and you're still making speeches!?
  • In Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, some of the characters' last words are his or her thanks to their companions:
    Jesse: "Thanks for having me along this far...See you... on the other..."
    Tatiana: "Zeke, my sweet Ezekiel... thank for you coming into my life..."
  • Near the end of Crying Suns, Idaho—knowing that many of his people are about to die and that it might be permanent this time—addresses the crew to tell them that he could not have asked for a better one, and to thank them for all they've done over this life and all their previous ones.
  • One possible interaction between the heroes of Overwatch''s "Storm Rising" mission is Winston telling the rest of the team that it's been an honor. Not because they're expecting to die on the mission or anything, it's because Sojourn is going to kill him for a crack he made while the radio link was active.
  • The "All is Lost!" event in King of the Castle, triggered by the Kingdom's Stability falling to zero by the end of a season, involves a peasant revolution to topple the King and replace them with one of the regions' Claimants. The Chancellor, generally the most loyal of the King's inner circle to the Monarch, decides it is Better to Die than Be Killed and jumps out of a window to their death, but not before telling the King "It has been an honour."

    Web Animation 
  • Another spoof from Red vs. Blue.
    Church: Tucker... I just wanted you to know... I always hated you. I always hated you the most.
    Tucker: I know. Now hurry up and die, you prick.
    • Grif and Simmons pulled a spoof of it off during Reconstruction, when they were on the firing line for selling ammunition to the enemy. You think it's gonna be played straight, but of course Grif ruins the mood, making Simmons lose the will to say his presumably positive things.
    • It is actually played straight in Season 9. Well... sort of.
      Sarge: Men, it's been an honor to serve with you. And I say that using the loosest possible definition of the words 'honor' and 'serve'.
    • Played straight in the Season 10 finale, when F.I.L.S.S. says this to the Director right before she deletes herself at his command. He commits suicide shortly after.
    • Played straight again in the Season 13 finale, when The Reds and Blues prepare to face Hargroves forces.
      Sarge: Gentlemen, looks like this is it.
      Simmons: Sir, it's been an honor.
    • There is also a Meaningful Echo that plays between Church and Tucker.
      Church: I just wanted to let you know. Out of all the guys I've ever known, I hated you all the least.
    • In Season 16's finale, after the Reds and Blues cause a Reality-Breaking Paradox and start vanishing in a Time Crash, Sarge says "Gentlemen, it's been an honor" as they Fade to White.
  • In The Gentleman Pirate, the quartermaster says a variant of this right before he dies in the Battle of Cape Fear River.
    Quartermaster: It has been a pleasure serving you, Mr. Bonnet.

    Webcomics 
  • Played straight in Fans! when Rikk is struck by an intensely realistic vision of all of his friends and family dead or dying.
  • Mocked in Exterminatus Now the same way as in World in Conflict:
    Eastwood: Guys... just in case we don't get out of this, I want you to know... You're all wankers and I hate you.
  • In Sam & Fuzzy, parodied.
  • When Tagon's ship is facing imminent destruction in a Schlock Mercenary arc, this is one of the things he considers as his final message to the crew (who don't know about the ship's peril). In the end, he decides to lie to them instead.
  • Siegfried's death in Dominic Deegan. Dominic is actively crying while he sincerely gives him his last rites, which are in the form of a ritual benediction in-setting...and then the guy goes to Hell. And Karnak shows up to personally gloat over it. Owch.
    • It goes:
      Siegfried: You would have made a v-very noble knight...I'm...sorry if I w-was rash earlier...farewell, Dominic Deegan...I...hope you...you do not...forget me...
      Beat
      Dominic: May you know the glorious joy of heaven, Siegfried. Your soul will shine as the brightest star. May you know peace and happiness forever and— [ Siegfried's spirit vanishes from his arms on the metaphysical plane.]
    • We know these are last rites rather than a spontaneous (wrong) seer speech because Dominic got Jayden to do it for Gregory back in the first Barthis arc. Dominic never got to the forehead-kissing part, though.
  • The Order of the Stick:
  • Questionable Content: Bubbles says this word for word to Faye before undergoing a risky mental probe at the hands of Spookybot, a.k.a. Yay Newfriend.
  • Skin Horse:
  • In Ctrl+Alt+Del's Console Wars, the Xbox One saboteurs [1] they can no longer time-bomb the bridge and a PS4 platoon is advancing on them, so they decide to manually detonate the bomb.
  • Stand Still, Stay Silent: When Sigrun starts getting doubts about Lalli's capacity to find a safe path in Chapter 8, her response is to tell the rest of the crew that it was nice knowing them and that she hopes she'll be able to have a chat with them in Valhalla.
  • In Recursion, as Jade's fighter is going down, she tells one of her pilots that it was an honor.

    Web Original 
  • In Greek Ninja, Yamauchi-sensei starts his final speech to Sasha with "It was an honor to have you as my student...".
  • In Worm, when Weaver's team is cornered by The Irregulars, Lung, who is firmly convinced of his own likelihood of survival given enough time to power up, has his own unique twist on the concept:
    Lung: For your sacrifice, I will grant you a favor. Tell me if you want me to kill someone, an enemy you want gone.

    Web Videos 
  • Vax attempts this before a major battle in Critical Role, but the rest of the party aren't having it.
    Percy: Screw you, I want my final words with you to be indignant and irritated!
  • The Downer Ending of Demo Reel has Donnie forced to separate from his friends (he'll get erased to be someone else and they'll fade into the Plot Hole), and badass closed-off Carl tries to make him feel slightly less terrified by giving him a salute.
  • Dragon Ball Z Abridged:
    • Piccolo (fused with Nail and Kami, still existing as voices in his head) gets his neck broken, a blast through his chest, and then tossed into the ocean by Cell. As he's sinking, there's this little heartwarming gem despite all the times the three constantly bicker and pick at each other:
      Kami: Well, that's it then, isn't it?
      Nail: Gentlemen, it's been a privilege fighting with you.
    • Double subverted in Episode 60. Thinking Cell is going to destroy the world, Krillin finally works up the courage to say "I love you" to an unconscious Android 18. Then Yamcha takes the opportunity to speak up...
      Yamcha: Hey, Tien, since this is the end...
      Tien: If you're about to say "I love you", I swear to God...
      Yamcha: Actually, I was gonna say you're the biggest asshole I know.
      Tien: [mildly surprised] ...Oh.
      Yamcha: You're also my best friend.
      Tien: [sincerely] So are you, man.
  • In Part 2 of Kickassia, Benzaie has strapped explosives to Beary, his stuffed bear. During the invasion of Molossia, Benzaie bids farewell to Beary, who replies, "It has been an honor to serve you, mon ami," and the two hug. Beary explodes before Benzaie can throw him, though.
  • Not many of these speeches include a knee to the crotch or a statement that the listener should kill himself if the speaker does not return. Manwhores Randy's does. Only in Manwhores.
  • Shack Tactical is a gaming clan mostly focused on military simulation games like ARMA. At the end of the video called Shooting Gallery uploaded by the clan's founder Dslyecxi, the shattered remains of an overwhelmed platoon are pinned down by enemy fire and desperate for Dslyecxi and the other helicopter pilots to find a way to extract them. Just as Dslyecxi and another pilot start a dangerous maneuver to buy a few seconds worth of time so Dslyecxi can fly his helicopter in, allow the survivors to board, and then hopefully fly away without getting shot down by the enemy fire, a survivor named Kustom loses consciousness due to his wounds. At first The Medic tries to drag Kustom to the helicopter, but with the potential of the helicopter getting blown up at any time and everyone on board getting killed, Dslyecxi orders to medic to abandon Kustom and get on board. Eventually the medic complies and the group leaves Kustom behind. When Kustom regains consciousness a minute later, he radios the group to let them know that he understands why they left him and that he wishes them well with a short, simple message:
    Kustom: Godspeed, gentlemen.
  • Along with remembering their former reviews, this happens with the crew in To Boldly Flee when it looks like the Plot Hole is going to absorb them all.
  • In the Yu-Gi-Oh! The Abridged Series 3D movie, Yami says it was an honor to play card games with Yusei and even with Jaden.

    Western Animation 
  • In the Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers episode "Queen's Gun", after destroying the Queen's super-weapon and blasting off from the explosion, the Rangers realize their getaway ship has about ten minutes of air left. Zachary's reaction is to tell his crew that he is proud of them, no matter what.
  • Amphibia: Near the end of the series finale, when the girls are preparing to leave Amphibia for good, Grime says this to Sasha while the two of them are trying to play it cool... and ten seconds later, they're hugging and ugly-crying over how much they'll miss each other.
  • Parodied in the Chowder episode "The Apprentice Scouts" when Chowder, Panini, and Gorgonzola are cornered by a crazed Gazpacho that they think has a deadly disease.
    Chowder: [to Panini and Gorgonzola] Guys, since this looks like the end, I just want you to know...You're not really the two people I wanted to die with.
    Gorgonzola: Ditto.
    Panini: [to Chowder] Actually, I had always planned on the two of us being buried together in a tomb.
    [Beat]
    Chowder: If we make it through this, you and I are having a serious talk.
  • In the Defenders of the Earth episode "Call of the Eternals", the Defenders defeat two out of the three Guardian Robots, but the third (which has absorbed the life forces of its comrades, making it too powerful to defeat in battle) corners most of them inside Monitor, as Flash tries to lure the Guardian to its doom in a black hole. However, if this plan fails, the Defenders are the ones who will be doomed:
    Lothar: If the Guardian isn't summoned back to the Beacon soon . . .
    Mandrake: If he isn't, then all I can say is it's been a honour working with you, Defenders of the Earth.
  • Invincible (2021): Agent Donald says this to his boss Cecil as Omni-Man is crushing his spine, before pressing a self-destruct button to explode the building he's in and the surrounding area sky-high. Cecil grieves for a bit, and salutes his honor.
  • Justice League:
    • In "Legends", the Justice Guild, heroes of an alternate reality who discover that their world was destroyed by a nuclear holocaust, and that they were only the memories of a telepathic man-child given life. When they realized that they would cease to exist in order to save what was left of humanity in their world, they silently nodded and shouted their battle-cry, "Let Justice prevail!"
      "We gave our lives once to save this world. We can do it again."
    • In "Starcrossed", Batman says this to the Flash and J'onn while preparing to make a Heroic Sacrifice the only way Batman knows how (which is to say, awesomely): Kamikaze piloting the Watchtower into a doomsday device. Superman saves him at the last minute, though.
  • Subverted in Megas XLR, when an out-of-control Megas is on a collision course with a Glorft starship, one pilot looks at the other one and goes, "I've always hated you." Seconds later, Megas plows through the ship's bridge, and the ship explodes.
  • She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: In "The Sword: Part 2", Bow rides a horse that he just met into battle. When they are surrounded, Bow tells the horse it was an honor fighting alongside it. Fortunately, She-Ra rescues them.
  • In one three-parter of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, R2-D2 is placed in command of some reprogrammed battle droids for an infiltration mission. When the mission starts to fall apart, the battle droids stay behind to hold off the Separatists and one of them tells R2 "It has been an honor serving with you, Commander."
  • Tales of Arcadia:
    • Trollhunters: These are Draal's last words to Jim as he's dying from the wound inflicted on him by Angor Rot.
    • Wizards (2020): When General Aarrrrggh crashes into Dwoza, demanding that the trolls there either join Gunmar or die, Jim and Callista are the only ones willing to fight him off. Callista picks up a warhammer and prepares for the worst with a "See you on the other side, Jim."
  • Early on in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003), when the turtles are facing down an army of mousers, Raph says this:
    Raph: This is it... It's been fun, guys.
    Mikey: Even me, Raph?
    Raph: Even you, Mikey. 'Specially you.
  • Parodying "serious" cartoons and the action medium in general, Beast Boy says this in the Teen Titans Go! episode "Let's Get Serious".
  • At the near end of The Tick episode "The Tick vs. The Big Nothing", before going off to stop the Heys, Tick and Arthur have this little exchange while shaking hands:
    Tick: Arthur, if we don't make it, it's been really nice knowing you.
    Arthur: You too, Tick.
  • Transformers:
    • Beast Wars: Rattrap did this to Dinobot in the famous "Code of Hero" episode. Made even better that it was a Call-Back moment too. The beginning of the episode had him snidely say peripherally to Dinobot, "You know, I used to figure I had you pegged: 'Oh, yeah, he's a slag-spoutin' saurian, but at least you know where he stands'. Guess we live and learn." Made even more hurtful that Dinobot felt the truth in the statement. At the end, Rattrap said while fighting back the tears, "Like I said, you're just a slag-spoutin' saurian. [Beat] But it's nice to know where you stand."
    • Shows up in Transformers: Animated's first season finale. In a desperate stand against the Decepticons, Optimus tells his crew that he wouldn't want anyone else by his side. (Bumblebee, on the other hand, replies that it'd be nice if they were backed up by the Elite Guard.)
    • In the G1 episode "The Core", we get this from the Constructicons when they face a challenge that even Devastator might not survive.
      Scavenger: Look, guys, if we don't make it, it's been great being part of the team!
      Bonecrusher: Hey, we're not scrap-iron yet. So don't get drippy! Now, let's transform!
    • Transformers: Prime:
      • Arcee says this to Optimus in an episode where they believe they were going to freeze to death in the Arctic.
      • Said by Ultra Magnus during "Evolution" when he and Wheeljack are about to meet their ends at the hands of an enraged Predaking.
      • In "Thirst", when Knock Out and Starscream are cornered by Terrorcon zombies.
  • What If…? (2021): In "What If... Zombies?!", Okoye's last words to T'Challa are "My king, Wakanda Forever."

 
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Alternative Title(s): It Has Been An Honour

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Melony Cannot Free Axol

Despite having been granted immense powers by the Fierce Deity Mask, Melony is unable to break Axol free of Zeros' control.

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