Basic Trope: A villain offers to spare one of his would-be victims, for whatever reason.
- Straight: The muggle Bob helped Emperor Evulz with his latest scheme. In return, Evulz tells Bob he will be spared when he takes over the world.
- Exaggerated:
- Evulz says this to anyone who helps him even in the slightest.
- Evulz minions are all working for specifically because he'll spare them for their service.
- For the service of being a Worthy Opponent, Evulz offers to spare Bob's entire extended family.
- Downplayed: As thanks for Bob's service, Evulz immediately kills him quickly and painlessly so he will be spared the horror of seeing his grand design.
- Justified:
- The only law Evulz respects is the idea that his word is his bond, and he wants to reward Bob for his kindness.
- Evulz wants someone to Bring News Back to his allies and spread his reputation.
- Inverted:
- I'll Kill You!
- Bob is immediately killed after helping Evulz.
- Evulz's plan doesn't allow him to spare Bob, so instead he promises he won't go after Bob's True Companions after killing him.
- Subverted:
- Evulz tells Bob he will be spared. He then waves for his mooks to shoot Bob down.
- Bob will be spared… from death
- Double Subverted:
- Evulz stops his mooks before they can fire, just wanting to see to the look on Bob's face. He then orders them to stand down as he leaves.
- Bob will be spared from seeing what Evulz is about to do to his family.
- Parodied: Whenever Evulz receives a favor, he says he'll kill his benefactor last. Eventually, he gets confused and has to consult a list to determine who, in fact, he will kill last.
- Zig Zagged: Evulz says he will spare Bob... but also mentions that he changes his mind a lot, with the implicit threat that Bob will be killed if he stays around any longer. Bob thinks better of it and leaves, but ends up being killed by The Dragon Drake, due to a miscommunication on Evulz's part. Upon hearing this, Evulz is disappointed, but not saddened, remarking that accidents happens and he'll clearly communicate who is to be spared next time.
- Averted: Evulz promises nothing.
- Enforced: The writers still have plans for Bob, but they realize they've pretty clearly set up Evulz to kill him. This is the only way to ensure he survives long enough to complete the planned arc.
- Lampshaded: "That's kind of a cruddy reward — not that I'm not grateful or anything..."
- Invoked: Evulz decided to start sparing random victims as a PR move.
- Exploited:
- Bob knows Evulz's word his his bond, and so he can oppose his plans without fear from reprisal so long as he does one favor first.
- Emperor Evulz is actually Good Running Evil, and uses this trope to seem evil even as he's being kind, as he intends to actually spare everyone.
- Defied: "You've done me a great service... I will kill you first. I hate owing anyone ANYTHING."
- Discussed: "Evulz is gonna keep him around just because he laughed at his bad jokes? Man, I never know what to expect from the boss."
- Conversed: ???
- Deconstructed: Bob is spared... his family and friends aren't. Having lost everyone he knew and loved, Bob vows revenge on the man who dared to spare him, becoming Evulz's worst enemy.
- Reconstructed:
- Recognising the issues with his trope, Bob demands that if he goes free, his family goes free as well. Evulz is impressed by his gumption, and allows them all to go.
- Evulz, for his part is confused at why Bob is so angry: after all, he kept his word, didn't he? As a result, he keeps sparing Bob well after the latter has become his enemy, in part to understand his viewpoint.
- Implied: Bob survived Evulz's scheme for some mysterious reason, but neither he nor the audience knows why.
- Played For Laughs: Evulz drops this line into a casual conversation after Bob tells him a funny joke. Bob is confused and disturbed by the implications.
You have viewed this page well. You Will Be Spared
