Back from the Dead: Difference between revisions

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In the ''[[Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek Voyager]]'' episode "Mortal Coil", Neelix actually dies for real but is ([[The Scrappy|some would argue unfortunately]]) brought back to life some 18 hours later. This is an example of [[Contractual Immortality]]. In order to qualify for being brought Back From The Dead, a character in a TV show would have to be still dead at the end of one episode and resurrected, by whatever means, in a later episode (2-parters don't count).
In the ''[[Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek Voyager]]'' episode "Mortal Coil", Neelix actually dies for real but is ([[The Scrappy|some would argue unfortunately]]) brought back to life some 18 hours later. This is an example of [[Contractual Immortality]]. In order to qualify for being brought Back From The Dead, a character in a TV show would have to be still dead at the end of one episode and resurrected, by whatever means, in a later episode (2-parters don't count).


This is exceedingly common in American [[Superhero]] comic books, to the point that whenever a popular character dies, it's a given that they'll be back on within no less than five years. At one time, it was said that "Nobody ever stays dead in comics, except [[Captain America|Bucky]], [[Spider-Man|Uncle Ben]], and [[Batman|Jason Todd]]." Naturally, since that phrase was coined, Bucky and Jason Todd have since been recalled to life.
This is exceedingly common in American [[Superhero]] comic books, to the point that whenever a popular character dies, it's a given that they'll be back on within no less than five years. At one time, it was said that "Nobody ever stays dead in comics, except [[Captain America (comics)|Bucky]], [[Spider-Man|Uncle Ben]], and [[Batman|Jason Todd]]." Naturally, since that phrase was coined, Bucky and Jason Todd have since been recalled to life.


See [[Death Is Cheap]] for when this becomes a regular feature of a 'verse, [[Sorting Algorithm of Deadness]] for the odds a particular death will stick, and [[Sorting Algorithm of Deadness/WMG|the accompanying betting pool]] for which modern Lazarus is due back next. See also [[Resurrective Immortality]] for where this is an everyday part of a character's life.
See [[Death Is Cheap]] for when this becomes a regular feature of a 'verse, [[Sorting Algorithm of Deadness]] for the odds a particular death will stick, and [[Sorting Algorithm of Deadness/WMG|the accompanying betting pool]] for which modern Lazarus is due back next. See also [[Resurrective Immortality]] for where this is an everyday part of a character's life.
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* ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' is rife with examples of this trope. Talking about how many times Yuusuke comes back from the dead wouldn't even be that full of spoilers (we're talking first episode here).
* ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' is rife with examples of this trope. Talking about how many times Yuusuke comes back from the dead wouldn't even be that full of spoilers (we're talking first episode here).
* The aptly named Lifebringer in ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]''. The exact mechanics are unknown as of yet, but its heavily implied that he's come back somehow.
* The aptly named Lifebringer in ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]''. The exact mechanics are unknown as of yet, but its heavily implied that he's come back somehow.
* ''[[Rosario to Vampire|Rosario + Vampire]]'''s Aono Tsukune takes this trope to the extreme. As he is a normal human with vampire energy attached to his human cells, he constantly dies from lethal attacks, in the sense that his heart beat stops, and comes back regenerating himself, usually in his most powerful, unstoppable form. In fact, one could say that the easiest way for him to attain his strongest power is simply by dying.
* ''[[Rosario + Vampire]]'''s Aono Tsukune takes this trope to the extreme. As he is a normal human with vampire energy attached to his human cells, he constantly dies from lethal attacks, in the sense that his heart beat stops, and comes back regenerating himself, usually in his most powerful, unstoppable form. In fact, one could say that the easiest way for him to attain his strongest power is simply by dying.
* In the ''[[Death Note]]'' manga and anime, any human whose name is written into the Death Note is [[Killed Off for Real]]. In the manga pilot, however, there exists a "Death Eraser" that can restore them to life so long as their bodies haven't been cremated yet.
* In the ''[[Death Note]]'' manga and anime, any human whose name is written into the Death Note is [[Killed Off for Real]]. In the manga pilot, however, there exists a "Death Eraser" that can restore them to life so long as their bodies haven't been cremated yet.
* In the anime [[Daisuke Bu Bu Cha Cha]], a toddler's pet dog comes back from the dead in the form of a toy car.
* In the anime [[Daisuke Bu Bu Cha Cha]], a toddler's pet dog comes back from the dead in the form of a toy car.
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** Jackson even manages to turn it into a sort of [[Badass Boast]]. Someone asks if he'll ever stop fighting, and he responds, "Not till I'm dead." Then after a beat, adds, "Sometimes not even then."
** Jackson even manages to turn it into a sort of [[Badass Boast]]. Someone asks if he'll ever stop fighting, and he responds, "Not till I'm dead." Then after a beat, adds, "Sometimes not even then."
* ''[[My Mother the Car]]'', in which the main character's mother is reincarnated as an old car.
* ''[[My Mother the Car]]'', in which the main character's mother is reincarnated as an old car.
* Averted three times, with three of the principal characters, in ''[[American Gothic]]'': in the very first episode, Merlyn Temple is murdered by Sheriff Lucas Buck--but we see her as a ghost immediately in the very same episode and she remains around as Caleb's [[Spirit Advisor]] for the rest of the series; Caleb himself later dies after an electrocution accident, but is immediately resuscitated by Sheriff Buck's powers; and in the penultimate episode of the series, Buck is seemingly killed and buried (after being stabbed in [[Achilles Heel|the third eye]], only to see his eyes pop open in the coffin just before the credits roll. (He isn't dug up until the series finale, however.)
* Averted three times, with three of the principal characters, in ''[[American Gothic]]'': in the very first episode, Merlyn Temple is murdered by Sheriff Lucas Buck--but we see her as a ghost immediately in the very same episode and she remains around as Caleb's [[Spirit Advisor]] for the rest of the series; Caleb himself later dies after an electrocution accident, but is immediately resuscitated by Sheriff Buck's powers; and in the penultimate episode of the series, Buck is seemingly killed and buried (after being stabbed in [[Achilles' Heel|the third eye]], only to see his eyes pop open in the coffin just before the credits roll. (He isn't dug up until the series finale, however.)
* John Sheridan from ''[[Babylon 5]]''. (Complete with the [[Monty Python and The Holy Grail]] reference, "I got better.")
* John Sheridan from ''[[Babylon 5]]''. (Complete with the [[Monty Python and the Holy Grail]] reference, "I got better.")
* [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer|Buffyverse]] examples: Buffy was dead for nearly five months at the conclusion of Season 5 but she was brought back my Willow's magic, Angel after Season 2 was brought back from hell, Spike ([[Heroic Sacrifice]] in the last episode of ''Buffy'', returned as a ghost on ''[[Angel]]''). Many Buffyverse characters were [[Killed Off for Real]], though, sometimes despite efforts to bring them back supernaturally (Joyce Summers and Tara; Whedon actually did once plan to resurrect the latter, though). ''[[Angel]]'' also did a [[Lampshade Hanging]] on this trope in the episode "Shells," in which Angel and Spike talk about how in "their world", dead doesn't always mean dead. The trope is subverted in the same episode, as it's made clear that even though Fred's body is being used by the demon goddess Illyria, Fred can't be brought back by supernatural means as one might expect (the writers did plan on eventually splitting them apart though, had the series not been denied a sixth season).
* [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer|Buffyverse]] examples: Buffy was dead for nearly five months at the conclusion of Season 5 but she was brought back my Willow's magic, Angel after Season 2 was brought back from hell, Spike ([[Heroic Sacrifice]] in the last episode of ''Buffy'', returned as a ghost on ''[[Angel]]''). Many Buffyverse characters were [[Killed Off for Real]], though, sometimes despite efforts to bring them back supernaturally (Joyce Summers and Tara; Whedon actually did once plan to resurrect the latter, though). ''[[Angel]]'' also did a [[Lampshade Hanging]] on this trope in the episode "Shells," in which Angel and Spike talk about how in "their world", dead doesn't always mean dead. The trope is subverted in the same episode, as it's made clear that even though Fred's body is being used by the demon goddess Illyria, Fred can't be brought back by supernatural means as one might expect (the writers did plan on eventually splitting them apart though, had the series not been denied a sixth season).
* Villains of ''[[Farscape]]'' made a habit of dying and then coming back for more. One villain, Durka, came back twice until Rygel took his head off and stuck it on a scepter.
* Villains of ''[[Farscape]]'' made a habit of dying and then coming back for more. One villain, Durka, came back twice until Rygel took his head off and stuck it on a scepter.
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** Starscream has this happen a lot too. In addition to the G1 version, he was killed and resurrected on two occasions in the Marvel comic, and in ''[[Transformers Animated]]'', he becomes immortal due to a shard of the Allspark - which allows him to suffer Waspinator-class indignities, ''actually'' die, but then revive in seconds. The [[Noble Demon]] [[Transformers Armada]] Starscream also dies and returns in Energon, but he was [[Not Himself]].
** Starscream has this happen a lot too. In addition to the G1 version, he was killed and resurrected on two occasions in the Marvel comic, and in ''[[Transformers Animated]]'', he becomes immortal due to a shard of the Allspark - which allows him to suffer Waspinator-class indignities, ''actually'' die, but then revive in seconds. The [[Noble Demon]] [[Transformers Armada]] Starscream also dies and returns in Energon, but he was [[Not Himself]].
* ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'': In the last episode of Season 1 the boys are killed. In the first episode of Season 2 their clones are reactivated and filled with their stored memories. Dr. Venture explains that this is the thirteen time it has happened - and shows all previous deaths.
* ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'': In the last episode of Season 1 the boys are killed. In the first episode of Season 2 their clones are reactivated and filled with their stored memories. Dr. Venture explains that this is the thirteen time it has happened - and shows all previous deaths.
* In ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' it is made fairly clear in [[Avatar: The Last Airbender/The Crossroads of Destiny/Recap|The Crossroads of Destiny]] that Azula's lightning attack on Aang in the season two finale succeded in killing him and he was only brought back by Katara using the spirit water to heal him. He even says as much:
* In ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' it is made fairly clear in [[Avatar: The Last Airbender/Recap/Book 2/20 The Crossroads of Destiny|The Crossroads of Destiny]] that Azula's lightning attack on Aang in the season two finale succeded in killing him and he was only brought back by Katara using the spirit water to heal him. He even says as much:
{{quote|"I went down! I didn't just get hurt, did I? It was worse than that. I was gone. But you brought me back."}}
{{quote|"I went down! I didn't just get hurt, did I? It was worse than that. I was gone. But you brought me back."}}
** Tragically [[Subverted Trope|subverted]] in Jet's case in [[Avatar: The Last Airbender/Lake Laogai/Recap|Lake Laogai]]. A ''lot'' of fans speculated that the poor guy [[He's Just Hiding|didn't really perish from Long Feng's attack]], but the commentary for "The Ember Island Players" [[Killed Off for Real|confirms that he's dead]].
** Tragically [[Subverted Trope|subverted]] in Jet's case in [[Avatar: The Last Airbender/Recap/Book 2/17 Lake Laogai|Lake Laogai]]. A ''lot'' of fans speculated that the poor guy [[He's Just Hiding|didn't really perish from Long Feng's attack]], but the commentary for "The Ember Island Players" [[Killed Off for Real|confirms that he's dead]].
* The two-part season 4 finale of ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars|Star Wars the Clone Wars]]'' has Darth Maul being found by his brother Savage Opress with his [[Half the Man He Used To Be|torso]] fused to the body of a spider (he was bisected by Obi-Wan at the end of ''The Phantom Menace'') and no memory of his past life. After getting a pair of cybernetic legs and regaining his sanity and memory Savage helps him get his revenge on Obi-Wan.
* The two-part season 4 finale of ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars|Star Wars the Clone Wars]]'' has Darth Maul being found by his brother Savage Opress with his [[Half the Man He Used To Be|torso]] fused to the body of a spider (he was bisected by Obi-Wan at the end of ''The Phantom Menace'') and no memory of his past life. After getting a pair of cybernetic legs and regaining his sanity and memory Savage helps him get his revenge on Obi-Wan.


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