Breaking the Bonds: Difference between revisions

Line 1:

[[File:~~breakingthebonds_4686~~.jpg|link=Superman|right]]

[[File:breakingthebonds 4686.jpg|link=Superman|right]]

{{quote|'''Q:''' Did Londo's men weaken the chains after all, or was G'Kar just really determined?

'''A:''' That was one determined Narn.|JMS talking to fans about ''[[Babylon 5]]''.}}

Heroes showing off their ~~power -- literally~~ or ~~symbolically -- by~~ busting out of chains, ropes, or similar restraints. Sometimes it involves the "flex my pecs to bust these bindings" thing, or it can be "I'm so pissed off, it's like my handcuffs are made of lead." Whichever the case, [[Heroic Resolve]] or [[Unstoppable Rage]] is usually at work.

Heroes showing off their power—literally or symbolically—by busting out of chains, ropes, or similar restraints. Sometimes it involves the "flex my pecs to bust these bindings" thing, or it can be "I'm so pissed off, it's like my handcuffs are made of lead." Whichever the case, [[Heroic Resolve]] or [[Unstoppable Rage]] is usually at work.

If it turns out that the prisoner could have busted out any time, he's a [[Play-Along Prisoner]]. If he ''already has'', and is only pretending to be still restrained, he's [[Slipped the Ropes]].

Line 33:

* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's]].'' JACK ATLAS did this '''twice''' in the series, with minimal effort. There is a reason why fans consider him the ''Yu-Gi-Oh'' version of Chuck Norris.

* ''[[Naruto]]'' has {{spoiler|Kisame}} tearing apart the thick wooden stock he was held in after freeing himself from a [[Mind Probe]] by biting his own tongue.

* In an early episode of ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam Wing|Gundam Wing]]'', Heero brute-forces one hand out of some hospital ~~restraints -- in~~ spite of the fact that it turns his wrist into a bloody mess.

* In an early episode of ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam Wing|Gundam Wing]]'', Heero brute-forces one hand out of some hospital restraints—in spite of the fact that it turns his wrist into a bloody mess.

* When the main group of ''[[Hatenkou Yuugi]]'' get arrested, Alzeid breaks his cuffs as if they were made of paper.

Line 99:

"Oh, these," Retief said. He tensed his arms; the soft aluminum links stretched, broke. He shook the light metal free. "We diplomats like to go along with colorful local customs...." }}

* In [[Harrison Bergeron]] when Harrison tears off his handicaps, straps "guaranteed to support 5000 pounds"

* In ''Creatures of Light and Darkness'' by [[Roger Zelazny]], the hero is [[Strapped to An Operating Table]] with his powers deactivated. He manages to break one hand ~~free--which~~ is enough to freak out the ~~villains--before~~ help arrives.

* In ''Creatures of Light and Darkness'' by [[Roger Zelazny]], the hero is [[Strapped to An Operating Table]] with his powers deactivated. He manages to break one hand free—which is enough to freak out the villains—before help arrives.

* In ''[[Artemis Fowl|Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code]]'', Arno Blunt apparently "ripped those handcuffs apart as though they were links in a paper chain."

* ''[[Discworld]]'':

Line 131:

== [[Music]] ==

* [[media:~~Disturbed_Asylum~~-~~TVTropes_9069~~.jpg|The newly revealed cover art]] for [[Disturbed]]'s upcoming album ''Asylum'' pictures their [[Mascot]] doing this.

* [[media:Disturbed Asylum-TVTropes 9069.jpg|The newly revealed cover art]] for [[Disturbed]]'s upcoming album ''Asylum'' pictures their [[Mascot]] doing this.

* The [[U2]] song "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" has the verse: "You broke the bonds/And you loosed the chains".

Line 140:

== Religion and Mythology ==

* In a Greek legend told by Aristoxenos (4th century BCE), Pythias was convicted of conspiring against the tyrant. Damon volunteered to take Pythias's place so that Pythias could make arrangements for his family before his execution. Pythias made the arrangements and hurried back so that Damon would not be executed. Bandits captured him and left him tied to a tree. Pythias frees himself by [[Breaking the Bonds]] and arrives just in time to prevent Damon 's execution. (The tyrant was so impressed by the [[Power of Friendship]] that he pardoned Pythias.)

* In a Greek legend told by Aristoxenos (4th century BCE), Pythias was convicted of conspiring against the tyrant. Damon volunteered to take Pythias's place so that Pythias could make arrangements for his family before his execution. Pythias made the arrangements and hurried back so that Damon would not be executed. Bandits captured him and left him tied to a tree. Pythias frees himself by Breaking the Bonds and arrives just in time to prevent Damon 's execution. (The tyrant was so impressed by the [[Power of Friendship]] that he pardoned Pythias.)

* The ending of the story of Samson in [[The Bible]] (making this at least [[Older Than Feudalism]]).

* Fenrir from [[Norse Mythology]] did this with every chain the Aesir used on him, except for the ribbon Gleipnir. It looked like any other ribbon, but was made from impossible ~~things--the~~ sound of a cat's footfall, the beard of a woman, the roots of a mountain, the sinews of a bear, the breath of a fish, and the saliva of a bird. Therefore, it was unbreakable.

* Fenrir from [[Norse Mythology]] did this with every chain the Aesir used on him, except for the ribbon Gleipnir. It looked like any other ribbon, but was made from impossible things—the sound of a cat's footfall, the beard of a woman, the roots of a mountain, the sinews of a bear, the breath of a fish, and the saliva of a bird. Therefore, it was unbreakable.

* In one myth about [[Hercules]], Hercules traveled to Egypt, where the Pharaoh captured him and was going to sacrifice him to the Egyptian gods. However, Hercules broke the chains binding him to the altar, scared the Pharaoh into hiding, and escaped.

Line 192:

== Real Life ==

* Most handcuffs are rated to resist 495 lbs (about 2200 newtons) of force for 30 seconds. This is one of the reasons they are considered "temporary" restraining devices.

* Most handcuffs are rated to resist 495 lbs (about 2200 newtons) of force for 30 seconds. This is one of the reasons they are considered "temporary" restraining devices.