Finish Him!: Difference between revisions

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The title for this trope may be a ''[[Mortal Kombat]]'' [[Memetic Mutation|meme]], but it's ''not'' about that.

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== Film ==

* [[Spartacus]] features what may be the [[Ur Example]] in modern film, with Spartacus and the "Nubian" forced to fight to the death at the gladiator school (in violation of school policy that they would not be forced to kill one another while there) for the amusement of several Roman nobles. In a bit of an aversion, Spartacus, the titular hero, actually loses and his opponent is the one who refuses to carry out the killing blow, opting instead to throw his trident at the evil Roman politician who gave the order and then climb the wall of the arena to get at him. The incident (along with Spartacus' love interest being taken away from him) is what kicks off the riot at the gladiator training facility and starts the slave revolt that forms the main plot.

* ''[[Star Wars]]''

** In ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'', Palpatine gives Luke the same instruction as he stands over the defeated Darth Vader. This time, however, it doesn't work, and Luke's refusal to kill his own father is a major factor in the latter's [[Heel Face Turn]].

* ''[[Batman Begins]]'': Played straight, though, without prior knowledge of Ra's Al Ghul's personality, it would seem to a [[Secret Test of Character]] instead.

* At the end of ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'', the main character is {{spoiler|standing over his mentor's broken body aiming his Patriot at her face}}. [[Tear Jerker|The game won't continue until you fire.]]

* In the first ''[[Fable (video game)|Fable I]]'', you fight alongside Whisper in the Arena. Since two people can't be the Arena Champion, you're ordered to fight eachother to the death. The two of you make a deal to "just give them a good show," with the winner just leaving after nearly killing the other, but it's up to the player whether or not to honor it.

** The devil always comes back. He came back to Georgia, after all.

* In ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', the conclusion to the [[Final Boss]] battle vs. the Lich King is a form of this. After all appears lost, Tirion Fordring {{spoiler|shatters the dread runeblade Frostmourne, breaking the Lich King's power and releasing all the souls he's stolen}}. As he floats there helpless, Terenas Menethil resurrects the raid group, and orders the players to finish off Arthas.

 

 

** {{spoiler|Which she does. ''Messily''.}}

*** Which is invoked on purpose, since she is told to do it with a ''mace''.

 

* The battle between Zoidberg and Fry in the ''[[Futurama]]'' episode, "Why Must I Be a Crustacean In Love?" Fry refuses, and goes into a dramatic speech about [[The Power of Friendship|the importance of friendship]]. At which point [[Subverted Trope|Zoidberg chops off his arm]], [[Crowning Moment of Funny|causing Fry to]] go into an [[Unstoppable Rage]] while chasing a terrified Zoidberg and beating him [[Grievous Harm with a Body|with said arm]].

* In ''[[Exo Squad]]'', Lt. Marsh refuses to kill a pirate warrior he previously defeated in a ritual fight to the death, in spite of Simbacca encouraging. him to do so.

* In ''[[Adventure Time]]'', the Fight King says this as the main character and [[Hero]], Finn, is about to {{spoiler|kill his best friend Jake. Of course, he doesn't go through with it.}}