Last-Minute Reprieve: Difference between revisions
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Now a [[Discredited Trope]] that is subverted more than not. Compare [[Acquitted Too Late]]. |
Now a [[Discredited Trope]] that is subverted more than not. Compare [[Acquitted Too Late]]. |
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== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] == |
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] == |
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* One installment of ''[[Golgo 13]]'', "One Minute Past Midnight", plays with this trope; the target is a Death Row prisoner who is remarkably calm about his upcoming execution. For good reason; he's a corrupted ex-CIA agent who has enough blackmail material on the CIA that they're arranging for the state governor to grant him a last minute reprieve. A friend of one of his victims hires Golgo to kill the prisoner, he accomplishes this by {{spoiler|assassinating ''the governor'' in his mansion, just before he can grant clemency. The CIA agent in the room with the governor can't give the failsafe code on his behalf, and despite the prisoner's suddenly frantic pleas, the execution is carried out on time.}} |
* One installment of ''[[Golgo 13]]'', "One Minute Past Midnight", plays with this trope; the target is a Death Row prisoner who is remarkably calm about his upcoming execution. For good reason; he's a corrupted ex-CIA agent who has enough blackmail material on the CIA that they're arranging for the state governor to grant him a last minute reprieve. A friend of one of his victims hires Golgo to kill the prisoner, he accomplishes this by {{spoiler|assassinating ''the governor'' in his mansion, just before he can grant clemency. The CIA agent in the room with the governor can't give the failsafe code on his behalf, and despite the prisoner's suddenly frantic pleas, the execution is carried out on time.}} |
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== Music == |
== Music == |
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* In the song "Joe Bean", made famous by [[Johnny Cash]], Joe Bean is convicted of a murder he didn't commit (though it's noted there are plenty of others he did). His mother goes to the governor to plead for clemency, mentioning that the date of the execution is Joe's birthday. At the last minute, the prison receives a message from the governor—wishing Joe a happy birthday, but [[Subverted Trope|confirming that the execution is to proceed]]. |
* In the song "Joe Bean", made famous by [[Johnny Cash]], Joe Bean is convicted of a murder he didn't commit (though it's noted there are plenty of others he did). His mother goes to the governor to plead for clemency, mentioning that the date of the execution is Joe's birthday. At the last minute, the prison receives a message from the governor—wishing Joe a happy birthday, but [[Subverted Trope|confirming that the execution is to proceed]]. |
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| ⚫ | * During the [[American Revolution]], General [[George Washington]] handled low morale and rampant insubordination during a harsh winter (worse than Valley Forge, even) by sentencing eight men to be hanged for various charges. As the eight men had the nooses placed around their necks, staring into the already-dug graves, with the coffins ready and everything, a soldier suddenly stepped forward and pleaded for a reprieve. Seven of the eight were let go. |
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| ⚫ | * Likewise, the Swedish king Gustavus III had sentenced all the participants of Anjala Conspiracy to death by beheading. As those fifty men stood at the scaffold and executioner had honed his sword, a messenger suddenly announced that all but two conspirators had been pardoned. One, Johan Hästesko, was beheaded - he had personally insulted the King - and another, Göran Sprengtporten, was banished from the realm - he had been an officer in the Russian army. |
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== Theater == |
== Theater == |
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* In "The Late Mr. Kent," [[Superman: The Animated Series|Superman]] saves an innocent man from the gas chamber {{spoiler|so Clark Kent can produce the evidence that will send the real culprit there in his place}}. |
* In "The Late Mr. Kent," [[Superman: The Animated Series|Superman]] saves an innocent man from the gas chamber {{spoiler|so Clark Kent can produce the evidence that will send the real culprit there in his place}}. |
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* Happens with Huey's friend Shabaz in [[The Boondocks]]. Huey had written a letter to the Governor threatening to expose his gay love affair if Shabaz wasn't pardoned; in reality, Huey had no idea if that was true or not, but reasoned that "since 20% of men are gay, and 25% of men cheat on their spouses, this should have a 5% chance of success." |
* Happens with Huey's friend Shabaz in [[The Boondocks]]. Huey had written a letter to the Governor threatening to expose his gay love affair if Shabaz wasn't pardoned; in reality, Huey had no idea if that was true or not, but reasoned that "since 20% of men are gay, and 25% of men cheat on their spouses, this should have a 5% chance of success." |
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| ⚫ | * During the [[American Revolution]], General [[George Washington]] handled low morale and rampant insubordination during a harsh winter (worse than Valley Forge, even) by sentencing eight men to be hanged for various charges. As the eight men had the nooses placed around their necks, staring into the already-dug graves, with the coffins ready and everything, a soldier suddenly stepped forward and pleaded for a reprieve. Seven of the eight were let go. |
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| ⚫ | * Likewise, the Swedish king Gustavus III had sentenced all the participants of Anjala Conspiracy to death by beheading. As those fifty men stood at the scaffold and executioner had honed his sword, a messenger suddenly announced that all but two conspirators had been pardoned. One, Johan Hästesko, was beheaded - he had personally insulted the King - and another, Göran Sprengtporten, was banished from the realm - he had been an officer in the Russian army. |
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{{reflist}} |
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