Stupid Sacrifice: Difference between revisions

* In ''[[Star Trek Nemesis]]'', was Data's [[Heroic Sacrifice]] even necessary? Did he have to fire the phaser himself, instead of setting the phaser to overload and beaming out? [[Character Aged with the Actor|Brent Spiner felt that he could no longer convincingly play an ageless character and demanded that Data "die" in]] ''[[Character Aged with the Actor|Nemesis]]''. Curiously, they still introduced an identical twin, who is left alive. And gets all of Data's memories.<br /><br />To add an extra layer of stupidity, this was the last TNG film and so the problem of Spiner being too old to play Data any more was not exactly germane. The series actually ''did'' address the issue of Data being ageless, while Spiner obviously wasn't. Data once [[Handwaved]] it by saying he developed a means to appear as if he was aging (making it apart of his quest to understand humanity). May not have been airtight, but most fans were likely not to nitpick this particular issue all things considered.

** Awesomely skewered [http://www.stardestroyer.net/Nemesis/Pictorial-4.html here]:

'''Data:''' What part of "shut the fuck up" do you not understand? This is my big heroic exit, asshole. Don't fuck it up. }}

** As revealed in [http://trekmovie.com/2010/10/06/patrick-stewart-on-the-fifth-star-trek-tng-movie-video-images-from-a-life-in-the-theatre/ this interview], a fifth TNG movie was still on the table while ''Nemesis'' was being made, so Spiner writing himself out isn't quite as senseless as it seems in retrospect.

** The end of "[[Doctor Who/Recap/S32 E6 The Almost People|The Almost People]]" too. There was no need to let their anti-Ganger weapon be used by Gangers when there were the originals around too. Plus, the creature was not really that speedy and there was no real need to hold the door down when it's just five meters running to the TARDIS.

* ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' lampshades then averts this, thanks to the [[Genre Savvy]] O'Neill. After successfully destroying the shield system on an invading Goa'uld motherships, they ponder their next move. The following dialogue occurs:

'''O'Neill:''' Well, ''that's'' a bad plan. Where's the glider bay? }}

* Subverted with Topher's sacrifice in the series finale of ''[[Dollhouse]]''. It is quite obvious that Topher could simply set a timer on the pulse-bomb. It is just as obvious that he wants this to be his final act.

** In ''[[Power Rangers Dino Thunder]]'' Tommy orders all the Zords to be sacrificed even though they still had two Super-Megazords that had not been used on the final [[Monster of the Week]]. It's worse when you watch the episode and realize it was a case of [[Executive Meddling]] creating a case of [[Only the Author Can Save Them Now]].

* This trope is scrutinized in an episode of ''[[Firefly]]'' where Jayne becomes a folk hero. Years ago, Jayne and his partner in crime stole money from a corrupt governor. Their ship took a hit and they were losing altitude. Jayne proceeds to throw everything out of the ship, including the money and his partner (not in that order), in order to maintain altitude to escape. The money lands in a poor town and the townsfolk believe that Jayne was pulling a [[Robin Hood]] for them. Circumstances contrive to bring Jayne back to that planet and he discovers that there's a statue of him (with a song and everything!). His old partner shows up and tells everyone the truth, breaking down the illusion of his heroics. Jane denies nothing and just taunts his ex-partner to shut up and fight already. The partner is about to shoot Jayne when a kid, who had just heard the truth and knew Jayne was a liar, jumps in front of him and takes the bullet. Jayne flips out on the townsfolk, berating them for making a [[Stupid Sacrifice]] on his behalf. The episode ends with him trying to come to terms with it.

'''Janye:''' ... don't make no sense. }}

* In one episode of ''[[Xena: Warrior Princess]]'' "The Lost Mariner", this is played for drama and lampshaded. One of the immortal cursed captain Cecrops' crewmen, a former pirate and now good friend, pushes Cecrops out of the way of debris and is mortally wounded. Cecrops tearfully calls him a fool, reminding him that Cecrops is ''immortal'' and would have survived if he had been hit. The dying man answers that he just wanted to help a friend. {{spoiler|This act of friendship helps Cecrops realize what he needs to do to finally end his curse.}}

* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero|Good job sticking a soulstone into your head,]] warrior from ''[[Diablo (series)|Diablo]]''. Wrestling against the lord of Terror, yeah right. Take the damn soulstone to the Horadric mage, who can send you back down to ''destroy'' the thing. Admittedly, he was kinda messed up by this point and it's pointed out that this was a very [[It Got Worse|very]] bad idea. Still, why would you think your willpower can stand up to the devil, who also happens to be immortal so he'll win anyway?<br /><br />It is now known that random warrior is actually the other son of the skeleton king and the older brother of the prince that Diablo took over for a body. Basically the entire game Diablo was whispering to the warrior to make him think that was the only way to seal him and prevent him from ever being released into the world again.

* ''[[Lost Planet]]'': Extreme Condition. Paraphrasing lightly:

'''Wayne:''' Yeah, I won't even think about making you abandon such an obviously pointless and masochistic plan. See ya! }}

* At the end of ''[[X (video game)|X2]]: The Threat'', your wingman flies his fighter into the enemy doomsday weapon to destroy it. All well and good, except that X2 is not the sort of game where you are limited to a single fighter yourself. His kamikaze run doesn't seem quite as noble when you've got three capital ships, laden with ''multiple'' [[Wave Motion Gun|Wave Motion Guns]] and entire squadrons of fighter spacecraft, sitting in firing range.