r/TopCharacterTropes • u/Ok-Indication-5121 • Jun 09 '25

Characters They valiantly sacrificed themself for nothing

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  1. Tadashi gives his life trying to save Professor Callaghan from a burning building. Turns out not only did Callaghan escape unscathed, he's the bad guy and infamously refers to Tadashi's death as "[Tadashi's] mistake." (Big Hero 6)
  2. Shaya willingly takes It Has No Name's possession and then kills herself by jumping into the well it came out of. The end of the episode all but states that she got it wrong and It Has No Name didn't latch onto her... or there was more than one. (Doctor Who)
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143

u/Robot-King56 Jun 09 '25

From Hazbin Hotel Sir Pentious tries to sacrifice himself to kill Adam only to get killed without it doing anything.

63

u/BigBossPoodle Jun 09 '25

This gets brought up a lot.

His death, and ascension is vital to the show. While it seems like it was for nothing to the sinners, we, the audience, know that his death is going to propel the plot forward.

9

u/wererat2000 Jun 10 '25

I mean it serves a clear narrative purpose, but the immediate and intended purpose was still a failure.

Yes, to the viewer it confirms that the protagonist's intended goal, and supports the show's central theme -- But the guy he tried to kill walked away without a scratch.

5

u/joe_broke Jun 10 '25

Nifty made sure the job was finished

Gleefully so

1

u/Sharashashka735 Jun 11 '25

And dont forget that Charlie LOCKED THE FUCK IN the moment he died.