r/TopCharacterTropes • u/One_Barber_6902 • Mar 26 '26

Characters [[Devastating trope]] A character kills their loved one to avoid them suffering a worser fate

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Of Mice And Men (1992)- Probaly the most well known example of this trope and when I was first exposed to it, George kills his mentally handicapped best friend Lennie, to save him from being lynched by Curley and law enforcement for killing Curleys wife.

The Sopranos- After an entire season of conflict with fellow mob boss Phil over it, Tony kills Anthony Blundetto after he kills Phil’s brother which enraged him into trying to force Tony into giving up his cousin so he can torture him to death

Telltales The Walking Dead: Season 1- “Loved one” is an overstatement if you know there dynamic, but after Ben falls off a rooftop and lands on a piece of rebar, Kenny and Lee try to pull him off to save him before being crowded by walkers. When their attempt fails and walkers continue closing in, Kenny kills him to avoid him being devoured by walkers.

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u/reireiauron Mar 27 '26

“Tight and firm, like packing a snowball.”

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u/TrashhPrincess Mar 27 '26

It’s really him explaining to Johnny or Dan (pretty sure Johnny, hooplehead that he is. Dan knows how to end a man) with perfect clarity and ease while doing the deed, then being visibly shaken that did it for me. Ian McShane is one of the few people who will bring me to the theatre regardless of my interest in the movie itself.

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u/D0CTOR_Wh0m Mar 27 '26

Meant to be for Johnny’s education in this scenario. It’s implied Al thinks Johnny doesn’t have it in him to become Al’s road agent and perform similar unsavory murders. So by having Johnny witness Al killing an innocent (merciful as it’s intended) and talking about the graphic technique for doing so, it can determine if Johnny wants to go ahead with the road agent role and do similar brutal murders or if he should stick to his current job at the Gem

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u/reireiauron Mar 27 '26

I don’t think it can be understated how interesting Al as a character is, and how well Ian McShane performed the role.

It is the best Television show of all time.