History Main / AdoptTheDog

* [[StupidJetpackHitler Adolf Hitler]] gets one in ''TheAuthority's'' Jenny Sparks spin-off. It's surprisingly touching. In part of Jenny Spark’s ability to befriend YoungFutureFamousPeople, Hitler and she were friends while he was still a struggling artist. Years later, a considerably more powerful Hitler happened upon Jenny Sparks being tortured by Nazi interrogators. He utilized his position to have her released immediately.

* Played with in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick,'' with [[SociopathicHero Belkar.]] He has performed unquestionably good acts during the comic, such as preventing an assassination attempt, refusing to join the BigBad when it could have been beneficial to him, and even literally adopting a [[MoralityPet cat whose owner was killed.]] Every time this happens, the rest of the Order is pleasantly surprised. However, he always has a selfish reason for doing so: the would-be assassination target could have reduced his jail sentence, he just wanted to kill [[BigBad Xykon's]] recruiter, and he wanted to kill said recruiter ''with'' the cat. [[WordOfGod Reportedly,]] he's still ChaoticEvil.

* If she survives the events of ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', Jack is essentially morally neutral. On one hand, she finds closure with her past, risks her life to save humanity, and is loyal to Shepard. On the other, she doesn't seem to have much faith in anything or anyone besides Shepard, remains callous about killing, and is clearly still cynical and lonely beneath her aggressive exterior. Even if Shepard initiates a romantic relationship with her, it comes off as somewhat somber instead of triumphant. By ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', Jack has taken a position teaching biotic students for the Alliance and is firmly on the side of good. Jack's students clearly look up to her as a badass galactic savior (despite being only a few years younger), and Jack in turn is affectionate and protective of them. Although still an ActionGirl, she's become a MamaBear instead of just a sociopath.

* Famously in ''DragonBallZ'', when [[spoiler: Piccolo]] takes the brunt of a blast intended for [[spoiler: Gohan]]. His dying words (in the manga and in Kai) include bemoaning having done something so noble, after years of being a BigBad.

* In ''TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'', the Man with No Name shows a lot of compassion in the last half hour to soldiers on both sides, often at great cost, after spending most of the movie an apathetic TrueNeutral.

* If she survives the events of ''MassEffect2'', Jack is essentially morally neutral. On one hand, she finds closure with her past, risks her life to save humanity, and is loyal to Shepard. On the other, she doesn't seem to have much faith in anything or anyone besides Shepard, remains callous about killing, and is clearly still cynical and lonely beneath her aggressive exterior. Even if Shepard initiates a romantic relationship with her, it comes off as somewhat somber instead of triumphant. By ''MassEffect3'', Jack has taken a position teaching biotic students for the Alliance and is firmly on the side of good. Jack's students clearly look up to her as a badass galactic savior (despite being only a few years younger), and Jack in turn is affectionate and protective of them. Although still an ActionGirl, she's become a MamaBear instead of just a sociopath.

* Played with in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick,'' with [[SociopathicHero Belkar.]] He has performed unquestionably good acts during the comic, such as preventing an assassination attempt, refusing to join the BigBad when it could have been beneficial to him, and even literally adopting a [[MoralityPet cat whose owner was killed.]] Every time this happens, the rest of the Order is pleasantly surprised. However, he always has a selfish reason for doing so: the would-be assassination target could have reduced his jail sentence, he just wanted to kill [[BigBad Xykon]]'s recruiter, and he wanted to kill said recruiter ''with'' the cat. [[WordOfGod Reportedly,]] he's still ChaoticEvil.

* In ''TheDarkKnight'', two boats full of people are faced with a SadisticChoice: explode the other boat, or face dying in an explosion themselves. In a boat populated by convicts, [[ScaryBlackMan one of the convicts]] stands up and approaches the guard holding one of the detonators:

* ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', "Intervention". Pretty much ''the'' definitive moment in Spike's change from evil to good (which is different to his HeelFaceTurn, strangely enough). To elaborate: [[TokenEvilTeammate Spike]] is [[StalkerWithACrush in love with Buffy]] and has a [[OddFriendship soft spot]] for Buffy's [[AnnoyingYoungerSibling little sister, Dawn]]. Then the BigBad abducts Spike for information about the location of a [[MacGuffinGirl a magical living Key]]--who Spike knows is actually [[BarrierMaiden Dawn]]. Despite [[ColdBloodedTorture brutal torture]], Spike [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome refuses to give Dawn up]] and is [[BigDamnHeroes rescued]]. Later Spike's adoring [[SexBot Buffybot]] offers to reveal the Key's identity and so protect Spike from future harm, but [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Spike forbids the Buffybot to do so]]: if Buffy lost Dawn, it would destroy her, and Spike "couldn't live with her being in that much pain." After this point Spike still commits morally questionable to [[WhatTheHellHero downright horrible]] acts, but he never pulls a full FaceHeelTurn again. And this was ''before'' he [[spoiler:got a soul]].
* On ''{{Dollhouse}},'' the amoral Topher gets this in "Belonging" when he refuses Adelle's order to basically sell Sierra to [[StalkerWithACrush Kinnard]]. Adelle makes her own final choice in "Stop-Loss" when she decides to turn on the Rossum Corporation (though this isn't revealed until the end of the next episode, "The Attic").

* In the episode "Dog Tags" on {{NCIS}}, [=McGee=] literally adopts the dog that attacked him (which he then shot) after Abby talks/forces him into it.

* Famously in ''DragonBallZ'', when [[spoiler: Piccolo]] takes the brunt of a blast intended for [[spoiler: Gohan]]. His dying words (in the manga and in Kai) include bemoaning having done something so noble, after years of being a BigBad.

* In ''ElfQuest'', Rayek allows Cutter to beat the crap out of him, after he had forced Cutter to spend several thousands of years without his family. It effectively ''finally'' solves a conflict that had existed since issue 2.

* On ''{{Dollhouse}},'' the amoral Topher gets this in "Belonging" when he refuses Adelle's order to basically sell Sierra to [[StalkerWithACrush Kinnard]]. Adelle makes her own final choice in "Stop-Loss" when she decides to turn on the Rossum Corporation (though this isn't revealed until the end of the next episode, "The Attic").

* If she survives the events of ''MassEffect2'', Jack is essentially morally neutral. On one hand, she finds closure with her past, risks her life to save humanity, and is loyal to Shepard. On the other, she doesn't seem to have much faith in anything or anyone besides Shepard, remains callous about killing, and is clearly still cynical and lonely beneath her aggressive exterior. Even if Shepard initiates a romantic relationship with her, it comes off as somewhat somber instead of triumphant. By ''MassEffect3'', Jack has taken a position teaching biotic students for the Alliance and is firmly on the side of good. Jack's students clearly look up to her as a badass galactic savior (despite being only a few years younger), and Jack in turn is affectionate and protective of them. Although still an ActionGirl, she's become a MamaBear instead of just a sociopath.

* Played with in ''TheOrderOfTheStick,'' with [[SociopathicHero Belkar.]] He has performed unquestionably good acts during the comic, such as preventing an assassination attempt, refusing to join the BigBad when it could have been beneficial to him, and even literally adopting a [[MoralityPet cat whose owner was killed.]] Every time this happens, the rest of the Order is pleasantly surprised. However, he always has a selfish reason for doing so: the would-be assassination target could have reduced his jail sentence, he just wanted to kill [[BigBad Xykon]]'s recruiter, and he wanted to kill said recruiter ''with'' the cat. [[WordOfGod Reportedly,]] he's still ChaoticEvil.

* If she survives the suicide mission, at the end of ''MassEffect2'', Jack is essentially morally neutral. On one hand, she finds closure with her past, risks her life to save humanity, and is loyal to Shepard. On the other, she doesn't seem to have much faith in anything or anyone besides Shepard and remains callous about killing. By ''MassEffect3'', Jack has taken a position teaching biotic students for the Alliance and is firmly on the side of good. Although still an ActionGirl, she's become a MamaBear instead of just a sociopath.

* ''TheSearchers''. Ethan Allen says that, when he finds his niece, he's going to do her a favor and put a bullet in her brain. When he finally does catch up with her, he takes her up in his arms and says, "Let's go home."

### In ''The Empire Strikes Back'' Han tries to leave Hoth so he can repay Jabba, but then but first risked his neck to save Luke who was freezing to death, and the Imperials show up in the system.

* The Martyr in HunterTheReckoning has this as her backstory. Initially a SpoiledBrat who did nothing but party and spend her father's fortune, Kassandra Cheyung experiences an epiphany when the cops raid the party she's attending. Her small friend is knocked down by the ensuing rush for the exits, and Kassandra wasn't strong enough to move her to safety, so she shielded her with her body and was subsequently trampled. The experience [[HeelFaceTurn had a dramatic effect on her]], and from then on she gave her time and energy to helping others, making her perfectly suited for the Martyr path when she and the others become Empowered.
* Brad Evans of VideoGame/WildARMS2 is a convict (named [[NamesToRunAwayFrom "Prisoner 666"]]) on the run from the government at the start of the game. He comes across a lost puppy in the rainy forest. Bonus points for actually adopting a dog.

* Famously in DragonBallZ, when [[spoiler: Piccolo]] takes the brunt of a blast intended for [[spoiler: Gohan]]. His dying words (in the manga and in Kai) include bemoaning having done something so noble, after years of being a BigBad.

** Han Solo's last-minute change from mercenary rogue to hero when he swoops in to save the day at the end of the first movie. He did it again when he accepted command of the assault team in Return of the Jedi too. This is then made a sort of a RunningGag in many ExpandedUniverse stories, since while Han didn't give up paying back Jabba, every time he tries to go do it, some vital rebel-related stuff needs to be done first. In ''The Empire Strikes Back'' Han tries to leave Hoth so he can repay Jabba, but then but first risked his neck to save Luke who was freezing to death, and the Imperials show up in the system, and then a lot more happens and by the time of the third film Han's been delayed so many times that Jabba's more than happy to get his carbonite-frozen self as a trophy.

** Han Solo's last-minute change from mercenary rogue to hero when he swoops in to save the day at the end of the first movie. He did it again when he accepted command of the assault team in Return of the Jedi too.
** This is made a sort of a RunningGag in many ExpandedUniverse stories: it's not exactly that he's given up repaying Jabba. It's just that every time he tries to go do it, some vital rebel-related stuff needs to be done first. In ''The Empire Strikes Back'': Han tries to leave Hoth so he can repay Jabba, but then but first risked his neck to save Luke who was freezing to death, and the Imperials show up in the system, and then a lot more happens and by the time of the third film Han's been delayed so many times that Jabba's more than happy to get his carbonite-frozen self as a trophy.

** In the Empire Strikes Back, Han COULD have repaid his debt to Jabba right after the first movie and be in the clear, but instead officially joined the rebels.
*** Made a sort of a RunningGag in many ExpandedUniverse stories: it's not exactly that he's given up repaying Jabba. It's just that, well, every time he tries, some vital rebel-related stuff needs to be done first (see ''The Empire Strikes Back'': Han tries to leave Hoth so he can repay Jabba, but then but first risked his neck to save Luke who was freezing to death, and the Imperials show up in the system...)

*** Made a sort of a RunningGag in many ExpandedUniverse stories: it's not exactly that he's given up repaying Jabba. It's just that, well, every time he tries, some vital rebel-related stuff needs to be done first (see ''The Empire Strikes Back'': Han tries to leave Hoth so he can repay Jabba, but then the Imperials show up in the system...)
**** Technically, he tried to leave before that happened, but first risked his neck to save Luke who was freezing to death.

** A better example would be Han Solo's last-minute change from mercenary rogue to hero when he swoops in to save the day at the end of the first movie. He did it again when he accepted command of the assault team in Return of the Jedi too.
** A still-better example would be in the Empire Strikes Back -- he COULD have repaid his debt to Jabba right after the first movie and be in the clear, but instead officially joined the rebels.

* Brad Evans of WildARMS2 is a convict (named [[NamesToRunAwayFrom "Prisoner 666"]]) on the run from the government at the start of the game. He comes across a lost puppy in the rainy forest. Bonus points for actually adopting a dog.

* In the second ''MegaManZero'', Harpuia spares the title character. This point onwards starts his large amount of CharacterDevelopment, firmly establishing himself as an EnsembleDarkHorse and HeroAntagonist.

** In "Journey's End", we're led to believe that Dalek Caan is prophesising the triumph of the Daleks... when actually he's constructed a gigantic BatmanGambit- only saved from being a [[XanatosRoulette roulette]] by virtue of the fact that Caan has seen all of space and time - to bring down the Dalek Empire once and for all. But he forgot the Daleks have JokerImmunity.

As previously mentioned, can lead to EarnYourHappyEnding, RedemptionEqualsDeath / RedemptionEarnsLife, and BigDamnHeroes, since there finally is [[BuffySpeak a Hero who ''can'' Big Damn]]. Compare LastSecondChance, in which the character is ''given'' the choice, instead of making it out of their own heart. Contrast TheAtoner: a character who Adopts The Dog may not have actually done anything that requires atonement.

As previously mentioned, can lead to EarnYourHappyEnding, RedemptionEqualsDeath / RedemptionEarnsLife, and BigDamnHeroes, since there finally is a Hero who ''can'' Big Damn. Compare LastSecondChance, in which the character is ''given'' the choice, instead of making it out of their own heart. Contrast TheAtoner: a character who Adopts The Dog may not have actually done anything that requires atonement.

** Alternatively, sparing Zero could easily be justified as Harpuia being honorable (which was already part of his character) and wanting to win in a fair fight. However, its his post Elipzo attack internal monologue (his true feelings about the war) that shows the player his TrueColors. Then there's the moment where he ''begs'' for Zero to kill him before the [[TheCorruption Dark Elf possession]] takes effect. Actually, you could see Harpuia signing those adoption papers every time he appears in that game, [[YourMileageMayVary so you're free to pick which moment did it for you.]]

* A small moment in ''{{Watchmen}}'': Rorschach apologizes to Dan for being a shitty friend and promises to help save the world, instead of focusing on his violent hatred of... pretty much everything.