History Main / CannotKillTheirLovedOnes

* In ''Series/{{Westworld}}'', Teddy is given a new narrative by Dr. Ford where he has a nemesis named Wyatt. However by the season one finale, he finds out that Wyatt is actually a personality imbedded on his girlfriend, Dolores. When Dolores starts her rebellion against the humans, Teddy remains at her side, trying to make sure she doesn't devolved into her violent state. However, Dolores reprograms him into a killing machine because she believe his NiceGuy personality wouldn't help him survive. When Teddy regains self-consciousness, he's dismayed to what Dolores did to him. As he confronts her, he admits that she's his cornerstone and made a promise to protect him. But he knows that he couldn't protect her from herself. Because he's horrified to what Dolores had become and couldn't bring himself to kill her, [[DrivenToSuicide Teddy shoots himself in the head instead]].

* ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'': After Mina is bitten by Dracula along with being forced to drink her blood (which will turn her without the need for Dracula to drain her blood), she begs the hunters to kill her should she become a vampire as Lucy did. Having read second hand from Jonathan's diary about his encounter with Dracula and his brides and how, from Lucy's turning, it will corrupt her and make her a literal and figurative immoral monster which she sees as a AFateWorseThanDeath. However Johnathan can't bear to do so if it comes to that and promises to let himself be turned and join her if the worst case scenario should happen. Thankfully they manage to kill Dracula and prevent Mina from turning.

* ''Webcomic/DraculaRulerOfTheNight'': In the rendition of the classic story, when the protagonists go to confront Lucy she's been turned. She doesn't flee back to her crypt like in the book but tries to fight them off. Arthur manages to hold her back with his cross and, at Helsing's urging, impale her a stake. But he hesitants in doing so, especially when Lucy retracts her vampire features to appear as she did when she was human. This last long enough for Dracula to arrive to knock the hunters back and quickly abscond with Lucy.

* ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'': After Mina is bitten by Dracula along with being forced to drink her blood (which will turn her without the need for Dracula to turn her), she begs the hunters to kill her should she become a vampire as Lucy did. Having read second hand from Jonathan's diary about his encounter with Dracula and his brides and how, from Lucy's turning, it will corrupt her and make her a literal and figurative immoral monster which she sees as a AFateWorseThanDeath. However Johnathan can't bear to do so if it comes to that and promises to let himself be turned and join her if the worst case scenario should happen. Thankfully they manage to kill Dracula and prevent Mina from turning.

* ''Literature/{{Dracula}'': After Mina is bitten by Dracula along with being forced to drink her blood (which will turn her without the need for Dracula to turn her), she begs the hunters to kill her should she become a vampire as Lucy did. Having read second hand from Jonathan's diary about his encounter with Dracula and his brides and how, from Lucy's turning, it will corrupt her and make her a literal and figurative immoral monster which she sees as a AFateWorseThanDeath. However Johnathan can't bear to do so if it comes to that and promises to let himself be turned and join her if the worst case scenario should happen. Thankfully they manage to kill Dracula and prevent Mina from turning.

** In ''Film/TheLastJedi'', Kylo attacks the Resistance ship that has his mother, Leia, on it. Despite having killed his father in the previous film, when he has a clear shot at the ship where Leia is, he is unable to fire the shot. A moment later, another pilot does it instead. Luckily Leia survives.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': Worf is paralyzed from the waist down and asks Commander Riker, as his friend, to do this for him in a sort of Klingon ritual assisted suicide. Riker refuses on the grounds that under the ritual, it's properly the duty of the eldest son. Unwilling to ask this of Alexander, Worf opts for a dangerous experimental surgery instead.

'''Cosmo:''' [[ExactWords I cannot kill my friend.]] ''[to henchman]'' Kill my friend.

* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': In the last episode, Horde Prime tells Hordak to kill Entrapta. Despite having mind-wiped twice -- and not remembering clearly who Entrapta is -- Hordak still has feelings for her. Both Prime's pressure to kill her and Hordak's efforts to remember make him get his memories back (at least, mostly); he shoots Horde Prime, grabs him by his throat and tosses all the belittling lecture Prime gave him once back on his face, before dropping him in the abyss.

* ''WesternAnimation/MayaAndTheThree'': Lady Micte conceived Maya with a human (King Teca) to give her husband more power with the baby's sacrifice. However, she came to love her child, so she convinced Lord Mictlan to have Maya sent to be raised to the Tecas to be sacrificed when she would be older, making the king and queen to suffer. She makes everything she can to help Maya and protect her, without raising her husband's suspicions.

** In ''Film/TheLastJedi'', Kylo attacks the transporter ship with the Resistance that has his mother, Leia, on it. Despite having killed his father in the previous film, when he has a clear shot at the ship where Leia is. He tries to go through with pulling the trigger, but ultimately can't do it. Forcing his lieutenant, Hux, to do it in his stead. Luckily Leia survives.

* Myth/GreekMythology: Agamemnon had to kill his [[OffingTheOffspring daughter]] Iphigenia so that the Greek fleet could sail... opinions differ as to whether he actually did the deed.

Often overlaps with FightingYourFriend, DefeatMeansFriendship, and possibly TragicMonster or IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight, depending on the cause of the fight. It can be related to EvenEvilHasLovedOnes (and its subtropes VillainousParentalInstinct and EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas). The loved one in question is often a MoralityChain or MoralityPet. Likewise if the enemy is a shapeshifter and changes into a person the protagonist cares about, this can overlay with ShapeshifterGuiltTrip.

* ''Franchie/SonicTheHedgehog:

** ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'': In the climax of the Metal Virus Saga, Whisper gets confronted Tangle who was turned into a Zombot earlier. Whisper struggles to pull the trigger on her weapon as Tangle approaches her.

Often overlaps with FightingYourFriend, DefeatMeansFriendship, and possibly TragicMonster or IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight, depending on the cause of the fight. It can be related to EvenEvilHasLovedOnes (and its subtropes VillainousParentalInstinct and EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas). The loved one in question is often a MoralityChain or MoralityPet.

* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'': When Snively is confronted by his niece, Hope, he is unable to order his forces to attack her.

** In ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', after confirming that Darth Vader is his father, Luke says he can't kill him. After Luke surrenders to Vader and Palpatine, he's determined to convince Vader to renounce the Dark Side, and when the two end up dueling, generally sticks to defense and trying to withdraw. He only outright attacks Vader when he threatens Leia.

** In ''Film/TheLastJedi'', Kylo attacks the transporter ship with the Resistance that has his mother, Leia, on it. Despite have killed his father in the previous film, when he has a clear shot at the ship where Leia is. He tries to go through with pulling the trigger, But ultimately can't do it, forcing his lieutenant, Hux, to do it in his stead. Luckily Leia survives.

** Averted ''hard'' by Belos himself, who is implied to not only have [[spoiler:killed his own brother Caleb]], but to have [[created numerous duplicates of him over the years, only to kill them as well.]]

* ''Series/Torchwood'':

-->-- [[Creator/BenKingsley Cosmo]], ''Film/{{Sneakers}}''.

[[folder: Anime & Manga]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]

[[folder: Fan Works]]
* In ''The Gray Jedi: Merciless Indifference'', the fourth entry in ''Fanfic/TheGrayJediSeries'', Zari admits to Des - her lover and the father of her children - that she can't bring herself to kill him if he falls under the villain's MindControl.
-->'''Zari:''' I can't kill you!
-->'''Des:''' [silence]
-->'''Zari:''' I can't. I know I'm strong enough to keep going after you die, but I am not mentally or emotionally capable of killing you. The only possible exception is if [[MamaBear I had to stop you from killing Zak and Kyra]], but even then I don't know if I could do it.
-->'''Des:''' You once asked me to kill you to save the kids.
-->'''Zari:''' I know. Then you got possessed and I realized I'm a hypocrite.

[[folder: Films - Animated]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'': When the supervillain Prowler catches Spider-Man (who is actually his nephew Miles) at Aunt May's house, Miles (knowing that his beloved Uncle Aaron is the Prowler) takes off his mask. Aaron is so shocked that he takes off his own mask, leaving both of them completely revealed. When he puts Miles' mask back on at Kingpin's urging to kill him, it's ambiguous if it's to make killing his nephew easier or to keep him protected if anybody sees them. In the end, he can't go through with it...and pays with his life.

[[folder: Films - Live-Action]]
* ''Film/TheComplex2012'': Q reveals that this is why the killer, [[spoiler: who is an alternate version of him,]] can't kill Jay.
-->'''Killer:''' I'm gonna kill you, cocksucker!
-->'''Jay:''' Fine! Then go ahead and do it. I'm tired of your bullshit whining, so go ahead and just fucking kill me!
-->'''Q:''' Oh, he can't.
-->'''Killer:''' I can't?
-->'''Jay:''' Dude, he's got the gun loaded in my ear hole. Suddenly I'm not doubting!
-->'''Q:''' Bullshit. He's not gonna kill you.
-->'''Killer:''' Why not?
-->'''Jay:''' Yeah, w-why not?
-->'''Q:''' Because you're his best friend.
-->'''Killer:''' [whispering] Son of a bitch.

* ''Film/EvilDead2013'': David prepares to burn the cabin while his possessed sister [[Creator/JaneLevy Mia]] is locked in in the cellar. He is ultimately unable to go through with it.

* ''Film/Howl2015'': Ged can't killed his wife [[ZombieInfectee Jenny]] to save his own life, or even allow his fellow survivors on the train to kill her, going into a HeroicBSOD when she becomes a werewolf and punching Adrian when the latter nearly kills her for him.
* ''Film/JohnWick'': Marcus is hired by Viggo to kill John. He sets up on a rooftop to shoot John while he sleeps, only to change his mind and shoot the pillow next to his head, alerting him that [[DarkActionGirl Miss Perkins]] is sneaking in to kill him.
* Subverted in ''Film/JohnWickChapter3Parabellum''. Winston, who has acted as a friend and mentor to John up until this point, doesn't hesitate to [[spoiler: shoot John off the roof of the Continental in order to settle his issues with the Adjudicator and the High Table.]]

* Comes up more than once over the course of the Franchise/StarWars films:
** In ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', after confirming that Darth Vader is his father, Luke says he can't kill him. After Luke surrenders to Vader and Palpatine, he's determined to convince Vader to renounce the Dark Side, and when the two end up dueling, generally sticks to defense and trying to withdraw. He only outright attacks Vader when he threatens Leia.

-->'''Yoda:''' Destroy the Sith, we ''must''.
-->'''Obi-Wan:''' Send me to kill the Emperor. I will ''not'' kill Anakin!
-->'''Yoda:''' To fight this Lord Sidious, strong enough, you are not.
-->'''Obi-Wan:''' He is like my brother. I cannot do it.
-->'''Yoda:''' [[ThatManIsDead Twisted by the Dark Side, young Skywalker has become. The boy you've trained,]] ''[[ThatManIsDead gone]]'', [[ThatManIsDead he is, consumed by Darth Vader.]]
-->'''Obi-Wan:''' I do not know where the Emperor has sent him. I don't know where to look.
-->'''Yoda:''' Use your feelings, Obi-Wan, and find him, you will.

-->'''Bishop:''' You gave your word.
-->'''Cosmo:''' [[ExactWords I cannot kill my friend.]] [to henchman] Kill my friend.

[[folder: Literature]]

* At the end of ''[[Literature/ArcOfAScythe Scythe]]'', it's revealed that the final test before becoming an official Scythe is being forced to kill a relative. The reasoning is that it will weed out the apprentices who don't have the resolve to kill a loved one. Of course, since it's a futuristic society where humanity has all but conquered death, the victims will be revived within a few days. [[spoiler:Rowan is made to temporarily kill his mother and Citra her younger brother, while two other apprentices are said to have been unable to go through with it.]]

[[folder: Live-Action Television]]

* A non-lethal example appears in one episode of ''Series/HappyDays''. After Richie rescues a young girl from bullies and escorts her home, one of the thugs at his high school reveals that the girl is his little sister, and declares that he and Richie are friends for life because of what he did. Later in the episode, the thug's gang and Richie's friends are about to have a fight. The thug realizes that he's about to beat up his sister's savior, and declares that he can't fight his friend - so he tells one of his gang buddies to beat up Richie instead. This brief moment of conscience on the thug's part actually delays the fight just long enough for Fonzie to arrive and break it up.

[[folder: Mythology]]
* [[Myth/GreekMythology Agamemnon]] had to kill his [[OffingTheOffspring daughter]] Iphigenia so that the Greek fleet could sail...(opinions differ as to whether he actually did the deed.)

[[folder: Video Games]]

* ''[[VideoGame/MafiaII Mafia II]]'': After learning that the Vinci Family intends making a move against the Falcone Family, Eddie Scarpa asks Vito Scaletta to kill Leo Galante as part of a plan to strike the Vinci Family first. Vito declines out of respect for their friendship.

* ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden2004'': Both Rachel and her twin sister Alma were afflicted with a blood curse that made them part fiend. While Rachel retained her humanity, the curse consumed Alma entirely. Rachel became a [[DemonSlaying fiend hunter]] with the ultimate goal of killing her sister to free her soul. She finally finds Alma at the Dworku Monastery where she has been defeated by Ryu. However, despite this having been her motivation for being a fiend hunter, Rachel finds that she cannot bring herself to kill her own sister.

[[folder: Web Comics]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]

* ''WesternAnimation/Invincible2021'': PlayedForDrama. Despite Omni-Man being willing to kill the Guardians of the Globe along with countless civilians, as well as inflict a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on Mark for refusing to join him in [[spoiler:conquering Earth for the Viltrum Empire]], Omni-Man is unwilling to kill his wife Debbie and his friend Art Rosenbaum. [[spoiler:He also cannot bring himself to kill Mark after beating him, especially after Mark declares he would still have him as his father even after outliving everyone else he cared about, which leads him to abandon his post and leave Earth out of guilt. While this does prove that he cares about his family on some level, the fact that he still harmed them horribly through his actions makes it clear that they're not happy about being spared. Debbie and Art are last shown in Season 1 [[DrowningMySorrows drinking their sorrow]], not knowing if they understood the real Nolan Grayson and questioning why he spared them in the first place. Mark is left heartbroken by his father's actions and remains conflicted about him despite the atrocities he's committed.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': In the last episode, Horde Prime tells Hordak to kill Entrapta. Despite having mind-wiped twice - and not remembering clearly who Entrapta is - Hordak still has feelings for her. Both Prime's pressure to kill her and Hordak's efforts to remember make him get his memories back (at least, mostly); he shoots Horde Prime, grabs him by his throat and tosses all the belittling lecture Prime gave him once back on his face, before dropping him in the abyss.

* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': In the last episode, Horde Prime tells Hordak to kill Entrapta. Despite having mind-wiped twice - and not remembering clearly who Entrapta is - Hordak still has feelings for her. Both Prime's pressure to kill her and Hordak's efforts to remember make him get his memories back (at least, mostly); he shoots Horde Prime, grabs him by his throat and tosses all the belittling lecture Prime gave him once back on his face, before dropping him in the abyss.