History Main / GrudgingThankYou

* In the TomClancy novel ''Patriot Games'', ULA terrorist Sean Grady is temporarily transferred to a cell with ordinary criminals in it. When the cops check on him, he's been beaten and is being raped. The officer pulls the other prisoner off of Grady and gets him to the infirmary, at which point Sean says "Thanks." This is notable in that it's literally the ''only'' unnecessary word that Sean says in the presence of the police between the time he's arrested and the time he's broken out (At which point he shoots and nearly kills the officer who saved him).

* In IsaacAsimov's ''{{The Robots of Dawn}}'', Elijah Baley receives one of these from the Chairman of Aurora, after the Chairman was prompted. The Chairman rarely thanks ''anyone''; thanking an Earthman was... impressive.

* A subversion occurs ''[=~That '70s Show~=]'' when Red "thanks" his son Eric for staying at home to help support the family instead of going to college after Red had a heart attack and couldn't work for a while. He expresses it by ordering Eric to go out and mow the lawn, awkwardly adding that the "lawn...thanks you for staying home." Red legitimately appreciates Eric's helping to pay the bills, but he's just extremely uncomfortable expressing his emotions except for when he's angry.

* CorruptCorporateExecutive Zorg in ''TheFifthElement'' sort-of gives one of these to Priest Vito Cornelius after Cornelius saves him from choking on a cherry. "You saved my life. And in return I'll spare yours," and lets Cornelius leave.

* ''ArtemisFowl'' to Holly at the end of book two.

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* One of the invading rogues on ''{{Warrior Cats}}'' gives this to the Clan cats and Tribe cats when they saved them from an eagle.

* In IsaacAsimov's ''The Robots of Dawn'', Elijah Baley receives one of these from the Chairman of Aurora, after the Chairman was prompted. The Chairman rarely thanks ''anyone''; thanking an Earthman was... impressive.

This thanks, however grudging, is sincere; insincere ones fall under EmbarrassingRescue. It can often be a CrowningMomentofHeartwarming.

* One of the invading rogues on ''{{Warrior Cats}}'' gives this to the Clan cats and Tribe cats when they saved them from a hawk.

* ''{{Tales of Hearts}}''. Hisui's been at odds with Shing the entire game, owing to a solid string of misunderstandings involving Shing and his sister Kohak. When Shing pulls a dangerous BigDamnHeroes and saves Kohak atop a rumbling mountain, Hisui berates him, but [[YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious calls him "Shing you idiot!" in the process]]. When Shing points this out, Hisui cracks: "S-so what about it? ..but I guess it's true that you did save Kohak. I'll say it once: Tha, thanks."
* Seifer does this in ''KingdomHearts2'' when he gives his trophy to Sora after the latter saved his life. He follows it up by saying he'll win it back.

* Subverted in the ''EarthwormJim'' cartoon. Jim saves the life of Bob the Killer Goldfish, who says "I don't know how to say this but... you saved my life. Thank you." He then states that he ''does'' know how to say that Jim's actions are also directly responsible for the fact that the universe is about to be destroyed.
* In ''TheMask: The Animated Series'' "The Terrible Twos", The Mask rescues Lt. Kellaway from Putty Thing. Kellaway thanks him for saving his life and grudgingly admits he may not be "such a bad guy after all". The Mask then gives him a wedgie, as usual.

* [[SheRa Hordak]] gives a variant after seeing She-Ra risk her life to save the both of them from another dimension. They return just before a battle breaks out between the Horde and the Rebels, and Hordak commands the Horde to stand down, stating he doesn't want to owe She-Ra later for saving his life.

* StarFox 64 has this in a few of Falco's comments, such as "I guess I should be thankful."

This thanks, however grudging, is sincere; insincere ones fall under EmbarrassingRescue.

Compare ThinkNothingOfIt. If Bob has the same attitude as Alice, he is prone to express it, either because he dislikes the connection it formed, or because he did not act for Alice personally.

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'''Spock''': Oh yes, you humans have that emotional need to express gratitude. "You're welcome", I believe is the correct response.

* A subversion occurs ''[=~That '70s Show~=]'' when Red "thanks" his son Eric for staying at home to help support the family instead of going to college after Red had a heart attack and couldn't work for a while. He expresses it by ordering Eric to go out and mow the lawn, awkwardly adding that the "lawn...thanks you for staying home." Red legitimately appreciates Eric's helping to pay the bills, but he's just extremely uncomfortable expressing his emotions except for when he's angry.

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* King Faraday delivers one (via telegram) to ComicBook/{{Batman}} in ''Batman'' #314 after Batman saved his life against Two-Face. Batman notes that a 'thank you' from someone like Faraday is glowing praise.
* In ''Transmetropolitan'', after Spider Jerusalem gets knocked out during a severe storm, his assistant Yelena Rossini proceeds to write a critical story in his name to make a deadline. Later, upon admitting the fact, she cringes waiting for his typical reaction (dirty words and violence), but instead he kisses her forehead and quietly replies, "Thank you."

* In the TomClancy novel ''Patriot Games'', ULA terrorist Sean Grady is temporarily transferred to a cell with ordinary criminals in it. When the cops check on him, he's been beaten and is being raped. The officer pulls the other prisoner off of Grady and gets him to the infirmary, at which point Sean says "Thanks." This is notable in that it's literally the ''only'' unnecessary word that Sean says in the presence of the police between the time he's arrested and the time he's broken out.

* ''{{The Inexplicable Adventures of Bob}}''? For a variety of reasons, Jean doesn't like Voluptua, but she does express honest gratitude for her giving Jean and Bob a trip into space and then a ride on a [[DragonRider dragon's back.]]

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-->Mc Coy: Spock, er, I know we've, er, had our disagreements. Er, maybe they're jokes, I don't know. As Jim says, we're not often sure ourselves sometimes. But, -->er... what I'm trying to say is...
-->Spock: Doctor, I am seeking a means of escape. Will you please be brief?
-->Mc Coy: What I'm trying to say is, you saved my life in the arena.
-->Spock: Yes, that's quite true.
-->Mc Coy: [Indignant] I'm trying to thank you, you pointed-eared hobgoblin!
-->Spock: Oh yes, you humans have that emotional need to express gratitude. "You're welcome", I believe is the correct response.

* A subversion occurs ''That70sShow'' when Red "thanks" his son Eric for staying at home to help support the family instead of going to college after Red had a heart attack and couldn't work for a while. He expresses it by ordering Eric to go out and mow the lawn, awkwardly adding that the "lawn...thanks you for staying home." Red legitimately appreciates Eric's helping to pay the bills, but he's just extremely uncomfortable expressing his emotions except for when he's angry.

* Any time Nynaeve, Elayne, and Egwene are forced to thank Mat for anything in the WheelOfTime it comes out like this.

* KnightsOfTheOldRepublic: You can get Bastila to apologize for her earlier rudeness, but according to the text it sounds like 'pulling teeth'.

This thanks, however grudging, are sincere; insincere ones fall under EmbarrassingRescue.