History Main / ObiWanMoment

This usually pops up with TheMentor, the ZenSurvivor, or any other character who has lived like they were NotAfraidToDie. May also happen with villains in a DissonantSerenity situation. This may also be an indication that the character's death was not only [[MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning planned]], but in fact [[ThanatosGambit is a part of the larger picture of the story]]. Because of this, he will naturally FaceDeathWithDignity. May happen if the person is about to perform a HeroicSacrifice or has already done it but death was not instant. This may be a precursor to a [[DeathActivatedSuperpower Death-Activated Superpower]].

[[TropeNamer Named after]] a comment made on the ''Film/XMenTheLastStand'' director's commentary track at the death of a major mentor figure, in reference to Obi-Wan Kenobi of ''Franchise/StarWars''.

* Master Oogway in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', who much like Obi Wan seems to AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence rather than do anything so crude as to actually ''die.'' Noting that his time has come, he [[PassingTheTorch hands his staff to Shifu]], encourages him to have faith, and fades into a cloud of peach blossoms blown up by the wind as gentle music plays.

** The TropeNamer is Obi-Wan Kenobi of original trilogy, and the brief second of eye contact he makes with Luke right before Darth Vader kills him in ''Film/ANewHope''.
-->'''Obi-Wan''': "''[[BadassBoast If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine]].''"

** Creator/LiamNeeson got a variant of this trope as Qui-Gon Jinn in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', calmly meditating before his final, brief duel with [[spoiler:Darth Maul]] when their fight is [[MidBattleTeaBreak briefly interrupted]] by the shifting of some laser doors. This is a case where he didn't necessarily know that he'd be dying, but likely considered the possibility.

* [[spoiler:Dumbledore]] in ''Literature/HarryPotter'' is a DoubleSubversion. At first, it appears he's pleading with his killer to spare him. In the next book, it's revealed that [[spoiler:his death had been planned by both of them for almost a year, and he was pleading for Snape to honor his word and actually do it.]]
** And then [[spoiler:Harry himself]] repeats the feat in ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows The Deathly Hallows]]'' when he finds out that the only way Voldemort can be beaten is if Harry is killed by him. After ensuring that there are people who have the necessary information to kill Voldemort, he has a peaceful moment with the ghosts of his loved ones. He then confronts the Dark Lord, accepting his fate and not even using his wand to defend himself. [[spoiler: He gets better, though.]]

* ''Literature/TheWolfDenTrilogy'': [[spoiler: Pliny the Elder]], Amara's friend and mentor, collapses on the shore and tells the other refugees from Vesuvius to go on without him. When Amara insists on trying to save him, or at least staying with him while he dies, he calmly gestures (being unable to speak) for her to leave him and lies back to wait for death.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'' is a skilled user of this trope, with many characters who die preferring to GoOutWithASmile. The Pirate King Gold Roger kicked off the series by smiling (on the execution platform, no less) and telling the world that whoever wants his treasure can have it if they can find it. The highlight though was the death of Nami and Nojiko's mother, Bellemere. Willingly sacrificing herself for the continued safety of her daughters, a gun pointed at her head, her final words to them before death were "Nojiko! Nami! I love you!"
** It becomes a defining trait of people who carry "The Will of D". When Luffy is about to be killed by Buggy the Clown he grins and apologizes to his friends that this looks like the end. While it isn't and Luffy is saved by DeusExMachina he had no way of knowing this. Smoker sees the resemblance between Luffy and Roger's actions. Likewise [[spoiler:Ace despite trying desperately to survive for his brother and crew is happy to die as he saved Luffy and dies with a smile on his face.]] This is one of the reasons that White Beard calls Black Beard out, saying that Black Beard fears death and isn't one of the people Roger waits for.

** [[spoiler: Whitebeard himself]] does this after taking down hundreds of Navy soldiers [[spoiler: despite having a giant hole in his chest]]. He definitely got the last laugh: His last words were [[spoiler: to reveal that One Piece exists to the world, thus jumpstarting the new age of pirates.]] His last thoughts were [[spoiler: to smile at the fact that he achieved his greatest treasure and dream in life: a loving family.]]

* Done by Captain Falcon in the ''VideoGame/FZero'' anime, just before [[MemeticMutation its most]] [[MegatonPunch famous scene]].

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' has [[spoiler:General Grumman]]. His reaction to the [[spoiler:Amestris circle activating, ripping out his soul and countless others]] is to calmly say, "Drat. It's begun. Ashes...to...ashes..." [[spoiler:Also, like everyone else who lost his soul, [[UnexplainedRecovery he gets better]].]]

* At the end of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueCrisisOnTwoEarths'', the ultra-fatalistic Owlman realizes he's about to be blown up, smiles very slightly, and softly utters his CatchPhrase: "It doesn't matter."

** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E12TheStolenEarth "The Stolen Earth"]], [[spoiler:Harriet Jones]] doesn't go out with crying and cursing, but with [[spoiler:her CatchPhrase]].

Not everyone in fiction goes out the same way. While some people may scream, [[SayYourPrayers or pray]], [[DyingCurse or curse and rage]], or act terrified, for some characters that sort of thing is just... [[NotAfraidToDie out of character]]. So instead their death is an unusually calm moment, where they take their last few seconds and use them to reassure the people they're leaving behind or find one last moment of peace before they GoIntoTheLight. Sometimes they [[GoOutWithASmile just smile at their surviving companion]], fire off one last one-liner at their killer, say that ItHasBeenAnHonor, or admit that ThisIsGonnaSuck. Usually goes on into PeacefulInDeath, if the body does not dissolve or otherwise be destroyed.

* In ''Film/{{Cyborg 2}}'', Jack Palance is the leader of the underground railroad helping to smuggle cyborgs out from under the control of the Pinwheel Corporation. At the end of the film, the CorruptCorporateExecutive captures him, brings him to his office, and gloats that he's just sent the self-destruct signal to blow up the cyborg heroine (Angelina Jolie!). Instead, it's Palance who starts ticking, and with a smirk he proclaims "looks like you kissed the wrong ass goodbye!" before blowing the BigBad and his corporate headquarters sky-high.

** At the end of ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'', it's over for Zack and he knows it, but he's got just enough left to pass on his sword and give Cloud a pep talk before getting absorbed by the Lifestream

* Sousuke's mother from ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'', as revealed from his [[PastExperienceNightmare nightmares]] and in his backstory. The plane he and she were on crashed in the middle of snowy mountains, and apparently all the rest of the passengers died. They were huddled together, and she protected him from the cold. During Kalinin's rescue mission, although they were able to take Sousuke out of the plane in time, the part of the plane Sousuke's mother was on crumbled, and she ended up falling to her death. She yells out to him, [[GoOutWithASmile with a sad smile on her face]], that he must live, never give up, and to fight. It certainly gives a bit of explanation as to why he's so bent on being CrazyPrepared and becoming the CrazySurvivalist he is today.

* In ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'', as [[spoiler:Captain Kirk]] lays dying, he is reassured by Picard that they accomplished their mission and says that saving the day one last time was fun, before succumbing to his wounds.

* ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'', as [[spoiler:Captain Kirk]] lays dying, he is reassured by Picard that they accomplished their mission and says that saving the day one last time was fun, before succumbing to his wounds.