History Main / RescueIntroduction

A new character is met when the protagonists rescue them from a tricky situation, or when they rescue the protagonists. Often creates a strong emotional bond to a new character, as said rescue adds instant dramatic tension to any first impression. Depending on attitude and reaction of character, can act as an EstablishingCharacterMoment. Will sometimes result in a RescueRomance or RecruitmentByRescue. Compare to ComeWithMeIfYouWantToLive, which has a similar introduction dynamic. The rescuer can act as TheCavalry, or BigDamnHeroes depending on the situation.

[[quoteright:350:[[Manga/OnePiece https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/one_piece_zoro_rescue.png]]]]

* ''Manga/BusoRenkin'': Kazuki first met Tokiko when he tried to save her from a man-eating homunculus. The rescue didn't go to plan, however, as Kazuki suffered a mortal wound, forcing Tokiko (who was only pretending to be in danger to lure the homunculus into a trap) to [[FirstEpisodeResurrection bring him back to life]] with a {{Magitech}} kakugane, making it a mutual rescue introduction

* Taran and Eilonwy meet in the first book of the ''Literature/ChroniclesOfPrydain'' when he's imprisoned in Spiral Castle. All she really wants is for him to throw her bauble back to her, as she's accidentally dropped it into his cell; when he explains that his hands are bound, she instead breaks into the cell and unties him. He then asks her to also rescue the prisoner in the other cell, whom he believes is his companion Gwydion, but is actually the wandering bard Fflewddur Fflamm. Eilonwy then helps both of them escape and ends up joining the quest.

A new character is met when the protagonists rescue them from a tricky situation, or when they rescue the protagonists. Often creates a strong emotional bond to new character, as said rescue adds instant dramatic tension to any first impression. Depending on attitude and reaction of character, can act as an EstablishingCharacterMoment. Will sometimes result in a RescueRomance or RecruitmentByRescue. Compare to ComeWithMeIfYouWantToLive, which has a similar introduction dynamic. The rescuer can act as TheCavalry, or BigDamnHeroes depending on the situation.

While this meeting may often overlap with introducing the character to the audience as well, it does not necessarily have to--this is an in-universe trope about how the protagonist(s) meet the character.

* ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'': Best friends Tails and Sonic first met when Sonic saved Tails from drowning in a swamp. He saw to two tails and thought that two foxes had fallen in, but it was just one boy with two tails.

* Taran and Eilonwy meet in the first book of the ''Literature/ChroniclesOfPrydain'' when he's imprisoned in Spiral Castle. All she really wants is for him to throw her bauble back to her, as she's accidentally dropped it into his cell; when he explains that his hands are bound, she instead breaks into the cell and unties him. He then asks her to also rescue the prisoner in the other cell, whom he believes is his companion Gwydion, but is actually the wandering bard Fflewddur Fflamm. Eilonwy then helps both of them escape, and ends up joining the quest.

** Merlin does it again in ''How Firm a Foundation'' when he shows up at Talkyra Castle to rescue Earl Coris, Princess Irys and Prince Daivyn.

* How Dov meets his girlfriend in season 2 of ''Series/RookieBlue''. She's a bomb disposal expert called in to help him after he steps on bomb-trigger trap, and rescues him from said trap.

** ''VideoGame/BaldursGate2'': Branwen, Dynaheir, Viconia, Yeslick and Xan in the first game; Aerie, Cernd, Haer'Dalis, Viconia (again!), Mazzy and arguably Minsc and Jaheira in the sequel.

* In the webcomic [[http://www.winglesscomic.com/ Wingless: The Dovecote Princess]], Alif is [[http://www.winglesscomic.com/archives/1676#comic_title introduced]] by beating up bandits that were harrassing Ephelia... which quickly turns into her [[ComplainingAboutRescuesTheyDontLike complaining about the rescue]] once Alif asks for a service fee.

* In the ''[[VideoGame/{{Bionicle}} Mata Nui Online Game]]'', Gali, Pohatu, Onua and Kopaka are introduced when they [[BigDamnHeroes make a sudden appearance]] to save the player and others, and a lot of the other characters (most of the Ga-Matoran and Le-Matoran, Nokama and Matau, and Kopeke) are introduced when you have to save them.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': Ezra first meets the ''Ghost'' crew when he steals some items they were in the process of stealing from the Empire's garrison on Lothal, and is subsequently rescued from the Empire by the crew.

* ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'' - Yuri's introduction to Baam. As he is up and about to storm to his certain death, she [[DynamicEntry jumps in]] and convinces the test master to change the rules so much that the kid actually has a chance.

** ''Disney/{{Hercules}}'': Hercules meets Megara when rescuing her from a monstrous centaur.
** ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'': Aladdin meets Princess Jasmine when rescuing her from a street vendor from whom she accidentally stole an apple and her arm is nearly slashed off.
** ''Disney/TheLittleMermaid'': Ariel meets Eric after he is accidentally separated from his ship during a hurricane, and brings him to shore to prevent him from drowning.
** ''Disney/TheHunchbackofNotreDame'': Phoebus first meets Esmeralda after he saves her from being arrested by his own teammates.
** Taran and Eilonwy first meet Fflewddur Fflam in ''Disney/TheBlackCauldron'' when they get him out of the Horned King's dungeon.
** ''Disney/TheRescuersDownUnder'': Cody rescues Marahute, a giant golden eagle, from a poacher's trap on top of a cliff. When freed, Marahute accidentally pushes Cody off the cliff with her wing, and when she sees him falling down, she swoops down and saves him.

* Franchise/WonderWoman first met her eventual adopted sister and first ComicBook/WonderGirl Donna Troy when she rescued Donna as a toddler from an apartment fire.

* ''Film/StarWars'':

* Barnaby from ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'' is introduced partway through the first episode when he swoops in and rescues protagonist Kotetsu by snatching him out of a fall, {{bridal| carry}}-style. This is {{played for laughs}} in that episode itself, soon becomes a RunningGag, and is even used as a {{Book End|s}}.

** ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' has you rescuing Bastila (or as she'll insist, [[ComplainingAboutRescuesTheyDontLike her rescuing you]]...)

* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Twinbee}} Pop'n Twinbee]]'', Light and Pastel first meet Madoka when she begs them to rescue her grandfather Mardock, a benevolent scientist whose personality changed into [[TakeOverTHeWorld a deranged megalomaniac world-conqueror]] after he hit his head on a pole. They ultimately manage to turn him back to normal, making the three youngsters the best of friends ever since, and Mardock one of Light and Pastel's most trusted allies.
* In the sixth installment of the ''VideoGame/DarkParables'', the Fairytale Detective meets [[Literature/JackAndTheBeanstalk Jack]] when he saves her from being killed by Prince Leonard.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'': Best friends Tails and Sonic first met when Sonic saved Tails from drowning in a swamp.

** Nanoha rescuing Subaru in the first episode of ''[[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers StrikerS''. Interestingly, the series ends with [[spoiler:Subaru rescuing Nanoha, in turn]].

* Nanoha rescuing Subaru in the first episode of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers''. Interestingly, the series ends with [[spoiler:Subaru rescuing Nanoha, in turn]].

* Franchise/WonderWoman first met her eventual adopted sister and first ComicBook/WonderGirl Donna Troy when she rescued Donna as a toddler from an apartment fire.

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]

[[folder: Fan Works]]

[[folder: Film - Animated]]

[[folder: Film - Live Action]]
* ''Film/StarWars: Film/ANewHope'' has one of the most iconic examples of this when Luke rescues Leia.
** Finn and Poe meet in ''Film/StarWarsTheForceAwakens'' when Finn helps Poe escape the New Order's prison cells.
* ''Film/KickAss'': Kickass is about to get carved up by Razul's gang when Hit-Girl gets her EstablishingCharacterMoment by massacring them all. This is also the first time we see her in the Hit-Girl persona.
* ''Film/PaleRider'': The Preacher and Hull first meet when the Preacher rescues him from a bunch of thugs.

* ''Film/TheTerminator'' has Kyle introduce himself to Sarah J. Connor by extricating her from Tech Noir just as the T-800 closes in for the kill. This is a theme that's carried on in the other films/TV series, accompanied by the CatchPhrase, "Come with me if you want to live."

[[folder: Literature]]
* ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'': How Miles meets Taura in "Labyrinth". However, he's also on a mission to kill her. ItMakesSenseInContext.

* How Merlin Athrawes introduced himself to then Crown Prince Cayleb in ''[[Literature/{{Safehold}} Off Armageddon Reef]]''.
* ''Literature/DreamPark''. The players first meet Alex Griffin's character when they find him [[QuicksandSucks sinking in quicksand]]. One of them teases Griffin by making him prove that he's worthy to join the party before they rescue him.
* ''Literature/{{Neverwhere}}'': How Richard meets Door when he takes her home after finding her lying and bleeding on a cold London Above street.
* in ''Literature/TheWardedMan'', Leesha and Rojer meet the titular Warded Man when he saves them from being killed by demons and gets them to safety.
* Taran and Eilonwy meet in the first book of the ''Literature/ChroniclesOfPrydain'' when he's imprisoned in Spiral Castle. All she really wants is for him to throw her bauble back to her, as she's accidentally dropped it into his cell; when he explains that his hands are bound, she instead breaks into the cell and unties him. He then asks her to also rescue the prisoner in the other cell, whom he believes is his companion Gwydion, but is actually the wandering bard Fflewddur Fflamm. Eilonwy then helps both of them escape, and ends up joining the quest.

[[folder: Live Action TV]]
* Several times throughout ''Series/DoctorWho'', but explicitly in the episode "Rose", where Rose's first meeting with the Doctor is him grabbing her hand and yelling "Run!"

* ''Series/LostGirl'': How Bo meets Kenzi. And how Bo meets Dyson's NewOldFlame Kiara. And how Dyson re-connects with her after several centuries of separation.

[[folder:Real Life]]
* A standard trick by private investigators or spies to gain someone's trust is to stage a fake bar fight or street mugging, with the investigator as the Good Samaritan coming in to "save" him or her.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Webcomics]]

[[folder: Web Games]]

[[folder: WebOriginal]]

** Finn and Poe meet in ''Film/StarWarsTheForceAwakens when Finn helps Poe escape the New Order's prison cells.

* In ''Series/{{Suits}}'' Harvey and Mike meet this way when Harvey and Donna conspire to rescue Mike from the police chasing him in the pilot.

* Although we never see it (and Dean doesn't seem to remember it), Dean and Castiel from ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', when Castiel rescues Dean from Hell.

* ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorVanguard'': The first time the player sees the Bazooka Operatior he is [[{{Parachute in a Tree}} trapped in a tree by his parachute]], the player then gets to cut him down from the tree.

* In the Literature/WhateleyUniverse, Team Kimba first meet Skyhawk when he swoops in and plucks Chaka off the roof of a car of badguys just before it crashes. They first meet AntiHero The Lamplighter when he mistakes Chaka and Dyna-Man for supervillains and tries to kill them.

* Seen often in the DisneyAnimatedCanon:

* In ''VideoGame/{{Half-Life 2}}'' you meet Alyx Vance after she rescues you.