History Main / ResistanceIsFutile

* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' BigBad Harbinger tends to s-- [[MemeticMutation ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL.]] YOU CANNOT RESIST.

--> '''Sovereign:''' ''"You exist, because we allow it. And you will end, because we demand it."''

-->'''Harbinger''': [[AC:Shepard. You have become an ''annoyance''.]]

* If you meet a particularly hostile alien race in the original ''VideoGame/MasterOfOrion'' game, they will say "[[ShoutOut Resistance is futile.]] The fate of the <your race> is inevitable. Prepare to submit to the <our race> Empire."
** This is one of the messages from the Antarans, in the second game, when they're specifically attacking one of your colonies.

A villain will say some variation of "resistance is futile." [[{{Hubris}} Often]], it will turn out resistance was anything but, but villains do like to have their moments. Other common variations are "it is useless to resist us" and "resistance is useless."

* The Aparoids in ''VideoGame/StarFoxAssault'', apparently inspired by the Borg, spout lines like this. Well, the Queen and Pigma do, the rest aren't much for talking.

* The [[{{Mooks}} ork legions]] in ''VideoGame/{{RuneScape}}'' sometimes say "ResistanceIsFutile!"

'''The Borg:''' [[AC: Freedom is irrelevant. Self-determination is irrelevant. You must comply.]]

* Subverted in the J/7 SlashFic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/14136774 The Voyorgy Conspiracy]]''.

* Nine-Ball from ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' says this when he, [[spoiler: actually, they,]] ambush you in the end.

* The Phalanx in the ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' cartoon, being [[{{Expy}} expies]] of the Borg, even used ''both'' parts of the Borg catchphrase ("Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated." Though [[BeamMeUpScotty contrary to popular belief]], the Borg say "resistance is futile" ''last.'')

** [[FridgeLogic How do you attack a landlocked country by sea?]] ([[FridgeBrilliance With Aircraft carriers and cruise missiles.]] )

* According to Wiki/TheOtherWiki, this was part of a telegram that UsefulNotes/NaziGermany sent to the Netherlands at the start of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_declaration_of_war_against_the_Netherlands Source]]

* [[spoiler:Nami]] says this in ''Anime/TheGirlWhoLeaptThroughSpace''.
* A variation of this was used in ''Anime/WordsWorth'': "[[YouGotSpunk Your resistance only makes my penis harder!]]"
* This exact phrase was used in a ''Manga/OnePiece'' fansub, but it is hard to know if it was intentional or the real translation.
* During the Retribution Arc in ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'', one of the pagans who was trying to rape Casca said something akin to this. [[TemptingFate Boy was]] [[ParentsInDistress he in]] [[BerserkButton for it.]]

** For the very first time in the series in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS2E1TheDalekInvasionOfEarth "The Dalek Invasion of Earth"]], a Dalek (who had invaded Earth) to a captive Doctor and Ian: "RESISTANCE IS USELESS."

* Subverted in the J/7 SlashFic ''The Voyorgy Conspiracy'' where Seven of Nine says to Captain Janeway: "Resistance is exciting."

See also NothingCanStopUsNow, and other forms of TemptingFate. When resistance ''really'' is futile, see YouCantFightFate, FailureIsTheOnlyOption, and ButThouMust.

See also NothingCanStopUsNow, and other forms of TemptingFate.

-->-—'''Trigon the Terrible''', ''ComicBook/TheNewTeenTitans''

** During the very short invasion of Denmark, Germand dropped leaflets, calling on the Danish people not to resist. The government surrendered in six hours after formations of bombers dropped them over the king's palace where they were debating their options.

* Nine-Ball from ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' said this when he, [[spoiler: actually, they,]] ambushed you in the end.

* The Aparoids in ''VideoGame/StarFoxAssault'', apparently inspired by the Borg, spout lines like that. Well, the Queen and Pigma do, the rest isn't much for talking.

-->"Resistance is futile; but encouraged for it amuses me."

** That episode even included a binome in a Starfleet uniform quoting part of Picard's speech from ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact''. [[RedShirt Right before getting deleted.]] ''Then'' Megabyte says "Resistance is futile."

* Peridot of ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' paraphrases this when fighting the Crystal Gems- though in a much more frustrated manner than the usual indifference it's delivered with.

** During the very short invasion of Denmark, Germand dropped leaflets, calling on the Danish people not to resist. The government surrendered after six hours after formations of bombers dropped them over the king's palace where they were debating their options.

** [[FridgeLogic How do you attack a landlocked country by sea?]] ([[FridgeBrilliance With Aircraft carriers. And cruise missiles.]] )

--->[[spoiler:'''Data''']]: Resistance is futile. [[spoiler:''(smashes warp coolant tank)'']]
* In ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'', after mind-melding with V'Ger, Spock tells Kirk "Any show of resistance would be futile, Captain." What's even more interesting is that V'Ger is said to have come from "a planet populated by living machines with unbelievable technology.", [[EpilepticTrees which many theorize to be the Borg homeworld]].

* Dr Eggman in the third episode of ''Anime/SonicX'' give a quote the comes close to the Borg introduction: "I have decided to take over your world and make it part of the new Eggman Empire! Resistance is futile. You will submit to my rule or be swept away like dust bodies!"

->''[[AC:We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.]]''
-->-- '''The Borg''', ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact''

A villain will say some variation of "resistance is futile." Often, it will turn out resistance was anything but, but villains do like to have their moments. Other common variations are "it is useless to resist us" and "resistance is useless."

* In ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'', after mind-melding with V'Ger, Spock tells Kirk "Any show of resistance would be futile, Captain." What's even more interesting is that V'Ger is said to have come from "a planet populated by living machines with unbelievable technology.", which many theorize to be the Borg homeworld.

->"''[[AC:We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.]]''"

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* A variation of this was used in ''Anime/WordsWorth'': "Your resistance only makes my penis harder!"