History Main / ShootTheDangerousMinion

* Subverted by Emperor Gestahl in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'': let's just say that [[spoiler:trying to kill Kefka on a floating continent hundreds of miles above the surface is a BAD idea, especially when Kefka is [[AGodAmI wielding the power of three gods combined]].]]

* In ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', Frieza blew up an entire planet because he was afraid the Saiyans who served as his low class soldiers could grow to overpower him. As it turns out, this was a legitimate concern, and despite (or perhaps [[GenocideBackfire because of]]) his extreme measures, it eventually happens.

* In ''{{Manga/Bleach}}'', Kugo Ginjo advises his [[BigBadDuumvirate partner]] Shukuro Tsukishima to dispose of Moe Shishigawara after they're done with the Soul Reapers because his [[WindsOfDestinyChange Fullbring ability]] could be too powerful for either of them. [[EvenEvilHasStandards Even Tsukishima]] says this is a dick move.

Very common in RealLife dictatorships since holding on to power in such an environment automatically breeds paranoia, leading to the ruler's inner circle gradually getting depleted until only the [[YesMan Yes-Men]] are left.

* At the end of ''VideoGame/GhostOfTsushima'', after [[PlayerCharacter Jin Sakai]] has given everything to save Japan from the Mongol invasion, [[spoiler:the Shogunate thanks him by declaring him a war criminal and ordering his immediate execution. Officially, they do so because of [[ShootTheDog the dishonorable tactics Jin employed against the invaders]]. ''Un''officially, they're doing it because Jin's growth into a LivingLegend and inspiration of the peasantry is endangering the feudal caste system that keeps them in power; it wouldn't do for the lowly commoners to forget their place and get ideas about standing up for themselves without relying on samurai masters for protection.]]

* Following his great success against Nazi Germany during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Georgy Zhukov suffered a nonlethal example of this trope: UsefulNotes/JosephStalin saw him as a political threat due to his stellar reputation with the people and the army, and in 1946 had Zhukov demoted and ReassignedToAntarctica (as well as having him accused of looting and mismanagement, charges that didn't stick). Stalin actually ''wanted'' to have Zhukov killed, but the general was at the time so popular that not even Stalin could get away with this without risking dangerous instability in the military.

* The third season of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' initially centers on the Decepticons trying to revive the Predacons, a long-extinct type of Transformer. When their first successful clone, Predaking, turns out to not only be immensely strong but [[ItCanThink smart, independent, and ambitious]], the Decepticons realize an army of Predacons would inevitably and successfully revolt--probably lead by Predaking himself. They decide to secretly destroy all the fossils planned to be cloned and frame the Autobots, getting rid of them while also distracting Predaking from any ideas of taking over.

* In ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'', Lord Downey, the head of the Assassins' Guild, is shown considering the possibility of offing PsychoForHire assassin student Jonathan Teatime. It's partly EvenEvilHasStandards, but also practically speaking, Downey knows that Teatime is stealthy enough to sneak into his study undetected and crazy enough to kill him if the whim should take him.

Very common in RealLife dictatorships since holding on to power in such an environment automatically breeds paranoia, leading to the ruler's inner circle gradually getting depleted until only the [[YesMan YesMen]] are left.

Very common in RealLife dictatorships since holding on to power in such an environment automatically breeds paranoia, leading to the ruler's inner circle gradually getting depleted until only the YesMan is left.

* In ''{{Manga/Bleach}}'', Kugo Ginjo advises his [[BigBadDuumvirate partner]] Shukuro Tsukishima to dispose of Moe Shishigawa after they're done with the Soul Reapers because his [[WindsOfDestinyChange Fullbring ability]] could be too powerful for either of them. [[EvenEvilHasStandards Even Tsukishima]] says this is a dick move.

* Following his great success against Nazi Germany during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Georgy Zhukov suffered a nonlethal example of this trope: UsefulNotes/JosephStalin saw him as a political threat due to his stellar reputation with the people and the army, and in 1946 had Zhukov demoted and ReassignedToAntarctica (as well as having him accused of looting and mismanagement, charges that didn't stick).

* In a print-only bonus strip of ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', Xykon and his minions [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0194.html retake his backup lair]] from the Good-aligned monsters that had taken up residence. The boss of the dungeon is a silver dragon (the same one that gets [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0300.html zombified]] later); one of the hobgoblin {{mooks}} lands the final blow. He gains so many levels that Xykon immediately kills him because he's too powerful to be a minion anymore.

* In the ninth and final (that was the plan, anyway) book of the ''Literature/AlexRider'' series, GreaterScopeVillain Zeljan Kurst is well aware that Levi Kroll is angry over being repeatedly passed over for leading an operation, and arranges for him to be assassinated at the next meeting of Scorpia executives. This not only gets Levi out of the picture, but also allows him to use Levi's corpse for an UriahGambit that MI6 walks right into.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'': After you defeat [[MadScientist Lugae]], you meet his superior, [[NobleDemon Rubicante]]. He then claims Lugae's actions [[EvenEvilHasStandards were horrific, even for him]] and states he doesn't hold anything against you. A boss fight still ensues, but [[LetsFightLikeGentlemen he is generous enough to heal the party first]].
* Subverted by Emperor Gestahl in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'': let's just say that [[spoiler:trying to kill Kefka on a floating continent hundreds of miles above the surface is a BAD idea, escpecially when Kefka is wielding the power of three gods combined.]]

* [[TheMafia Knuckles]] from ''VideoGame/GhostMaster'' suffered this fate. One night at the casino, he caught the croupier cheating so that his Don would win every time. Since this moment could ruin both the croupier and Don's reputation, Knuckles was shot right at the spot. They definitely shouldn't have done it: though his body was disposed, his ghost remains at the casino - vengeful and really powerful.

->''"Comrade general... you have proven even more tenacious than I thought. What a great ''threat'' you are to your enemies. Do me this favor. Grace me with your present in Moscow... so I may thank you in person."''

The reasons for doing this vary, but are generally some combination of fear of the minion becoming TheStarscream, fear that a particularly unstable minion will ruin the boss' schemes, and EvenEvilHasStandards. Very common in RealLife dictatorships since holding on to power in such an environment automatically breeds paranoia, leading to the ruler's inner circle gradually getting depleted until only the YesMan is left.

UriahGambit and PleaseShootTheMessenger are subtropes. The DragonInChief is often the target.

UriahGambit and PleaseShootTheMessenger are subtropes.

* Following his great success against Nazi Germany during UsefulNotes/TheSecondWorldWar, Georgy Zhukov suffered a nonlethal example of this trope: UsefulNotes/JosephStalin saw him as a political threat due to his stellar reputation with the people and the army, and in 1946 had Zhukov demoted and ReassignedToAntarctica (as well as having him accused of looting and mismanagement, charges that didn't stick).

[[folder: Radio]]

* Yang Wenli in ''Anime/LegendOfTheGalacticHeroes'' is on the receiving end of a nonlethal version. After becoming a public hero to the Alliance, the politicians of the Alliance views him as an immense threat should he ever decide to run for office and they take every chance they get to smear his reputation, hound his operations [[ObstructiveBureaucrat through bureaucracy or congressional hearings]], or outright playing the UriahGambit on him in the hopes he'll fail and his reputation will be ruined.

* After you kill [[spoiler:[[PsychoForHire Krauser]]]] in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'', [[BigBad Saddler]] contacts you and asks how he can thank you. [[spoiler:Krauser was actually a double-agent working for [[BiggerBad Wesker]] and Saddler knew it.]]