Line #101 Main/IShouldHaveDoneThisYearsAgo


1	A StockPhrase wherein a character acknowledges a past missed opportunity just as they are about to do what they were unable to (or chose not to) all those years ago. Often, the character spared a foe's life in the past and has since come to regret letting the UngratefulBastard live, in which case the phrase usually comes during a SwordOverHead moment and may be accompanied by PrepareToDie. Bonus points if the character in question is a villain who [[GenreBlindness foolishly]] [[YouKilledMyFather killed one of his enemies]] in the BackStory but left their child, now TheHero, alive out of [[NotWorthKilling scorn]], or a {{Mentor\|s}} who couldn't bring himself to kill his [[DeceptiveDisciple beloved pupil]], now the BigBad, even when their OmnicidalManiac tendencies became apparent. It can also be used by [[EliteMook a henchman who served the Big Bad faithfully]], despite any mistreatment [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness only to be tossed aside once they got what they wanted]], [[HeelFaceTurn prompting said henchman to turn to the light side]].
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3	Note that the phrase may be used in regards to plenty of things other than murder: a risk not taken, a path not followed, a highschool sweetheart not smooched - any of these may provoke the phrase years later, optionally accompanied by a wistful expression and/or a tear in the eye.
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5	This trope can also appear in more disguised forms, without having to invoke the StockPhrase. "I have a certain phone call to make"/"there's a family waiting for me"/"I just realised I need to visit an old friend"/etc. are all stock sentences that stem directly from this concept.
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7	Loosely related to IAlwaysWantedToSayThat.
8	----
9	!!Examples:
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11	[[foldercontrol]]
12
13	[[folder:Advertisements]]
14	* One [=FedEx=] commercial had a clerk set up an incredibly huge multi-destination order over the phone. Then the other side of the line is revealed to be Santa and his elves, starting off on a tropical holiday now that they've outsourced all their present deliveries to [=FedEx=], saying they should have thought of this years ago.
15	[[/folder]]
16
17	[[folder:Comic Books]]
18	* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'': Calvin's dad uses the "Should have thought of this years ago" variation in one bedtime story strip: the story is about a disembodied hand that goes around strangling people and was never found, so to this day it could be anywheOHMIGOD IT'S GOT ME!!!! With Calvin out cold, his dad says the above line.
19	[[/folder]]
20
21	[[folder:Fan Works]]
22	* ''FanFic/DirtySympathy'' Klavier jokingly apologizes to Apollo for not pushing his brother off the Swiss Alp when he was nine.
23	[[/folder]]
24
25	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
26	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Antz}}'': When Col. Cutter finally rebels against Gen. Mandible's evil ways and tries to help the ants the general tried to drown.
27	-->'''General Mandible:''' Cutter, what are you doing?\
28	'''Colonel Cutter:''' Something I should have done, a long time ago. ''[extends his hand to the worker ants]'' ''This'' is for the good of the colony, sir.
29	* In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame\|Disney}}'': At the climax, Frollo finally reveals to Quasimodo that he killed his mother who was trying to save him (rather than abandoning him like Frollo had always told him). Frollo then delivers the famous line, "And now, I'm going to do what I should have done... '''TWENTY YEARS AGO!'''" and proceeds to [[spoiler:throw poor Quasi off the cathedral balcony. Too bad he [[HoistByHisOwnPetard ended up dying instead of killing Quasi]].]]
30	* The ''Franchise/KungFuPanda'' films both have the phrase, in which Mr. Ping the goose told his son Po the panda something he should've told him a long time ago. First Film: His secret ingredient soup. Second Film: His adoption.
31	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Moana}}'': After Moana finds some old ships hidden in a cave discovers that her people were once voyagers, her father sets off to burn said ships like he said he should have done long ago. [[spoiler: He doesn't get very far though, because he gets told he has something else to worry about.]]
32	* In Disney’s ''WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}}'', after the fight between Tarzan and Kerchak, the former is especially conflicted between his loyalty to his gorilla family and his newfound love in Jane. His mother, Kala, sighs and says, "Come with me. There's something I should've shown you long ago." She then takes him to the treehouse she found him in as a baby.
33	[[/folder]]
34
35	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
36	* ''[[Literature/BridgetJones Bridget Jones' Diary]]''
37	-->'''Mark Darcy:''' I should have done this years ago.\
38	'''Daniel Cleaver:''' Done what?\
39	'''Mark Darcy:''' This. ''[Punches Cleaver, hard]''
40	* ''Film/CallOfThePrairie'' (1936)
41	-->'''Johnny Nelson:''' I'm going to do what I should have done a long time ago...I'm going to round up those crooks!
42	* ''Film/ACinderellaStory''
43	-->'''Sam:''' Austin? What are you doing?\
44	'''Austin:''' Something I should have done a long time ago. ''[he kisses her]''
45	* ''Film/{{Downfall}}'' has Hitler say something similar to his entry on the Real Life section in his famous VillainousBreakdown scene.
46	-->'''Hitler''': For years the military has hindered my plans! They've put every kind of obstacle in my way! What I should have done is liquidate all the high-ranking officers, like Stalin did!
47	* ''Film/AHistoryOfViolence'':
48	-->[[spoiler: '''Tom:''' I should've killed you back in Philly.]]\
49	[[spoiler: '''Carl:''' Yeah, Joey... you should have.]]
50	* ''[[Creator/MaryKateAndAshleyOlsen Passport To Paris]]''
51	-->'''Jeremy:''' I quit. (…) No, no. I need to thank you. For giving me the courage to do what I should have done a long time ago.
52	[[/folder]]
53
54	[[folder:Literature]]
55	* ''Literature/AFeastForCrows'': In his last conversation with Jaime Lannister, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen laments that he should have done more to rein in his [[TheCaligula psychotic father, King Aerys]] before the latter started a CivilWar by [[YouKilledMyFather murdering the loved ones of several major nobles]] [[ForTheEvulz on a whim]]. Rhaegar infers to Jaime he has plans to make that right [[DeadlyDeferredConversation which he would discuss further]] when he returned from what ended up being the battle at which he was killed.
56	-->'''Rhaegar Targaryen''': When the battle's done, I mean to call a council. Changes will be made. I meant to do it long ago, but ... well, it does no good to speak of roads not taken. We shall talk when I return.
57	* Early in Creator/StephenKing's ''Literature/TheStand'', Frannie Goldsmith's father touches this trope when he finally puts his foot down about his wife living in, essentially, a shrine for their dead son.
58	%% * ''Literature/TheWishList'' is basically about an old guy fulfilling this trope.
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Live Action TV]]
62	* ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica\|2003}}'': Colonel Tigh in "Revelations".
63	-->"I should have told you when I first found out, but I didn't have the guts."
64	* The ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' episode "Seeing Red" has a perfect example after Spike's AttemptedRape of Buffy.
65	-->'''Buffy''': Ask me again why I could never love you!\
66	'''Spike''': [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Buffy... My God, I didn't--]]\
67	'''Buffy''': ''Because I stopped you!'' [''quieter''] Something I should have done a long time ago.
68	* The ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "Father's Day"
69	-->'''The Doctor:''' Jackie Tyler, do as I say! [[PunctuatedForEmphasis GO! AND CHECK! THE DOORS!]] ''[she does]'' Should've done that ages back.
70	* ''Series/GregTheBunny''
71	-->'''Gil:''' Hey there son!\
72	'''Jimmy:''' What're you doing here?\
73	'''Gil:''' Something I should have done a long time ago! [wraps his arms around Jimmy and gives him a big hug].\
74	'''Jimmy:''' What? Molest me?
75	* In ''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue'', Queen Bansheera completely revives by destroying Vypra and absorbing her energy, commenting that [[YouHaveFailedMe she should've done so in the beginning]].
76	* ''Series/PowerRangersTimeForce'' episode "The End of Time: Part 3"
77	-->'''Jen:''' I should have told you this a long time ago. I love you!
78	* ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' episode "These Are the Voyages..."
79	-->'''Riker:''' I think I'm ready to talk to Captain Picard. Should have done it a long time ago.
80	* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', final episode: Picard joins the bridge officers' poker game at the end, and is offered to deal. He says this line, to which Troi says 'You were always welcome.'
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Theatre]]
84	* The ''Theatre/MrsHawking'' series: In part V: ''Mrs. Frost'', somewhat ironically, when Nathaniel says that if he knew it would win him Mrs. Hawking's affection, he would have [[spoiler: let "some brute beat the stuffing out of me"]] ages ago.
85	[[/folder]]
86
87	[[folder:Video Games]]
88	* At the end of Merill's Rivalry path in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', she says this before [[spoiler: smashing the Eluvian.]]
89	* In branch B of ''VideoGame/Drakengard3'', [[spoiler:Cent]] stabs Dito when the latter tries to kill Two. As Dito chokes out, "Why...?", [[spoiler:Cent]] replies that the real question is why he didn't do it before. (And given how much of an asshole Dito is, [[spoiler:Cent]] has a point.)
90	* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', you have a second encounter with the annoying reporter you met in the first game. If you didn't punch her then and do the second time, you say "I should have done that the first time we met."
91	* At the end of ''Videogame/MegaMan7'', Mega Man is sick of fighting Dr. Wily over and over again only for him to escape and try again to take over the world, so he delivers this line and starts charging his ArmCannon. However, he's stopped by a ThreeLawsCompliant and Bass rescues Wily.
92	* ''VideoGame/RatchetDeadlocked''
93	-->'''Gleeman Vox:''' Now I'm going to do what I should have done a long time ago... I'm going to give [=DreadZone=] fans the finale they always wanted... It's a little one act play I like to call... Death... of A Lombax.
94	* ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2'': Happens twice in Chapter 6.
95	** Partway through the chapter, [[spoiler:when Arthur Morgan kicks Herr Strauss out of the gang]], the latter asks, "What are you doing?!" and the former replies, "Something I shoulda done a long time ago."
96	** During the climax, [[spoiler:when John Marston hears of [[TheMole Micah Bell's treachery]] from Arthur while they are fleeing from the Pinkertons, John's furious reaction is: "We should have killed him months ago!"]]
97	* In ''Videogame/ResidentEvil5'', Albert Wesker admits that he should have killed Chris years ago after the latter ruins his latest and greatest scheme.
98	* ''VideoGame/SlyCooperAndTheThieviusRaccoonus''
99	-->'''Sir Raleigh:''' Oh, I'm [[YouKilledMyFather ever so sorry]]... how ''sloppy'' of me not to have finished the job. Obviously we should have snuffed you out as well... so, without further adieu, let me make amends by, what... [[SuddenlyShouting BLOATING]] to GARGANTUAN SIZE and SQUASHING YOU like the insignificant bug that you ''are...''
100	* One event chain in ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'' can appear after you settle on a new planet in which the pollen of a native plant is found to give your colonists a mild high, which is good for morale but bad for productivity. The player is then given a choice of whether to spend credits on stamping out the plant or letting things be. If the player leaves it alone, what follows is a long chain of events where things on the colony go haywire as most people get addicted and stop working, raising the threat of insurrection and even a team from the homeworld gets afflicted and stops obeying your orders. It finally culminates in rallying the non-afflicted population into retaking control and stamping out the pollen's effects at much greater cost than before -- the only choice available at this point is simply "We should have done this a long time ago".
101	* One of the Heavy's revenge lines in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''.
102	-->'''Heavy:''' I should have done this long ago!
103	* The BigBad of VideoGame/TimeCrisis 3, Giorgio Zott, pulls this when he gets ready to launch the tactical missiles meant for Lukano.
104	-->'''Zott:''' I should have gotten rid of that pesky country long ago...
105	[[/folder]]
106
107	[[folder:Web Animation]]
108	* ''WebAnimation/EtraChanSawIt'': Through her daughter-in-law Tsutsuji's support, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orcCcJRK4F4 Azami]] divorces her husband Hiiragi, after he never helped her fight back against his parents and cheated on her, as she should have done it a long time ago.
109	* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': When Strong Bad accidentally downloads several computer viruses, causing reality to re-write itself, Bubs takes Homestar's leg (actually a shotgun that's been affected by the viruses) and goes to shoot Strongbad's computer. [[http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail118.html "I shoulda done this like a million years ago!"]]
110	[[/folder]]
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112	[[folder:Web Comics]]
113	* Parodied in one ''Webcomic/CyanideAndHappiness'' strip, in which the phrase is spoken by a man named [[MeaningfulName Procrastinator Pete]] while holding a gun. What's the thing he should have done a long time ago? ''File his taxes''. He gives the gun to the other person so they can hold him at gunpoint and ''force'' him to do it.
114	[[/folder]]
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116	[[folder:Web Video]]
117	* ''WebVideo/StacheBros'': In the ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DLand'' episode of "Luigi Time!!!", after Luigi injures Mario (to the point of briefly killing him only to be revived with [=1-UPs=]) for keeping a UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS to himself instead of giving it to him for his birthday, Mario gives it to Luigi, which makes him very excited. When Luigi sees that Mario has been playing ''Super Mario 3D Land'' on it, Luigi says "I should've killed my brother years ago! Wait...".
118	[[/folder]]
119
120	[[folder:Western Animation]]
121	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'':
122	** In the Season 1 finale "[[Recap/AmphibiaS1E39Reunion Reunion]]", Anne, who's let [[AlphaBitch Sasha]] push her around for long time, [[GrewASpine musters up the courage]] to stand up to her after the latter threatens Sprig's life.
123	--->'''Sasha:''' Anne, what are you doing?!\
124	'''Anne:''' Something I should have done a long time ago; standing up to you!
125	** In the GrandFinale "[[Recap/AmphibiaS3E31TheHardestThing The Hardest Thing]]", when [[BigBad The Core]] demands [[TheDragon Andrias]] (who by that point had come to a HeelRealization in the previous episode) to help them stop the girls from destroying them, Andrias [[TheDogBitesBack finally had enough of serving his abusive master]] and calls them out in a MeaningfulEcho of Anne's response above.
126	--->'''The Core:''' YouFool You could have been immortal! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!\
127	'''Andrias:''' Something I should've done a long time ago; STANDING UP TO ''YOU''!
128	* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'': In the episode “Beauty Marked”, Dora the Ghost Dragon says this after Sam convinced her to finally [[NotAfraidOfYouAnymore stand up to her brother Prince Aragon]].
129	-->'''Aragon:''' Dora, you imbecile! What do you think you’re doing?!\
130	'''Dora:''' What I should’ve done ''AGES'' ago!
131	* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'':
132	-->'''Lois Griffin:''' Wha? What are you doing with a gun?\
133	'''Stewie Griffin:''' Something I should have done a very long time ago! ''[shoots Lois]''
134	* In the ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' episode "Zim Eats Waffles", Dib manages to sneak a camera into Zim's house by simply asking GIR to do it for him. Dib remarks he should have tried that a long time ago.
135	* Lilith says this in the season one finale of ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' [[spoiler:just before [[EmpathicHealer taking on half of Eda's curse]].]]
136	-->'''Lilith:''' Oh sister, I should have done this a long time ago. [[spoiler:With this spell declared, let the pain be shared.]]
137	* Lampshaded by ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. Marge writes a novel with the main cast as expies of herself, Homer and Flanders. Events play out in a way which mirrors the novel, resulting in Homer confronting Flanders on a cliff (in the book, the expies fall off a cliff in a fight over expy Marge). Homer cites the phrase. [[spoiler:He asks Flanders how to be a good husband]].
138	** Episode "Homer Goes to College"
139	--->'''Bart:''' Well, Pop, what are you gonna do?\
140	'''Homer:''' Something I should have done a long time ago! ''[long pause]''\
141	'''Marge:''' You don't know, do you?\
142	'''Homer:''' No, ma'am.
143	** Episode "Treehouse of Horror VIII"
144	--->''[Homer pulls up an axe]''\
145	'''Marge:''' Homer, what are you doing?\
146	'''Homer:''' Something I should have done a long time ago. ''[turns on Bart with his axe]'' I'll teach you to mess with my machine!\
147	'''Bart:''' ''[begins screaming and running while Homer chases him]''\
148	'''Homer:''' I'm gonna chop you good!
149	* Gargamel's comment on the use of his Daredevil Dust to capture the Smurfs in ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs1981'' episode "Reckless Smurfs".
150	* Wendy's comment to do something about Photoshop in the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "The Hobbit"
151	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'':
152	** Parodied in "Jellyfish Hunter". When [=SpongeBob=] is in Mr. Krabs' jelly processing plant, he picks up a wrench, and when asked what he is doing, he says, "Something that should have been done a long time ago!"... and then proceeds to fix a loose nut.
153	** In "Restraining [=SpongeBob=]", Squidward says this to [=SpongeBob=] while filing a restraining order against him after his usual stupidity gets him injured.
154	-->'''Squidward:''' Now now. Calm down. I've should've given this to you a long time ago!
155	[[/folder]]
156
157	[[folder:Real Life]]
158	* UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte said "I should have shot him" about Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, the Prime Minister of France. Given [[MagnificentBastard Talleyrand]]'s [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder record]], he probably should have.
159	* As everything fell apart in 1945, UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler said he should have purged the Wehrmacht high command like Stalin did with his 1937-38 purges.
160	[[/folder]]

Context Main / IShouldHaveDoneThisYearsAgo