rdfs:comment
| - A goodie has captured the baddie and is holding a sword over their head. They really hate this baddie. He or she has killed their friends or family! There's a Dramatic Pause as the goodie mentally debates whether to kill the baddie. In the end, however, they will throw the sword away and let the bad guy be captured by the authorities (unless, of course, they're an Anti-Hero). Alternately, if the hero simply sheathes the sword instead of actually discarding it, the baddie inevitably rises up one more time once the hero's back is turned, only to get struck down in a single dramatic stroke.
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abstract
| - A goodie has captured the baddie and is holding a sword over their head. They really hate this baddie. He or she has killed their friends or family! There's a Dramatic Pause as the goodie mentally debates whether to kill the baddie. In the end, however, they will throw the sword away and let the bad guy be captured by the authorities (unless, of course, they're an Anti-Hero). Alternately, if the hero simply sheathes the sword instead of actually discarding it, the baddie inevitably rises up one more time once the hero's back is turned, only to get struck down in a single dramatic stroke. This trope can just as easily be done with firearms. Often by the hero firing a shot, only to have aimed away from villain at the last second. Bystanders may be provided to say either, "If You Kill Him You Will Be Just Like Him" or "Kill Him Already!" If the roles are reversed and the villain has the hero at his mercy, naturally he'll decide to finish the hero off, but be prepared for a Thwarted Coup De Grace. Warning note... there are plenty of spoilers here. Be ye warned. Examples of Sword Over Head include:
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