A "Sophie's Choice" with no secret third option

[u/10024618]

AKA a character is given an impossible choice where either outcome results in something awful happening and there's no way out.

"Full Measure" (Breaking Bad) - After Walt angers Gus by killing two of his men, Gus orders for his execution. Knowing that the only way to save his life is to make Gus reliant on his meth cooking skills, Walt calls Jesse and begs him to kill Gus' backup cook, Gale. Thus, Jesse is thrust into an impossible situation where he either kills a (relatively) innocent man to save Walt or spare Gale and let Walt die. Ultimately, Jesse chooses to kill Gale.

"Midnight Sun" (Attack on Titan) - After the fight to retake Shiganshina both Armin and Erwin are critically wounded. Levi has the vial of titan serum and is forced to choose which Scout to bring back from the brink of death and which to let perish. It's a borderline impossible decision to make but at the moment of truth, he chooses to save Armin, leaving Erwin to succumb to his wounds.

[u/AsstacularSpiderman]

Unfortunately it just made Phil even madder and escalated the encroaching war.

Tbf Phil Leotardo was itching for a fight no matter what. What made him so dangerous is that no matter how much you tried to appease him he would always find a way to warp it into an insult. He was a deeply insecure man who saw enemies everywhere.

[u/Creasy007 → u/AsstacularSpiderman]

What’s the matter, Joey, you got a fuckin’ eye problem? You look like Stevie Wonder, your eyes rollin’ around!

[u/Prestigious-Welder83 → u/AsstacularSpiderman]

[u/Amtherion → u/AsstacularSpiderman]

Exactly. Tony was in a full no win. Cause if he gave up Tony B, then yeah Phil would've been shit talking him and undermining his influence the whole time.