Trope Workshop:Afterlife Search And Rescue

Someone or a group goes to the after life to retrieve someone, probably a loved one, this process may or may not require the rescuer to die. Needless to say, this is usually dangerous. They may have to have to negotiate with whoever is in charge of the afterlife. See Also: Like a Badass Out of Hell

Religion, Mythology, and Folklore

 * Greek Mythology: has the fairly well known story of Eurydice and Orpheus. Eurydice dies, Orpheus goes to the underworld to rescue bring her back to life. What happens next depends on the version, but after that he has to lead her back to the world of the living, with her behind him and him not turning around. Once they are almost out he turns around, ruining the rescue.
 * Subverted by the tale of Persephone.

Tabletop Games

 * Magic: The Gathering has a card called "Rescue From the Underworld". The mechanics and name of the card represent this trope, but the card is lacking in flavor text.

Western Animation

 * In Adventure Time, Finn and Jake do this, for a plant.