The damsel in distress is of course a standard adventure hook. Which means it's ripe for subversion or deconstruction. Make it a large, muscular man in distress, and see how your heroes react. Or an orc or goblin in distress.

Or going the other way, make it a damsel who appears to be in distress, but who is really über-competent and in no need of any help from bypassing would-be heroes, thank you very much. Or perhaps the damsel is really the evil mastermind and is only appearing to be in distress to draw adventurers into her cunningly laid trap.

Transcript

Lando: People don't get bounties posted on them for no reason, Senator. You're a wanted criminal. You're going nowhere.
Lando: Freddo, old pal, don't worry. I'll get you out.
{Lando leaves}
Leia: All right. Well, goodbye. Take care of yourself, Han. I guess that's what you're best at, isn't it?
Chewbacca: Have you seen his self-preservation ability?
Han: Hey!
Chewbacca: This is a genuine question. I've never seen it.
Han: We're not leaving you.
Chewbacca: It would be most unchivalrous to abandon a damsel in distress.
Han: Yeah, where would you be without us to get you out of trouble, Princess?
Leia: I wouldn't be...
{beat}
Leia: Okay, what's the plan?
Han: I get to do that too?
Chewbacca: Please, no.