Character Deaths That Ruined The Show

In the digital era where internet fan communities thrive, television series have an extraordinary ability to foster deep emotional attachments towards characters that last for years. This strong bond between viewers and on-screen personalities makes it precarious when creators decide to end a character’s life. Such decisions are rarely taken lightly, but for some legendary shows, the death of beloved characters has stirred controversy, especially when fans were not expecting a particular cast member’s departure. Even long after the series have come to an end, the sad demises of these TV characters remain etched in fans’ memories.

12 popular TV series faced backlash when they killed off cherished and influential characters, a decision that soured the shows’ reputation for many years afterward. While some viewers might find the deaths justified, they still left a lasting negative impact on these once-respected cultural landmarks, making them seem like wasted viewing time. At minimum, these series can be acknowledged for creating sympathetic characters, but their most significant flaw was ending these relationships without much consideration for the fans’ emotional investments.

Henry Blake in MAS*H

1970s sitcom classic, “M*A*S*H,” was a groundbreaking television show that left its mark on the decade. Held within its narrative is an overseas military hospital during the Korean War, where we meet unforgettable characters like Alan Alda’s “Hawkeye” Pierce, Loretta Swit’s “Hot Lips” Houlihan, and Gary Burghoff’s “Radar” O’Reilly. However, despite the heavy subject matter, viewers were taken aback when one cherished character made an unexpected departure.

Following McLean Stevenson’s request for his character Henry Blake to be written off the series, he is honorably discharged and departs by airplane in a poignant goodbye scene. However, the last scene of the episode reveals that Radar goes into an operating room to share the tragic news: Blake’s plane was hit during its journey home.

In the making of Even Stevenson’s series M*A*SH, not even his co-stars were aware of the shocking twist prior to filming, as director Larry Gelbart revealed in his memoir. The unexpected move was so unprecedented that it convinced producers Gene Reynolds and him to carry it out. This bold decision led to a wave of discontent among CBS viewers, resulting in numerous complaints and letters. So intense was this backlash that the final Operating Room scene was edited out during re-runs of the episode. The death of character Blake left a bitter taste for many fans at the time, prompting some to express their dissatisfaction directly to the creators, threatening to stop watching M*A*SH altogether.

Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones

“The transformation of ‘Game of Thrones,’ once dominating pop culture discussions, into one of television history’s biggest letdowns is a topic likely to be analyzed for years. The HBO fantasy series didn’t hesitate to kill off characters, but unfortunately, the writers took Daenerys Targaryen down a questionable path. To put it simply, this was not the ‘Game of Thrones’ ending we had hoped for.

As a gamer, I was hooked from the start with Emilia Clarke’s character, who found herself trapped in a world of abuse. Throughout eight epic seasons, Daenerys grew from a victim into a leader, yearning to regain control over her house in Westeros. However, in the final episodes, everything changed as her character took a dark turn, and she let madness consume her, unleashing flames upon King’s Landing.

In the final episode titled “The Iron Throne”, Jon Snow, her lover, ends up killing Daenerys before she could claim the Iron Throne. This unexpected ending left many fans disappointed, feeling it lacked the grandeur they had hoped for. Even Emilia Clarke, who played Daenerys, expressed some reservations about the finale, saying to The Sunday Times, “I’ve always tried not to think too much about what others might say, but I did consider the fans’ thoughts – because we made this for them, and they were the ones who made us successful. So it’s only polite, isn’t it?

Charlie Harper in Two and a Half Men

The hit sitcom “Two and a Half Men” significantly impacted Charlie Sheen’s life, just as his exit from the show left an indelible mark on it. While it’s typical for network sitcoms to carry on following the departure of their main actors, the case of “Two and a Half Men” was different – the show’s lead actor’s exit proved fatal, stirring up a great deal of controversy in the early 2010s. This chain of events was set off by a series of remarks made by Sheen about the show’s creator Chuck Lorre and his bizarre interviews discussing his “tiger blood.” These comments led CBS to halt production, eventually resulting in Sheen’s termination.

Season 9 began with the startling revelation that Charlie perished in a subway mishap while abroad in Paris. Taking up his role was Ashton Kutcher, but the fresh take on “Two and a Half Men” immediately drew fire from critics. The Hollywood Reporter commented, “Charlie Sheen will have the last laugh if he hasn’t already, and that his new show – should it ever materialize – will be significantly funnier than the humorless 22 minutes we saw last night.

In an unexpected twist, the series finale revealed that Charlie’s death was staged, but Sheen himself is nowhere to be seen in the show. Instead, a piano crashes on a doppelganger of Charlie, and the creator of the show smirks at the audience, implying Sheen’s off-screen drama. This meta move may not have been amusing for many viewers, as it hinted at Sheen’s regret over his role in the sitcom’s decline.

Tracy McConnell in How I Met Your Mother

In eight seasons, “How I Met Your Mother” built up the anticipation of who the titular character would be, but the series finale left viewers disappointed by revealing that Tracy McConnell, future wife of Ted Mosby, had passed away from an unknown illness. However, Cristin Milioti’s portrayal of Tracy and her chemistry with Josh Radnor as Ted made the buildup worthwhile, making their love story seem destined. The final episode, “Last Forever,” concluded with a shocking twist in which, in the future where Ted is telling this story to his children, it was revealed that Tracy had died. To add insult to injury, the last moments showed Ted rekindling his relationship with Robin (Cobie Smulders).

As a dedicated viewer of How I Met Your Mother, I must admit the series finale left me with a mixed bag of emotions. The split between Robin and Barney (played by Neil Patrick Harris) was one thing, but the way the Mother’s storyline concluded felt somewhat lackluster, especially considering the ending was filmed years before airing, which made the actors appear older than intended.

The backlash led to the release of an alternate finale on the Season 9 DVD, but Cristin Milioti, who played the Mother, defended the original. In an interview with Vulture, she said, “They explained it to me as, ‘Well, Ted has two loves, and basically what we’re trying to say is that life comes at you in ways you can never expect.'”

Fortunately, since HIMYM wrapped up, Cristin Milioti has been keeping busy with new projects.

Omar Little in The Wire

HBO’s series “The Wire” is considered one of television’s most remarkable dramas, and a death that occurred within it continues to provoke strong reactions from fans even today. The character Omar Little, brilliantly portrayed by the late Michael K. Williams, initially appeared as a recurring character but gained such popularity that he became then-President Barack Obama’s favorite TV personality. Omar was unique in his unabashed representation of queer identity, which was relatively scarce on television at the time.

Regrettably, in the penultimate episodes of the series, the much-adored character Omar is suddenly gunned down in a convenience store by a young thief who was previously intimidated by him during his confrontations with gangster Marlo Stanfield (Jamie Hector). Some viewers found this unexpected ending unsatisfying for such a cherished and significant figure on “The Wire” as Omar. Upon its airing, many fans criticized the timing of Omar’s demise, arguing it lacked logic.

As a dedicated gamer, I can say that “The Wire” felt incredibly authentic because the characters’ lives were as fragile and unpredictable as those in a gritty street game. Just like in reality, any character, even the beloved Omar, could be taken out at any moment. The show’s uncanny ability to mirror real-life situations made it all the more gripping. However, when Omar met his end, it was a heartbreaking blow for many fans who had grown attached to him.

Grace Shelby in Peaky Blinders

Over the past ten years, I’ve been captivated by “Peaky Blinders,” a crime drama that has consistently won critical acclaim on television. Despite its gritty portrayal of England’s criminal underbelly, what truly took me aback in the initial season was the tender love story between Tommy Shelby (played brilliantly by Cillian Murphy) and Grace Burgess (portrayed beautifully by Annabelle Wallis). Grace, an undercover agent, managed to gain Tommy’s trust and eventually found herself falling for him.

In Season 3, Tommy and Grace tie the knot at the beginning, but by the close of the second episode, Grace is tragically gunned down at a Shelby Charity Foundation gala. Viewers were deeply saddened by her abrupt demise, yet series creator Steven Knight clarified in a Reddit AMA that “Tommy wasn’t destined for happiness.” Critics also voiced their disapproval of the move, labeling it as insensitive towards the character, who had limited screen time in the preceding season and minimal connection to the rest of Season 3.

Fortunately for Peaky Blinders fans, Grace’s demise doesn’t signify Annabelle Wallis’ exit from the series. She returned in subsequent seasons, appearing as a hallucination of Tommy Shelby’s deceased wife. However, this incarnation of her character seems to be pushing Tommy closer to madness. It’s possible that fans might catch one final glimpse of her in the Peaky Blinders movie.

Logan Echolls in Veronica Mars

Initially airing in the mid-2000s, “Veronica Mars” quickly gained a dedicated fanbase, earning decent ratings. Surprisingly, it got cancelled after its third season. However, a Kickstarter campaign led to a feature film in 2014, which brought back Veronica Mars (played by Kristen Bell) and her on-again-off-again love interest Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring). They team up to solve the murder of his ex-girlfriend. More recently, Hulu brought “Veronica Mars” back for a fourth season in 2019.

As a dedicated Veronica Mars gamer, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of joy and anticipation as the new season unfolded, showing Veronica and Logan working through their relationship challenges. However, the sweet moment of them getting hitched at the end of the season was short-lived when a car bomb, orchestrated by Penn Epner, a former true crime enthusiast turned terrorist, took Logan’s life. For a show that had managed to survive for a fourth season, this unexpected twist left a bitter aftertaste in the mouths of many viewers, leaving us all eagerly waiting to see how Veronica would pick up the pieces.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Series creator Rob Thomas explained his narrative choice as having elements of noir, stating, “I’m ready to bear criticism, and I hope there will still be viewers left after this, because it feels like sacrificing an arm to keep the body alive.” Regrettably, it appears that Thomas’ gamble did not pay off, as Hulu decided against renewing “Veronica Mars” for another season.

Finn Hudson in Glee

It’s not surprising that some people believe “Glee” should have ended sooner than it did, given its initial focus on a high school glee club and the increasingly illogical plotlines as more graduated characters remained in subsequent seasons. However, a real-life event prevented one cast member from staying on the show for longer.

Cory Monteith’s burgeoning acting career tragically ended in 2013 due to an unintentional drug overdose, leaving a profound impact on the entertainment world, particularly on his co-star Lea Michele, who was both a colleague and romantic partner outside of their roles. The show’s most remarkable episode might be found in Season 5, as it seamlessly intertwined fiction with reality by having both the actors and their characters grieve for their friend in the episode titled “The Quarterback.” This episode received critical acclaim from both critics and fans alike.

Despite the tragic passing of Monteith, “Glee” continued for two more seasons, but ratings fell sharply during this period. In a 2022 interview with TVLine, Ryan Murphy admitted that if given the chance to redo the show’s approach to Monteith’s death, he would have ended it then. He explained that unlike a typical illness-related death where one can witness the person’s decline, Monteith’s passing happened swiftly and without warning, making it difficult for the show to recover from such an unexpected loss.

Villanelle in Killing Eve

In recent television history, there have been exceptional performances, and among them stands out Jodie Comer as Villanelle in “Killing Eve.” This crime drama revolves around a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase between Comer’s ruthless assassin character and Sandra Oh’s MI6 agent. The show received widespread acclaim upon its debut, but even by the third season, the ratings were beginning to decline. However, it was during Season 4 that things took a disappointing turn, as Villanelle met her end in the series finale.

Similar to numerous previous TV shows featuring queer characters, “Killing Eve” has been criticized for using the “kill off LGBTQ+ characters” trope, where representation of queerness is abruptly removed from viewers by having these characters meet untimely deaths. This critique is particularly relevant in the series finale, as Villanelle is callously killed by a sniper following a day spent with Eve, reveling in their mutual affection.

In their defense, the main cast argued that the series finale was unavoidable. Oh explained to Elle, “As viewers, we yearn for resolution. We seek answers. Like, ‘I crave resolution. I need to know. I want it all wrapped up neatly. I need to comprehend it.’ Yet, that’s not the case.” In compensation, Luke Jennings, the author of the source material behind the show, revealed a new book featuring Villanelle for enthusiasts to imaginatively re-enact her narrative.

Carl Grimes in The Walking Dead

On “The Walking Dead”, an alarmingly high number of characters suffered heartbreaking ends, making the show’s title a fitting summary of its cast members’ experiences. Over the course of twelve years, we saw new and old faces emerge in the post-apocalyptic landscape depicted by the series, including Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes and Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee, who became beloved by fans. Yet, many viewers would concur that one character’s death was particularly distressing.

10-year-old Chandler Riggs initially portrayed the character of Carl Grimes on the show. In the eighth season, however, his character was unexpectedly written off. After being bitten by walkers in an encounter, Carl had to make the heart-wrenching decision to shoot himself instead of becoming a zombie. While his father and Michonne (played by Danai Gurira) were working on rebuilding a better community in his memory.

In simpler terms, although viewers may have anticipated Carl’s demise due to the series’ dark nature, Paul Tassi effectively expressed that it seemed like an unfair manipulation of audience emotions in his Forbes article. He argued that, despite Rick being the main character, Carl’s journey through the zombie apocalypse was significant, making his death symbolize a loss of hope for many viewers. This narrative choice remains a controversial decision among fans even to this day.

Lagertha in Vikings

Since the show “Vikings,” airing on History Channel, derives its storylines from authentic Norse legends, it was understood that certain key cast members would depart throughout the series. For example, Ragnar Lothbrok, played by Travis Fimmel, met his end at the conclusion of season 4. The ensuing two seasons then centered not only on Ragnar’s sons but also on Lagertha (portrayed by Katheryn Winnick), who assumed power as a ruler following Ragnar’s demise. However, it wasn’t just Ragnar’s death that prompted some devoted fans to stop watching “Vikings”; rather, it was the fate of Lagertha that drove them away.

In the sixth episode of its sixth season, Lagertha was tragically and mistakenly slain by Hvitserk, one of Ragnar’s sons, in a confused moment where he thought she was his brother Ivar. The audience’s responses were mixed, with some threatening to stop watching further episodes due to the premature killing off yet another main character.

One individual who found satisfaction with Lagertha’s departure was actress Katheryn Winnick herself. “I couldn’t ask for a more fitting demise,” Winnick shared with TV Guide. “[Creator] Michael Hirst granted me one request,” she added, “to ensure it’s going to be something grand, a significant occurrence, and something that justifies the sacrifice of life.” However, many viewers felt that Winnick’s character deserved a more honorable farewell than a sad misconception.

Lexa in The 100

In the television series “The 100” on The CW, a character death that sparked much debate and disappointment occurred. This show revolves around the lives of survivors after a nuclear catastrophe. Initially, a group of rebellious teenagers who had spent their lives aboard a spaceship were sent to Earth, which had been abandoned due to a nuclear disaster nearly a century earlier. Upon arrival, they encountered the descendants of those who survived. The audience developed a strong connection with one character in particular: Lexa, portrayed by Alycia Debnam-Carey.

The portrayal of the character as queer was widely appreciated by both fans and critics, but the creators quickly disregarded this praise. Despite a third season that received mixed responses, Lexa’s death in the episode “Thirteen” sparked significant criticism. Even the actress defended her departure from the show, although it was reportedly due to her new role on “Fear the Walking Dead.” Vox criticized the decision, stating that while Lexa’s death scenes were well-written and performed, the speed at which she and Clarke were brought together, followed by Lexa’s immediate demise, felt abrupt.

As a hardcore fan, I must confess that the untimely demise of a beloved character significantly dampened my enthusiasm for the series. However, fate had something special in store for us when the actress returned for a brief cameo in the final episode. Intriguingly, The Judge momentarily assumed Lexa’s form, which was nothing short of heartwarming for both me and fellow fans who held this character close to our hearts. This unexpected gesture, a tribute to the impact her character had on us all, serves as a powerful reminder for future TV creators: be mindful of your audience when crafting the storyline.

2025-02-03 22:32

Henry Blake in M*A*S*H