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Some TV deaths don't just break our hearts — they break the show entirely. Join us as we count down the most devastating character exits that sent their series into a downward spiral! Expect major spoilers as we revisit heartbreaking losses from some of television's biggest dramas and comedies. Which character's death hit you the hardest? Let us know in the comments!
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00:00I'm not the problem.
00:03My husband is the problem.
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo.
00:07And today, we're counting down our picks for the most jaw-dropping character exits that spelled doom for their TV
00:13series.
00:14What did you do?
00:15I did what I always do.
00:18Sometimes I almost killed myself doing it.
00:20If it wasn't obvious, expect some major spoilers.
00:24Number 20, Alison Argent, Teen Wolf.
00:29Call them off.
00:31You think you could take him alive?
00:33You think you could save him?
00:35When actress Crystal Reed wanted to explore opportunities beyond the full moon, MTV's flagship supernatural drama had no choice but
00:43to oblige.
00:45Unfortunately, offing Alison left a big fat hole the show never could quite fill.
00:54Not only was she a fan favorite, butt-whooping Archer, but her sweet romance with Scott did a lot to
01:00ground the show's paranormal hijinks.
01:03Teen Wolf tried to pivot with more hunters and more love interests.
01:07Sadly, none of them held a quiver to Alison, whose spunky ghost hung over the series all the way to
01:14its middling finale.
01:16Please don't.
01:18Alison, don't please.
01:20Number 19, Logan Eccles.
01:23Veronica Mars.
01:24I'm moving the car.
01:25What?
01:26I'm moving the car.
01:28Logan?
01:29Happily ever after.
01:32It's three words.
01:33What's so hard about that?
01:35Fans waited four seasons across 15 years to see Logan and Veronica finally tie the knot.
01:41And bafflingly, the show tore it away from them in the final minutes.
01:45Heroes upon whom we're doting.
01:48I'll tell you what, hero.
01:52In the last scene of the very last episode, the newly crowned Mr. Mars unceremoniously dies in an explosion.
02:01Logan!
02:04It's genuinely maddening to see.
02:07Veronica Mars was so close to ending on a high note, but instead, they insisted on a cliffhanger that flushed
02:14the series' central romance.
02:16And most of its audience straight down the drain.
02:20Number 18, Mark Green, ER.
02:23Any show with seasons in the double digits is bound to see some cast turnover.
02:29ER, however, suffered more than most.
02:31Hi.
02:34Hi.
02:36I was just dreaming about you.
02:39Mark Green wasn't the first of the original leads to bid farewell, and he certainly wasn't the last.
02:45But having him die instead of simply leaving, dealt a very different kind of blow.
02:51I'm sorry, Rachel.
02:53I'm so tired.
02:56It's okay.
02:56While Green's cancer storyline culminated in one of the series' greatest episodes, it also split ER into two halves.
03:04Before Green's death and after, the show never did feel the same without him, no matter how many new doctors
03:11they introduced.
03:23Number 17, Matthew Crawley, Downton Abbey.
03:28You've heard of four weddings and a funeral?
03:31Well, this is a birth and a funeral.
03:34And as Downton Abbey learned the hard way, it's not nearly as winning of a formula.
03:39The Yorkshire Manor lit up any time Matthew and Mary were on screen.
03:43And the show used that romantic pulse to deliver three seasons of excellent television.
03:48You better go and tell them.
03:52But first, I think I've earned a decent kiss.
03:56You certainly certainly have.
04:06Then, Mary gave birth.
04:08Mere moments after Matthew greets his new child, he drives off and dies in a car crash.
04:14It's one of the most heart-wrenching deaths on TV and turned the series' addictive, steamy love story into a
04:22cautionary tale.
04:23You better go down.
04:24They'll be here in a minute.
04:28And tell Mr. Matthew he must wait his turn.
04:30Number 16, Abby Mills, Sleepy Hollow.
04:34Even supernatural buddy cop dramas require there to be, you know, two buddy cops.
04:40So, we have to ask, who in the world thought Sleepy Hollow would work without Abby?
04:57Her self-sacrifice at the end of the third season completely upended the series' core structure.
05:03And not for the better.
05:04Abby, no!
05:06Unsurprisingly, the show only lasted one ho-hum season without her.
05:10Later, actress Nicole Bahari explained she left the series due to behind-the-scenes double standards with her white male
05:17co-star.
05:18We miss Abby as much as the next guy, but we have to give it to Bahari for standing on
05:24her principles.
05:25Not just for that.
05:26For taking all this in stride.
05:27I'm just glad we're all on the same page.
05:29Number 15, Kenny Stoughton, Killing Eve.
05:33If the best character deaths feel like inevitable shifts in the status quo, then vice versa is true, too.
05:40Enter Kenny.
05:41He is one of the few characters in Killing Eve with a truly good heart.
05:46And the show thanked him by having him fall off a roof.
05:49I was a bit worried, if I'm honest, so I tracked your phone.
05:52You know, you really shouldn't leave your front door open considering the amount of people that have tried to kill
05:56you.
05:56Truly, anticlimactic doesn't even begin to cover it.
05:59The worst part is how little it matters.
06:10Instead of honoring Kenny's legacy with a gripping tale of grief, the show spins it into an eye-rolling mystery
06:17with laughable payoff.
06:18Killing Eve was on a downward slope before, but Kenny's death is the moment it started free-falling.
06:37It's good to see you, Sweets.
06:39Yeah, you too.
06:40This place sure beats the lock-up, huh?
06:41Look, we get it.
06:43The show is called Bones, but we never expected to examine the skeleton of one of our main cast members.
06:50Especially not ten seasons in.
06:53Lance Sweets says the rare dishonor of being the first and only central character on the show to end up
06:59in a body bag.
07:05If you want to know how it went, just look at the facts.
07:10Bones could barely survive two seasons without him.
07:13It's like the show completely forgot how to treat its characters with respect and started doing whatever in the name
07:19of shock value.
07:21Given all that, you can't blame fans for abandoning ship when Sweets did.
07:25He's gone.
07:28He's gone.
07:29No, no.
07:30No, no.
07:30Number 13.
07:31Rita Morgan.
07:33Dexter.
07:33There are no words to describe the impact of Rita's death.
07:38Devastating just doesn't cut it.
07:41And neither does heartbreaking or somber.
07:44Really, Dexter's reaction says it all.
07:46Something important died in this episode.
07:49I want you to disappear from my life.
07:53Like a ghost.
07:55A really annoying ghost.
07:57We don't just mean for the characters.
08:00Rita was essentially the emotional core of the show.
08:03She offered a refreshingly optimistic perspective amid all the bloodshed and also represented a chance of redemption for Dexter, however
08:11small it may be.
08:12Hey, sweetie.
08:13I'm a dope.
08:14It was in such a rush to get Harrison organized, I forgot my ID for the plane.
08:18So I'm zooming home for it.
08:19It means we'll be on a later puddle jumper, but we'll still be there waiting for you.
08:23Without her, the series had no chance but to double down on its gritty tone.
08:28A choice that haunted it all the way to its controversial ending.
08:32But it doesn't matter what I do, what I choose, I'm what's wrong.
08:39Number 12.
08:40Dr. Derek Shepard, Grey's Anatomy.
08:43Don't be scared.
08:45I'm not going anywhere.
08:46If we ever make a list of the TV characters who've suffered the most, Meredith Grey has to be up
08:53there.
08:53She's basically a glorified punching bag at this point.
08:57If you need proof, just look at the tragic way they killed off Derek.
09:02Like other long-running programs, it's only natural the cast wanted to move on.
09:07But after everything Meredith went through, killing Derek and leaving her alone to raise their kids was just too much.
09:20The writers tried to justify it by saying Derek moving away wouldn't have been realistic.
09:26But we'd happily suspend our disbelief in order to save Meredith from burying another loved one.
09:32Sheesh.
09:33Wait.
09:34Ma'am.
09:35Just wait!
09:39You know, I always thought that if I did everything right, life would turn out the way it's supposed to.
09:45Doesn't that seem reasonable?
09:46Joe may have been our main character, but we have to admit seeing him knock down a peg or two
09:51was always a good time.
09:53And no one did it better than Love Quinn.
09:56In fact, we'd go as far as saying she's probably the only character who ever posed a real threat to
10:02our favorite psychopath.
10:03It's why her death destroyed the series.
10:13Aconite, when injected, directly burns as it moves through the system to the heart.
10:17The toxic mind games between the two delivered some of you's most nail-biting moments.
10:22And once Joe finished her for good, how could anyone else stand a chance?
10:26I had to finally stop you.
10:30We're both made for each other.
10:33Love's death should have been the end of the series.
10:37Not a season.
10:39Number 10.
10:40Charlie Harper.
10:41Two and a half men.
10:42Men, men, men, men, men, men, men, men, men, men, men, men, men, men, men.
10:48Hello.
10:50I'm Charlie's brother, Alan.
10:51Before Charlie Sheen's infamous fallout with Chuck Lorre, he was the lifeblood of this comedy show.
10:58As the carefree Charlie Harper, Sheen brought an effortless charm that made the series shine.
11:03For eight seasons, fans couldn't get enough of the hilarity that ensued between him, his uptight brother, and his nephew.
11:10When a boy becomes a man, and that's what you're becoming, right Charlie?
11:17Oh yeah, a man.
11:19Until he was killed off and replaced with Ashton Kutcher.
11:23Sure, Kutcher brought his own flair, but something was missing and the show never felt the same again.
11:29And Charlie's death?
11:30It was bizarre.
11:31First, he explodes like a balloon in Paris, according to Rose.
11:35Then pops up in the finale, only to be crushed by a piano.
11:43That certainly felt less like closure and more like Laurie's final jab at Sheen.
11:51Number 9.
11:52Will Gardner, The Good Wife
11:54It still stings, doesn't it?
11:57Over a decade later, this heartbreaking death from the CBS legal drama hits just as hard.
12:10Will's shocking end came in Season 5, when he was gunned down right in the courtroom.
12:16By then, he'd won over countless fans with his undeniable chemistry with Alicia.
12:21Their steamy but complicated romance and his support during her husband's scandal made him feel like an essential piece in
12:28the puzzle that was her character arc.
12:30So, when the writers abruptly killed him off, it hit like a gut punch.
12:36Paramedics!
12:36His absence left a gaping hole in both the story and Alicia's life.
12:41For many fans, it wasn't just Will's end, but that of the show as well.
12:46There's a call for you.
12:48Yes.
12:50You have to take it.
12:54Eli, what is it?
12:55Start talking about miracle marijuana.
12:57Everybody gets attached.
12:58You got to go down.
12:58Number 8.
13:00Tara McClay, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
13:03Hey.
13:03Clothes.
13:05Better not get used to them.
13:07Yes, ma'am.
13:09Forget Angelus or Joyce.
13:11This unjustifiable death hurt the most.
13:14That's the thing with well-written characters.
13:17You grow so attached to them that when they suddenly die, it feels like your heart has been ripped out.
13:22A beloved member of Buffy's circle, Tara's tragic backstory added more depth to the show and drew many to her.
13:29Not to mention, her relationship with Willow was a bright spot fans couldn't get enough of.
13:35Then, out of nowhere, Tara was killed by a stray bullet meant for Buffy.
13:40Sure, her death served as a plot device to push Willow over the edge,
13:44but couldn't that have happened without shattering our hearts?
13:47Honestly, if anyone in the Buffyverse deserved a happy ending, it was Tara.
13:54Number 7.
13:55Opie Winston, Sons of Anarchy.
13:58It's just a TV character, so why are we in tears?
14:02Because Opie Winston wasn't just any character.
14:05He was also the heart of this biker drama.
14:08A tragic figure who endured so much.
14:11Opie was one of the show's purest yet most flawed souls.
14:15Aren't you getting tired of this?
14:19Lock up or being confused by your vague questions?
14:22It just ain't fun anymore.
14:26Chasing cash we don't need and spending every dime trying to stay alive.
14:30His deep bond with Jax resonated with fans, making him feel like family.
14:34As if being wrongfully accused and losing his wife and father weren't enough,
14:39Opie died in one of the most awful ways.
14:42I got this.
14:48In a gut-wrenching act of sacrifice,
14:51he was beaten to death as Jax and others watched helplessly.
14:55Noble?
14:56Sure.
14:56Yet it felt heartbreakingly cruel.
14:58Though his death motivated Jax's actions in Season 5,
15:02a crucial piece of the show was forever gone.
15:05I'm getting released.
15:08There's nothing you can do to stop that.
15:12I'll find out who you are
15:14and where you live.
15:18And then I'm gonna kill you.
15:20Number 6.
15:21Crew Hallowell.
15:22Charm.
15:23I know that this all sounds incredible,
15:25but it doesn't make it any less true.
15:26All three Hallowell sisters were the soul of this fantasy drama.
15:29Their romantic escapades, sisterly dynamics, and journey to mastering their magical powers
15:35warmed our hearts and kept us hooked for years.
15:38Yes, you're probably right.
15:40Crew was the kick-ass leader of the group.
15:42But in Season 4, she disappeared suddenly after being thrown against the wall in the Season 3 finale.
15:48A pretty absurd end for someone who had survived far worse.
15:56It came across as a hurried attempt to write the character off
15:59in light of Shannon Doherty's departure from the series.
16:02Truth is, Crew was irreplaceable.
16:05Her chemistry with her sisters was the show's real magic,
16:09and replacing her with another sister just didn't hit the same.
16:12Without her, the show lost much of its charm.
16:16Number 5.
16:17Bellamy Blake.
16:18The 100.
16:19It's good to see you, Bellamy.
16:24There were plenty of lovable and formidable characters in the CW's post-apocalyptic show,
16:30and Bellamy was one of the most endearing.
16:33He started off as a hot-headed obstacle to Clark's leadership,
16:36but eventually became a pillar of strength and hope for others.
16:40So, how do we explain the drastic shift in his character towards the end?
16:44Did actor Bob Morley have some beef with the show creators?
16:47Why else would they turn his character into a traitor and then have him killed by his best friend?
16:53You're willing to kill your closest friend.
16:56Someone you trust, who's telling you that the fate of the entire human race is at stake.
17:01Whatever the reason, it was a huge misstep that ruined the entire experience for many fans.
17:07Let's not even get started with Lexa,
17:09who was killed off for no good reason when she clearly deserved far better.
17:13Don't beef me.
17:16You're going to be fine.
17:18Number 4.
17:19Ragnar Lothbrok.
17:21Vikings.
17:22How the little piggies will grant
17:25when they hear how their own balls suffered.
17:30When did this epic show start to go downhill?
17:33Perhaps when the mighty Ragnar Lothbrok
17:35gradually became a shadow of his former self.
17:38Then, when he was killed off in season 4, the show totally lost its spark.
17:43The legend himself started off as a farmer to a heroic raider,
17:47eventually becoming a Scandinavian king who deserved a send-off worthy of his stature.
17:52Instead, his death was shockingly undignified.
17:55Deliver me, O Lord,
17:58from my enemies!
18:06While his end probably aligns with historical sources,
18:10killing him off in such a demeaning manner and dragging the series on felt pointless.
18:25No matter how fierce his sons were,
18:28they just couldn't fill Travis Fimmel's shoes.
18:31Though the show didn't completely fall apart,
18:34its charm disappeared with Ragnar's execution.
18:38Number 3.
18:39Hussein Washington.
18:40Orange is the New Black.
18:42You don't think that protest is going to work, do you?
18:45Of course I do.
18:46Why wouldn't I?
18:47This widely acclaimed prison show,
18:49which explores the lives of women in prison,
18:52introduced us to some unforgettable characters,
18:55one of whom was Hussein.
18:57Serving time for a non-violent offense,
18:59Hussein was one of the sweetest and most harmless inmates,
19:03yet her death was one of the hardest to watch.
19:05It happened in the season 4 finale,
19:07when she was pinned down and suffocated during a peaceful protest.
19:11How terribly sad.
19:16To some fans,
19:18her death was one of the show's biggest mistakes,
19:20and we couldn't agree more.
19:22Her good-natured charm brought a balance the show desperately needed,
19:26and her death left a void nothing could replace.
19:29Not even her final smile could appease us for the pain of losing her.
19:33No. 2. Daenerys Targaryen, Game of Thrones.
19:46I saw them executing Lannister prisoners in the street.
19:51They said they were acting on your orders.
19:55Perhaps the creators of this HBO hit show didn't want to be remembered fondly,
20:00so they wrapped things up in a colossal mess.
20:03Dani's death at the hands of Jon Snow?
20:06How do you explain that?
20:08How did she go from liberator to ruthless conqueror,
20:11laying waste to innocent lives?
20:13For many fans,
20:14this marked the show's decline,
20:16and her death sealed its fate.
20:18After everything the Mother of Dragons went through to reclaim her birthright,
20:22she's killed just when King's Landing is within reach.
20:41Danny's last moment felt rushed,
20:43and totally out of sync with her narrative arc.
20:45Sure, no ending will satisfy every fan,
20:48but this was a spectacular failure on all fronts.
20:52To this day, Season 8 remains a sore spot.
21:041. Carl Grimes, The Walking Dead
21:11It's always devastating when you invest in a character's journey,
21:15watch them grow, and root for them all the way,
21:18just to have them suddenly snatched away.
21:20But in the violent world of The Walking Dead,
21:23that is the norm.
21:24This was the case with Glenn,
21:26whose savage death left fans in mourning.
21:29Just as they began to recover,
21:31Carl's tragic end followed,
21:33killing the show's future.
21:34Despite becoming a tough survivor,
21:36he dies from a zombie bite?
21:38It's such an anticlimactic end
21:40for someone who symbolized a beacon of hope
21:43in this grim world.
21:56Too many, it was one of the show's worst mistakes,
22:01offering little more than shock value
22:03and leaving fans numb and uninterested
22:06in whatever came next.
22:07What major character's death in a TV show
22:10hurt you the most?
22:11Let us know in the comments section.
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