Top 20 Stupidest Ways TV Shows Killed Off Characters
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 Stupidest Ways TV Shows Killed Off Characters For this list, we’ll be looking at the dumbest, most convoluted, and unsatisfying ways that television characters met their end. We’ll only be focusing on live-action shows. This list leans heavily into spoiler-territory, so consider this you’re warning! Which character’s death got you the most frustrated? Vent in the comments!
#20: Mr. Big: Peloton
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“And Just Like That…” (2021-)
Mr. Big had a death that got fans talking. But for all the wrong reasons. In “And Just Like That…”, a sequel series to “Sex and the City”, Mr. Big’s exercise session leads to a sudden heart attack in the very first episode. His abrupt passing baffled fans. But Peloton got the shortest end of the stick here. Having such a well-known character killed off in such a manner wasn’t the product placement they’d hoped for and led to a drop in their stock. Doing damage control, Peloton featured Mr. Big actor Chris Noth in an ad, but it was soon pulled in the wake of sexual assault allegations against him.
#19: Robert Romano: Helicopter Accident
“ER” (1994-2009)
This death in the latter half of “ER”’s long run of dominance served as one of the major signs that the show was losing its touch. A freak accident involving a helicopter causes Dr. Robert Romano to be crushed, but the scene itself is comically terrible. Not only is Romano crushed, but a nurse is hit with a large piece of shrapnel and an entire floor of the hospital explodes, all rendered with gloriously lackluster CGI. The moment is so absolutely over-the-top that it’s impossible to take seriously. Last time we checked, we weren’t supposed to be laughing when a character dies in “ER.”
#18: Butch & Tabitha: the Penguin
“Gotham” (2014-19)
“Gotham” wasn’t your normal Batman prequel. When Butch, a low-level crook was turned into the iconic villain Solomon Grundy it was a genuine shock. But a way more disappointing shock came when he and his on-and-off girlfriend Tabitha were killed by the Penguin. Butch was shot in the season 4 finale, almost immediately after he was cured from his zombie-like state. And when trying to avenge him, Tabitha, an experienced assassin, was stabbed in the season 5 premiere. It all happened because Tabitha killed the Penguin’s mother. It’s an understandable motive, but both murders felt like they happened to get fans’ attention. The decision to kill off the two (who’ve bounced back from far worse) in such an anti-climactic way just felt lame.
#17: Cad Bane: Impaled
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“The Book of Boba Fett” (2021-)
Cad Bane’s live-action debut had been eagerly anticipated for years. But when it finally came in “The Book of Boba Fett”, he got far less screentime than fans had hoped. The bounty hunter dominated a shootout in his first appearance. The next episode brought him face to face with the titular Boba Fett. However, the epic encounter we were expecting was cut short - when Cad Bane was impaled. It was a pretty lackluster way for such a popular character to go out. The death understandably upset fans who were hoping to see far more of Cad Bane in the live-action Star Wars universe.
#16: Derek Shepherd: Car Crash
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“Grey's Anatomy” (2005-)
Shonda Rhimes is known for melodramatic plot developments, and nowhere is that on display more than “Grey’s Anatomy.” When Patrick Dempsey’s Doctor McDreamy gets into a serious car accident, he’s brought to a hospital that’s not his own, and at first, it seems he’s going to make it out okay. Until a doctor at this other hospital orders the wrong response, and it quickly becomes clear Shepherd is not long for this world. His death felt out of thin air, and the fact that it could have been preventable felt like a slap to the face of a lot of fans.
#15: John Dorie: Shot
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“Fear the Walking Dead” (2015-)
A companion series to “The Walking Dead”, “Fear” had some pretty dubious moments. After narrowly escaping grim fates at every turn, John Dorie met an upsetting death when he was killed by Dakota. We thought they were allies, but that feeling didn’t last long! It was revealed that Dakota was the mysterious killer Lawton that John had been looking for in Lawton. Moments after the truth was revealed, Dakota shot him and he ended up in the river. John’s death felt unnecessary, considering his offer to keep the truth about Dakota a secret. But Dakota wasn’t taking any chances.
#14: Matthew Crawley: Car Crash
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“Downton Abbey” (2010-15)
When it became clear that actor Dan Stevens was ready to move on to larger roles, it was inevitable that “Downton Abbey” would be forced to write off Matthew Crawley from the series. It’s just a shame that the way they did it was so disappointing. Just after the healthy birth of his son, Captain Crawley drives towards the Abbey to share the good news. Due to a random accident with no real inciting incident, Matthew’s car is flipped and he is killed in the crash. And that was that. Crawley’s death felt cheap, out-of-nowhere, and with no narrative point.
#13: Villanelle: Sniped
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“Killing Eve” (2018-22)
This spy thriller series follows intelligence investigator Eve Polastri as she chases down deadly assassin Villanelle. Though they’re initially enemies, they end up becoming obsessed with one another. And in the series finale, they share an emotional kiss. Finally! After all the romantic tension, it’s a huge release. However, in the very same episode, Villanelle is shot by an unseen sniper! The abrupt death of such an important character, within the last few moments of the show, struck many fans as unsatisfying. This death traumatized Eve, and definitely traumatized fans!
#12: Ben & Vivien Harmon: Childbirth & Ghosts
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“American Horror Story: Murder House” (2011)
In the last two episodes of “Murder House”, married couple Ben and Vivien Harmon both meet grim fates. Vivien dies giving birth to her son Michael, who just so happens to be the new Antichrist. Ben dies when ghosts gang up on him, including the ghost of a student who Ben had had an affair with. By this stage, we’d become so invested in Ben and Vivien’s arcs that their fates felt far too hastily wrapped up - almost as if the main characters were killed off as an afterthought.
#11: Charlie Harper: Piano
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“Two and a Half Men” (2003-15)
Though there was reasoning behind writing off the then erratic Charlie Sheen, the execution was definitely not excusable. When Sheen left the show in the lead-up to season nine, Charlie Harper was supposedly killed on his honeymoon with his new wife Rose, but it would later be revealed she only kidnapped him. In the series finale, Charlie escapes and comes after the rest of the characters of the show before his own piano is dropped on his head. The cameo was shown only from behind, and not played by Charlie Sheen, begging the question: why resurrect him in the first place?
#10: Rosalind Shays: Elevator Shaft
“L.A. Law” (1986-94)
This divisive character was a key character through seasons 4 and 5. Audiences had strong reactions to the attorney’s abrasive personality, and you’d think that was a good thing for an antagonist, right? Well, the writers killed her off suddenly by having her fall down an elevator shaft. It was one of the most bizarre moments on the show - especially for a character with a recurring role across two seasons. Sure, it’s a tragic accident, but also feels like something more likely to happen in a cartoon!
#9: Najma: Sacrificing Herself
“Ms. Marvel” (2022-)
As leader of the Clandestines, who’d been exiled from their own dimension, Najma spent most of the series plotting to open a portal back home - even though doing so would potentially destroy the world! At one point, she even abandoned her own son, Kamran. In the penultimate episode however, when Kamala reminds Najma of Kamran, the villain suddenly decides to ditch her grand plan and sacrifice herself. This attempted redemption arc felt flat with fans, who felt it wasn’t earned, nor in character. And the actual moment of her death—with her becoming a poorly CGIed skeleton—came across as unintentionally hilarious.
#8: Tara Thornton: Killed Off-Screen
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“True Blood” (2008-14)
“True Blood” was never famous for satisfying plot hooks or character development, but when Tara Thornton was killed off-screen in the opening moments of season seven, it gave reason to reevaluate the show as a whole. This entirely frustrating development was taken in stride by the show’s characters, to the confusion of most of the audience. “True Blood” found itself limping to the finish line in its final seasons, and Tara’s death was a sign of the end. Tara continued to appear in visions throughout the rest of the season, leaving viewers to wonder why they killed her off in the first place.
#7: Caitlin Snow: Alternate Personality
“The Flash” (2014-23)
Longtime member of “Team Flash” Caitlin Snow made it her mission in season 8 to revive Killer Frost. Originally an alternate personality, Frost eventually became her own separate person and thus Caitlin’s “sister”. How did Caitlin’s mission turn out? At the start of season 9, Caitlin and Frost both ‘died’ offscreen with the emergence of a third new personality named Khione. Caitlin’s death was a baffling disservice to the character. What made it even crazier was how quickly the rest of Team Flash got over it. Caitlin was revived by Khione’s departure in the series finale, but it didn’t get rid of the bitter taste left in our mouths from the way Caitlin’s death was treated.
#6: Lexa: Stray Bullet
“The 100” (2014-20)
Grounder Commander Lexa was a fan-favorite character. Her romantic relationship with protagonist Clarke seemed to have a lot of potential. But the writers had apparently deepened Lexa’s character and relationships just to make it more shocking and painful when she was suddenly killed off - shot by Titus as he attempted to kill Clarke. It all felt like a cheap trick, designed to force a strong reaction - and so it did. Fans criticized it as a continuation of the ‘bury your gays’ trope in Hollywood, and showrunner Jason Rothenberg ended up apologizing.
#5: Debra: Taken Off Life Support
“Dexter” (2006-13)
It’s hard seeing one of the most prominent characters of a show go out like this. Following forensic technician / serial killer Dexter Morgan, this crime drama ended with the death of Dexter’s sister, Debra, and Dexter faking his own death. In the penultimate episode, Debra, a police lieutenant, is shot by another serial killer, and winds up in a coma. The series finale sees Dexter ending her suffering by taking her off life support. The decision to kill off Debra, and in the way that they did, left a lasting impression on the fanbase. Unfortunately, it really wasn’t a very good one.
#4: Jamie & Cersei Lannister: Crushed Under Rubble
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“Game of Thrones” (2011-19)
Jamie Lannister has one of the most compelling redemption arcs in television history. His sister and lover Cersei is an equally complex character, who we expected to meet an epic end. She is, after all, one of the main antagonists of the series. However, everything we’d invested in their characters felt squandered, thanks to their deaths in the second to last episode. Jamie had spent eight seasons growing as a character, only to throw it all away and return to Cersei. Reunited, the siblings are unceremoniously crushed by falling rubble. Seeing such important and powerful characters killed off by debris felt incredibly disappointing.
#3: Dan Conner: Heart Attack
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“Roseanne” (1988-2018)
Dan Conner served as the beloved patriarch of the Conners family for the better part of a decade. Then, towards the end of the eighth season, he suddenly suffered a heart attack at his daughter’s wedding. He survived …. But in the season nine finale, it was revealed that he actually died, and the whole season had been in his wife Roseanne’s imagination as she wrote a book. It gets weirder. Because when the series was revived in 2018 for a tenth season, Dan was once again alive - his death just made up for said book. Figure it out guys! Either kill him off or don’t! Talk about having your cake and eating it too.
#2: Carl Grimes: Bitten Off-Screen
“The Walking Dead” (2010-22)
Carl endured a lot throughout the zombie apocalypse. The son of main character Rick Grimes, he seemed to offer hope in a bleak and dangerous world. But if fans expected him to make it to the end, they were sadly mistaken. His death came after succumbing to an infection caused from a walker who bit him offscreen. Given how much he’d survived and his importance in the series though, his death felt random and done more for impact than because it made sense. Fans were indeed shocked, but that’s not always a good thing!
#1: Jack: Faulty Crock-Pot
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“This Is Us” (2016-)
Since nearly the beginning of “This Is Us,” the show’s big mystery was how Jack passed away. By the beginning of season two, it’s revealed that Jack died in a house fire. But only later that season was it finally revealed that Jack died in a fire caused by… an old slow cooker. Sure, it might be plausible, but this is a TV show, and killing off one of the main characters due to a broken crock pot feels a little bit absurd. Ever since this was revealed, it’s been a little harder to take the drama of “This Is Us” as seriously.
