Top 10 Satisfying Deaths of Hated MCU Characters
#10: William Rawlins
Top 10 Plays By William Shakespeare
“The Punisher” (2017-19) As the vigilante crusader known as the Punisher, Frank Castle has eliminated plenty of criminals in the MCU. And, as great as it was to see Frank finish off his friend turned enemy, Billy Russo, it was more satisfying to watch him off his former commanding officer, William Rawlins. With Russo’s help, Rawlins captured his former subordinate in an effort to recover the evidence he had on them. When Rawlins’ violent assault went too far, Russo betrayed him by letting Frank out of his bindings, allowing the former military man to do what he does best. The Punisher’s subsequent revenge is perhaps as terrifying as it is cathartic.
#9: Jasper Sitwell
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014) Even before he’s revealed to be working for HYDRA, Jasper Sitwell rubbed people the wrong way. That’s a bureaucrat for you. The weaselly traitor to S.H.I.E.L.D is especially irritating when he gets exposed and begins to spill the beans about his new evil employer. He may be reluctantly helping Captain America and company, but he’s still smugly superior about their chances. This is even after they drop him off a building. So, when the Winter Soldier pulls him out of a car and tosses him into oncoming traffic … well let’s just say, it doesn’t NOT “sit well”.
#8: John Garrett
John Wick Vs Neo
“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” (2013-20) In keeping with agents who betrayed S.H.I.E.L.D, John Garrett was once tight with Phil Coulson. But, after HYDRA is exposed, Garrett goes off the deep end and faces the wrath of Coulson and Nick Fury over his transgressions. However, it’s actually Mike Peterson, the cyborg Deathlok, whom Garrett manipulated into his pawn, that puts him down for good. Or so it seemed! Garrett manages to drag himself onto a table to get some upgrades. Fortunately, Coulson arrives to blast Garrett into atoms. That’s two deaths for the price of one, and both were very fitting exits for such an unlikable character.
#7: Mariah Dillard
“Luke Cage” (2016-18) A savvy politician and a ruthless gangster, Mariah Dillard makes herself thoroughly hateable throughout “Luke Cage,” even if she’s strangely charismatic. By the final episode, Mariah is at last behind bars and receives visits from both her daughter, Tilda, and the title character. When visited by the latter, Mariah boasts that she’ll rise again, even from within prison. That is, until she begins experiencing sudden distress. It’s soon revealed that Tilda managed to poison her mother through a kiss. After everything Mariah put Tilda through, it’s certainly an appropriate end to Harlem’s queenpin.
#6: Alexander Pierce
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014) A secret higher up at HYDRA while serving as Secretary of the World Security Council, Alexander Pierce is rotten through and through. He even kills his housekeeper, for crying out loud! But, when HYDRA enacts its plot to take full control, Pierce is stopped by Nick Fury and Black Widow, all while Captain America takes down helicarriers threatening the world. With his plans in ruin, Pierce uses the threat of a bomb on Black Widow to make his escape. However, once she neutralizes it, Fury swoops in for the death blow. Pierce was a warmongering politician taken to the extreme, and it was truly great to see Fury give him a taste of his own medicine.
#5: Ego
Top 20 Satisfying Deaths of Hated Animated Movie Characters
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (2017) Ego is the father of Star-Lord/Peter Quill, and while he initially seems to be a likeable enough guy (for a planet), he eventually reveals that he wants to absorb the universe into himself. Also, he intentionally gave Peter’s mom cancer, an indescribably awful act. So, it was quite the relief to see Quill beat the tar out of Ego using his Celestial powers - this while his friends worked to blow Ego up with a powerful bomb. Ego is the ultimate expression of…ego, and seeing him taken down was humbling for everyone involved.
#4: Ronan the Accuser
Top 5 Saoirse Ronan Performances
“Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) A ruthless galactic warlord, Ronan the Accuser is a villain even other villains hate. He disrespected Thanos, after all. Ronan also killed Drax’s entire family. Needless to say, he wins few admirers during his time on screen. During the final battle on Xandar, his confrontation with Star-Lord is equal parts epic and hilarious – given Quill’s invitation for a dance-off. However, with the Power Stone loose, Peter manages to grab hold and, with the Guardians’ help, uses it to end Ronan in a spectacular display of power and friendship. With Ronan being such a jerk, this death was truly amazing.
#3: Kilgrave
“Jessica Jones” (2015-19) When it comes to MCU villains, they don’t get much more vile than Kilgrave. Possessing the ability to command anyone to do anything he tells them to, Kilgrave has enslaved many victims - including Jessica Jones. However, after escaping his control, she does everything in her power to bring her abuser down. Although their final confrontation has it appear as though she’s fallen under his spell once again, Jessica reveals it to be a ruse. It’s grimly satisfying watching her lift Kilgrave one-handed and finish him off. It certainly made us smile.
#2: Grant Ward
“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” (2013-20) A former member of Phil Coulson’s S.H.I.E.L.D, Grant Ward is actually a member of, you guessed it, HYDRA. His crimes are many, with betrayal and murder being chief among them. However, the one that sends Coulson skydiving out of a plane into a portal to another planet, is the killing of his girlfriend, Rosalind. After catching up with Ward, they reluctantly work together to escape. Just as their exit is in reach though, Coulson takes Ward down, crushing him with the might of his robot hand (long story). It’s a brutal moment, but given everything Ward did, he had it coming.
#1: Thanos
Joker vs. Thanos: Who's the Greatest Villain of 2019?
“Avengers: Endgame” (2019) You were expecting someone else? Sure, the guy’s got charisma, but at the end of the day, he eliminated half the universe! Although the alien overlord’s first death at the hands of Thor was pretty poetic Xref, it’s his final death that was most satisfying. When a past version of Thanos brings his armies to the future to capture the Infinity Stones, there’s an epic battle and a desperate scramble for the powerful artifacts. While it seems as if Thanos’ victory is inevitable after all, Iron Man proves he’s stronger than destiny and sacrifices himself to turn the Mad Titan, and his forces, into dust. It’s a fitting end for the man who did the same to so many others.
