Top 20 TV Deaths That Also KILLED the Show

#20: Allison Argent

“Teen Wolf” (2011-17)

When actress Crystal Reed wanted to explore opportunities beyond the full moon, MTV’s flagship supernatural drama had no choice but to oblige. Unfortunately, offing Allison left a big, fat hole the show never could quite fill. Not only was she a fan-favorite, butt-whooping archer, but her sweet romance with Scott did a lot to ground the show’s paranormal hijinks. “Teen Wolf” tried to pivot with more hunters and more love interests. Sadly, none of them held a quiver to Allison, whose spunky ghost hung over the series all the way to its middling finale.

#19: Logan Echolls

“Veronica Mars” (2004-07; 2019)

Happilly. Ever. After. It’s three words. What’s so hard about that? Fans waited four seasons across fifteen years to see Logan and Veronica finally tie the knot, and bafflingly, the show tore it away from them in the final minutes. In the last scene of the very last episode, the newly-crowned Mr. Mars unceremoniously dies in an explosion. It’s genuinely maddening to see. “Veronica Mars” was so close to ending on a high note. But, instead, they insisted on a cliffhanger that flushed the series’ central romance - and most of its audience - straight down the drain.

#18: Mark Greene

“ER” (1994-2009)

Any show with seasons in the double-digits is bound to see some cast turnover. “ER,” however, suffered more than most. Mark Greene wasn’t the first of the original leads to bid farewell, and he certainly wasn’t the last. But, having him die instead of simply leaving dealt a very different kind of blow. While Greene’s cancer storyline culminated in one of the series’ greatest episodes, it also split “ER” into two halves: before Greene’s death, and after. The show never did feel the same without him, no matter how many new doctors they introduced.

#17: Matthew Crawley

“Downton Abbey” (2010-15)

You’ve heard of four weddings and a funeral? Well, this is a birth and a funeral, and as “Downton Abbey” learned the hard way, it’s not nearly as winning of a formula. The Yorkshire manor lit up any time Matthew and Mary were on screen, and the show used that romantic pulse to deliver three seasons of excellent television. Then, Mary gave birth. Mere moments after Matthew greets his new child, he drives off and dies in a car crash. It’s one of the most heart-wrenching deaths on TV, and turned the series’ addictive, steamy love story into a cautionary tale.

#16: Abbie Mills

“Sleepy Hollow” (2013-17)

Even supernatural buddy-cop dramas require there to be, you know, two buddy cops. So, we have to ask: who in the world thought “Sleepy Hollow” would work without Abbie? Her self-sacrifice at the end of the third season completely upended the series’ core structure, and not for the better. Unsurprisingly, the show only lasted one ho-hum season without her. Later, actress Nicole Beharie explained she left the series due to behind-the-scenes double-standards with her white, male co-star. We miss Abbie as much as the next guy, but we have to give it to Beharie for standing on her principles.

#15: Kenny Stowton

“Killing Eve” (2018-22)

If the best character deaths feel like inevitable shifts in the status quo, then vice versa is true, too. Enter, Kenny! He is one of the few characters in “Killing Eve” with a truly good heart, and the show thanked him for him by having him fall off a roof. Truly. Anticlimactic doesn’t even begin to cover it. The worst part is how little it matters. Instead of honoring Kenny’s legacy with a gripping tale of grief, the show spins it into an eye-rolling mystery with laughable payoff. “Killing Eve” was on a downward slope before, but Kenny’s death is the moment it started free-falling.

#14: Lance Sweets

“Bones” (2005-17)

Look, we get it. The show is called “Bones.” But we never expected to examine the skeleton of one of our main cast members. Especially not ten seasons in! Lance Sweets has the rare dishonor of being the first and only central character on the show to end up in a body bag. If you want to know how it went, just look at the facts: “Bones” could barely survive two seasons without him. It’s like the show completely forgot how to treat its characters with respect, and just started doing whatever in the name of shock-value. Given all that, you can’t blame fans for abandoning ship when Sweets did.

#13: Rita Morgan

“Dexter” (2006-13)

There are no words to describe the impact of Rita’s death. “Devastating” just doesn’t cut it, and neither does “heartbreaking” or “somber.” Really, Dexter’s reaction says it all. Something important died in this episode, we don’t just mean for the characters. Rita was essentially the emotional core of the show. She offered a refreshingly optimistic perspective amid all the bloodshed, and also represented a chance of redemption for Dexter, however small it may be. Without her, the series had no choice but to double down on its gritty tone, a choice that haunted it all the way to its controversial ending.

#12: Dr. Derek Shepherd

“Grey's Anatomy” (2005-)

If we ever make a list of the TV characters who’ve suffered the most, Meredith Grey has to be up there. She’s basically a glorified punching bag at this point. If you need proof, just look at the tragic way they killed off Derek. Like other long-running programs, it’s only natural the cast wanted to move on. But, after everything Meredith went through, killing Derek and leaving her alone to raise their kids was just too much. The writers tried to justify it by saying Derek moving away wouldn’t have been realistic. But, we’d happily suspend our disbelief in order to save Meredith from burying another loved one.

#11: Love Quinn

“You” (2018; 2019-25)

Joe may have been our main character, but we have to admit, seeing him knocked down a peg or two was always a good time. And no one did that better than Love Quinn. In fact, we’d go as far as saying she’s probably the only character who ever posed a real threat to our favorite psychopath. It’s why her death destroyed the series. The toxic mind-games between the two delivered some of “You’s” most nail-biting moments, and once Joe finished her for good, how could anyone else stand a chance? Love’s death should’ve been the end to the series, not a season.

#10: Charlie Harper

“Two and a Half Men” (2003-15)

Before Charlie Sheen’s infamous fallout with Chuck Lorre, he was the lifeblood of this comedy show. As the carefree Charlie Harper, Sheen brought an effortless charm that made the series shine. For eight seasons, fans couldn’t get enough of the hilarity that ensued between him, his uptight brother and his nephew, until he was killed off and replaced with Ashton Kutcher. Sure, Kutcher brought his own flair, but something was missing and the show never felt the same again. And Charlie’s death? It was bizarre. First, he explodes like a balloon in Paris (according to Rose), then pops up in the finale only to be crushed by a piano. That certainly felt less like closure and more like Lorre’s final jab at Sheen.

#9: Will Gardner

“The Good Wife” (2009-16)

It still stings, doesn’t it? Over a decade later, this heartbreaking death from the CBS legal drama hits just as hard. Will’s shocking end came in season five when he was gunned down right in the courtroom. By then, he’d won over countless fans with his undeniable chemistry with Alicia. Their steamy but complicated romance, and his support during her husband’s scandal, made him feel like an essential piece in the puzzle that was her character arc. So, when the writers abruptly killed him off, it hit like a gut punch. His absence left a gaping hole both in the story and Alicia’s life. For many fans, it wasn’t just Will’s end, but that of the show as well.

#8: Tara Maclay

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)

Forget Angelus or Joyce… this unjustifiable death hurt the most. That’s the thing with well-written characters; you grow so attached to them that when they suddenly die, it feels like your heart has been ripped out. A beloved member of Buffy’s circle, Tara’s tragic backstory added more depth to the show and drew many to her. Not to mention, her relationship with Willow was a bright spot fans couldn’t get enough of. Then, out of nowhere, Tara was killed by a stray bullet meant for Buffy. Sure, her death served as a plot device to push Willow over the edge, but couldn’t that have happened without shattering our hearts? Honestly, if anyone in the Buffyverse deserved a happy ending, it was Tara.

#7: Opie Winston

“Sons of Anarchy” (2008-14)

It’s just a TV character, so why are we in tears? Because Opie Winston wasn’t just any character, he was also the heart of this biker drama. A tragic figure who endured so much, Opie was one of the show’s purest yet most flawed souls. His deep bond with Jax resonated with fans, making him feel like family. As if being wrongfully accused and losing his wife and father weren’t enough, Opie died in one of the most awful ways. In a gut-wrenching act of sacrifice, he was beaten to death as Jax and others watched helplessly. Noble? Sure. Yet, it felt heartbreakingly cruel. Though his death motivated Jax’s actions in season five, a crucial piece of the show was forever gone.

#6: Prue Halliwell

“Charmed” (1998-2006)

All three Halliwell sisters were the soul of this fantasy drama. Their romantic escapades, sisterly dynamics, and journey to mastering their magical powers warmed our hearts and kept us hooked for years. Prue was the kick-ass leader of the group, but in season four, she disappeared suddenly after being thrown against the wall in the season three finale- a pretty absurd end for someone who had survived far worse. It came across as a hurried attempt to write the character off in light of Shannen Doherty’s departure from the series. Truth is, Prue was irreplaceable. Her chemistry with her sisters was the show’s real magic, and replacing her with another sister just didn’t hit the same. Without her, the show lost much of its charm.

#5: Bellamy Blake

“The 100” (2014-20)

There were plenty of loveable and formidable characters in the CW’s post-apocalyptic show, and Bellamy was one of the most endearing. He started off as a hot-headed obstacle to Clarke’s leadership but eventually became a pillar of strength and hope for others. So, how do we explain the drastic shift in his character towards the end? Did actor Bob Morley have some beef with the show creators? Why else would they turn his character into a traitor and then have him killed by his best friend? Whatever the reason, it was a huge misstep that ruined the entire experience for many fans. Let’s not even get started with Lexa, who was also killed off for no good reason when she clearly deserved far better.

#4: Ragnar Lothbrok

“Vikings” (2013-20)

When did this epic show start to go downhill? Perhaps when the mighty Ragnar Lothbrok gradually became a shadow of his former self. Then, when he was killed off in season four, the show totally lost its spark. The legend himself started off as a farmer to a heroic raider, eventually becoming a Scandinavian king who deserved a send-off worthy of his stature. Instead, his death was shockingly undignified. While his end probably aligns with historical sources, killing him off in such a demeaning manner and dragging the series on felt pointless. No matter how fierce his sons were, they just couldn’t fill Travis Fimmel’s shoes. Though the show didn’t completely fall apart, its charm disappeared with Ragnar’s execution.

#3: Poussey Washington

“Orange Is The New Black” (2013-19)

This widely acclaimed prison show, which explores the lives of women in prison, introduced us to some unforgettable characters, one of whom was Poussey. Serving time for a non-violent offense, Poussey was one of the sweetest and most harmless inmates. Yet, her death was one of the hardest to watch. It happened in the season four finale when she was pinned down and suffocated during a peaceful protest. How terribly sad! To some fans, her death was one of the show’s biggest mistakes and we couldn’t agree more. Her good-natured charm brought a balance the show desperately needed and her death left a void nothing could replace. Not even her final smile could appease us for the pain of losing her.

#2: Daenerys Targaryen

“Game of Thrones” (2011-19)

Perhaps the creators of this HBO hit show didn’t want it to be remembered fondly, so they wrapped things up in a colossal mess. Dany’s death at the hands of Jon Snow? How do you explain that? How did she go from liberator to ruthless conqueror, laying waste to innocent lives? For many fans, this marked the show’s decline and her death sealed its fate. After everything the Mother of Dragons went through to reclaim her birthright, she’s killed just when King’s Landing is within reach. Dany’s last moment felt rushed, and totally out of sync with her narrative arc. Sure, no ending will satisfy every fan, but this was a spectacular failure on all fronts. To this day, season eight remains a sore spot.

#1: Carl Grimes

“The Walking Dead” (2010-22)

It’s always devastating when you invest in a character’s journey, watch them grow, and root for them all the way, just to have them suddenly snatched away. But in the violent world of “The Walking Dead,” that is the norm. This was the case with Glenn, whose savage death left fans in mourning. Just as they began to recover, Carl’s tragic end followed, killing the show’s future. Despite becoming a tough survivor, he dies from a zombie bite? It’s such an anticlimactic end for someone who symbolized a beacon of hope in this grim world. To many, it was one of the show’s worst mistakes, offering little more than shock value and leaving fans numb and uninterested in whatever came next.

Which major character’s death in a TV show hurt you the most? Let us know in the comment section.