8 TV Deaths That Made Me Miserable
Dawn Trager, Sons Of Anarchy
When a character dies on Sons of Anarchy, it’s seldom peaceful. When people go, they go violently. It was true for Donna, Agent June, Opie and even Dawn, a.k.a. Tig’s daughter. She only appeared on the show twice, but her death shook me to my core. Her father was forced to see her be burned alive, and he couldn’t do anything about it (because his hands were literally tied). Dawn’s death left me traumatized for a few days (the way that rape scene in Monster left me shaking). It’s one of the most brutal killings of TV history.
Lane Pryce, Mad Men
Lane’s death was a little too real, and that’s what made it so disturbing. Don forces Lane to resign after he finds out that he embezzled funds from the company to pay back taxes. Seeing no way out, Lane hangs himself on the door of his office where his colleagues find his dead body. Seriously, poor guy.
Eddard Stark, Game of Thrones
It’s hard to see the main character of a TV series die in such a barbaric manner. Ned Stark was with us since the beginning of Game Of Thrones, and by the end, he was gone. After humiliating himself in front of the young, false king, orders are given to cut off his head. Both of Ned’s daughters are forced to see this horrible event. And just like them, our guts were yelling “Stop! Stop!” And let’s not even talk about that stake. It was horrible!
Peter Russo, House Of Cards
Technically, House of Cards isn’t a TV show, but it’s pretty darn close. Anyway, let’s finish with Peter Russo, the charming, coke-head Congressman from South Philly. He was my favorite character of the show for a number of reasons. And that’s why his death shifted the way I saw the show. Even though I was aware of Frank Underwood’s wickedness since the show’s inception, I cheered for him to succeed. It’s conflicting, I know. But Underwood’s charm won me over. However, after Russo’s death, that Underwood charm dissipated. I hated him, despised him, even, for doing what he did. He went too far, and it’s going to be hard to come back from that, at least for me.
Im surprised no 24 deaths made the cut. Those always shook me. They went into overkill in the end there but Edgar, Palmer, Teri, George Mason, but mostly Chappeles death really did leave an impact.
Great list but not to be a stickler or anything but I don’t think Chris Miles and Cassie had anything more of a friendship. i might be wrong since it’s been such a while since I’ve seen it.
Dinobot in Beast Wars was traumatizing for me, then again I was only 13.
well chris miles died then was transported too a different world where he was born as a bastard child of a king!
I’ll never forgive Don Draper for what happened to Lane. Has anyone received more second chances than him? He’s an arrogant jerk to everyone and they just keep putting up with him. Lane gave SCDP everything he had while Roger was slacking off and Don was pulling an emo with the smoking issue and generally does whatever he wants without consulting anyone.
chris miles death made a grown man weep, aka thisguy.
rewatched THE MIST yesterday and i was all like, “hey she is in walking dead, oh she is too”. then dale popped up and i said wait a minute wtf? same director, cool and andrea was actually likeable!
no love for LOST??
Charlies death was one of the saddest deaths I’ve ever seen
Rita from Dexter
Chris Mile’s girlfriend was Jal not Cassie. She also had just found out she was pregnant which made the whole thing even worse
Michael Scofield from Prison Break
Crixus from Spartacus had me upset for a few days.
Mr. Eko!!
I’d take Joyce’s or even more so, Tara’s deaths over Buffy’s. Even Jenny’s death was more brutal and shocking. You knew Buffy’d obviously be back. Be happy Dale wasn’t kidnapped and dismembered by human cannibals in the WD tv show like he was in the comic. Libby dying in Lost was pretty brutal, too.
Chris’ girlfriend was Jal, not Cassie.
BUT, you can see both Chris and Cassie on Game of Thrones now a days.
The deaths that made me the most sad were all on the same TV show, Angel.
1. Fred. Her death was drawn out for an entire episode and there was nothing any of the other characters could do to save her.
2. Wesley. His death was kind of expected but very shocking. Him dying in the hands of Illyria/Fred was just the icing on top of a very sad cake.
3. Cordelia. It was out of the blue but she at least had the chance to redeem herself.
Dale was boring. I applauded when he died.
I actually don’t hold Don accountable for Lane’s death. Lane could have taken his son out or private school and moved to a less expensive apartment when he began having money troubles. He could have swallowed his pride and asked for a loan. Since Don has frequently changed his life he didn’t foresee Lane’s restricted life.
I think a lot of Lane’s suicide went into growing up with a domineering, controlling, abusive father. He holds a job where his bosses just move him from country to country, when he complains about going to Bombay they’re immediately dismissive about his feelings. He finally find the courage to pursue things he wants: job with SCDP, affair with playboy bunny, and really loving American culture. For Lane he finally had a life he wanted and he lost it… he did *embezzle* money and forge Don’s signature implying Don in the crime. What was Don suppose to do?
Don is still a terrible broken person. He was awful to Betty and a terrible role modal for his kids. But Lane’s death was solely by his hands.
Derek Reese TSCC. I don’t even remember much of the show, but I remember his death.
Lem in The Shield… every fucking time
Jimmy Darmody, Boardwalk Empire. Leaving this off your list makes your list completely irrelevant and worthless. Nice work.
Minor quibble, the picture of Dawn is actually Meg on Supernatural.
how about Xena and Gabrielle, crucified by the romans. I was devastated o_O
Thank you for finally mentioning Dawn Trager (Sons of Anarchy). She was the truly innocent one (much more than Opie) and Kim Coates’ performance was so brilliant.
What made Dale’s death all the more ridiculous was the fact the walker practically popped up out of nowhere. Walkers are not notorious for being steathy, and Dale was incredibly stupid to go out like that at night.
Whilst not perhaps as big as the shows mentioned above, the death of Rick in ‘In the Flesh’ was one of the most devastating TV deaths I’ve seen.
Rick, after dying in Afghanistan, returned as a partially-deceased-sufferer to his Xenophobic and prejudiced father only to die at his hands and be dumped at the door step of his best-friend/lover to be found.
Xeno, you will have my respect always for mentioning how epic the death of Dinobot (from Beast Wars) was, although it didn’t make me miserable. I think I was like 10 or 11, and I was a bit sad, but he went out so hardcore, driving back all the entire Predicon force with his sword… super epic. And then the caveman who witnessed his death, driving back the snake with a club and an honor cry a la Dinobot… dope.
Now Vegeta with the Final Explosion… I was pissed. I knew Majin Buu was going to live, but Vegeta went so hard that I wanted Majin Buu dead (among other reasons… he was so damn annoying). Then seeing that Majin Buu didn’t even suffer damage from it… now that was extremely disappointing with no upside.
L from Death Note.
I was always cheering Light on, and I’m glad he won (I’m completely ignoring everything in the second arc), but was a serious moment for me.