They Left Just When We Started Loving Them
It’s unfortunate when you are just starting to fall in love with a character of a series, then…zap! They are gone. No one saw it coming; there were no spoilers. Just gone. These are the stories of 44 characters who were literally “written off” a show. Fans were furious.
Martin Fowler (James Bye) In EastEnders
A legacy character gone in a flash. Martin Fowler’s exit during EastEnders’s 40th-anniversary live episode shocked longtime viewers. Writers aimed for dramatic weight, but fans saw it as an unnecessary gut punch. Killing off such a staple altered the show’s DNA, leaving many questioning the direction of the series.
EastEnders - Martin Fowler Kicks Out Stacey Fowler (22nd January 2018) by TheEastEnder
Lottie Matthews (Simone Kessell) In Yellowjackets
Survival isn’t guaranteed in Yellowjackets, but Lottie Matthews’s exit in Season 3 was equally unexpected—and devastating. Fans and cast alike were blindsided, as her psychological unraveling had been a focal point. Writers defended the move as necessary, but many felt it stripped the show of its spark.
Adult Lottie Matthews Scenepack | Yellowjackets by Scattered Around
Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) In Grey’s Anatomy
Every fan was crushed when Grey’s Anatomy killed off Derek Shepherd, played by Patrick Dempsey, in a very abrupt accident. His drawn-out hospital demise felt torturous, and the show lost its central love story. Even now, viewers debate whether his demise was a necessary shake-up or an unnecessary heartbreak.
Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie) In Sleepy Hollow
This supernatural series shot itself in the foot. Sleepy Hollow’s decision to kill off Abbie Mills alienated fans, as her partnership with Ichabod Crane was the reason most people watched it (among other reasons). The backlash was swift—viewership plummeted, and the show was canceled a season later.
Sleepy Hollow (Abbie and Ichabod) by XxIzabelaxX
Bellamy Blake (Bob Morley) In The 100
Bellamy’s incident was downright baffling. Once a core character, he was sidelined for most of The 100’s final season before being unceremoniously taken out by Clarke. Viewers felt cheated, as his arc had been central since the beginning. Many argue it marked the show’s true point of no return.
Bellamy Blake | his story by ilonaax
Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring) In Veronica Mars
Talk about ripping hearts out. Logan Echolls’s departure in the Veronica Mars revival just felt unnecessary. Just as he and Veronica found happiness, writers blew him up (literally). The move sparked outrage, leading to the show’s abrupt end. This serves as a lesson that some gambles aren’t worth the risk.
Silver Pictures, Veronica Mars (2004-2019)
Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs) In The Walking Dead
Killing Carl? A painful blow. As the future of The Walking Dead, Carl Grimes’s shocking demise caused by a walker’s bite left fans fuming. His exit derailed key storylines from the comics, and viewership declined rapidly afterward. Even actor Chandler Riggs admitted he was blindsided by the decision.
The Walking Dead (2010-2022), AMC
Tara Thornton (Rutina Wesley) In True Blood
This one left followers fuming at the lack of closure. They felt the show had disrespected the character’s journey. True Blood erased Tara, the character who had endured so much. Just when you think it was time for some triumph, Tara meets an unceremonious off-screen death in the final season.
True Blood Best of Tara 3 by farmclub21
Anya Jenkins (Emma Caulfield) In Buffy The Vampire Slayer
A blink-and-you-miss-it exit. Anya, a fan favorite, was abruptly slain in Buffy’s finale, with little emotional weight given to the event. Her character arc had been rich, yet her demise was treated almost casually. Even now, its fans argue she deserved a more meaningful send-off. Do you agree?
Anya Being Obsessed with MONEY | Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Will Horton (Guy Wilson) In Days Of Our Lives
A groundbreaking LGBTQ+ character in this show, Will Horton, was wiped out, and it did not sit well with fans. Horton’s murder in Days of Our Lives in 2015 outraged fans, especially given his significance in LGBTQ+ representation. The backlash was so severe that writers later resurrected him in 2017.
Will Horton "I'll shine down on my mother" by Devilsophie2
Lexa (Alycia Debnam-Carey) In The 100
A single bullet changed everything when Lexa’s passing happened. This one sparked one of TV’s biggest LGBTQ+ controversies, as it fell into the ‘Bury Your Gays’ trope. Fans were outraged, creating mass criticism and the ‘LGBT Fans Deserve Better’ movement. The show never fully recovered from the backlash.
The 100 7x16: Lexa #33 by DebnamCareyTV
Rita Morgan (Julie Benz) In Dexter
A shocking, blood-soaked twist happened when Rita passed on at the hands of the Trinity Killer. Her passing was hand down, one of Dexter’s most gut-wrenching moments, and it changed everything. It sent Dexter spiraling into oblivion. While it remains one of the show’s best-executed shocks, fans still mourn.
Showtime Networks, Dexter (2006-2013)
Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) In The OC
Marissa’s accident in The OC’s third season finale stunned fans, and it became the teen drama’s most heartbreaking farewell. After the fiery car crash scene, the show experienced a decline in viewership. Writers claimed that the move was necessary, but many believe it hastened the show’s downfall.
Warner Bros., The O.C. (2003-2007)
Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) In Downton Abbey
A shocking exit at the peak of happiness. Why? This was a case of wrong timing because they were just getting to see Matthew Crawley embrace fatherhood. Then, car accident. The decision, made due to actor Dan Stevens’s departure, left fans grieving. It drastically altered the show’s trajectory after.
Carnival Film, Downton Abbey (2010-2015)
Ziva David (Cote De Pablo) In NCIS
In Season 13, one scene unfolded with a devastating mortar attack on David’s farmhouse. The discovery of her belongings in the rubble meant one thing: She was gone, or was she? Apparently, she was presumed gone, coming back in season 16. During the seasons she missed, NCIS felt the fallout.
Michael Dawson (Harold Perrineau) In Lost
A redemption arc cut short Michael Dawson’s glory in season 4. His demise in this Lost season felt like wasted potential because this tragic sacrifice didn’t land with fans as intended. It left many feeling his character never got the closure he deserved.
LOST Soundtrack Analysis - 2x20 "Two For The Road" (THAT scene and more!) by FringeMusic107
Poussey Washington (Samira Wiley) In Orange Is The New Black
A gut-wrenching tragedy during a prison conflict caused Poussey’s untimely exit in OITNB. This had to be more than just a plot twist because it ignited conversations on prejudicial injustice and police brutality. While impactful, it left fans devastated and marked a tonal shift for the show.
Tilted Productions, Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019)
Ned Stark (Sean Bean) In Game Of Thrones
Ned Stark’s shocking execution in Game of Thrones’s first season set the brutal, unpredictable tone of the series. Killing off the supposed protagonist was a bold move, but for many fans, losing Sean Bean’s honorable Stark patriarch was almost too much to bear. It went on, but just differently.
Opie Winston (Ryan Hurst) In Sons Of Anarchy
The Sons Of Anarchy brotherhood felt the hit when Opie passed on at the grasps of a penitentiary fight. This season 5 episode had viewers witness him pass, and they lost the show’s most beloved character. Though it cemented the show’s merciless nature, many wished his journey had ended differently.
SutterInk, Sons of Anarchy (2008-14)
Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun) In The Walking Dead
Another The Walking Dead departure that was too gruesome to bear was Glenn’s demise at Negan’s hands. Hands down, this was a game-changer—just not in the way the showrunners hoped. Fans were left traumatized by the graphic brutality, and many abandoned the series altogether, arguing it had crossed the line.
Glenn's Funniest Moments (All Seasons) - The Walking Dead by IFORE
Joyce Summers (Kristine Sutherland) In Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Joyce Summers’s passing in Buffy the Vampire Slayer was one of TV’s most realistic portrayals of grief. One that hit too close to home. Unlike supernatural battles, her sudden exit was raw and unglamorous. The episode remains one of the most gut-wrenching in television history.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003), 20th Century Fox Television
Brian Griffin (Seth MacFarlane) In Family Guy
A temporary but unforgettable loss happened when Family Guy killed off Brian. How do you think the fans took it? They were outraged, flooding social media with petitions for his return. Luckily, the writers listened, and they reversed the decision. The wise-cracking dog was clearly the show’s success.
Prue Halliwell (Shannen Doherty) In Charmed
In the season 3 finale, there was a magical shake-up. Prue Halliwell was not to be part of season 4. This did not sit well with followers of the series. This departure forced a major shift, with her character being replaced by a long-lost half-sister. Wow, how convenient.
Spelling Television, Charmed (1998-2006)
Susan Ross (Heidi Swedberg) In Seinfeld
Susan Ross’s sudden death in Seinfeld shocked audiences—not because it was emotional, but because of how irreverently it was handled. Her demise from toxic glue in wedding invitations was a bizarre twist that left even die-hard fans divided. Apparently, writers shared they had issues with the character, that’s why.
Seinfeld - How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away? George and Susan by rschreck
Teri Bauer (Leslie Hope) In 24
The moment 24 proved it wasn’t playing around is when the writers executed Teri Bauer’s shocking murder in the Season 1 finale. Almost everyone was blindsided by this decision, even though it basically solidified 24’s dark, unpredictable storytelling. No one was truly safe.
Nina Takes Teri Hostage - 24 Season 1 Finale by John Gormley - 24 Mega Fan
Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) In ER
A goodbye no one was ready for was Dr Mark Greene’s. This one was a heartbreaking farewell to one of the show’s most beloved doctors. His slow decline due to a brain tumor made for one of the most emotional episodes in medical drama history, leaving viewers in tears.
Constant c Productions, ER (1994-2009)
Helen Flynn (Lisa Faulkner) In Spooks
Flynn’s gruesome execution in Spooks’s second episode sent a clear message—everyone’s a target. Most fans of the show didn’t like this, and a percentage of them even found the graphic nature of her departure too extreme. The result? They abandoned the show entirely.
Most Shocking Deaths | Spooks by Spooks
Jen Lindley (Michelle Williams) In Dawson’s Creek
In a bittersweet farewell, the series finale of Dawson’s Creek saw the shocking death of Lindley. It broke the hearts of fans who had followed her journey from troubled teen to devoted mother. Her tearful goodbye, complete with a recorded message for her daughter, left many emotionally shattered.
Jen Lindley Arrives in Capeside! | Pilot | Dawson's Creek by Abby Morgan
Chris Miles (Joe Dempsie) In Skins
A loss that felt too real. Chris’s sudden exit in Skins from a brain hemorrhage hit fans hard. His carefree, reckless nature made him a fan favorite, and watching him fade away felt like an unnecessary tragedy. Many believed his passing was a cruel twist in an already dark show.
Chris And Jal Make A Deal - Skins by Skins
Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) In Glee
Following Cory Monteith’s real-life passing, Glee creators honored him by writing Finn Hudson’s passing into the show. The episode was packed with raw emotion, and it left fans mourning both the character and the actor. In all of TV history, this was one of the most heartbreaking losses.
Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision, Glee (2009–2015)
Allison Argent (Crystal Reed) In Teen Wolf
Here is the story of a heroine who went too soon. In season 3, Argent heroically sacrifices herself to save her friends during a battle with the Nogitsune and the Oni. She dies in Scott McCall’s arms after being fatally wounded by a sword. From this, the show’s ratings dipped.
allison argent | the break up by tamiswift
Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) In Stranger Things
This character’s demise left fans devastated. Why? He was on a redemption arc, then… he’s gone! Many were not afraid to argue he deserved a better fate. It has even made a few hopeful. The emotional fallout from his exit still fuels theories about a potential return.
21 Laps Entertainment, Stranger Things
Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen) In Two And A Half Men
After Charlie Sheen’s public fallout with producers, Two and a Half Men didn’t just kill off Charlie Harper—they obliterated him in an off-screen train accident. Ouch. Viewers found it petty, and the show never fully recovered despite Ashton Kutcher’s arrival.
Warner Bros., Two and a Half Men (2003-2015)
Tara Maclay (Amber Benson) In Buffy The Vampire Slayer
When Tara suddenly left Buffy, one of the most controversial discussions in TV history was stirred. Seen as an unnecessary blow to LGBTQ+ representation, her demise angered fans and critics alike. It even led to discussions about harmful storytelling tropes that persist in media today.
Tara Maclay || Buffy the Vampire Slayer by foomatic21
Nate Fisher Sr (Peter Krause) In Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under was always about mortality, but Nate’s end in the final season was particularly gut-wrenching. Writer’s why? Did you have to? Watching his family struggle with his loss made for some of the most realistic grief ever portrayed on television. Fans mourned right alongside them.
HBO, Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) In M*A*S*H*
Nobody saw it coming, so it remains one of the top shockers recorded. Unlike typical off-screen exits, writers made it brutal—his plane was shot down after an emotional farewell. Fans were left speechless, and the show’s comedic tone took a sharp turn toward the realities of conflict.
Twentieth Century, M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) In Game Of Thrones
Mad Queen? Hardly. Daenerys’s fiery fall in Game of Thrones’s series finale infuriated fans who had watched her act build for years. Many felt the writers rushed her downfall in the final episodes, turning a once-beloved ruler into a villain overnight. The backlash was so intense it still dominates today.
HBO, Game of Thrones (2011-19)
Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver) In Supernatural
When Bobby passed on in Supernatural Season 7, it shattered fans. The beloved father figure’s emotional goodbye left Sam and Dean lost. Though he appeared in later seasons, his absence was deeply felt. Many believe the show’s heart faded after his departure. It basically marked a shift in tone that some never recovered from.
Collection: 30 Minutes of Bobby Singer | Supernatural by Supernatural
Lucy Knight (Kellie Martin) In ER
Yet another ER departure that shook the screen is Lucy’s passing. After being stabbed by a schizophrenic patient in season 6, her tragic passing shocked audiences. Fans first mourned her loss, and this emotional weight altered the show’s dynamic in a big way.
Lucy Knight's First Day | ER by ER - Emergency Room
Tracy McConnell (Cristin Milioti) In How I Met Your Mother
After nine seasons of buildup, HIMYM finally introduced Tracy—only to kill her off immediately. Fans were outraged, feeling the story was undermined by her abrupt end. Instead of a satisfying conclusion, viewers were left disappointed by how easily the show discarded its long-awaited “Mother” for a rushed ending.
CBS, How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) In Boardwalk Empire
In Boardwalk Empire Season 2, Darmody’s exit changed the entire series. As a fan-favorite, his betrayal by Nucky Thompson felt brutal. His departure left a void in the show’s dynamic, and many believe it marked the beginning of the series’s decline, losing much of its emotional core afterward.
Boardwalk Empire season 2 - Jimmy Darmody's meeting at his own house by New illuminati
Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan) In CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Warrick’s shocking murder devastated CSI fans. His character had a complex, evolving persona that was abruptly disrupted. The emotional weight of his exit hit the team hard, especially Grissom. Many viewers felt the show lost one of its strongest and most dynamic characters, forever changing its group chemistry.
CBS, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000/15)
Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara) In House Of Cards
Her sudden and brutal end early in season 2 was jaw-dropping. Barnes was pushed onto train tracks by Frank Underwood, and it instantly cemented his villainous nature. However, to be real, fans missed her investigative tension. Many felt her departure left the show lacking, and its later seasons struggled.
Netflix, House of Cards (2013-2018)
Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) In Star Trek: The Next Generation
Tasha’s unexpected exit (to viewers, not writers) in Star Trek: TNG Season 1 felt meaningless. Unlike epic sci-fi battles, she was unceremoniously killed by a random alien. Trekkers criticized her anticlimactic exit because they felt she deserved more. Although she returned, fans still couldn’t get over her initial departure.
Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Tasha Yar by TrekCulture
