Sue me, I'm blue, I was sitting back this week thinking of new lists, and I have to admit, I drew a blank. But then a couple of nights ago, I wanted to do the best all girl bands, but I want to shelf that one, and get to it when I can really put some time into it, plus I'm not up to date on the mondern day rock and or roll music that you kids listen to.
But instead tonight, I decided to do a list of the TV deaths that absolutely ripped my heart out at the time. Its always tough when a beloved character dies, you as a fan invest in the character and then suddenly they're taken out in sometimes the most heartless factors. I still remember Doyle's death in the first season of Angel, not because if how he died, but the effect that it had on everyone around them. For some series they kill off characters like a serial killer on crack, so there are a few where I'm going to combine multiple deaths from one series.
1) Angel
Fred dies and is consumed by Illyria
Just when you think that things are going to work out, Fred and Wesley finally get together, the curse of running a evil law firm catches up as Fred is infected by a hell god named Illyria. As Fred suffers the process of Illyria hollowing her out the Angel gang does everything they can do to save her. Angel and Spike fly to the deeper well and find out that Illyria had escaped from her prison but could be dragged back, but that solution would end up killing millions and Angel and Spike couldn't sacrifice millions for one and make the decision to let her die.
Fred's actual final scene is absolutely gutting as she suffers and asks Wesley "Why can't I stay". Then she dies and Illyria rises. The episode ends with a flashback of Fred leaving home to go to university, and we later find out that even Fred's soul was destroyed in the process.
Wesley dies to save the world
The last season of Angel was the best, the gang went to work for an evil law firm (great concept). And we find out that armagedden can't be stopped, but Angel and the gang decide to take a last swing of at least disrupting it. So they decide to take on the circle of the Black thorn a group that moves things along to the end of the world. Its a full suicide move as they all realize that they're all going to die. Wesley takes on a powerful sorcerer named Cyrus Vail and gets stabbed. As he lies dying Illyria shows up to comfort him and he asks her to be lie to him and be Fred. Illyria becomes Fred and Pryce dies. Then of course she gets the ultimate revenge.
2) Mash - Henry Blake on the way home
Mash missed Zany, with key political messages and moments of melancholy (and the infinite sadness). Henry Blake was a pretty beloved character and his death surprised and upset and shocked the fans of the series. He was finally on his way home and unfortunately his helicopter was shot down. The way they handled it was a message in itself as a shaken Radar announced it in the surgical tent, the doctors paused for a second and then quietly got to work saving lives.
3) Lucy Knight gets brutally murdered ER
This one gutted me, and I can't watch the episode in reruns. There were so many levels to her death. First of all a patient that she's seeing is a schizophrenic, she goes to Carter for advice and help and he dismisses it and openly laughs at the patient. Later the patient steals a knife and stabs Lucy 4 times and Carter twice. This episode was so brutal because they kept giving hope and then took it away. We also saw the brutal nature of emergency medical procedures. She fought hard to stay alive throughout the episode, and I remember bawling when she finally lost the fight.
4) Buffy - Joyce dies
The whole episode was an emotional roller coaster. From a production standpoint, it was a brilliantly minimal episode with no music at all, and all conversation. it covers what all of us fear which is the passing of a loved one. Unlike the other deaths in the series, this was a natural death and that's what made it gutting and hard to watch. I had several favorite parts in this episode, from Buffy's call to 9/11 to Anya's speech about not understanding death.
5) Ed Start loses his head, and everything goes to crap.
Game of Thrones had it all, casual nudity, brutality and the best first few seasons in modern TV. I could have touched on the Red Wedding. But Ed Stark's death summed up the series. It was brutal and arbitrary and evil and final and it caused all of the events.
6) Paul Henessy 8 Simple Rules
This was so brutal, because it had to happen because of the death of John Ritter and life imitated art as Ritter's character died off screen.. But it was emotional because of the real life death. The whole episode was a major tear jerker. "I just want my dad back"
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
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Ritas death in Dexter. One of the best Seasons of TV. After this point the series went down hill but Dexter vs Lithgow was so good. And just as you think Dexter has won and everyone is safe the season closes with her death.
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Curtis Lemansky in The Shield. End thread. In fact, my suggestion is so good that I think it should end all list threads. It's that good.
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Made me remember this, which was the toughest one for me. From adrenaline pumping heist to blood boiling rage. So senseless, and needless. Sums up the cost innocent civilians pay throughout this show.
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Degrassi in all its form is a Canadian television icon. Its amazing that when you are in the States, and talk turns to TV and Canadian TV, almost to a person, Degrassi is the first word uttered. Even Kevin Smith is a super fan and made several appearance on the show.
JT's death was tragic and sad because it came out of nowhere and was absolutely senseless and stupid like most deaths are. Basically a teenager encounters a group of teenagers peeing on his car, confronts them and dies for it. This was no noble sacrifice, or a long struggle with some disease. This was a character that died for no reason, and no change came from it, but it was brutual to watch.
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
My list of toughest to watch TV deaths
