3 TV Character Deaths That Caused Fans to Drop The Show Altogether
If you managed to keep watching these shows even after they killed off these characters, you're a legit hero.
TV shows have a way of roping us in with captivating characters, and we spend hours invested in their stories, cheering for their successes.
But there are times when the sudden demise of a beloved character can be a major gut-punch, leaving us feeling betrayed and pushing us to hit the quit button on the show. Let’s take a moment to remember such instances.
Eddard Stark — Game of Thrones
Eddard Stark, portrayed by Sean Bean, was one of the most beloved and respected characters in Game of Thrones. Known for his unwavering sense of justice, integrity, and loyalty, he embodied the values that audiences typically associate with the hero archetype.
Game of Thrones had presented itself as a series where no character was truly safe, but the loss of Eddard Stark was a gut-wrenching moment for fans who had grown attached to his character.
Many fans felt that his death robbed the story of the great character, and that subsequent events lacked the same level of emotional resonance.
Rick Grimes — The Walking Dead
When The Walking Dead premiered in 2010, it quickly captivated audiences with its thrilling post-apocalyptic setting and compelling characters. The central figure and the show's heart and soul was Rick Grimes, portrayed by Andrew Lincoln.
Some fans left the show after Glenn’s death in the 1st episode of season 7. The next big death was Carl Grimes that also provoked many viewers to drop the show. But the “death” of the main character was the final nail in the coffin for many fans.
In season 9, it was decided to bid farewell to this beloved character. Even though Rick eventually survived and will soon have his spinoff alongside Michonne, it was still a significant decline in viewership.
James Doakes — Dexter
Played masterfully by Erik King, James Doakes quickly became a fan-favorite character in Dexter. He was a relentless detective who served as a worthy adversary to the main character, Dexter Morgan.
Doakes' suspicion and unwavering pursuit of Dexter's dark secret added an intense layer of suspense and intrigue to the series.
The death of Doakes occurred in the second season of Dexter and caught many viewers off guard. The character had so much untapped potential, and his death seemed premature, cutting short what could have been a great character arc.