As television has become more serialized over the years, major character deaths have become increasingly commonplace. Sometimes, however, a death is poorly planned or executed, and it tends to stand out like a sore thumb. Here are some of the shows that killed characters who should have lived.
From the very beginning, Netflix’s Orange is the New Black has had a highly-developed sense of social justice and an admirable dedication to in representation. With this comedy/drama set in a women’s prison, creator Jenji Kohan and her writers have attempted to balance a stark look at criminal justice in America, with a dash of comedy and a cast of likable characters, many of whom are LGBTQ women and women of color.
One of the most likable characters from day one was Poussey Washington, a smart and funny black woman who ended up in prison for minor drug charges. Of all the women on the show, she was perhaps the kindest and the most helpful to her fellow inmates. She also had some of the show’s most moving romantic storylines, from her unrequited feelings for her best friend Taystee to her eventual relationship with another inmate, Brooke.
During the show’s run, the Black Lives Matter movement was gaining steam in the real world, reacting against the unjust deaths of black Americans at the hands of law enforcement. Naturally, a show as keen to promote social justice as Orange is the New Black wanted to reflect that reality in a story. So in the fourth season, Poussey was accidentally suffocated by a guard when she attempted to diffuse an escalating situation. Unfortunately, the show went on to attempt to make the guard who killed her a sympathetic character. Fans were understandably angry and the show became that much less lovable for the loss of its most likable character.
In its first season, Netflix’s House of Cards was a story told from two opposing angles: corrupt politician Frank Underwood and young investigative reporter Zoe Barnes. As Frank plotted and schemed to gain more and more power, Zoe attempted to uncover the truth about him. Although he manipulated her for a while, and the two even shared a creepy semi-romantic relationship, Zoe was the first to realize Frank had murdered Congressman Peter Russo and wanted to see him brought to justice. That’s where Season 1 ended, and it was reasonable to assume Season 2 would see her quest continue. Keep watching the video to see more dumb character deaths that basically killed the show.
#CharacterDeaths
Orange is the New Black | 0:16
House of Cards | 1:35
Buffy the Vampire Slayer | 2:35
Lost | 3:26
Torchwood | 4:18
The 100 | 5:13
Downton Abbey | 6:12
How I Met Your Mother | 7:05
Teen Wolf | 8:19
Fear The Walking Dead | 9:00