Best TV Shows Ranked That Killed Their Lead Character

Television narratives traditionally rely on a central protagonist to anchor the story and guide the audience through multiple seasons. Some creators choose to subvert this expectation by killing off the main character to raise the stakes or provide a thematic conclusion. These bold creative decisions often result in some of the most memorable and shocking moments in television history. The following series are celebrated for their high quality and their willingness to say goodbye to their most important figures.

‘Homeland’ (2011–2020)

Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody returns home after eight years of captivity and sparks suspicion from CIA officer Carrie Mathison. The show navigates the complex tension between his potential terrorism and his reintegration into American society. His storyline concludes dramatically when he is publicly executed in Tehran during the third season. This shocking departure shifted the narrative focus entirely to Carrie’s espionage missions for the remainder of the series.

‘Lost’ (2004–2010)

Survivors of a plane crash land on a mysterious island filled with supernatural occurrences and hostile inhabitants. Dr. Jack Shephard serves as the de facto leader of the group while battling his own fixation on fixing everything. The final episode sees Jack sacrifice himself to save the island and his friends before dying in the bamboo forest where he first woke up. His death provides a poignant conclusion to the series and allows the characters to move on in the afterlife.

‘Sons of Anarchy’ (2008–2014)

Jax Teller struggles to balance his life as a father with his responsibilities within an outlaw motorcycle club in California. He uncovers family secrets that create a violent rift between him and his stepfather Clay Morrow. The series finale features Jax choosing to end his life by riding his motorcycle into an oncoming semi-truck. This act mirrors his father’s death and ensures his sons can grow up away from the chaos of the club.

‘Vikings’ (2013–2020)

Ragnar Lothbrok rises from a simple farmer to a legendary Norse hero and king through exploration and warfare. He leads successful raids into England and France while navigating political treachery within his own family. The narrative takes a bold turn when Ragnar is captured by King Aelle and thrown into a pit of venomous snakes. His death propels his sons to form the Great Heathen Army and seek vengeance against the English kingdoms.

‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010–2014)

Enoch ‘Nucky’ Thompson rules Atlantic City as the treasurer and undisputed boss during the Prohibition era. He manages relationships with mobsters and politicians while fighting to maintain his empire against rival factions. The final moments of the series show Nucky being shot by the grandson of a woman he wronged decades prior. This cyclical violence emphasizes that no one can escape the consequences of their past crimes.

‘Six Feet Under’ (2001–2005)

The Fisher family runs a funeral home in Los Angeles while dealing with their own complex personal lives and grief. Nate Fisher serves as the central character who initially resists joining the family business before accepting his role. His sudden death from a brain hemorrhage in the final few episodes shocks both his family and the audience. This event sets the stage for one of the most acclaimed finales in television history regarding the inevitability of death.

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

The Roy family fights for control of their global media and entertainment conglomerate amidst the declining health of their patriarch Logan Roy. His children engage in ruthless power struggles and backstabbing attempts to prove themselves as worthy successors. Logan dies abruptly in a plane bathroom while his children are at a wedding on a boat. The sudden nature of his passing leaves a power vacuum that drives the frantic final episodes of the show.

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

Noble families across the continent of Westeros vie for the Iron Throne while an ancient enemy rises in the North. Lord Eddard Stark serves as the moral compass and primary protagonist during the first season while investigating royal corruption. His public execution ordered by King Joffrey subverts standard storytelling tropes and establishes that no character is safe. This pivotal moment ignites the War of the Five Kings and shapes the narrative for the rest of the series.

‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)

Tony Soprano navigates the challenges of leading a New Jersey crime organization while seeking therapy for panic attacks. He tries to balance the demands of his biological family with the violent requirements of his mafia family. The final scene depicts Tony sitting in a diner with his family before the screen abruptly cuts to black. Most interpretations suggest this signifies his sudden death and the constant threat under which he lived his life.

‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)

High school chemistry teacher Walter White turns to cooking methamphetamine after receiving a terminal lung cancer diagnosis. He transforms from a mild-mannered family man into a ruthless drug kingpin known as Heisenberg. The series concludes with Walter rescuing his partner Jesse Pinkman and dying from a gunshot wound in a meth lab. His death completes his tragic arc and acknowledges the destruction he caused in his pursuit of power.

‘Dexter: New Blood’ (2021–2022)

Dexter Morgan attempts to live a quiet life in Iron Lake under a false identity after faking his death years earlier. His dark past resurfaces when his teenage son Harrison tracks him down and displays similar violent tendencies. Dexter realizes that he must die to free his son from the cycle of bloodshed that has plagued their family. Harrison shoots his father in the chest with a rifle in the snowy woods to permanently end the story of the Bay Harbor Butcher.

‘Narcos’ (2015–2017)

Drug kingpin Pablo Escobar builds a massive cocaine empire while evading the Colombian government and DEA agents. The narrative tracks his ruthless rise to power and his eventual isolation as his enemies close in on him. Authorities finally corner him on a rooftop in Medellin where he engages in a fatal gunfight. His death signals the end of the Medellin Cartel and shifts the historical focus of the series to the rival Cali Cartel.

‘Spartacus’ (2010–2013)

Thracian gladiator Spartacus leads a massive slave rebellion against the Roman Republic to secure freedom for his people. He faces the overwhelming military might of Marcus Crassus and his legions in a final desperate battle. Spartacus sustains fatal wounds while fighting on the front lines to buy time for his followers to escape. He dies in the arms of his friend Agron knowing that his sacrifice allowed some to live as free men.

‘Power’ (2014–2020)

James ‘Ghost’ St. Patrick attempts to leave his criminal life behind to become a legitimate businessman and politician. His past actions and betrayals catch up to him inside his own nightclub Truth during the final season. He is shot in the chest by his own son Tariq who felt neglected and manipulated by his father. The murder sets off a chain of events that spawns multiple spinoff series focused on the surviving characters.

‘Bates Motel’ (2013–2017)

Norma Bates struggles to protect her son Norman from his own deteriorating mental state throughout the series. Her efforts ultimately fail when a jealous Norman decides they should leave the world together to stay united forever. He poisons her with carbon monoxide while she sleeps in their home. Her death solidifies Norman’s transformation into the psycho killer famously depicted in the original Hitchcock film.

‘Penny Dreadful’ (2014–2016)

Vanessa Ives fights against ancient demonic forces that seek to capture her soul and plunge the world into darkness. She realizes that her continued existence allows Dracula to maintain his hold over London and threatens humanity. Vanessa begs her lover Ethan Chandler to kill her to save the world from eternal night. Her voluntary death brings a tragic but necessary conclusion to her torment and the series itself.

‘Wentworth’ (2013–2021)

Bea Smith rises from a terrified remand prisoner to the formidable Top Dog of Wentworth Correctional Centre. She engages in a vicious power struggle with the psychopathic governor Joan Ferguson to protect the women under her care. Bea orchestrates her own death by forcing Ferguson to stab her with a screwdriver in front of witnesses. This sacrifice ensures Ferguson is charged with murder and removes her from power.

‘Shameless’ (2011–2021)

Frank Gallagher spends a decade neglecting his six children while abusing drugs and alcohol in Chicago. The final season sees his health rapidly decline due to alcoholic dementia and a COVID-19 infection. He dies alone in a hospital bed while his consciousness floats above the city for one last monologue. His passing marks the end of an era for the chaotic Gallagher household and their neighbors.

‘Killing Eve’ (2018–2022)

Assassin Villanelle and intelligence agent Eve Polastri engage in a dangerous game of cat and mouse across Europe. They finally unite against the secret organization The Twelve in the series finale to dismantle their leadership. Villanelle is shot by a sniper and drowns in the Thames River immediately after eliminating their enemies. The ending separates the two women permanently just as they found common ground.

‘Money Heist’ (2017–2021)

Tokyo serves as the unreliable narrator and impulsive heart of the gang of bank robbers throughout the series. She finds herself cornered by the military inside the Bank of Spain during a critical heist operation. Tokyo pulls the pins on multiple grenades attached to her chest to take her enemies down with her. Her sacrifice allows the rest of the team to escape and continue their mission to extract the gold.

‘The O.C.’ (2003–2007)

Marissa Cooper navigates a turbulent life filled with substance abuse and relationship drama in Newport Beach. She decides to leave town to work on a boat after graduating from high school to escape her past. Her ex-boyfriend Volchok runs her car off the road causing the vehicle to flip and catch fire. She dies in the arms of Ryan Atwood on the side of the road in a defining moment for the teen drama.

‘Downton Abbey’ (2010–2015)

Matthew Crawley survives the horrors of World War I and secures the future of the Grantham estate. He shares a joyous moment with his wife Mary after the birth of their son and heir at the hospital. Matthew dies instantly when his car overturns on a quiet country road while driving home to share the news. The shocking twist left viewers stunned and fundamentally changed the dynamic of the show.

‘Nashville’ (2012–2018)

Rayna Jaymes reigns as the Queen of Country Music while managing her label and complex family drama. A stalker holds her hostage before she is involved in a severe car accident shortly after her release. She succumbs to her injuries in the hospital surrounded by her grieving family and Deacon Claybourne. Her death forced the show to reinvent itself without its primary anchor for the final seasons.

‘Two and a Half Men’ (2003–2015)

Charlie Harper lives a hedonistic lifestyle as a wealthy jingle writer in his Malibu beach house. The show explains his sudden absence by stating he fell in front of a subway train in Paris. His brother Alan and nephew Jake are left to deal with the aftermath and the sale of the property. This off-screen death was written following the publicized departure of actor Charlie Sheen.

‘Charmed’ (1998–2006)

Prue Halliwell serves as the strongest of three witch sisters fighting evil in San Francisco. She battles the demonic assassin Shax in the season three finale but suffers fatal injuries during the fight. Her death breaks the Power of Three and leaves her sisters Piper and Phoebe devastated. The series continued by introducing a long-lost half-sister to reconstitute the trio and restore their magic.

‘Arrow’ (2012–2020)

Oliver Queen begins his crusade as a vigilante archer seeking to right the wrongs of his family in Star City. He evolves from a solitary hero into a leader who commands a team of protectors across the multiverse. The massive crossover event sees him sacrifice his life to save billions from total existence erasure. His death marks the conclusion of his journey from a selfish playboy to a legendary savior.

‘Supernatural’ (2005–2020)

Dean Winchester spends his life hunting monsters and saving people across America alongside his brother Sam. The series finale features him dying during a routine vampire hunt after a piece of exposed rebar impales him. He shares a tearful farewell with his brother before accepting his fate and letting go. This grounded death emphasizes the harsh reality that hunters rarely get a happy ending.

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ (2005–Present)

Neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd serves as a primary focus of the medical drama and the main love interest of Meredith Grey. He stops to help victims of a car accident on a winding road before being struck by a semi-truck. Incompetent doctors at a local hospital fail to save him in time to prevent brain death. Meredith makes the heartbreaking decision to remove him from life support.

‘House of Cards’ (2013–2018)

Frank Underwood climbs the political ladder through manipulation and murder to become the President of the United States. The final season reveals that he died off-screen under suspicious circumstances in his sleep. It is later uncovered that his loyal right-hand man Doug Stamper poisoned him to protect his legacy. This death leaves his wife Claire to rule alone as the first female President.

‘The Magicians’ (2015–2020)

Quentin Coldwater discovers a hidden world of magic that is far more dangerous and depressing than his childhood books suggested. He sacrifices himself in the fourth season finale to save his friends from an ancient monster inside the Mirror World. The show explores his journey through the afterlife as he realizes his life truly mattered. His departure fundamentally changes the ensemble dynamic for the final season.

‘Person of Interest’ (2011–2016)

John Reese works as a vigilante who uses a super-intelligent artificial intelligence to stop crimes before they happen. The series finale sees him make a deal with the Machine to sacrifice himself for his partner Harold Finch. He draws enemy fire upon himself while a cruise missile destroys the building he occupies. His death allows the Machine to survive and continue protecting humanity.

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998–1999)

Spike Spiegel tries to outrun his past as a criminal syndicate enforcer while working as a bounty hunter in deep space. He decides to confront his former rival Vicious in a final suicidal assault on their headquarters. The battle leaves him mortally wounded as he descends the stairs and collapses. The screen fades to black after he mimics a gun with his hand and says one last word.

‘Death Note’ (2006–2007)

Light Yagami discovers a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone simply by writing their name. He descends into madness while attempting to become the god of a new peaceful world through mass murder. His identity is exposed by law enforcement agents during a confrontation in a warehouse. The shinigami Ryuk writes Light’s name in the book and ends his reign of terror.

‘The Vampire Diaries’ (2009–2017)

Stefan Salvatore spends centuries struggling with his bloodlust and his complex relationship with his brother Damon. He decides to sacrifice himself to ensure the destruction of hell and to save the town of Mystic Falls. This selfless act allows Damon to live a full human life with Elena Gilbert. Stefan finds peace in the afterlife and reunites with his best friend Lexi.

‘How to Get Away with Murder’ (2014–2020)

Wes Gibbins enters law school as a naive student who gets entangled in a murder cover-up with his professor. His sudden death in a house fire during the third season serves as a major mystery for the remaining episodes. The narrative uses flash-forwards to slowly reveal the shocking circumstances behind his murder. His absence casts a long shadow over Annalise Keating and the remaining students.

‘Sleepy Hollow’ (2013–2017)

Abbie Mills serves as a police lieutenant and a biblical Witness destined to fight the apocalypse alongside Ichabod Crane. She sacrifices her soul inside Pandora’s box to stop a hidden god from destroying the world. Her death stuns her partner and concludes her journey as a savior. The show received significant backlash for killing off its primary female lead.

‘Fear the Walking Dead’ (2015–2023)

Nick Clark navigates the zombie apocalypse as a recovering addict with a unique perspective on the undead. He finds a sense of peace and purpose before being shot in the chest by a young girl named Charlie. His death occurs in a field of bluebonnets while he reflects on his survival. This loss removes the original central protagonist from the spinoff series.

‘The 100’ (2014–2020)

Bellamy Blake evolves from a selfish antagonist into a protective leader for the remaining humans on Earth. He joins a cult that believes in transcendence and betrays his friends to serve their cause. Clarke Griffin shoots him in the heart to protect her adopted daughter from his new masters. This controversial ending for the male lead divides the fanbase.

‘Roseanne’ (1988–2018)

Roseanne Conner leads her working-class family through financial struggles and daily life in Illinois. The revival series kills her off via an opioid overdose to address the real-world epidemic. The show rebranded as a spinoff focusing on the rest of the family coping with her loss. This narrative choice followed the sudden firing of the lead actress.

‘Merlin’ (2008–2012)

Arthur Pendragon rises to become the legendary King of Camelot with the secret help of his servant Merlin. He faces his illegitimate son Mordred on the battlefield of Camlann during the series finale. Arthur sustains a fatal wound and dies in Merlin’s arms by the lake of Avalon. His death fulfills the prophecy of the Once and Future King who will one day return.

Leave a comment to share which TV death you still haven’t gotten over.