Let’s face it—few moments fire up fans faster than a sudden, gut-punching character death. Whether it’s your favorite lead taking a final bow or a sidekick getting cut down in their prime, on-screen losses can stick with you for years. But now and then, you’re left yelling at the screen, “That didn’t have to happen!” Here’s a countdown of 10 unforgettable TV and movie deaths that seemed, in retrospect, way too preventable—ranging from “ugh, that hurt” to “seriously, what were they thinking?”
10. Charlie – Lost
Charlie’s on Lost is the show’s most poignant moment: trapping himself in a sinking radio room to alert Desmond to the approaching “rescue” boat. The catch? He never really needed to lock the door in the first place—he could’ve simply closed it behind him. That minor inconsistency makes his heroic death all the more tragic… and infuriating.
9. Oberyn Martell – Game of Thrones
Oberyn had The Mountain beaten on the ground. All he needed to do was put him out of his misery. Instead, he began showboating, demanding a confession, and left himself wide open. The outcome? One of the worst deaths in the series, and one that might’ve been prevented if he’d only kept his wits about him.
8. Beth – The Walking Dead
Beth’s ending is a textbook “why did this even happen?” moment. After having endured captivity in a hospital, she’s seconds from being freed when she impetuously stabs her captor for a throwaway remark—and gets shot. Fans widely felt that her death contributed nothing to the story and was there solely for shock value.
7. Rickon Stark – Game of Thrones
The Battle of the Bastards provided us with one of TV’s most infuriating sequences: Rickon running in a straight line as Ramsay shoots arrows at him. Everyone watching was yelling at him to zig-zag. But no—straight into the danger zone he went, making himself the perfect target.
6. Bob – Stranger Things
Bob Newby won us over with his cleverness and bravery—until the point that he wasn’t. He manages to get everybody out of Hawkins Lab, then takes a triumph huff… and is mauled by Demo-dogs. For as intelligent a character as he was supposed to be, his hesitation seemed outrageously out of place.
5. Wonder Girl – Titans
Wonder Woman’s death was confusing. She gets electrocuted rescuing a collapsing electrical tower, but the crowd is given adequate time to get to safety. Instead, they charge headlong into danger, compelling her to make a sacrifice that didn’t ring true to what was happening.
4. Brian – Family Guy
When Family Guy offed Brian in a random car accident, fans were shocked—and then annoyed when the show undid it by having Stewie time travel and rescue him. The whole plot was like emotional whiplash with no payoff.
3. Theon Greyjoy – Game of Thrones
Theon’s ultimate confrontation with the Night King was supposed to be his redemption, but it’s done in seconds. Bran, aware that Arya is only seconds away from neutralizing the threat, still allows Theon to ride to certain death. It felt to many viewers that the timing diminished the emotional impact of his sacrifice.
2. Mike Ehrmantraut – Breaking Bad
Mike’s measured, calculating demeanor made him a favorite among fans, so his demise—killed by Walt in a rage—was infuriating. The kicker: Walt realizes shortly afterward that he could have achieved the information he sought without killing Mike altogether. Pure ego, pure wastage.
1. Robin – The Boys
Robin’s death in The Boys’ pilot episode is as abrupt as it is irrational—wiped out in mid-discussion when A-Train comes crashing through her. Okay, nobody’s expecting to be hit with a speedster, but as some fans kiddingly said, perhaps don’t engage in intimate heart-to-hearts in the middle of the street.
So why do these moments linger? Fans on the Choice of Games forum suggest it comes down to two things: emotional investment and the illusion of choice. If you’ve grown attached to a character, their death hits hard—but if it feels like it’s there just for shock value or could have been easily avoided, it can leave viewers annoyed instead of moved.
Writers enjoy keeping viewers in suspense, but sometimes it’s like they’re shattering our hearts simply because they can. Whether it’s a sacrificial act turned awry or a demise that defies elementary reasoning, these scenes serve to beget one thing: in television shows and films, no one is ever safe—and viewers will never tire of arguing the “what ifs.”