Few things strike audiences harder than a genuinely shocking character death. Whether it’s our hero getting killed off in an instant or the death of a lesser character that changes everything, these moments linger with us long after the credits have come and gone. But what makes a death so memorable? Sometimes it’s the brutality, sometimes the forebuilding, and sometimes simply the fact that it completely disobeys our expectations. Here’s a list of ten anime and TV character deaths that left viewers in shock—and why they cut so deep.
10. John Shelby (Peaky Blinders)
John Shelby’s departure is a lesson in shock value. Having just escaped the hangman’s noose, he gets shot on his doorstep by the Mafia. The fact that it happened so suddenly, particularly after a reprieve, had viewers gasping. Peaky Blinders did not just murder one of its characters—it flipped on its head everything the audience believed to be safe, and the suspension until the next episode made the scene all the more heart-wrenching.
9. Jamie Tovell (Top Boy)
Jamie’s path promised he could become a full-blown villain to Sully and Dushane. Instead, his arc comes to a sudden end when Sully shoots him in the presence of his brothers. The crudeness, the absence of foreshadowing, and the mere shock it inspired in viewers made this one of the series’s most crushing scenes. It’s the ultimate lesson on how television can arm viewers with expectations—then blow them up.
8. Howard Hamlin (Better Call Saul)
Howard’s death is hard to take because it seems so unjust. Having been manipulated and embarrassed by Jimmy and Kim, he walks into the wrong room at the worst moment possible, and Lalo Salamanca shoots him in an instant. The arbitrariness, the ruthlessness, and the complete lack of foreshadowing make this one of the show’s most jaw-dropping deaths, heightening the stakes and reminding us that anyone can die.
7. Piccolo (Dragon Ball Z)
Dragon Ball Z doesn’t hesitate to kill off characters, but Piccolo’s death is unique. When he protects Gohan—a boy he previously set out to destroy—during the battle with Nappa from a fatal strike, the scene is unforgettable. Though he’s brought back to life later, the scene has a profound effect on his character as well as the show. Piccolo’s death is a rare combination of shock value and emotional impact, illustrating that even the toughest soldiers can evolve.
6. Portgas D. Ace (One Piece)
Ace’s demise is the stuff of legend. Following an action-packed rescue arc, Ace dies after being struck down protecting his brother, Luffy, from Admiral Akainu. The hope, tension, and unexpected loss combined to make it a moment of heartbreak that lingers with fans to this day. It’s an example of how setup and emotional payoff can increase the impact of a character’s death.
5. Mami Tomoe (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
Mami’s death shattered expectations of the magical girl genre. Early in the series, she’s decapitated by a witch in a shockingly sudden and graphic scene. The brutality redefined the tone of the show, signaling to viewers that no one was safe and shaping the entire narrative moving forward. Her death remains one of anime’s most jarring early shocks.
4. Glenn Rhee (The Walking Dead)
Glenn’s death is legendary for a reason. After enduring dozens of near-death situations, he’s brutally beaten to death by Negan. The on-screen violence, added to emotional tension and a previous fake-out, made his death both shocking and heartbreaking. Glenn’s scene was an indelible TV moment because it didn’t simply kill off a favorite character—it made the viewers suffer every sadistic second.
3. Kyojuro Rengoku (Demon Slayer)
The death of the Flame Hashira in the Mugen Train arc is devastating due to his bravery and sacrifice. When he battled Akaza, Rengoku fought with his entire might, eventually dying in combat but leaving a message of hope and resilience for his fellow soldiers. The mix of heroism, emotion, and untimely loss made this one of the greatest anime fatalities in recent years.
2. Robb, Catelyn, & Talisa Stark (Game of Thrones)
The Red Wedding is remembered for being excessively cruel. Robb, Talisa Stark, and Catelyn Stark are all murdered in one, ruthless chain. Talisa’s killing, Robb’s fall, and Catelyn’s last scream left audiences stunned beyond imagination. The scene shattered any illusion of security for the principal characters and continues to be a benchmark in television storytelling.
1. Angela Moss (Mr. Robot)
Angela’s death is the ultimate “blink and you’ll miss it” shock. After being central to the story from the start, she’s executed with a single gunshot at the beginning of the final season. The camera lingers on her father’s grief, forcing viewers to confront the sudden horror. It’s a devastating, abrupt exit that sets the tone for the series’ conclusion.
What unites all these moments is not merely surprise—it’s emotional investment. These characters mattered, and their creators established connections between them and us. When the unthinkable occurs—whether through sacrifice, betrayal, or random violence—the blow lands like a kick to the stomach. Shocking deaths recall why we love stories: because we’ve become deeply invested in the people living within them.