17 TV Deaths That We Still Haven’t Recovered From
26 January 2018, 21:39 | Updated: 2 February 2018, 10:45
I'M NOT OKAY.
We don't normally watch our favourite TV shows for the heartwrenching deaths, but they're often unavoidable. Here's a tribute to the characters that were gone too soon, but will always be in our hearts.
1) Robb Stark and Catelyn Stark - Game of Thrones
via HBO/Game of Thrones
If you watch Game of Thrones, you'll know that The Red Wedding was a real cultural moment. This was the moment that fans collectively realised that George RR Martin truly does not give a shit about our feelings. Robb and Catelyn's deaths were jarring for those who did not see it coming, and The Red Wedding cemented Game of Thrones' place as a uniquely cruel TV universe.
2) Derek Shepherd - Grey's Anatomy
via ABC/Grey's Anatomy
The death of Derek Shepherd never seemed like an actual possibility. But, never say never in Shondaland. For the record, yes, after I watched the episode, the neighbours did call to ask whether there was a wounded coyote in my apartment, but that was just me crying. So, that's fine.
3) Michael Cordero - Jane The Virgin
Jane The Virgin fans were blindsided by the death of Michael Cordero. While the farewell was incredibly emotional, for storytelling reasons, it's obvious why Jane needed some heartbreak in her life. Still, this one stung.
4) Will Gardner - The Good Wife
via CBS/The Good Wife
Raise your hand if the death of Will Gardner almost ruined your life.
5) Wes Gibbons - How To Get Away With Murder
via ABC/HTGAWM
Wes' death on How To Get Away With Murder came as a huge surprise to fans. If you're anything like us, you kept thinking and hoping that it was an ancillary character under that ominous sheet. Of course, by the midseason finale, HTGAWM fans realised that Wes was no more and the gang was forever changed.
6) Kutner - House
Kal Penn agreed to take a job at the White House in 2009 and House producers were left with the difficult task of writing Penn out of the medical drama. What followed was the truly heartwrenching suicide of the young doctor. Suffice to say, we haven't quite recovered from this abrupt exit.
7) Barb - Stranger Things
via Netflix/Stranger Things
People were so incensed by the death of Barbara Holland that "justice for Barb" became an internet rallying cry for disgruntled Stranger Things fans. Stranger Things somewhat righted this wrong by actually pursuing justice for Barb in season 2, but we'll never be able to get the image of Barb being dragged away by the Demogorgon out of our minds.
8) George O'Malley - Grey's Anatomy
via ABC/Grey's Anatomy
George O'Malley's death on Grey's felt a bit like, well, being hit by a bus. The young doctor did meet his tragic end after selflessly pushing a woman out of the way of an oncoming bus. Everything from Meredith realising that the severely disfigured John Doe is actually George, to the moment he finally passed gave us chills.
9) Zoe Barnes - House of Cards
via Netflix/House of Cards
Zoe's death at the hands of Frank Underwood cemented the fact that he would truly go to any length to protect and advance his political career. Did we think he'd push her in front of a train? No. Did her persistent investigation of the truth make us say "you in danger, girl"? Uh, yeah.
10) Eddard Stark - Game of Thrones
via HBO/Game of Thrones
Ned Stark's death was the first BIG death of the show. As the father of many of the show's protagonists, it did not seem like the Lannisters would go through with his execution. Of course, Ned's death set in motion much of the conflict that has driven the characters in subsequent seasons.
11) Marissa Cooper - The OC
If this ain't a slice of mid-2000s TV, I don't know what is. The MAIN question here is, how was it 2006 and two affluent California teens didn't have cell phones to call emergency services? Anyway, Mischa Barton wanted to move on to greener pastures and so Marissa Cooper was fatally injured in a car crash, dying in the arms of Ryan Atwood (aka how we'd all like to die).
12) Edgar Stiles - 24 
via FOX/24
There's no denying the heartwrenching emotions 24 fans felt when Edgar Stiles met his untimely demise in season five of the FOX thriller. The lovable character inhaled deadly nerve gas and that was all she wrote. We wish we'd gotten to see more of Edgar, but 24 writers had other plans for fans of the gripping drama.
13) Lexie Grey - Grey's Anatomy
via ABC/Grey's Anatomy
Listen, if you want to feel the saddest you've ever felt, watch every episode where a major Grey's character dies. Like O'Malley, Lexie Grey's emotional proximity to Meredith made it especially hard to say goodbye. Don't get me started on her and Sloan's farewell.
14) J.T Yorke - Degrassi: Next Generation 
via CTV/Degrassi: Next Generation
JUSTICE FOR J.T.
15) Jane Margolis - Breaking Bad
The death of Jesse's girlfriend represented a real turning point for Breaking Bad fans. Jesse was irrevocably changed after Jane's death and the audience would forever see Walter White as a completely different kind of anti-hero.
16) Violet Harmon, American Horror Story
via FOX/American Horror Story
Violet's death was jarring, to say the least. The moment she realises she can't leave "the murder house" is chilling enough. However, Violet seeing her dead body has to be the most surreal moment of the entire season.
17) Keith, One Tree Hill
via CW/One Tree Hill
Dan and Keith's relationship was always strained on One Tree Hill. So, when Dan pulled a gun on his younger brother, the One Tree Hill audience finally saw a dark side to Dan beyond the arrogant absentee father they were used to.
