It’s difficult enough to write for characters that remain on a TV show for many seasons, but trying to remove a vital role from the story’s dynamics can prove even more challenging.Even the best series can struggle to make character exits seem natural,especially when a show has been going on for a long time. WhenTV characters are written off in silly ways, it undermines their role on the show and takes the audience out of the action. Even if the character who’s leaving isn’t a fan favorite, it’s important to give them a proper send-off.
Using a death for the development of the show can be impactful, but it can also be disappointing and a crutch if used too many times.
A good character exit allows the other characters to process their absence.There are many ways to approach removing characters,and if it happens at the right time, it can help the narrative become more focused. It can also give the other characters motivation. Writing a character off a series doesn’t necessarily mean the show has to kill them, but certainshocking TV deaths proved no one was safeon the series. Using a death for the development of the show can be impactful, but it can also be disappointing and a crutch if used too many times.
Grey’s Anatomy
Cast
Grey’s Anatomy is a medical drama series revolving around surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The show features the professional and personal lives of these medical professionals, led initially by Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series highlights the complexities of medical cases while delving into the interpersonal relationships among the hospital staff.
While there are some characters who have been onGrey’s Anatomysince season 1, there are just as many who have come and gone as the beloved medical drama enters its 21st season. It was inevitable thatGrey’s Anatomywould lose actors over the years, butthe show has come to be defined by the tragic circumstances surrounding almost every character’s exit.Although there are a few exceptions, as Cristina left the hospital of her own volition to take on an exciting new role outside the U.S., most people’s character arcs end in devastation.
The worst example is how Alex left without a trace after years of character development.
The many deaths inGrey’s Anatomy, including Derek, Mark, Lexi, and many others, have put Meredith through much trauma and sadness. Though she’s grown as a character in the wake of these losses,the innumerable tragedies that strike the hospital inGrey’s Anatomybecome unbelievableafter such a high casualty rate. Characters who don’t die flee after divorce or custody battles, like Callie and Izzie. The worst example is how Alex left without a trace after years of character development. Manyformer characters could return forGrey’s Anatomyseason 21who left in disgrace and need to redeem themselves.
84%
72%
7.6 / 10
The Vampire Diaries
Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another’s affection.
When Elena leftThe Vampire Diariesat the end of season 6, it was a shock, as she had served as the protagonist and had been practically impervious up to this point. Of course, the series made it possible for her to return later on and get her happily ever after with Damon, but few other characters were so lucky. Whiletragedy struck many times inThe Vampire Diaries, the show allowed several characters to disappear,forgetting about them entirely. Though Tyler said his goodbyes to Caroline, his sudden departure made the connection the pair had built seem unimportant.
This type of exit happened frequently with secondary love interests and antagonists, andThe Vampire Diarieswas never overly concerned with explaining where they went. Though the Original vampires, including Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah, had their own spinoff,The Originals, their absence inThe Vampire Diariesleft a hole that was never filled. Their roles as antagonists, love interests, and friends had made them staples of the series, andthe characters introduced to replace them didn’t live up to the standards set by the Original vampires.This is part of the reason the show peaked in the earlier seasons.
86%
7.7 / 10
The Vampire Diaries Made A Mistake Killing 1 Of Its Most Interesting Characters So Early
Vicki Donovan was taken from The Vampire Diaries too soon. Her death seems to reinforce class double standards in the show and villainize addiction.
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds follows an elite team of FBI profilers from the Behavioral Analysis Unit as they analyze the nation’s most complex criminal minds, led by experienced agent David Rossi. The team works to anticipate and prevent crimes by understanding the behavior of these dangerous individuals.
The jump between the first iteration ofCriminal Mindsand the recent continuation,Criminal Minds: Evolution, saw a shift in the cast from the original iteration. However, this wasn’t the first time that there had been a shakeup in the character lineup, as early on in the series,Mandy Patinkin’s Jason Gideon, the leader of the BAU, disappears without telling anyone.He leaves a letter for Spencer to find, and the sudden departure of his father figure affects Spencer for the remainder of the show. Additionally, around the same time, Elle Greenway shockingly shoots a suspect in cold blood.
The most flawed fallout from a character exit happened when Hotch was written off without saying goodbye after being a hallmark of the team for years.
She then leaves the BAU, never to be heard from again. Fortunately, after this,Criminal Mindsdidn’t have to deal with many character exits, but when it did, this left the series unprepared to handle the fallout.JJ and Prentiss had poorly handled leaves of absencebut were brought back when the show failed to work cohesively without them. However, the most flawed fallout from a character exit happened when Hotch was written off without saying goodbye after being a hallmark of the team for years. He leaves offscreen, and the characters are informed that he’s left the BAU.
83%
8.1 / 10
Chicago P.D.
Chicago P.D.: This police drama, set in Chicago’s District 21, follows the distinct units within the Chicago Police Department—uniformed officers addressing street crimes and an Intelligence Unit tackling major offenses such as organized crime and drug trafficking, capturing the dedication of those who serve and protect their community.
TheOne Chicagolineup boasts many amazing TV shows in the Dick Wolf universe, and thoughChicago P.D.wasn’t the first of theChicagoshows, it’s one of the most memorable. One of the exits that leftChicago P.D.the most devastating was that of Sophia Bush, who played Det. Erin Lindsayup until the end of season 4. She was one of the most important characters in the series, and many of the most interesting plotlines revolved around her. Her departure saw several stories end and left her with an unfinished character arc.
Jay Halstead and Hayley Upton were two iconic characters inChicago P.D., and it was devastating that Halstead was traveling overseas just when the couple had settled into being happy together. It wasn’t surprising that this change hurt their marriage, but it was shocking when Upton also exited the show at the end of season 11.Upton’s exit highlights whyChicago P.D.has been struggling. The fact that the series didn’t give the unit time to say goodbye to Upton and process her departure shows that the series doesn’t have the cohesive ensemble dynamic it once did.
89%
House
House is a medical mystery drama in which the villain is typically a difficult-to-diagnose medical malady. It follows Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), a world-renowned disabled diagnostician with a notorious substance abuse issue. With his team of world-class doctors, House has built a reputation as one of the most brilliant doctors in the world - an especially impressive feat when taking into account that he rarely actually sees his patients.
Though House was a difficult doctor to work with,the other characters inHouseput up with him because of his genius and ability to diagnose the most mystifying illnesses.This is what made the TV series so popular, and House’s curmudgeonly ways were balanced out by the other doctors in the hospital and the team of associates who learned from House and assisted with his cases. However, as the series pushed House further and explored his self-destructive tendencies, it wasn’t surprising that not every person in his life could handle this.
This was nowhere near as upsetting as the sudden death of Dr. Kutner in season 5 that came out of nowhere.
Occasionally,Housesaw its characters get fed up with House’s treatment of them and stop trying to connect with him,leaving the hospital altogether. A similar plotline occurred when Dr. Cuddy left just before season 8, leaving the budding romance between her and House unresolved. However, this was nowhere near as upsetting as the sudden death of Dr. Kutner in season 5 that came out of nowhere. After just being introduced in season 4 but quickly becoming a fan-favorite character, there was no lead-up or foreshadowing of his death, meaning it completely blindsided the audience.
90%
96%
8.7 / 10
7 House M.D. Actors Who Left The Show Before The Ending (& Why)
House featured many memorable cast members throughout its eight seasons, but not all of its actors appeared consistently or made it to the end.
Supergirl
Supergirl made her first appearance in the comics in 1959’s Action Comics #252 and has gone on to become one of DC’s most popular characters. This TV series, which stars Melissa Benoist as Supergirl, first aired on CBS in 2015. It ran on that network for one season, before moving to the CW so it could become part of the Arrowverse - a collection of DC Comics shows that also includes Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow, among others. Supergirl has been part of several crossover events between all the series.
The female-driven story ofSupergirlwas an exciting addition to the superhero genre, but the series ran into some trouble with the networks it aired on.Supergirlmoved from CBS to the CW after season 1, and these kinds of network jumps often mean that a shakeup in casting and plot is incoming (viaVariety). Fortunately,it was for the best, asSupergirljoined theArrowverseand had crossovers with the other D.C. showson the CW. However, the change in tone and story was surprising, and by the series' end, quite a few characters had departed the show.
Jeremy Jordan’s exit after playing Winn for three seasons was a blow to the series, but since he and Kara had moved past their awkward, unrequited love story, it made sense for him to move on. However, it wasn’t very believable that Winn would have developed into a crime fighter strong enough to join the Legion of Superheroes.Most of Kara’s love interests fade away over timeinSupergirl. This occurs when Jimmy Olsen suddenly decides to return to his hometown in season 5. Additionally, Mon-El’s abandonment of Kara in season 3 was a wound that cut deep.
88%
47%
4.4 / 10
Law & Order
Law & Order is a procedural crime drama series that premiered in 1990, featuring New York City police detectives and prosecutors as they investigate and prosecute serious crimes. The show is known for its two-part approach, dividing between the crime-solving efforts of the detectives and the legal proceedings in court.
It’s easy to gettired of howLaw & Orderhandles character exits. It’s not surprising, considering the fact that character development and relationships have never been the most important parts of the series. For the first few seasons of the show, the series was still finding its footing, so actors were coming in and out of the cast. However,by the third or fourth season,Law & Orderhad found its footingand was unlike anything else on TV. This meant that when the series pushed into new territory of character deaths and exits, it made waves.
This deeply affected Jack McCoy and set a precedent that many of the most horrific deaths would involve those closest to McCoy.
An early death that came as a shock was that of Claire Kincaid in season 6. This deeply affected Jack McCoy and set a precedent that many of the most horrific deaths would involve those closest to McCoy. Another example of this was with Alexandra Borgia, who was brutally killed in season 8. While the violence in the show usually didn’t touch the main characters, these were exceptions.The entireLaw & Orderfranchise runs into similar problems,and the shows can only hope that the newly introduced characters will have the same chemistry as the old team.
7.8 / 10
