Television is more popular than ever. With countless binge-worthy shows available, many modern series have replaced single story arcs with episodic storytelling. A heartbreaking consequence of these longer, more profound stories is that some characters don’t make it.
Killing off TV characters has become more common in the 21st century. Writers develop characters, get fans invested, and then kill them off unexpectedly. While basic cable doesn’t have R-rated shows, streaming networks have made some TV deaths both surprising and brutal. Here are the ten most shocking and horrific television murders ever.
Anatoly Ranskahov: Daredevil
The Netflix and MCU collaboration of the 2010s brought a gritty, dark edge as it fleshed out NYC’s lesser-known superheroes. It’s no surprise that Daredevil would feature significant violence. Anatoly Ranskahov, a Russian mob boss in Hell’s Kitchen, NY, learned this the hard way. While he was a boss, everyone answered to Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin.
When Ranskahov interrupts Fisk during a dinner date, Fisk initially ignores him. However, he later catches up with Anatoly, dragging him from his car and beating him mercilessly. Fisk uses the car door to crush Anatoly’s head, spraying blood everywhere. It’s a rare moment of Fisk losing control, leaving viewers terrified.[1]
Victor: Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad had its share of horrific murders, but Gus Fring’s elimination of his long-time friend, Victor, was the most shocking. Walter White is greedy and power-hungry, which doesn’t sit well with drug lord Gus Fring. However, Fring needs White to cook meth.
So, Fring makes a point by slitting Victor’s throat. In the season 4 premiere, Fring intimidates White and Jesse Pinkman by attacking Victor, slicing his throat with a box cutter, and letting the blood spray over them. This surprising and gory murder sets the tone for the entire season. Fring and White eventually meet their ends, but Pinkman is left with the haunting memory.[2]
Rita Morgan: Dexter
A show about a serial killer with a code is bound to have memorable murders, but Rita’s—Dexter’s wife—death was especially shocking. Dexter may be a serial killer, but he only targets bad guys, maintaining a secret life. When the Trinity Killer discovers Dexter’s true identity, it puts his family in grave danger.
By season three, Dexter had settled into a normal life, marrying Rita and having a child. Unfortunately, Trinity finds them, leading to Rita’s horrific demise. Dexter finds his wife dead in a bathtub filled with blood, their young son nearby—a scene reminiscent of Dexter’s own traumatic childhood.[3]
Adriana: The Sopranos
Adriana was Christopher Moltisanti’s girlfriend throughout most of The Sopranos. Moltisanti was Tony Soprano’s protégé, and their relationship was generally accepted. However, Adriana was forced into becoming an FBI informant. When she is found out, “The Family” retaliates swiftly.
As she rides with Silvio, Adriana realizes her fate and breaks down, knowing what’s coming. She’s taken into the woods. After crawling away in panic, she can’t outrun Silvio’s bullets. Christopher never recovers from Adriana’s death, and it haunts him until his own end.[4]
Robin: The Boys
The Boys features bizarre superpowers, leading to many gory deaths. The first of these is Robin. As the series begins, we meet Huey and his girlfriend, Robin. Moments after leaving an electronics store, Robin is turned into goop when A-Train runs through her at supersonic speed.
The suddenness and shock for Huey, as he holds what’s left of Robin, is horrifying. They were simply walking when they became collateral damage. The shock, combined with the utter disregard for Robin’s life, sets Huey on his path. Huey never truly gets justice for Robin, and A-Train barely acknowledges the incident.[5]
Warren: Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Willow was the heart of the Scooby Gang. When Warren kills her girlfriend Tara and wounds Buffy, Willow’s personality flips. She transforms from a cheerful, optimistic moral compass to a vengeful witch. Warren, despite his lack of significant abilities, had tormented the gang all season. When things don’t go his way, he murders Tara.
Initially comic relief, Warren becomes increasingly dark, revealing a savage hatred of women. This drives Willow to take terrible vengeance. She magically tortures him, forces a bullet through his body, and finally rips his skin off. Warren’s death was horrific because sweet Willow was the one who did it.[6]
Joffery Baratheon: Games of Thrones
No viewers mourned King Joffery’s death. Perhaps the most disliked character in TV history, this monster dies early in season four after being poisoned at his wedding, to the relief of Sansa Stark. Joffrey spent the first three seasons tormenting everyone, especially Sansa.
Joffrey broke his promise to Sansa and executed her father in front of her. He put Ned’s head on a spike and forced Sansa to look at it. When Joffrey is poisoned and dies gruesomely, Tyrion is accused of the murder. Two seasons later, the true culprits were revealed — Lady Olenna Tyrell and Lord Petyr Baelish.[7]
Tara Knowles: Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy ran for seven seasons, but season seven missed Tara. In the season six finale, Gemma Teller murders Tara. Tara is Jax Teller’s wife and mother of his youngest son; Gemma is Jax’s mother.
Over the first six seasons, their relationship is strained. Both are strong-willed, but Gemma’s drug use often leads to disastrous results.
When Gemma mistakenly believes Tara will sell Jax out to the Feds and take her grandsons away, she loses control. Gemma murders Tara, stabbing her repeatedly in the head with a carving fork. No one saw it coming.[8]
Glen: The Walking Dead
In The Walking Dead, anyone can die anytime. Based on the graphic novel, fans debate the differences between the mediums. One rare event that happens nearly the same way in both is Glen’s death.
Glen, married to a pregnant Maggie, is one of the first people Rick meets. Neagan, to show his power, caves in Glen’s head with his barbwire-wrapped baseball bat, Lucille.
The comics show a slightly different scenario. In the TV version, Neagan first kills Abraham. Then, when Daryl punches Neagan, Neagan decides to redo the demonstration, killing Glen as he calls for Maggie, all while Neagan smirks.[9]
Maude Flanders: The Simpsons
The Simpsons is the longest-running sitcom. Characters often survive injuries that would kill real people. So, it’s shocking when a cartoon character dies. In season eleven, Maude Flanders’ death is stunning.
The Simpsons and Flanders attend a race. During a break, women shoot T-shirts into the crowd. Homer taunts them, and as they fire in his direction, he bends down, causing the T-shirt to hit Maude behind him. The impact knocks Maude off the grandstand, killing her instantly, leaving her family in disbelief.[10]
These TV murders shocked and horrified viewers, proving that no character is ever truly safe. From mob violence to superhero showdowns, these deaths left a lasting impact on their respective shows.
Which TV death shocked you the most? Leave your comment below!
