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My main criteria for this list were how emotionally powerful the actual scene was, and how much the character's death impacted the overall series and remaining characters. And one of my big rules was that this has to be a REAL, permanent death. No coming back from the dead or pulling a "Surprise! I didn't REALLY die!" Otherwise, I would have included two utterly fantastic television deaths (both from Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Spike's sacrificial death in "Chosen," and when Buffy killed her love Angel in "Becoming." Both of those are phenomenally well written and acted. I do suggest you try to view them.
It's also important that I note that I have limited this list to scripted deaths, and have opted not to include character deaths that occurred as a result of the real life death of the actor portraying them. It goes without saying that the passing of actors like John Ritter, Phil Hartman, and David Strickland (to name three) is far more tragic than any of the deaths on this list. For that reason, it would be unfair -- and likely disrespectful -- to include them here.
Click the "Read More" link for my list of the best television deaths.
10. Joyce Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
While the death of Buffy's mother certainly played a crucial part in the growth of the show's heroine -- effectively changing the tone of the entire series to something far darker and more brooding -- I included this death simply because it was such a beautiful, artistic episode. It was so realistic -- almost to the point of uncomfortableness -- right down to Joyce's ribs breaking as Buffy applied CPR.
And it was unlike any episode we had seen before. Aside from a quick vampire scene at the way end, the episode was completely devoid of any of the fantastical elements the series is known for. The hour kicked off with Buffy walking into her home like any other day, and finding her mother lying lifelessly on the couch. She called 911, and the paramedics arrived, but they were unable to save her (in the interest of fairness, I will note the one part I found abhorrently unrealistic, which is the paramedics leaving the dead body in her home). And unlike virtually any of the other losses on this show, Joyce's death lacked any supernatural involvement. It was just one of those tragic, unexpected events that occur in life.
Of course, the most glaring virtue of "The Body" (the episode's title) was the absence of any background music whatsoever. Aside from the dialogue, which was sparse, awkward, and uncomfortable (as it tends to be in situations such as these), the episode was practically silent. Yet it was wonderfully written, directed, and acted. "The Body" most definitely illustrates the talent and value of the cast and crew of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Was this the most earth shattering death in all of television? No. But it was the story point of one of the most powerful and unique episodes of modern television, with many memorable scenes, such as Buffy's transformation into something child-like in her moment of shock, Buffy silently (for us) telling Dawn that their mother has passed away, Anya's breakdown as she begs somebody to explain to her how somebody could die and never come back, and Tara and Buffy's touching discussion -- a first for them, really -- where Tara reveals that her mother had passed away as well.
View this video, where the cast and crew discuss this wonderful episode:
9. Mark Greene (ER)
Sure, this one is a bit of a stretch. After all, it wasn't particularly memorable, and it didn't really have a long-lasting impact on the series or the characters as a whole. So if it doesn't satisfy those pretty reasonable and natural standards, how did it end up ranking on this list? Truth be told, I just thought the entire thing was done so beautifully. Incidentally, this was probably the ONLY ER death scene handled well.
While virtually every other major death on ER has been done in a sensationalist -- or even cartoonish -- manner, Mark Greene's death was written so tastefully and touchingly, in my opinion. Everything from the dialogue to the direction makes me longingly recall when the NBC medical drama was in its prime, where you were guaranteed a handful of powerful episodes every season (and they were rarely advertised as such, like they are now).
The one thing that I think hindered this otherwise great scene was the fact that so many of the people who would be most impacted by his death weren't present. As I relived that scene while scanning through some YouTube clips, I got a very transparent sense of "Oh, it's Carter, Susan, and a bunch of people that barely knew him."
Watch the ER staff receiving the news of his death (wonderfully performed by Noah Wyle and Sherry Stringfield, particularly when Carter discovers the last page):
Now, watch his actual death:
For what it's worth, I'm glad they didn't go over the top with his actual death scene, by having Elizabeth drop her coffee mug upon discovering his body. Instead, it was done very tastefully and beautifully. Another instance of less being more.
I also loved the funeral scene, with characters from Mark's past making brief, unadvertised appearances (Peter!!) But the lack of Doug and Carol stuck out like a sore thumb.
8. Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Angel)
When he first appeared on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a Watcher so stuffy that he made GILES seem cool and exciting, few people probably predicted that Wesley Wyndam-Pryce would develop into one of the most complex, and yeah, kinda awesome, characters in the Buffy/Angel universe.
In fact, by Angel's last season, Wesley had done a complete 180 character turn. He was volatile, aggressive, and often turned to the bottle. It was because of his potential downfall that Wes fans couldn't help but rejoice when, after years of pining for the beauty, he finally got together with Fred. Of course, the honeymoon didn't last TOO long. An episode or so later, a pure demon from the Primordiam Age known as Illyria took over Fred's body, liquefying Fred's organs, hardening her skin, and burning her soul. The point they're hammering over your head: Fred is gone and she ain't coming back.
Once again, Wesley was completely distraught. He initially did everything in his power to try to kill Illyria -- as well as those responsible for Fred's death. However, slowly but surely, these two began to care for one another. It was actually a pretty twisted relationship. There Illyria was, essentially an emotionless, blue (literally) version of the woman he had always loved (and may I add that actress Amy Acker did a remarkable job playing such an unusual character). And shortly before the series finale, Wes comes to discover that Illyria has the ability to shape shift, and can actually take the physical form of ordinary old Fred. This actually drives him even further into madness, feeling that his heart is being played with. Nevertheless, it is obvious that he does care about her, evident when he finds her beaten and bruised following a particularly tough fight.
In the finale, before the climatic battle, everybody spends their last night as if it's their last. Spike performs his poetry at an open mic bar (awesome), Angel reconnects with the son he was forced to give up, and Gunn returns to his roots. Illyria, who has decided to spend her final night alongside Wesley, asks him if he'd like her to become Fred, in a strange desire to make him happy. Wesley refuses, telling her that he doesn't plan on dying tomorrow, and therefore doesn't want to be lied to.
Well, in the final battle, Wesley receives a fatal stab wound. Illyria burst into the scene, having already dominated her epic challenge, just as Wesley is about to drop to the ground. She tells him that he'll be dead in moments. He softly tells her that it was kind of her to come check on him. She then gently asks "would you like me to lie to you now?" And, as he begins fading away, he says "yes. Thank you, yes." She then transforms into Fred, and the two soul mates share a very tender moment as they proclaim their love to each other. They kiss, as Wesley passes away. A teary eyed Fred (or Illyria, as I believe the case to be) then quickly avenges Wes' death with one solid punch.
I really am disappointed that I couldn't find a video clip of the entire death scene, it really was great.
Watch this video, which summarizes the last few episodes of Angel, with a focus on the Wesley/Illyria relationship:
7. Tara Maclay (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
It's perhaps unsurprising that the other best death on Buffy was also by human means. Perhaps it wasn't a "natural" death like Joyce's, but it wasn't supernatural either. There were no mystical forces here. On the contrary, a typical human being with a bruised ego came barging into Buffy's backyard and just began shooting. One hit his intended target, Buffy -- who had thrown friend Xander out of the way -- while the other went through an upstairs window, directly hitting Tara, who had recently very happily reunited with her love, Willow. The two had just embraced and were staring lovingly at each other when a splatter of blood suddenly sprayed onto Willow's white blouse. Tara confusedly asked "your blouse?" before dropping to the floor, dead.
It was just such a tragic and real scene. And the final moments, with Willow's eyes turning that oh-so-familiar fiery black, was such a significant and powerful image. For the entirety of the season, Willow had become "addicted" to magic. To her, it really had become a drug. In fact, Tara had left her for this very reason, and it wasn't until she became rehabilitated that the two reconciled.
For this reason, the fact that she once again turns to magic -- her drug -- in a fit of rage and emotion is even more significant.
What's more, Tara's death most certainly had a long-lasting impact on the series. First and foremost, it turned mousy little WILLOW into the big bad of the season. Who would have ever predicted that? Most surprising of all, she probably came closer than anybody else at actually defeating the Slayer. And while she naturally returned to her sweet, red headed self, her actions in the final couple episodes of season six stuck with her for the remainder of the series.
Watch Tara's death, and the impact of the loss:
6. Teri Bauer (24)
It's been said before, but it's worth repeating: Teri Bauer's death truly did set the tone that anybody can die on 24. Had the character been saved, I honestly believe that the show would not have been nearly as successful. There would be this lingering feeling of "oh, Jack will rescue _____ in the end...." However, at the end of 24's inaugural season, when Jack discovered that his wife -- who was pregnant with his unborn child, by the way -- had been murdered, viewers came to the grim realization that the end of the day may not bring a happy ending.
In life, Teri Bauer may not have been the most significant character in the world. Hell, even in death, the character is rarely mentioned anymore (with the show now going into its seventh season).
Watch Jack discover that his wife is dead:
5. Lionel Luthor (Smallville)
When it comes to Smallville, certain things are inevitable, like that Clark becomes Superman and ends up with Lois Lane. We also know some other things, like that Lex eventually usurps his father as Superman/Clark's arch nemesis.
In order for that to happen, one must assume, Lionel has to die and Lex has to do something dastardly. As a result, Lex killing his father wasn't anything particularly shocking. But the fun wasn't in the surprise, it was seeing how they handled it. And, in my opinion, it was done perfectly.
I absolutely loved how the episode kicked off with the death scene. Again, this wasn't supposed to be some mega shocking twist. Everybody had pretty much deduced that Lionel would be the character that gets killed. So instead of having the episode lead up to this moment, they wisely decided to have the episode revolve around the aftermath of the murder.
I LOVE Lex's closing remarks: "I lived in your shadow. Now you're going to die in mine. No one will even remember your name." It's just such a poetic thing to say. Whether he's been good or bad, Lionel has always had this grandiose vision. When he's bad, he seemingly wants to control the world. When he's good, he has to align himself with the most powerful entity on earth. Yet, at the end of the day, in the Superman mythos, it's all about Superman and Lex Luthor. Despite his visions of grandeur, in the end, nobody even remembers that Lionel had once existed.
Watch Lionel's death scene:
4. Isabelle Tyler (The 4400)
Part of the reason why I consider shows like Lost, Smallville, 24, and Heroes my favorite is their amazing ability to develop some of their central characters. The 4400 more than belongs on that list. And next to the super awesome Jordan Collier, perhaps no character has been better developed than Isabelle Tyler.
It's tough to say what impact Isabelle's death would have had on the series as a whole, because she died in what ended up being the series finale. That being said, the wonderful progression of her character, and the selflessness of her death, warrants its high ranking on this list.
When Isabelle was introduced to us, as a baby, in season two, not much was known about her. All we were aware of is that she's SOMETHING special. There was also something peculiarly sinister about her. Was she downright bad? It wasn't particularly clear, however her actions DID ultimately lead to the salvation of the 4400, who were dying due to the promicin inhibitor they were being injected with. Nevertheless, in that season's finale, she was suddenly, and inexplicably, an adult female.
As a teenage girl, she most definitely began exhibiting some dastardly behavior. She threatened people. She hurt people. She even killed somebody. Then she coerced Shawn into marrying her. She was a real bitch. At the end of the year, her own father was forced to inject her with a vaccine, which left her without any abilities.
The final season is when Isabelle really began to shine. As she was being transferred to a prison (I believe), she was rescued by Kyle, who was blindly obeying the commands of some sort of prophetic book. From there, she was brought to Promise City, where she was united with the very man she had tried to kill: Jordan Collier.
Throughout the season, Isabelle was a real question mark. People -- and by that I mean the viewers as well as the characters -- were unsure what to make of her. She truly seemed like she wanted to make up for all the evil things she had done, but at the same time she still seemed so impulsive and impressionable. It seemed like she could easily be convinced to turn on somebody. Nevertheless, Kyle continued to stand by her side. He was, in a way, her beacon of hope.
Near the finale, Isabelle's powers were restored by "The Marked" -- a group of people from the future who wanted to ensure that THEIR future came to fruition. They also coerced her into turning on Jordan by threatening her father's safety. She ultimately did turn Jordan over to the Marked -- in a great moment, when Jordan calmly said to her "I was wondering when this would happen" (paraphrasing, can't remember the exact line).
However, it was the love and hope of Kyle that eventually led to her coming to her sensing. She gave him a soft, gentle kiss on the lips, and then made an assault on the Marked. Incidentally, this same group of people also had the ability to kill her. So in her last breath, she manages to save Jordan and Tom, and instructs them to save the future. Honestly, it's probably the best send off anybody on this show had ever received. An excellent example of somebody redeeming themselves.
Watch this great compilation, summarizing the events of The 4400 series finale (including Isabelle's redemption and death):
3. Michael Dawson (Lost)
Harold Perrineau may not have been thrilled with how his character was killed off, but I thought it was absolutely fantastic.
This is what it comes down to: Would it have been nice if Michael shared his final scene with his son Walt? Sure, but not at the expense of Michael's character and redemption. Yes, his actions disappointed and hurt his son, but Walt wasn't the one he betrayed. Walt wasn't the one that he needed to redeem himself to (not directly, anyway).
With that in mind, some people may bring up the point that none of the characters he interacted with during his return -- Sayid, Desmond, Jin, and Sun -- were ones he had turned against. However, in an odd way, I think that helped ease the viewers into the idea that Michael is trying to fix what he had done. If he had immediately shared some scenes with Sawyer or Kate or Jack, there'd obviously be a great deal of hostility and anger. As such, the viewers would constantly be reminded about what Michael had done, making forgiveness very difficult. But by pairing him with Desmond for the most part -- a person who did not even know Michael -- viewers were able to focus on his current efforts instead of harping on his past sins.
And I'm sure there are those out there who feel like he should have eventually shared a scene with one of the people he explicitly betrayed, but I'm not sure I agree. Ultimately, his strongest bond was with Jin and Sun, so I think it was more important for those characters to make peace before Michael's death. Besides which, Michael's actions DID save everybody, so I believe that he did effectively redeem himself in their eyes. Hell, even in the flash forward, Hurley speaks somewhat warmly about Michael with Walt.
In fact, it was the repeated interaction with Jin that I feel made this death scene so strong. The look of genuine happiness on his face when he found out that Sun is pregnant showed more than anything else that this man, at his core, can be good and selfless. It was also quite touching that despite all that he had done, at the end of the day, Jin didn't want to leave his friend to die alone. It was only until Michael reminded him that he's going to be a father and that he needs to be there for his wife that he finally left. Again, it was a selfless act. He realized that there was no hope left for him, but that he could still save others.
The final scene, with Christian appearing out of nowhere and telling Michael, "you can go now" -- effectively releasing him from the island's hold that was preventing him from dying -- right before the freighter blows up was a fantastic moment. It was touching, memorable, and added to the mythology of the series. In my opinion, it was the best ending the character -- and actor, for that matter -- could have possibly asked for.
Watch Michael's death scene:
2. George Mason (24)
24 has always done a wonderful job of developing its characters. Countless times they've taken a character that has been deemed villainous and/or unlikable and effectively transformed him into somebody noble and virtuous. In my opinion, 24 provides us with some of the most human characters. Most people aren't simply good or completely bad. These characters, for the most part, are very real.
George Mason is perhaps the prime example of this character development. Throughout season one, he was a shadowy character that everybody had assumed would turn bad. Hell, most of the CHARACTERS figured he was up to no good. And even as season two hit the small screen, Mason continued his sketchy ways. When it became clear that a nuclear weapon might detonate in Los Angeles, it seemed as if the CTU director was going to try to flee (although this is never explicitly made clear). However, as fate would have it, he instead got roped into an operation, which resulted in a shootout, ultimately leading to him getting radiation poisoning and receiving the news that he would only have a few days to live.
Once Mason came to terms with his certain demise, he returned to work and made it his priority to ensure that the nuclear threat never comes to fruition. During this time, we got a glimpse at George Mason the person, not the ambitious and morally questionable boss. He revealed to Michelle that he always had dreams of becoming a teacher. He also took it upon himself to reunite with his estrange son, who he bequeathed all of his money to. It was a genuinely touching moment, where this man attempts to fix the things he had damaged throughout the years. In another sweet moment, when he does eventually step down, he names the hardworking Tony Almeida the acting Special Agent in Charge.
Of course, it was the final moments of his life that everybody will remember. When Jack Bauer does eventually track down the nuclear weapon, he comes to the grim realization that it cannot be deactivated. As such, it is decided that somebody must sacrifice himself and crash land the bomb into the desert to prevent damage to populated areas. Naturally, Jack volunteers himself for the job. Following a very touching and emotional good bye to Kim (via telephone), Mason emerges from his hiding place, and tells Jack that he needs to get out of the plane, saying that he'll crash the plane himself. Jack refuses, of course, only for Mason to make some powerful points. He tells Jack that he's had a death wish since Teri died, and that it'd be easy for him to die a heroic death. But if he wants to be brave and heroic, the best thing he can do is parachute out of the plane, reconnect with his daughter, and continue serving his country.
With that, Jack thanks Mason for making this sacrifice, gently placing his hand on Mason's shoulder. Jack then parachutes out of the plane, and moments later Mason successfully -- and heroically -- crashes the plane into the desert, receiving perhaps the most noble death in 24 history.
1. Charlie Pace (Lost)
Arguably, Lost is notorious for trying to shock us with certain deaths. So it's somewhat ironic that their most emotionally powerful death scene was one that had been telegraphed practically all season. Indeed, nobody was particularly shocked that Charlie died. In fact, I think they may have even openly stated that he would meet his demise in the finale.
I've fawned over this scene so many times that it probably doesn't require a long explanation. Simply, I loved everything about it, including everything that happened in "Greatest Hits," the episode that aired before the finale. I thought Charlie's final scene with Hurley was touching, especially since Charlie knew -- and we knew -- that this would be the last time they saw each other, while Hurley was completely clueless. I also consider Charlie secretly leaving Aaron his ring -- a family heirloom -- was one of the show's most genuinely sweet moments.
As for the scene itself, I loved how the normally passive Charlie was the personification of heroism. The reason for him even being in the underwater hatch is because he believes that it'll ultimately save Claire, Aaron, and everybody else he cares for. And even his final moments are heroic. He shuts the door closed to ensure Desmond's safety, and he uses his final moments to leave a message that would ultimately save the lives of many of his friends. I thought it was wonderfully written and fantastically shot. The image of Charlie accepting his fate and bravely staring at Desmond as the two touch hands through the small, circular glass window, just before he loses control and runs out of air is etched into my memories. And my absolute favorite part of the scene is, just before Charlie's body begins to float lifelessly, he does the sign of the cross, a beautiful allusion to his religious upbringing.
This is an excellent example of a monumental moment that still holds up, despite being "spoiled."
Watch Charlie's death scene:
It's also important that I note that I have limited this list to scripted deaths, and have opted not to include character deaths that occurred as a result of the real life death of the actor portraying them. It goes without saying that the passing of actors like John Ritter, Phil Hartman, and David Strickland (to name three) is far more tragic than any of the deaths on this list. For that reason, it would be unfair -- and likely disrespectful -- to include them here.
Click the "Read More" link for my list of the best television deaths.
10. Joyce Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
While the death of Buffy's mother certainly played a crucial part in the growth of the show's heroine -- effectively changing the tone of the entire series to something far darker and more brooding -- I included this death simply because it was such a beautiful, artistic episode. It was so realistic -- almost to the point of uncomfortableness -- right down to Joyce's ribs breaking as Buffy applied CPR.
And it was unlike any episode we had seen before. Aside from a quick vampire scene at the way end, the episode was completely devoid of any of the fantastical elements the series is known for. The hour kicked off with Buffy walking into her home like any other day, and finding her mother lying lifelessly on the couch. She called 911, and the paramedics arrived, but they were unable to save her (in the interest of fairness, I will note the one part I found abhorrently unrealistic, which is the paramedics leaving the dead body in her home). And unlike virtually any of the other losses on this show, Joyce's death lacked any supernatural involvement. It was just one of those tragic, unexpected events that occur in life.
Of course, the most glaring virtue of "The Body" (the episode's title) was the absence of any background music whatsoever. Aside from the dialogue, which was sparse, awkward, and uncomfortable (as it tends to be in situations such as these), the episode was practically silent. Yet it was wonderfully written, directed, and acted. "The Body" most definitely illustrates the talent and value of the cast and crew of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Was this the most earth shattering death in all of television? No. But it was the story point of one of the most powerful and unique episodes of modern television, with many memorable scenes, such as Buffy's transformation into something child-like in her moment of shock, Buffy silently (for us) telling Dawn that their mother has passed away, Anya's breakdown as she begs somebody to explain to her how somebody could die and never come back, and Tara and Buffy's touching discussion -- a first for them, really -- where Tara reveals that her mother had passed away as well.
View this video, where the cast and crew discuss this wonderful episode:
9. Mark Greene (ER)
Sure, this one is a bit of a stretch. After all, it wasn't particularly memorable, and it didn't really have a long-lasting impact on the series or the characters as a whole. So if it doesn't satisfy those pretty reasonable and natural standards, how did it end up ranking on this list? Truth be told, I just thought the entire thing was done so beautifully. Incidentally, this was probably the ONLY ER death scene handled well.
While virtually every other major death on ER has been done in a sensationalist -- or even cartoonish -- manner, Mark Greene's death was written so tastefully and touchingly, in my opinion. Everything from the dialogue to the direction makes me longingly recall when the NBC medical drama was in its prime, where you were guaranteed a handful of powerful episodes every season (and they were rarely advertised as such, like they are now).
The one thing that I think hindered this otherwise great scene was the fact that so many of the people who would be most impacted by his death weren't present. As I relived that scene while scanning through some YouTube clips, I got a very transparent sense of "Oh, it's Carter, Susan, and a bunch of people that barely knew him."
Watch the ER staff receiving the news of his death (wonderfully performed by Noah Wyle and Sherry Stringfield, particularly when Carter discovers the last page):
Now, watch his actual death:
For what it's worth, I'm glad they didn't go over the top with his actual death scene, by having Elizabeth drop her coffee mug upon discovering his body. Instead, it was done very tastefully and beautifully. Another instance of less being more.
I also loved the funeral scene, with characters from Mark's past making brief, unadvertised appearances (Peter!!) But the lack of Doug and Carol stuck out like a sore thumb.
8. Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Angel)
When he first appeared on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a Watcher so stuffy that he made GILES seem cool and exciting, few people probably predicted that Wesley Wyndam-Pryce would develop into one of the most complex, and yeah, kinda awesome, characters in the Buffy/Angel universe.
In fact, by Angel's last season, Wesley had done a complete 180 character turn. He was volatile, aggressive, and often turned to the bottle. It was because of his potential downfall that Wes fans couldn't help but rejoice when, after years of pining for the beauty, he finally got together with Fred. Of course, the honeymoon didn't last TOO long. An episode or so later, a pure demon from the Primordiam Age known as Illyria took over Fred's body, liquefying Fred's organs, hardening her skin, and burning her soul. The point they're hammering over your head: Fred is gone and she ain't coming back.
Once again, Wesley was completely distraught. He initially did everything in his power to try to kill Illyria -- as well as those responsible for Fred's death. However, slowly but surely, these two began to care for one another. It was actually a pretty twisted relationship. There Illyria was, essentially an emotionless, blue (literally) version of the woman he had always loved (and may I add that actress Amy Acker did a remarkable job playing such an unusual character). And shortly before the series finale, Wes comes to discover that Illyria has the ability to shape shift, and can actually take the physical form of ordinary old Fred. This actually drives him even further into madness, feeling that his heart is being played with. Nevertheless, it is obvious that he does care about her, evident when he finds her beaten and bruised following a particularly tough fight.
In the finale, before the climatic battle, everybody spends their last night as if it's their last. Spike performs his poetry at an open mic bar (awesome), Angel reconnects with the son he was forced to give up, and Gunn returns to his roots. Illyria, who has decided to spend her final night alongside Wesley, asks him if he'd like her to become Fred, in a strange desire to make him happy. Wesley refuses, telling her that he doesn't plan on dying tomorrow, and therefore doesn't want to be lied to.
Well, in the final battle, Wesley receives a fatal stab wound. Illyria burst into the scene, having already dominated her epic challenge, just as Wesley is about to drop to the ground. She tells him that he'll be dead in moments. He softly tells her that it was kind of her to come check on him. She then gently asks "would you like me to lie to you now?" And, as he begins fading away, he says "yes. Thank you, yes." She then transforms into Fred, and the two soul mates share a very tender moment as they proclaim their love to each other. They kiss, as Wesley passes away. A teary eyed Fred (or Illyria, as I believe the case to be) then quickly avenges Wes' death with one solid punch.
I really am disappointed that I couldn't find a video clip of the entire death scene, it really was great.
Watch this video, which summarizes the last few episodes of Angel, with a focus on the Wesley/Illyria relationship:
It's perhaps unsurprising that the other best death on Buffy was also by human means. Perhaps it wasn't a "natural" death like Joyce's, but it wasn't supernatural either. There were no mystical forces here. On the contrary, a typical human being with a bruised ego came barging into Buffy's backyard and just began shooting. One hit his intended target, Buffy -- who had thrown friend Xander out of the way -- while the other went through an upstairs window, directly hitting Tara, who had recently very happily reunited with her love, Willow. The two had just embraced and were staring lovingly at each other when a splatter of blood suddenly sprayed onto Willow's white blouse. Tara confusedly asked "your blouse?" before dropping to the floor, dead.
It was just such a tragic and real scene. And the final moments, with Willow's eyes turning that oh-so-familiar fiery black, was such a significant and powerful image. For the entirety of the season, Willow had become "addicted" to magic. To her, it really had become a drug. In fact, Tara had left her for this very reason, and it wasn't until she became rehabilitated that the two reconciled.
For this reason, the fact that she once again turns to magic -- her drug -- in a fit of rage and emotion is even more significant.
What's more, Tara's death most certainly had a long-lasting impact on the series. First and foremost, it turned mousy little WILLOW into the big bad of the season. Who would have ever predicted that? Most surprising of all, she probably came closer than anybody else at actually defeating the Slayer. And while she naturally returned to her sweet, red headed self, her actions in the final couple episodes of season six stuck with her for the remainder of the series.
Watch Tara's death, and the impact of the loss:
6. Teri Bauer (24)
It's been said before, but it's worth repeating: Teri Bauer's death truly did set the tone that anybody can die on 24. Had the character been saved, I honestly believe that the show would not have been nearly as successful. There would be this lingering feeling of "oh, Jack will rescue _____ in the end...." However, at the end of 24's inaugural season, when Jack discovered that his wife -- who was pregnant with his unborn child, by the way -- had been murdered, viewers came to the grim realization that the end of the day may not bring a happy ending.
In life, Teri Bauer may not have been the most significant character in the world. Hell, even in death, the character is rarely mentioned anymore (with the show now going into its seventh season).
Watch Jack discover that his wife is dead:
5. Lionel Luthor (Smallville)
When it comes to Smallville, certain things are inevitable, like that Clark becomes Superman and ends up with Lois Lane. We also know some other things, like that Lex eventually usurps his father as Superman/Clark's arch nemesis.
In order for that to happen, one must assume, Lionel has to die and Lex has to do something dastardly. As a result, Lex killing his father wasn't anything particularly shocking. But the fun wasn't in the surprise, it was seeing how they handled it. And, in my opinion, it was done perfectly.
I absolutely loved how the episode kicked off with the death scene. Again, this wasn't supposed to be some mega shocking twist. Everybody had pretty much deduced that Lionel would be the character that gets killed. So instead of having the episode lead up to this moment, they wisely decided to have the episode revolve around the aftermath of the murder.
I LOVE Lex's closing remarks: "I lived in your shadow. Now you're going to die in mine. No one will even remember your name." It's just such a poetic thing to say. Whether he's been good or bad, Lionel has always had this grandiose vision. When he's bad, he seemingly wants to control the world. When he's good, he has to align himself with the most powerful entity on earth. Yet, at the end of the day, in the Superman mythos, it's all about Superman and Lex Luthor. Despite his visions of grandeur, in the end, nobody even remembers that Lionel had once existed.
Watch Lionel's death scene:
4. Isabelle Tyler (The 4400)
Part of the reason why I consider shows like Lost, Smallville, 24, and Heroes my favorite is their amazing ability to develop some of their central characters. The 4400 more than belongs on that list. And next to the super awesome Jordan Collier, perhaps no character has been better developed than Isabelle Tyler.
It's tough to say what impact Isabelle's death would have had on the series as a whole, because she died in what ended up being the series finale. That being said, the wonderful progression of her character, and the selflessness of her death, warrants its high ranking on this list.
When Isabelle was introduced to us, as a baby, in season two, not much was known about her. All we were aware of is that she's SOMETHING special. There was also something peculiarly sinister about her. Was she downright bad? It wasn't particularly clear, however her actions DID ultimately lead to the salvation of the 4400, who were dying due to the promicin inhibitor they were being injected with. Nevertheless, in that season's finale, she was suddenly, and inexplicably, an adult female.
As a teenage girl, she most definitely began exhibiting some dastardly behavior. She threatened people. She hurt people. She even killed somebody. Then she coerced Shawn into marrying her. She was a real bitch. At the end of the year, her own father was forced to inject her with a vaccine, which left her without any abilities.
The final season is when Isabelle really began to shine. As she was being transferred to a prison (I believe), she was rescued by Kyle, who was blindly obeying the commands of some sort of prophetic book. From there, she was brought to Promise City, where she was united with the very man she had tried to kill: Jordan Collier.
Throughout the season, Isabelle was a real question mark. People -- and by that I mean the viewers as well as the characters -- were unsure what to make of her. She truly seemed like she wanted to make up for all the evil things she had done, but at the same time she still seemed so impulsive and impressionable. It seemed like she could easily be convinced to turn on somebody. Nevertheless, Kyle continued to stand by her side. He was, in a way, her beacon of hope.
Near the finale, Isabelle's powers were restored by "The Marked" -- a group of people from the future who wanted to ensure that THEIR future came to fruition. They also coerced her into turning on Jordan by threatening her father's safety. She ultimately did turn Jordan over to the Marked -- in a great moment, when Jordan calmly said to her "I was wondering when this would happen" (paraphrasing, can't remember the exact line).
However, it was the love and hope of Kyle that eventually led to her coming to her sensing. She gave him a soft, gentle kiss on the lips, and then made an assault on the Marked. Incidentally, this same group of people also had the ability to kill her. So in her last breath, she manages to save Jordan and Tom, and instructs them to save the future. Honestly, it's probably the best send off anybody on this show had ever received. An excellent example of somebody redeeming themselves.
Watch this great compilation, summarizing the events of The 4400 series finale (including Isabelle's redemption and death):
3. Michael Dawson (Lost)
Harold Perrineau may not have been thrilled with how his character was killed off, but I thought it was absolutely fantastic.
This is what it comes down to: Would it have been nice if Michael shared his final scene with his son Walt? Sure, but not at the expense of Michael's character and redemption. Yes, his actions disappointed and hurt his son, but Walt wasn't the one he betrayed. Walt wasn't the one that he needed to redeem himself to (not directly, anyway).
With that in mind, some people may bring up the point that none of the characters he interacted with during his return -- Sayid, Desmond, Jin, and Sun -- were ones he had turned against. However, in an odd way, I think that helped ease the viewers into the idea that Michael is trying to fix what he had done. If he had immediately shared some scenes with Sawyer or Kate or Jack, there'd obviously be a great deal of hostility and anger. As such, the viewers would constantly be reminded about what Michael had done, making forgiveness very difficult. But by pairing him with Desmond for the most part -- a person who did not even know Michael -- viewers were able to focus on his current efforts instead of harping on his past sins.
And I'm sure there are those out there who feel like he should have eventually shared a scene with one of the people he explicitly betrayed, but I'm not sure I agree. Ultimately, his strongest bond was with Jin and Sun, so I think it was more important for those characters to make peace before Michael's death. Besides which, Michael's actions DID save everybody, so I believe that he did effectively redeem himself in their eyes. Hell, even in the flash forward, Hurley speaks somewhat warmly about Michael with Walt.
In fact, it was the repeated interaction with Jin that I feel made this death scene so strong. The look of genuine happiness on his face when he found out that Sun is pregnant showed more than anything else that this man, at his core, can be good and selfless. It was also quite touching that despite all that he had done, at the end of the day, Jin didn't want to leave his friend to die alone. It was only until Michael reminded him that he's going to be a father and that he needs to be there for his wife that he finally left. Again, it was a selfless act. He realized that there was no hope left for him, but that he could still save others.
The final scene, with Christian appearing out of nowhere and telling Michael, "you can go now" -- effectively releasing him from the island's hold that was preventing him from dying -- right before the freighter blows up was a fantastic moment. It was touching, memorable, and added to the mythology of the series. In my opinion, it was the best ending the character -- and actor, for that matter -- could have possibly asked for.
Watch Michael's death scene:
2. George Mason (24)
24 has always done a wonderful job of developing its characters. Countless times they've taken a character that has been deemed villainous and/or unlikable and effectively transformed him into somebody noble and virtuous. In my opinion, 24 provides us with some of the most human characters. Most people aren't simply good or completely bad. These characters, for the most part, are very real.
George Mason is perhaps the prime example of this character development. Throughout season one, he was a shadowy character that everybody had assumed would turn bad. Hell, most of the CHARACTERS figured he was up to no good. And even as season two hit the small screen, Mason continued his sketchy ways. When it became clear that a nuclear weapon might detonate in Los Angeles, it seemed as if the CTU director was going to try to flee (although this is never explicitly made clear). However, as fate would have it, he instead got roped into an operation, which resulted in a shootout, ultimately leading to him getting radiation poisoning and receiving the news that he would only have a few days to live.
Once Mason came to terms with his certain demise, he returned to work and made it his priority to ensure that the nuclear threat never comes to fruition. During this time, we got a glimpse at George Mason the person, not the ambitious and morally questionable boss. He revealed to Michelle that he always had dreams of becoming a teacher. He also took it upon himself to reunite with his estrange son, who he bequeathed all of his money to. It was a genuinely touching moment, where this man attempts to fix the things he had damaged throughout the years. In another sweet moment, when he does eventually step down, he names the hardworking Tony Almeida the acting Special Agent in Charge.
Of course, it was the final moments of his life that everybody will remember. When Jack Bauer does eventually track down the nuclear weapon, he comes to the grim realization that it cannot be deactivated. As such, it is decided that somebody must sacrifice himself and crash land the bomb into the desert to prevent damage to populated areas. Naturally, Jack volunteers himself for the job. Following a very touching and emotional good bye to Kim (via telephone), Mason emerges from his hiding place, and tells Jack that he needs to get out of the plane, saying that he'll crash the plane himself. Jack refuses, of course, only for Mason to make some powerful points. He tells Jack that he's had a death wish since Teri died, and that it'd be easy for him to die a heroic death. But if he wants to be brave and heroic, the best thing he can do is parachute out of the plane, reconnect with his daughter, and continue serving his country.
With that, Jack thanks Mason for making this sacrifice, gently placing his hand on Mason's shoulder. Jack then parachutes out of the plane, and moments later Mason successfully -- and heroically -- crashes the plane into the desert, receiving perhaps the most noble death in 24 history.
1. Charlie Pace (Lost)
Arguably, Lost is notorious for trying to shock us with certain deaths. So it's somewhat ironic that their most emotionally powerful death scene was one that had been telegraphed practically all season. Indeed, nobody was particularly shocked that Charlie died. In fact, I think they may have even openly stated that he would meet his demise in the finale.
I've fawned over this scene so many times that it probably doesn't require a long explanation. Simply, I loved everything about it, including everything that happened in "Greatest Hits," the episode that aired before the finale. I thought Charlie's final scene with Hurley was touching, especially since Charlie knew -- and we knew -- that this would be the last time they saw each other, while Hurley was completely clueless. I also consider Charlie secretly leaving Aaron his ring -- a family heirloom -- was one of the show's most genuinely sweet moments.
As for the scene itself, I loved how the normally passive Charlie was the personification of heroism. The reason for him even being in the underwater hatch is because he believes that it'll ultimately save Claire, Aaron, and everybody else he cares for. And even his final moments are heroic. He shuts the door closed to ensure Desmond's safety, and he uses his final moments to leave a message that would ultimately save the lives of many of his friends. I thought it was wonderfully written and fantastically shot. The image of Charlie accepting his fate and bravely staring at Desmond as the two touch hands through the small, circular glass window, just before he loses control and runs out of air is etched into my memories. And my absolute favorite part of the scene is, just before Charlie's body begins to float lifelessly, he does the sign of the cross, a beautiful allusion to his religious upbringing.
This is an excellent example of a monumental moment that still holds up, despite being "spoiled."
Watch Charlie's death scene:
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