14 TV Characters Who Got Robbed Of A Proper Ending
Ever pour your heart into a show for years, only to watch your favorite character get a finale that feels like a slap in the face?
Television writers sometimes drop the ball when it comes to wrapping up beloved characters’ stories, leaving fans frustrated and disappointed.
From rushed exits to tragic deaths that seemed totally unnecessary, these TV heroes and heroines deserved so much more than what they got.
Here are 14 characters whose endings still haunt fans to this day!
1. Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones)
From liberator of slaves to the Mad Queen in just two episodes?
Fans worldwide couldn’t believe how quickly Daenerys went from hero to villain without proper character development.
After seasons of building her up as a compassionate leader fighting for justice, the show rushed her transformation into a tyrant.
Her death at Jon Snow’s hands felt unearned and hollow.
Many viewers still debate whether this ending betrayed everything the Mother of Dragons represented throughout the series.
2. Tracy McConnell (How I Met Your Mother)
Spending nine seasons searching for the perfect woman, only to kill her off in the finale?
That’s exactly what happened to Tracy, the titular mother everyone waited years to meet.
She was charming, funny, and absolutely perfect for Ted.
But the writers decided to end her story tragically so Ted could go back to Robin.
Fans felt cheated because Tracy deserved a happy ending after being built up as Ted’s soulmate for the entire series.
3. Cordelia Chase (Angel)
Remember when Cordelia transformed from shallow cheerleader to selfless warrior fighting evil?
Her journey across Buffy and Angel was absolutely incredible to witness.
But then the show put her in a coma and gave her an off-screen death that felt completely disrespectful.
She deserved a heroic send-off befitting her character growth.
Instead, fans got a brief, unceremonious goodbye that didn’t honor everything Cordelia had become over seven years of television.
4. Stefan Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries)
After eight seasons of redemption, growth, and finding happiness, Stefan’s death felt like a cruel twist.
He sacrificed himself to save his brother Damon, which sounds noble on paper.
However, fans argued he’d already paid his dues and deserved to live happily with Caroline.
His self-sacrifice felt forced rather than necessary.
Many viewers wished the writers had found a way for both brothers to survive and finally enjoy the peace they’d been seeking.
5. Marissa Cooper (The O.C.)
Just when Marissa seemed to be getting her life together, the writers killed her in a shocking car accident.
Her death in season three devastated fans who’d watched her struggle and grow.
The tragedy felt unnecessary and robbed viewers of seeing her complete redemption arc.
She’d overcome so many obstacles and deserved a chance at happiness.
Instead, her story ended abruptly, leaving countless storylines unresolved and fans heartbroken over what could have been.
6. Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother)
Five seasons of character development erased in one episode!
Barney spent years learning to be a better person and finally married Robin.
Then the finale divorced them off-screen and regressed him back to his womanizing ways.
Sure, he eventually had a daughter who changed him, but it felt like a lazy reset.
Fans wanted to see Barney maintain his growth, not throw it away for cheap laughs and a rushed redemption.
7. Poussey Washington (Orange Is the New Black)
Poussey’s accidental death during a peaceful protest was absolutely gut-wrenching to watch.
She was one of the kindest, most innocent characters on the show.
Her storyline was finally heading toward hope and potential release from prison.
Then everything ended in a senseless tragedy that highlighted systemic injustice.
While the death served a larger narrative purpose, fans still mourn the loss of such a beautiful soul who deserved freedom and happiness.
8. Lexa (The 100)
How do you kill off a fan-favorite character minutes after a joyful romantic scene?
That’s what The 100 did to Lexa, the groundbreaking LGBTQ+ warrior leader.
She was shot accidentally by a stray bullet meant for someone else.
The death sparked massive backlash for perpetuating the harmful trope of killing queer characters.
Fans argued Lexa deserved better than becoming another statistic, especially after finally finding happiness with Clarke.
9. Glenn Rhee (The Walking Dead)
Glenn survived walkers, wars, and impossible odds for seven seasons.
Then Negan brutally murdered him with a baseball bat in one of television’s most graphic deaths.
While shocking, many fans felt his death was gratuitous and solely for shock value.
He was about to become a father and had so much life ahead.
Viewers understood the show’s dark nature but wished Glenn could have gotten a less brutal ending after everything he’d survived.
10. Finn Hudson (Glee)
When actor Cory Monteith tragically passed away, the show faced an impossible situation.
They handled it with a touching tribute episode that honored both character and actor.
However, Finn’s story still felt incomplete because it had to be.
He never got to achieve his dreams or find his true calling.
While the circumstances were beyond anyone’s control, fans still mourn the potential storylines and happy ending Finn deserved but never received.
11. Tara Maclay (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Just when Willow and Tara reconciled and found happiness again, a stray bullet killed Tara instantly.
Her death was completely random and served only to trigger Willow’s dark magic rampage.
Fans were devastated because Tara was gentle, kind, and represented positive LGBTQ+ representation.
She became another victim of the harmful trope killing queer characters for straight characters’ development.
Many viewers still argue Tara deserved to live and continue her beautiful relationship with Willow.
12. Lexie Grey (Grey’s Anatomy)
Lexie died in a plane crash just after confessing her love to Mark Sloan.
She was crushed under plane debris and died in Mark’s arms in a heartbreaking scene.
While Grey’s Anatomy is known for tragic deaths, Lexie’s felt especially cruel.
She was young, talented, and finally ready to fight for her happiness.
Fans wished she could have survived to become the amazing surgeon she was meant to be and find love with Mark.
13. Derek Shepherd (Grey’s Anatomy)
McDreamy’s death was so frustrating because it could have been prevented with competent medical care.
After surviving a car accident, Derek died because doctors failed to order a simple CT scan.
Watching a brilliant neurosurgeon die from medical negligence felt like torture for fans.
He’d survived plane crashes, shootings, and countless traumas.
His ending felt unnecessarily tragic and robbed viewers of seeing him grow old with Meredith and their children like he deserved.
14. Prue Halliwell (Charmed)
When actress Shannen Doherty left Charmed, the show killed Prue off-screen between seasons.
Fans never got to see her death or properly say goodbye to the eldest Charmed One.
She was the leader, the strongest, and the most dedicated to fighting evil.
Her absence was explained in a few lines, which felt completely inadequate.
Viewers deserved a proper send-off for a character who’d been central to the show’s success for three years straight.
