This article contains discussions about HIV/AIDS, queerbaiting, substance use disorder, and predatory teachers.
While many character exits on TV have disappointed me, some are so unfair, mean-spirited, or poorly written that they arouse my righteous indignation. As all shows end, all characters will eventually leave the audience. Like many people, I'm emotionally invested in my favorite TV characters, wanting them to prosper and be happy. When done well, endings feel earned and fit established characterizations and plots.
Unfortunately, writers sometimes steal happy endings from great characters, leaving them in terrible situations they don't deserve. If a character's unhappy ending is written to reflect the bitterness of reality, drastic and unpopular choices are more forgivable due to their deeper purpose within the narrative. However, often the betrayal of an unhappy ending is sometimes too much to bear, and I can't help but feel angry.
10
Lane Kim from Gilmore Girls
Lane has terrible sex and becomes pregnant with twins
When thinking about characters who deserve better, Lane Kim of Gilmore Girls is the first character that comes to my mind. The young teenager overcomes her oppressive family, finds her passion in life and joins a band. She even falls in love with a boy named Dave, who respects Lane and wins over Ms. The teen finds a way to feel confident in her own skin and lives out her passion, which was inspiring to watch.
After Dave leaves, Lane reunites with Zack. Unfortunately, his story arc goes downhill, starting in Gilmore Girls season 6. Although he starts out semi-decent, Zack becomes increasingly emotionally immature, engaging in weaponized incompetence. She won't have sex until they get married, which is an acceptable decision, although out of character. So, Zack proposes to Lane instead of apologizing for behaving terribly.
The first time they have sex, Lane has a terrible time and becomes pregnant with twins.a twist that is completely out of character. Ms. Kim slowly diminishes her agency during her pregnancy. Ultimately, Lane should have had a much more emotional ending, full of independence and joy.
9
Caroline Forbes from The Vampire Diaries
Caroline has tragic relationships and is unable to raise her children
Although Bonnie Bennett is typically identified as the character deceived by the Vampire DiariesI believe that Caroline Forbes is the character in the TVD Universe who gets the worst of it. Caroline doesn't need a man to complete her, but from a very early age she expresses her desire for romance and a family. However, none of these things work the way she wants.
First, she is Matt's second choice after Elena. Then, Tyler treats her badly and Klaus leaves her and goes to New Orleans. She's only with Alaric because of the kids. Finally, she finally has a fulfilling relationship with Stefan, but he sacrifices himself without telling her. In The Originalsshe is given a second chance at romance with Klaus, and he decides to sacrifice himself without telling her.
Your “happy ending” in the Vampire Diaries should be that she could raise her daughters, but then Legacies it takes that happiness away from her too. Alaric raises Lizzie and Josie while she is constantly away, rarely spending time with her children. In the last episode, she is reunited with Lizzie, but Josie has left school. She never gets the love she wants or the chance to raise her children.
8
Rachel Green From Friends
Rachel gives up her dream job for a controlling man
THE Friends the finale was released 20 years ago, and the series has maintained a place in the pop culture zeitgeist ever since. As a dedicated fan of the series, it's interesting to see how my perspective has changed on the series since its release. When it came out, I loved the idea that Ross and Rachel finally got together after their on-again, off-again relationship, but now I'm angry that Rachel got off the plane.
In the final episode, Jennifer Aniston's character finally has the chance to fulfill her dream of working as an executive at Louis Vuitton. She has a high-paying job at a dream company waiting for her in Paris and has everything planned for Emma to join her.
Even though it's difficult, Rachel has made peace with her decision to leave Monica, Phoebe, Chandler, Joey and Ross. Ultimately, Rachel Green was failed by the writers because she abandons all her dreams for a manipulative and jealous man who has proven himself unworthy of her love.
7
Justin Foley from 13 Reasons Why
Justin Foley dies from AIDS-related complications
When it comes to the series 13 reasons whyThere is no shortage of controversies. However, many viewers, myself included, have fallen for the sunk cost fallacy, believing that we have devoted too much time to the show to stop watching. Unfortunately, the end of 13 reasons why proved no less controversial and irritating than the beginning, with the show killing Justin Foley to AIDS at the end.
Justin is the only character in the series with a successful redemption arc. Over the course of the show, he finds a family, makes real friends, and starts thinking about college. The character spends Season 4 preparing for his bright and exciting life ahead. He has a very realistic difficulty maintaining sobriety, but ends the series in recovery. Then, he dies.
Justin Foley's death in 13 reasons why It was the biggest mistake and left a bitter taste in my mouth. They rejected that it is possible to live a happy and fulfilling life with an AIDS diagnosis. Furthermore, they completely ignored the science surrounding the progression of HIV and AIDS without treatment. Justin deserved better than the tragic death that further shames survivors of an already stigmatized disease.
6
Tara Maclay from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Tara dies from a gunshot wound
As LGBTQ+ Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, I will never get over Tara Maclay's death. Tara starts out as a shy character with strong magical proficiency, but grows and develops, coming out of her shell as she finds her place in the Scooby Gang – the name for Buffy and her friends. She finds love with Willow Rosenberg, and most of her stories revolve around that connection.
Tara and Willow Buffy were a groundbreaking couple for LGBTQ+ viewers, as the first representation of a lesbian couple on primetime TV in the US. Sadly, Tara Maclay's death in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6 is simply a plot meant to drive Willow's revenge. It doesn't feel deserved or justified.
Her death brought backlash because Tara deserved to be more than just a disposable pawn, and this fueled the “bury your gays” trope. Ultimately, as much as I love Tara and her relationship with Willow, I'm glad Amber Benson refused to resurrect Tara in Buffy because there's no guarantee that Joss Wheadon would have handled the character better after her revival.
5
Tracy McConnell from How I Met Your Mother
Tracy dies of an unknown illness
how I Met Your Mother is one of the most controversial TV show endings of all time, and most fans hate the ending for good reason. The sitcom spends eight seasons building up the mystery of who the mother is, introducing her in the season 8 finale. HIMYM Season 9 goes out of its way to make her a sweet, kind, and funny woman who fits perfectly into Ted's life.
The writers even focused the 200th episode entirely on Tracy McConnell's life, from her 21st birthday to the night before Barney and Robin's wedding. By the end of the episode “How Your Mother Me,” I considered her to be Ted’s soulmate. I wanted nothing but happiness for her, especially after her moving rendition of “La Vie en Rose.”
However, the audience never gets to see Tracy McConnell's joy. We get a montage of happy scenes with Tracy and Ted at the end, only for her to die suddenly. There is a world where Tracy could have died satisfactorily. However, the last scene proves how I Met Your Mother doesn't actually care about his mother, which is a tough pill to swallow.
4
Eliot Waugh, from The Magicians
Eliot loses the man he loves
When it comes to the best episode of The magicians“A Life in the Day” is without a doubt my favorite, making me cry every time I watch it. The story is beautiful and moving, driving character development for both Quentin and Eliot. It takes the romantic subtext throughout the first two and a half seasons and makes it concrete.
The love that Eliot and Quentin have for each other far surpasses any other couple in the series. Their relationship is the key to solving the mosaic, representing “the beauty of all life.” Unfortunately, Eliot's insecurities prevent the couple from being together in the prime timeline of The magicians. After turning down Quentin, Eliot finally realizes his mistake when he becomes trapped inside his mind.
He has a single moment with Quentin before Nameless takes his body back. Unfortunately, he never manages to confess his love or say goodbye to Quentin. By the time he takes his body back, Quentin is dead. So he spends almost all The magicians Season 5 mourning his loss. Although he ends up in a relationship with Charleton, I always considered it a band-aid for an epic love that he will never recover from.
3
River Song from Doctor Who
River Song is trapped like a data ghost
Doctor Who is one of my favorite TV shows, and I can make peace with most of the characters' endings. However, one that continues to irritate me with each new watch is River Song. As her story takes place out of order, it's important to clarify that I'm talking about the chronological ending of River Song in Doctor Whonot its last episode.
To save the lives of others, River Song sacrifices herself, but the Doctor transfers her consciousness to a computer in the TARDIS library's mainframe, turning her into a data ghost. Her last chronological appearance occurs when she digitally projects herself to the Doctor in “Doctor's Name”.
She berates the Doctor because they never spoke to her despite seeing and hearing her. The Doctor's decision to trap his wife in a digital world and then ignore her seems especially cruel. As much as I love the titular main character, I will never forgive them for treating River Song this way. My only hope is that she returns alongside Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor and has a happy ending.
2
Lena Luthor from Supergirl
Lena doesn't stay with Kara
In every way except one I guess Supergirl gave Lena Luthor a fitting ending, allowing her to embrace magic and find peace with her identity as Luthor. She gets to live her most authentic self, without inhibition, which is something we all want. Unfortunately, she, Kara, and the audience are fooled because the show refuses to make Kara and Lena a couple despite building them up for five seasons.
“Supercorp”, Kara and Lena’s ship, started way back Supergirl Season 2 after fans saw the pair's electric chemistry. In Season 5, the show gets into an all-out queerbaiting fight, and I was frustrated watching it. Lena deserved a happy relationship with Kara at the end of Supergirl.
Fortunately, in the Arrowverse comic book Earth-Prime: Batwoman #1It is heavily implied that Lena and Kara are dating. Lena talks about her “hot date“with the frame showing a pride flag in the background, she calls Kara”my girl,” And she mentions a friendship becoming something she never imagined. The relationship is also apparently confirmed by writer Natalie Abrams (via Tumblr), but this should have happened on screen for Lena to have her complete happy ending.
1
Aria Montgomery from Pretty Little Liars
Aria marries her predatory teacher
I realize a lot of harsh realities when rewatching Pretty Little Liars seven years after its completion. Still, one of the worst is that the entire show romanticized Ezra Fitz attacking Aria Montgomery. He is not only her teacher, but he is an adult and she is a child. Ezra also seeks her out to use in a book, knowing all this.
In Sara Shephard's novels, Ezra is arrested for attacking Aria—a predator ending that I find satisfying. However, Pretty Little Liars changes the book series, making the pair final. At the end of Season 7, Aria and Ezra get married. The two adopt a child together, naming him after Aria's mother.
While this might be a joy to hear for any other couple, Aria Montgomery deserves a happy ending away from her predator. In my opinion, Aria has divorced Ezra and is happily raising her baby as a single mother because the alternative is too tragic.