10 TV Characters Who Returned Despite Being Dead

TV Character deaths have always been a dramatic affair, but some have managed to return to their respective shows in various ways. Several of the best TV shows of all time have killed off their characters, only to bring them back later. While some of these characters were brought back to life, others appeared in other forms..

There have been many tragic deaths on TV shows, but others have been unnecessary. Many of these character revivals were the result of audience reaction, but some were part of the narrative plans. Whether because of a retcon, actor’s decision, or story choice, these TV characters have surprisingly returned to their shows despite being dead.

10

shane walsh

The Walking Dead (2010-2022)

Shane Walsh died in Undead Season 2, when Rick brutally stabbed him, a retort to Shane’s own plans to kill him due to arguments over who was best to lead the survivors. This was a wild moment, and even though Shane was a villain and Rick was simply trying to save his own life, it was still jaw-dropping.

Shane’s murder altered Rick’s psyche in the future, and he was one of the former sheriff’s main kills in Undead. However, Shane and Lori’s lingering memories and the presence of their loving son made things more complex. Shane returned in hallucination form on two notable occasions.

Rick struggled to maintain his grip on reality after Lori died giving birth to Judith, and during the attack on Woodbury, he was convinced that Shane was among the rival community’s soldiers. However, it wasn’t Shane, as Rick discovered after killing the soldier. Shane’s “ghost” also appeared twice in season 9once to encourage Rick to keep fighting and again as a corpse. Although Shane wasn’t brought back to life, Rick’s memory of him felt very real.

9

Bobby Ewing

Dallas (1978-1991)

Patrick Duffy’s departure from Dallas It was a groundbreaking moment in television, and audiences were shocked when Bobby Ewing was hit by a car in the middle of the street. After experiencing his last painful moments in the hospital, Bobby passed awaywhich left everyone heartbroken, especially Pam. However, the end Dallas season 9 revealed that all of these events were actually Pam’s dream.

Bobby’s funeral and the Dallas the characters’ grief over his death were notable storylines in the series, so it was surprising when audiences unexpectedly saw him get out of the shower in the last episode of season 9“Blast from the past”. Dallas‘ ratings dropped significantly during season 9 because of the loss of Bobby, and this played a major role in his return, although Duffy also stated that he wanted to return as well.

8

Dan Conner

Roseanne (1988-2018)

Roseane Season 9 was complicated. The Conner family was relatable to the public because of their working-class origins and financial struggles, but the lottery win wasn’t the only change that confused many. When the titular character finished work on her book, it was revealed that Dan died of a heart attack at the end of season 8and the character seen in season 9 was simply a figment of his imagination.

Viewers were relieved that Dan’s case wasn’t real, but were surprised that Roseanne created this narrative because of her pain. Fortunately, the Roseane the revival reconnected Dan’s death. Roseane returned to screens more than a decade later, Dan’s sudden reappearance was notable. It was weird to see Dan make a meta joke to Roseanne about killing him, let alone his presence in general, but it was more appropriate that he survived to the end. The Conners‘last season.

7

Rory Williams

Doctor Who (2005-)

Every time Rory Williams died and came back to Doctor Whothis it was unexpected. Although the character developed a reputation for returning from the grave, when each occurrence occurred it seemed less likely to happen again. Still, Mr. Pond persisted. Rory had a number of notable deaths on the showbut his first proper death was his most surprising.

After a Silurian shot him in “Cold Blood,” an aptly named episode, the time rift erased Rory from history. The universe and Amy, most importantly, have forgotten about Rory, except for the Doctor. Doctor Whothe timey-wimey tradition allowed Rory will return as a Roman centurionrevived by the Autons to lure the Doctor to the Pandorica.

He was only absent for a few episodes, but Rory’s sudden appearance in “The Pandorica Opens” was extremely exciting. Amy finally remembered the love of her life, and the second Big Bang brought Rory back permanently, which set him up to die again and again before the Ponds took the slow path together in 1930s Manhattan.

6

Brian Griffin

Family Guy (1999-)

One moment, Brian Griffin was happily playing hockey with Stewie on the street, and the next moment, Family GuyThe iconic talking dog was dead. Brian getting hit by a car was brutaland it was a pretty profound moment for the animated show. Both the characters and the audience grieved for Brian, and Family Guy introduced Vinnie as a replacement.

While Vinnie was a solid addition, he just wasn’t Brian, and his arrival felt a little forced, especially since Brian’s body was barely cold. “Brian dies” was one of the Family Guyof Stewie’s most hated episodes, but thanks to Stewie’s use of time travel, he returned just two episodes later in “Christmas Guy.”

Stewie had destroyed his time machine, but he later came across a time-traveling version of himself, borrowed his return pad, and reversed the events of the previous months. This then retraced Vinny’s time with the Griffins, and although the change in history made Stewie forget everything, Brian remembered. Brian’s rebirth in Family Guy It was a twist on the TV show that divided its fandom but was ultimately for the better.

5

Laverna Roberts

Scrub (2001-2010)

Laverne’s passing was one of the deaths in Rub this left fans truly heartbroken and impacted the overall atmosphere of Sacred Heart for a long time. The nurse was a fabulous character in the series, but after being in an unresponsive coma for a long timehis life support was turned off. Laverne was killed in Rub Season 6, although his familiar face reappeared several times after that.

Rub Creator Bill Lawrence thought Season 6 was the last installment of the series, but when she returned for Season 7, actress Aloma Wright also returned. Nurse Shirley Richards was introduced in the episode “My Hard Labor”. Although Wright played another character, it was a running joke that she was identical to Laverne.

No one else noticed the resemblance except JD, who gave him the nickname “Laverna again.” Technically, it wasn’t the same character, but it was implied that Shirley and Laverne were essentially the same personat least for the sake of the joke. They shared a similar personality and attitude, although one difference was that Shirley developed a strong friendship with the caretaker.

4

Colin Robinson

What We Do in the Shadows (2019-2024)

Colin Robinson’s death in What we do in the shadows shook the public. It was an interesting move for the series to kill off one of its main characters, especially since Colin and Laszlo’s friendship was blossoming so beautifully. When Colin died at the end of season 3it was unclear whether viewers would see the energy vampire again.

However, it was quickly revealed that Colin only died for a short time, and a baby looking like him emerged from his corpse. What we do in the shadows Season 4 showed Laszlo trying to raise son Colin Robinson, although the show was initially vague about whether the young man was him or some kind of clone.

However, it was later confirmed that the boy was Colin, much to Laszlo’s disappointment. The show explained that energy vampires are reborn every 100 years, and after Colin gained access to his diaries, he regained all of his previous memories. Unfortunately, he had no memory of his childhood and being raised by Laszlo.

3

Jon Snow

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

Game of Thrones killed off one of its most prominent characters, Jon Snow, in a fascinating but unexpected cliffhanger. In “Mother’s Mercy”, Jon was lured to his death under the pretense that Benjen had returned, only for his Night’s Watch brothers to stab him for bringing the Wildlings south of the Wall.

However, he was then resurrected by Melisandre in “Home”, who set up one of the Game of Thrones‘Greatest Mysteries – Why Was He Brought Back? Many considered Jon Snow’s death to be Game of Thrones a dumb decision, especially since the show never provided an answer.

Various implications for this were scattered throughout Game of Thronesbut the reason for his revival was never confirmed. Some theories have suggested that Melisandre sacrificing Shireen was what led to Jon’s resurrection, although it was more than likely that he was brought back because the mystery of his paternity was also unsolved.

2

Nathan Young

Misfits (2009-2013)

Robert Sheehan’s Nathan Young was Misfits‘ultimate rebel. He was brilliantly funny and outspoken, but it was these qualities that led to his death. After he tried to free his friends from Rachel’s manipulative powers, which turned them all into extremely conservative prudes, Nathan fell from the roof of the community center and on a stake, which killed him.

Although he believed that he did not develop the power of the storm in Misfits‘first episode, Nathan discovered he was immortal when he woke up in his coffin. The mysterious figure Superhoodie, who was later revealed to be a future version of Simon, sent Kelly a note informing her that Nathan was alive.

When she arrived at Nathan’s grave, she was able to hear him, which prompted the group to dig him back up. Nathan was without a doubt the best character Misfitsso it was great that his death wasn’t permanent and that he gained a power like the rest of his cohort. The others were devastated by his death, especially Kelly, although he angered them again so quickly that they doubted whether his immortality was good or not.

1

Buffy Summers

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

Buffy Summers died three times in Buffy the Vampire Slayeralthough some were more permanent than others. Two of these occasions quickly revived her. “Prophesy Girl” saw Xander and Angel rush to Buffy’s side after the Master bit her, while in “Villains,” the Slayer survived collapsing in the hospital when Dark Willow arrived.

However, Buffy’s sacrifice in “The Gift” was the most notable of her deaths. After realizing that Dawn was created from her blood, Buffy threw herself between dimensions, knowing that her death would close the gates and save the world. Joss Whedon intended this to be the end of Buffy, but when the show was renewed for more seasons, he had to bring her back.

Thanks to a resurrection spell cast by Willow, Tara, Anya and Xander, Buffy woke up in his coffin. Buffy’s resurrection in Season 6 fulfilled her Season 1 nightmare, however, and she was forced to climb out of her own grave and crawl to the surface. It made sense that Buffy had to be revived, but even the character didn’t believe she had survived, as she later stated that her friends had “scratched [her] outside”from the sky.