7 shows that never learned how to handle character exits

It’s hard enough to write for characters that stay on a TV show for many seasons, but trying to remove a vital role from the dynamics of the story can be even more challenging. Even the best series can struggle to make character exits seem natural, Especially when a show is going on for a long time. When TV characters are written off in silly ways, it undermines their role in the show and takes the audience out of the action. Even if the departing character isn’t a fan favorite, it’s important to give them a proper send-off.

A good character exit allows the other characters to process their absence. There are many ways to approach removing letters, And if it happens at the right time, it can help the story become more focused. It can also give the other characters motivation. Writing a character out of a series doesn’t necessarily mean the show has to kill them off, but certain shocking TV deaths have proven that no one is safe on the show. Using a death for the development of the show can be impressive, but it can also be disappointing and a crutch if it happens too many times.

7

Grey’s Anatomy (2005 – present)

After over 20 seasons, Grey’s Anatomy has had to be creative in its casting

While there are some characters that have been on Gray’s Anatomy Since season 1, there have been just as many that have come and gone as the beloved medical drama enters its 21st season. It was inevitable that Gray’s Anatomy Would lose actors over the years, however The show has come to be defined by the tragic circumstances surrounding almost every character’s exit. Although there are some exceptions, as Christina left the hospital of her own volition to take on an exciting new role outside the US. it.

The many deaths in Gray’s AnatomyIncluding Derek, Mark, Lexi, and many others, have put Meredith through much trauma and sadness. Although she grew as a character in the wake of the losses, The countless tragedies that hit the hospital in Gray’s Anatomy become unbelievable Still such a high casualty rate. Characters who die don’t escape after divorce or custody battles, like Callie and Izzy. The worst example is how Alex left without a trace after years of character development. Many first letters may return for Gray’s Anatomy Season 21 who left in shame and need to redeem themselves.

6

The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)

Supernatural loopholes give some characters plot armor while dooming others

When Elena left The Vampire Diaries At the end of season 6, it was a shock, because she served as the protagonist and was practically impervious until that point. Of course, the series made it possible for her to return later and get her happy with Damon, but few other characters were so lucky. While Tragedy struck many times The Vampire DiariesThe show allowed some characters to disappear, Forget about them altogether. Although Taylor said goodbye to Caroline, his sudden departure made the bond the couple had built seem insignificant.

This type of exit happened often with secondary love interests and antagonists, and The Vampire Diaries was never too concerned with explaining where they were going. Although the original vampires, including Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah, had their own spinoff, The originalsVery lacking in The Vampire Diaries left a hole that was never filled. Their roles as antagonists, love interests and friends have made them staples of the series, and The characters introduced to replace them did not live up to the standards set by the original vampires. This is part of the reason why the show peaked in the earlier seasons.

5

Criminal Minds (2005 – present)

Beloved characters are also written off-screen many times in this crime procedural

The jump between the first iteration of Criminal Minds And the last sequel, Criminal Minds: EvolutionSaw a shift in the shape of the original iteration. However, this is not the first time that there has been a shake-up in the character lineup, as early in the series, Mandy Patinkin’s Jason Gideon, the leader of the BAU, disappears without telling anyone. He leaves a letter for Spencer to find, and the sudden departure of his father figure affects Spencer for the rest of the show. In addition, around the same time, Elle Greenway shocked a suspect in cold blood.

She then leaves the BAU, never to be heard from again. Fortunately, after that, Criminal Minds Didn’t have to deal with many character exits, but when it did, it left the series unprepared to handle the fallout. JJ and Prentiss handled leaves poorly But they were brought back when the show failed to work together without them. However, the most flawed fallout of a character exit happened when Hotch was written off without saying goodbye after being a hallmark of the team for years. He leaves the screen, and the characters are informed that he has left the BAU.

4

Chicago PD (2014 – present)

Of all the One Chicago shows, PD has the worst character exits

The One Chicago Lineup boasts many amazing TV shows in the Dick Wolf universe, and though Chicago PD Was not the first of these Chicago Shows, it’s one of the most memorable. One of the exits that left Chicago PD The most devastating was that of Sophia Bush, who played Det. Erin Lindsay Until the end of season 4. She was one of the most important characters in the series, and many of the most interesting plotlines revolved around her. Her departure saw several stories end and left her with an unfinished character arc.

Jay Halstead and Hayley Upton were two iconic characters in Chicago PDAnd it was devastating that Halstead was traveling overseas just as the couple had settled into being happy together. It wasn’t surprising that the change hurt their marriage, but it was shocking when Upton also exited the show at the end of season 11. Upton’s exit highlights what Chicago PD struggled. The fact that the series didn’t give the camera time to say goodbye to Upton and process her departure shows that the series doesn’t have the cohesive ensemble dynamic it once did.

3

House (2004–2012)

While the patients usually have the biggest problems, the doctors in house have their own issues

Although House was a difficult doctor to work with, The other letters in House Put up with him because of his genius and ability to diagnose the most mystifying illnesses. This is what made the TV series so popular, and House’s only path is balanced by the other doctors in the hospital and the team of associates who learned from House and assisted with his cases. However, as the series pushed House further and explored his self-destructive tendencies, it is not surprising that not every person in his life can deal with this.

sometimes, House Seeing her characters get ned up with House’s treatment of them and stop trying to connect with him, Leave the hospital completely. A similar plot occurred when Dr. Cuddy left just prior to season 8, leaving the budding romance between her and House unresolved. T from Dr. Kutner in season 5, who came out of nowhere after being introduced in season 4 but quickly became a A fan-favorite character, there was no lead-up or foreshadowing of his death, meaning it completely blindsided the audience.

2

Supergirl (2015-2021)

External factors made it difficult for Supergirl to maintain its cast of characters

The female-driven story of Supergirl was an exciting addition to the superhero genre, but the series ran into some trouble with the networks it aired on. Supergirl moved from CBS to the CW after season 1, and these kinds of network jumps often mean that a shakeup in casting and plot is incoming ( via Variety). luckily, It was for the best, like Supergirl joined the Arrowverse And has crossovers with the other DC shows on the CW. However, the change in tone and story was surprising, and by the end of the series, quite a few characters left the show.

Jeremy Jordan’s exit after playing Winn for three seasons was a blow to the series, but since he and Kara had moved on for their awkward, awkward love story, it made sense for him to continue. However, it was not very believable that Wayne would have developed into a crime fighter strong enough to join the legion of superheroes. Most of Kara’s love interests fade away with time in Supergirl. This occurs when Jimmy Olsen suddenly decides to return to his hometown in season 5. Additionally, Mon-El’s abandonment of Kara in season 3 was a wound that cut deep.

1

Law & Order (1990 – present)

This long-running crime procedural rarely spends too much time on its characters

It’s easy to get tired of how Law & Order Handles character exits. It’s not surprising, considering the fact that character development and relationships have never been the most important parts of the series. For the first seasons of the show, the series is still finding its footing, so actors come in and out of the cast. however, By the third or fourth season, Law & Order found his footing And is unlike anything else on TV. This meant that when the series pushed into new territory of character deaths and exits, it made waves.

An early death that came as a shock was that of Claire Kincaid in season 6. This deeply affected Jack McCoy and set a precedent that many of the most terrible deaths would involve those closest to McCoy. Another example of this was with Alexandra Borgia, who was brutally killed in season 8. Although the violence in the show usually does not affect the main characters, there are exceptions. The whole Law & Order Franchise runs into similar problems, And the shows can only hope that the newly introduced characters will have the same chemistry as the old team.