Top 10 Last Stand Scenes in TV Shows

Continuing in the vein of the best final film scenes that cinema has to offer, television has also played host to a number of standout examples, capable of giving their film contemporaries a run for their money. Combining electrifying high stakes with evocative displays of courage, defiance and selflessness, several of the highlights preceded some of television's saddest deaths, compounding the unforgettable nature, emotional weight and lasting impact of these poignant dramatic sequences.

Whether the character in question stays behind to hold off a horde of enraged pursuers, loses his life to save others in a courageous act of sacrifice, or simply goes down swinging with enthusiasm in an epic final gesture of rebellion, there is no one size fits all. -every approach to a perfect last position. Spread across many of the best television shows of all time, these immortal sequences come in all shapes and sizes, but never fail to produce memorable results when executed correctly.

10

Kerr Avon

Blake's 7

An acclaimed low-budget science fiction television program from the BBC, Blake's 7 ran for four seasons before concluding with a last stand for good. The show is known for a final season that kills off main characters, with most of these deaths occurring during Kerr Avon's blockbuster Series 4 finale.

In an explosive finale that saw the show's eponymous character killed in a case of mistaken identity, the crew of the Scorpion is betrayed to the Federation by the sleeper agent, Arlen. After most of the crew was shot in the ensuing fight, Avon finds himself outnumbered and surrounded at gunpoint, with no way out. Paul Darrow's prosecution ends Blake's 7 in unforgettably shocking style, with a last stand for the ages, voluntarily choosing to be shot dead by his enemies rather than surrender.

9

Bodie Broadus

The thread

One of the acclaimed crime dramas The thread best characters, Preston “Bodie” Broadus, became a fan favorite over four seasons. Unfortunately for JD Williams' prosecution, he ended up being killed after being caught talking to Dominic West's Jimmy McNulty, effectively signing his death warrant and causing him to tragically bow out during the fourth part of the show.

Marked for death by Jamie Hector's Marlo Stanfield, Bodie makes a memorable last stand that simultaneously highlights his courage while poignantly exemplifying the futility of a life of crime. Refusing to abandon his corner out of some distorted sense of pride, even as his would-be assassins approach, Broadus stands his ground fearlessly, firing into the night at his tormentors until he is shot in the head from behind by Darrell Britt-Gibson's O-Dog.

8

Tess

The last of us

HBO's live-action adaptation of Naughty Dog's blockbuster video game series of the same name The last of us received extremely positive reviews. Praise has been directed at the way the show deftly walks the line between being faithful to its source material and adding inspired new touches to elevate the story for a live-action version, with the death of Joel's partner Tess in a last stand epic. serving as an excellent example.

Although Tess makes a brave last stand in the video games after being infected off-screen, she is unceremoniously shot by PHEDA soldiers. HBO's gripping version sees Anna Torv's protégé manage to take some of her tormentors with her this time, as she heroically covers Joel and Ellie's escape, with the added difference that the show's antagonists take the form of infected rather than soldiers. After covering the room in gasoline, Tess's final valiant act is to blow herself and the horde of infected humans sky high.

7

Rhaenys Targaryen

Dragon House

While Dragon House second season concluded in decidedly underwhelming style, the show's sophomore launch featured an unforgettable last stand to console fans. This took the form of season two's most spectacular blockbuster sequence during the Battle for Rook's Rest; the jaw-dropping aerial clash between Rhaenys Targaryen and her nephews, Aemond and Aegon, which saw the warring factions of the Targaryen families use the full power of their dragons.

Rhaenys and her dragon, Meleys, valiantly raise the Black flag, staying behind to attack the Green troops and engaging with the colossal Vhagar, despite having had the opportunity to flee on several occasions. Finally leaving the battlefield with the impression that the enemy has been defeated, the Queen Who Never Was and Meleys' bravery becomes even more heartbreaking when Vhagar and Aemond emerge from stage left to dispatch the pair and end this last stand in tragic fashion.

6

Spartacus and his army

Spartacus: War of the Damned

Loosely based on the exploits of a historical figure who led a failed slave revolt, it stands to reason that Starz's swords-and-sandals drama Spartacus would end with a last stand befitting a legend like War of the Damned. True to form, the titular character and the vast majority of his lovable band of rebels perish in a final act of defiance, fighting against the forces of Marcus Licinius Crassus in the doomed Battle of the Siler River.

It's a last stand of titanic proportions, which sees main characters in the vein of Naevia and Gannicus finally defeated in stunning fashion before the eponymous character himself bites the dust. Filled with the usual stunning visuals and spectacularly graphic violence that Spartacus fans knew and loved, the former gladiator and his army's final stand made for an epic conclusion to a fan-favorite show and a dignified death for one of popular culture's most iconic rebels.

5

Lee Scoresby and Hester

Your dark materials

A thrilling sequence ripped straight from Phillip Pullman's iconic series of novels, Texan aeronaut Lee Scoresby and his daemon Hester meet their end in a thrilling last stand during HBO's season two finale. Its dark materials. Giving his life in the hopes of helping Dafne Keen's Lyra as he and Andrew Scott's John Parry are pursued by Magesterium soldiers, Lin Manuel Miranda's ward bravely chooses to remain behind and restrain his attackers to allow his companion to escape.

The heavily outnumbered Scoresby fights to the end in a rousing swan song, using the cover of a canyon to take down as many Magesterium soldiers as he can. Despite successfully restraining his tormentors against all odds, Scoresby is mortally wounded in the battle, leading to a final devastating conversation with his beloved daemon before the pair succumb to their injuries. One of Your dark stuff most poignant moments, Scoresby's evocative personal Alamo does justice to the show's iconic source material, and more.

4

Barristan Selmy

Game of Thrones

A favorite for Game of Thrones' best swordsman, Ian McElhinney's Barristan Selmy, retired in a manner befitting a warrior of his legendary status. The newest member of Daenaerys' Queen's Guard died a heroic death despite being outnumbered, striking down several Sons of the Harpy in Gray Worm's defense in a last stand for the ages, before finally succumbing to his wounds.

It's an epic last dance for McElhinney's command, with Selmy demonstrating his jaw-dropping sword fighting skills against the backdrop of a triumphant score. The one area where this memorable last stand loses points is Flashpoint's broader significance in the show's canon. Although Barristan becomes a hero, it can be argued that dying in a Mereenese alley at the hands of common assassins might have seemed a somewhat ignominious end for a character and warrior of his station.

3

Eddie Munson

Stranger Things

Litigation, the last resistance of television heavy metal, Eddie Munson covers himself in glory throughout the climactic act of Stranger Things' fourth season before the bells ring for Joseph Quinn. The enigmatic leader of the Hellfire Club makes an emotional exit, trying to distract the Demobats from his friends and the gate to the Upside Down in one of the show's most heartbreaking examples of self-sacrifice.

Surrounded by a horde of Demobats, Munson goes down swinging. Taking as many of his winged antagonists with him before being mortally wounded, Quinn's ward has time for a devastating goodbye with Dustin before grumbling in one of the Stranger Things' saddest moments. Tragically, the painful nature of Eddie's sacrifice is compounded after the fourth season's final showdown, with Munson posthumously considered a depraved Satanist by most of Hawkins, as opposed to a hero who gave his life for the town.

2

Bjorn Ironside

Vikings

It's no surprise for a character who has a nickname like “Iron Side,” Vikings mainstay Bjorn doesn't go meekly into the night after being mortally wounded by Alex Høgh Andersen's Ivar the Boneless. Alexander Ludwig's Charge ended its five-season run on the acclaimed historical drama with an unforgettable last stand that justified its epithet, facing an entire Russian army, despite barely being able to breathe.

Leaning on his white horse like the personification of Death himself, the dying Bjorn manages to raise his sword despite being hit by several arrows, mentally breaking the enemy forces and rallying the Viking forces to defeat their invaders. Coming off in infinitely emotional fashion with its last living act, Bjorn's epic death is one of the final season's high points and justifies what many have argued was a frustrating cliffhanger for the show represented by his supposed death in the previous episode.

1

Opie Winston

Sons of Anarchy

One of the most beloved characters in Kurt Sutter's motorcycle epic Sons of Anarchy, Opie Winston's death was one of those polarizing moments that makes viewers give up on shows, such was the controversial and shocking nature of the main cast's passing. Jax's best friend died in a terrifyingly heroic way, sacrificing his own life to save Jax, Chibs and Tig after Damon Pope forces the SAMCRO leader to choose one of the quartet to die.

To compound the unforgettably harrowing nature of his death, Opie leaves in brutal fashion. Ryan Hurst's burly biker is thrown into a fight to the death against three formidable inmates, locked in a room with only a metal pipe to defend himself. Despite a great effort, Opie is overpowered and killed in an abjectly heartbreaking way. Expertly balancing fearless heroism with heartbreaking tragedy, the courageous death of the motorcyclist protecting his beloved brothers represents the best last scene on television.