This article contains discussions of HIV/AIDS, queerbaiting, substance use disorder, and predatory teachers.
Though many character exits on TV have disappointed me, some are so unfair, mean-spirited, or poorly written that they bring out my righteous indignation. Because all shows end, every character will eventually leave the audience. Like many people, I become emotionally invested in my favorite TV characters, wanting them to thrive and be happy. When done right, endings feel earned and fit the established characterizations and storylines.
Unfortunately, writers sometimes rob great characters of happy endings, leaving them in terrible situations they don’t deserve. If a character’s unhappy ending is written to reflect the bitterness of reality, the drastic and unpopular choices are more forgivable because of 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 Gets Pregnant With Twins
When thinking about characters who deserve better, Lane Kim from Gilmore Girls is the first character to come to my mind. The young teen overcomes her oppressive household, 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 Mrs. Kim. The teen finds a way to feel confident in her own skin and lives out her passion, which was inspirational to watch.
After Dave leaves, Lane gets together with Zack. Unfortunately, her story arc goes downhill, starting in Gilmore Girls season 6. Though he starts out semi-decent, Zack becomes increasingly emotionally immature, engaging in weaponized incompetence. She won’t have sex until they’re married, which is an okay, albeit out-of-character decision. Then, Zack proposes to Lane rather than apologizing for behaving terribly.
Their first time having sex, Lane has a terrible time and gets pregnant with twins, a twist that’s entirely out of line with the character. Mrs. Kim slowly chips away at her agency during the pregnancy. Ultimately, Lane should’ve had a much more exciting ending full of independence and joy.
9 Caroline Forbes From The Vampire Diaries
Caroline Has Tragic Relationships And Doesn’t Get To Raise Her Kids
Though Bonnie Bennett is typically identified as the character shortchanged by The Vampire Diaries, I believe Caroline Forbes is the character in the TVD Universe who gets the short end of the stick. Caroline doesn’t need a man to complete her, but she expresses very early on that she wants a romance and a family. However, neither of these things works out the way she wants.
First, she is Matt’s second choice after Elena. Then, Tyler treats her terribly, and Klaus leaves her for New Orleans. She’s only with Alaric for the kids. Finally, she finally has a fulfilling relationship with Stefan, but he sacrifices himself without telling her. In The Originals, she gets a second chance at a romance with Klaus, and he decides to sacrifice himself without telling her.
- Release Date
- September 10, 2009
- Cast
- Nina Dobrev , Ian Somerhalder , Steven R. McQueen , Paul Wesley , Kat Graham , Michael Trevino , Michael Malarkey , Zach Roerig , Candice King , Matthew Davis
- Character(s)
- Paige , Student , Damon Salvatore , Jeremy Gilbert , Bonnie Bennett , Caroline Forbes , Klaus Mikaelson , Enzo St. John , Alaric Saltzman , Amara , Tom Avery , Ethan Maxwell , Jenna Sommers , Ray Sutton , Meredith Fell , Uncredited , Rebekah Mikaelson
- Producers
- Julie Plec , Kevin Williamson , Leslie Morgenstein , Pascal Verschooris , Bob Levy , Caroline Dries , James L. Thompson III , James Patrick Stoteraux , Chad Fiveash , John Shiban , Trish Stanard , Barbie Kligman , Brett Matthews
- Franchise
- The Vampire Diaries
- Seasons
- 8
- Writers
- Julie Plec , Kevin Williamson , L.J. Smith
- Directors
- John Dahl
- Showrunner
- Julie Plec
Her “happy ending” in The Vampire Diaries is supposed to be that she gets to raise her daughters, but then Legacies rips that happiness away from her, too. Alaric gets to raise Lizzie and Josie while she’s away constantly, rarely getting to spend time with her kids. In the last episode, she reunites with Lizzie, but Josie is gone from the school. She never gets the love she wants or the chance to raise her kids.
8 Rachel Green From Friends
Rachel Gives Up Her Dream Job For A Controlling Man
The Friends finale came out 20 years ago, and the series has maintained a place in the pop culture zeitgeist since then. As a dedicated fan of the show, it’s interesting to see the way my perspective has changed on the show since its release. Back when it came out, I loved the idea that Ross and Rachel finally got together after their on-again, off-again relationship, but I now find myself angry that Rachel gets off the plane.
By the final episode, Jennifer Aniston’s character finally has a chance to live out her dream of working as an executive at Louis Vuitton. She has a well-paying job with a dream company waiting for her in Paris, and she has everything planned out for Emma to join her.
8/10
Friends
- Release Date
- September 22, 1994
- Seasons
- 10
- Writers
- David Crane , Marta Kauffman
- Directors
- David Crane , Marta Kauffman
- Showrunner
- Marta Kauffman
- Where To Watch
- M
Even though it’s hard, 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 Of AIDS-Related Complications
When it comes to the series 13 Reasons Why, there is no shortage of controversies. However, many viewers, myself included, fell into the sunk cost fallacy, believing we’d put too much time into the show to quit watching. Unfortunately, the ending of 13 Reasons Why proved no less controversial and angering than the beginning, with the show killing off Justin Foley to AIDS in the finale.
Justin is the only character in the show with a successful redemption arc. Throughout the show, he finds a family, makes true friends, and starts thinking about college. The character spends season 4 preparing for his bright and exciting life ahead. He has very realistic difficulty maintaining sobriety but ends the series in recovery. Then, he dies.
8/10
13 Reasons Why
- Release Date
- March 31, 2017
- Finale Year
- November 30, 2019
- Cast
- Dylan Minnette , Devin Druid , Amy Hargreaves , Miles Heizer , Justin Prentice , Ross Butler , Brandon Flynn , Alisha Boe , Christian Navarro , Katherine Langford
- Seasons
- 4
- Showrunner
- Dylan Minnette
Justin Foley’s death in 13 Reasons Why was the biggest mistake and left a sour taste in my mouth. They dismissed that it’s possible to live a happy and fulfilling life with an AIDS diagnosis. Moreover, they completely ignored the science surrounding untreated HIV and AIDS progression. 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 Of A Gunshot Wound
As an LGBTQ+ Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, I will never get over the death of Tara Maclay. Tara starts out as a shy character with strong magical proficiency but grows into her own, breaking out of her shell as she finds her place in The Scooby Gang – the name of Buffy and her friends. She finds love with Willow Rosenberg, and most of her storylines revolve around this connection.
Tara and Willow from Buffy were a groundbreaking couple for LGBTQ+ viewers, as the first depiction of a lesbian couple on primetime TV in the US. Unfortunately, Tara Maclay’s death in Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 6 is simply a plot device meant to propel forward Willow’s revenge. It doesn’t feel earned or justified.
- Release Date
- March 10, 1997
- Cast
- Sarah Michelle Gellar , Nicholas Brendon , Alyson Hannigan , Anthony Stewart Head , James Marsters , Emma Caulfield Ford , Michelle Trachtenberg , Charisma Carpenter , David Boreanaz , Kristine Sutherland , Amber Benson , Seth Green , Marc Blucas , Danny Strong , Tom Lenk , Eliza Dushku , Armin Shimerman , Juliet Landau , Adam Busch , Robia LaMorte , Mercedes McNab , Harry Groener , Charlie Weber , D.B. Woodside , Iyari Limon , Clare Kramer , Bailey Chase , Leonard Roberts , Sarah Hagan , Lindsay Crouse
- Character(s)
- Buffy Summers , Alexander Harris , Willow Rosenberg , Rupert Giles , Spike , Anya , Dawn Summers , Cordelia Chase , Angel , Joyce Summers , Tara Maclay , Oz , Riley Finn , Jonathan Levinson , Andrew Wells , Faith , Principal Snyder , Drusilla , Warren Mears , Jenny Calendar , Harmony Kendall , Mayor Richard Wilkins , Ben , Principal Robin Wood , Kennedy , Glory , Graham Miller , Forrest Gates , Amanda , Maggie Walsh
- Seasons
- 7
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu , Dis
Her death brought backlash because Tara deserved to be more than just a disposable pawn, and it fed into 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 Joss Wheadon would have treated the character any better after her revival.
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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 finales of all time, and most fans detest the ending for a good reason. The sitcom spends eight seasons building up the mystery of who’s the mother, introducing her in the season 8 finale. HIMYM season 9 then does everything to build her up as 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 until the night before Barney and Robin’s wedding. By the end of the episode “How Your Mother Me,” I’d bought into her as Ted’s soulmate. I wanted nothing but happiness for her, especially after her heartbreaking rendition of “La Vie en Rose.”
- Release Date
- September 19, 2005
- Seasons
- 9
- Writers
- Carter Bays , Craig Thomas
- Directors
- Carter Bays
- Showrunner
- Craig Thomas
However, the audience never gets to see Tracy McConnell’s joy. We get a montage of happy scenes with Tracy and Ted in the finale, only for her to die suddenly. There’s a world where Tracy could have died in a satisfying way. However, the last scene proves How I Met Your Mother doesn’t actually care about the mother, which is a hard pill to swallow.
4 Eliot Waugh From The Magicians
Eliot Loses The Man That 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 tear up every time I watch it. The story is beautiful and emotional, propelling the character development forward 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 every other couple in the show. Their relationship is the key to solving the mosaic, representing “the beauty of all life.” Unfortunately, Eliot’s insecurities prevent the couple from ever getting together in the prime timeline of The Magicians. After turning down Quentin, Eliot finally realizes his mistake when trapped inside his mind.
8/10
The Magicians
- Release Date
- December 16, 2015
- Cast
- Olivia Taylor Dudley , Arjun Gupta , Jade Tailor , Stella Maeve , Summer Bishil , Jason Ralph , Hale Appleman
- Seasons
- 5
- Writers
- John McNamara
- Directors
- Sera Gamble
- Showrunner
- Sera Gamble
He has a single moment with Quentin before Nameless takes his body back. Sadly, he never gets to confess his love or say goodbye to Quentin. By the time he takes his body back, Quentin is dead. Then, he spends almost all of The Magicians season 5 mourning his loss. While he does end up in a relationship with Charleton, I’ve always perceived this as a bandaid for an epic love from which he’ll never recover.
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3 River Song From Doctor Who
River Song Is Trapped As A Data Ghost
Doctor Who is one of my favorite TV shows, and I can make peace with most of the character endings. However, one that has continued to anger me with every rewatch is that of River Song. Since her story happens out of order, it’s important to clarify that I’m speaking of River Song’s chronological ending on Doctor Who, not her last episode.
To save the lives of others, River Song sacrifices herself, but The Doctor transfers her consciousness into a computer in the mainframe of the TARDIS’s library, making her a data ghost. Her last chronological appearance occurs when she digitally projects herself to The Doctor in “Name of the Doctor.”
doctor who
- Release Date
- March 26, 2005
- Cast
- Jodie Whittaker , Christopher Eccleston , David Tennant , Matt Smith , Peter Capaldi , Billie Piper , Karen Gillan , Catherine Tate , Jenna Coleman , Alex Kingston , John Barrowman , Tosin Cole , Arthur Darvill
- Creator(s)
- Donald Wilson , Sydney Newman
- Producers
- Steven Moffat , Peter Bennett , Nikki Wilson , Russell T Davies , Julie Gardner , Phil Collinson , Chris Chibnall , Caroline Skinner , Denise Paul , Piers Wenger , Marcus Wilson , Beth Willis , Brian Minchin , Matt Strevens , Tracie Simpson , Mal Young , Derek Ritchie , Patrick Schweitzer , Sanne Wohlenberg , Susie Liggat , Paul Frift
- Seasons
- 13
- Writers
- Steven Moffat , Russell T. Davies
- Directors
- Graeme Harper , Euros Lyn , Douglas Mackinnon , Jamie Magnus Stone , Charles Palmer , Rachel Talalay , Joe Ahearne , James Strong , Jamie Childs , Saul Metzstein , Toby Haynes , Wayne Che Yip , Nick Hurran , Richard Clark , James Hawes , Daniel Nettheim , Colin Teague , Keith Boak , Azhur Saleem , Adam Smith , Andrew Gunn , Nida Manzoor , Lawrence Gough , Paul Murphy
She chastises the Doctor because they never spoke to her despite seeing and hearing her. The Doctor’s decision to trap their wife in a digital world and then ignore her feels especially cruel. As much as I love the titular main character, I will never forgive them for treating River Song in this way. My only hope is that she comes back alongside Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor and has a happy ending.
2 Lena Luthor From Supergirl
Lena Doesn’t Get Together With Kara
In all ways but one, I think Supergirl gave Lena Luthor a fitting ending, allowing her to embrace magic and find peace with her identity as a Luthor. She gets to live as her most authentic self without inhibition, which is something we all want. Unfortunately, she, Kara, and the audience are shortchanged because the show refuses to follow through on making Kara and Lena a couple despite building them up for five seasons.
“Supercorp,” the ship of Kara and Lena, started all the way back in Supergirl season 2 after fans saw the pair’s electric chemistry. By season 5, the show engages in full-blown queerbaiting, and I became frustrated watching it. Lena deserved a happy relationship with Kara at the end of Supergirl.
6/10
Supergirl
- Release Date
- October 26, 2015
- Seasons
- 6
- Writers
- Ali Adler , Greg Berlanti
- Showrunner
- Ali Adler , Greg Berlanti , Andrew Kreisberg
Luckily, in the Arrowverse tie-in comic Earth-Prime: Batwoman #1, it’s 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 seemingly confirmed by writer Natalie Abrams (via Tumblr), but this should have happened onscreen for Lena to get her complete happy ending.
1 Aria Montgomery From Pretty Little Liars
Aria Marries Her Predatory Teacher
I notice many harsh realities when rewatching Pretty Little Liars seven years after its ending. Still, one of the worst is that the entire show romanticized Ezra Fitz preying on Aria Montgomery. He is not only her teacher, but he’s an adult, and she’s a child. Ezra also seeks her out to use her for a book, knowing all this.
In the novels by Sara Shephard, Ezra gets arrested for preying on Aria – an ending for the predator that I find satisfying. However, Pretty Little Liars changes the book series by making the pair endgame. At the end of season 7, Aria and Ezra get married. The pair adopt a child together, naming her after Aria’s mother.
- Release Date
- June 8, 2010
- Franchise(s)
- Pretty Little Liars
- Cast
- Troian Bellisario , Ashley Benson , Holly Marie Combs , Lucy Hale , Bianca Lawson , Laura Leighton , Chad Lowe , Shay Mitchell , Nia Peeples , Ian Harding
- Seasons
- 7
- Writers
- Ina Marlene King
- Showrunner
- Ina Marlene King
While this might be joyful to hear for any other couple, Aria Montgomery deserves a happy ending away from her predator. In my mind, Aria has divorced Ezra and is happily raising her baby as a single parent because the alternative is just too tragic.