4 Types of Character Deaths (Writing Advice)

Learn how to kill off characters in four different ways--with examples from Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, Terrifier, and more!
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[@newworldsound]

I’m glad you mentioned the standalone Joker movie. The one that never got a sequel.

[@siegfriedmordrake3229]

No one even thought about doing a sequel because the movie is self-sufficient. Even the greedy producers respect Joker too much for that

[@GaryNac]

What about Folie A Dookie?lol

[@siegfriedmordrake3229]

@@GaryNac what is this foliage dew you're talking about?

[@YodaOnABender]

@@GaryNacbro did not get the joke

[@venalleader2909]

sequel? You'd have to be an idiot to try and make a sequel for Joker. It's hilarious to even think about it. What's next? A musical?

[@kdrecords4562]

After the second Sean Bean example, I was half-expecting the whole list to use his characters.

[@errantwinds-up8uu]

somehow Sean Bean is in everything that has emotions lol. Great in LotR, great in Sharpe, great in GoT..

[@josephlong6779]

I was just wondering the same thing as I'm on Boromir.

[@warren.pettey]

Sean Bean's character dying is almost a cliche unto itself.

[@Gurezo]

Huge disservice if he's not included in character death videos.

[@lindildeev5721]

I've spent the video thinking about examples for the other deaths and I think I would pick Miller (Patriot Games) for number 3, because he was really nasty, and Partridge (Equilibrium) for number 4 because it's clear that Preston never wanted to kill him and this moment deeply affected him.

[@thedinkydreads9351]

5th type of character death = when Hollywood get hold of you IP and butcher your characters

[@MiikaKontio]

Or studio

[@jesusromanpadro3853]

Probably for a "how not to kill" video.

[@HBHaga]

Ah, yes, the "we don't have any better ideas for them so ... off they go, story be hanged" deaths.

[@krampus7520]

Thats not death thats rape

[@mikitz]

@@krampus7520 Gang banged to death by endless, pointless sequels and remakes.

[@TheDukeofMadness]

"Stand alone" Joker film. We know your feelings on the second one then.

[@blshouse]

Haha, second one! There wasn't a second Pacific Rim either.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Second one?

[@medve5555]

And there wasn't a Star Wars sequel trilogy as well. (:

[@nemanjaminic2197]

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty Wishful thinking on the part of TheDukeofMadness, Brandon. That's perfectly okay, we all have it every now and again. The point is, people shouldn't pretend that what they dreamt up is real.

[@mikemoody3651]

@@blshousethere also haven’t been a huge number of Alien films. Newt, Ripley, and Hicks return to earth. The end.

[@Vitance]

Not making a sequel to Joker really was the right move. It's nice to see that kind of integrity in the industry.

[@nemanjaminic2197]

Yep. That kind of common sense is really refreshing.

[@KutWrite]

Didn't they just make one with Lady Kaka?

[@odojang]

@@KutWrite This is like the Star Wars Christmas Special: "Never happened."

[@kurisu313]

A random soldier is shot at the start of Saving Private Ryan. The first shot hits his helmet, and when he removes it in shocked amazement, another bullet goes through his forehead a second later. The juxtaposition of elation to horror, plus watching a sapient creature simply cease to exist in a fraction of a second has stuck with me.

[@joehlloyd]

the death of the T101 in Terminator 2 hits pretty hard. Not only is it the hero and protector of John Connor, it has become his only friend and his father figure in a way. Yet it must die for Skynet to be defeated and for all the sacrifices to mean anything. And it's not in anger, it's not jn battle. It's a conscious, heroic, choice.

[@warlawds7007]

I've got to say my favorite death scene might be when Vader kills Palpatine, because it almost includes all four. You have Luke nearly killing Vader in what would have been a conflicted death, before he relents. Then the Emperor attempts to kill Luke in what would have been a tragic death. However, Vader steps in and redeems himself by throwing Palpatine down a shaft in a satisfying death. Then he dies shortly after because of it in a heroic death.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Yes! Lot of great stuff going on at the end of RotJ

[@to819]

Standalone Joker film.

[@Mariobro4]

Shame there wasn't a sequel...

[@vanessaprado4013]

Of course. Fortunately, because you know what they say about sequels. 😜

[@ChristofReich-od3vg]

@@Mariobro4 care for what you wish

[@blankface_]

This upload pushed me to write today, thank you

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Keep it up

[@gloriafernandes276]

Great video again, Brandon. My favorite satisfying death scene of a character is the swordsman in the Raiders of the Lost Ark. The swordsman shows off his acrobatic moves and Indiana Jones just shoots him! That scene always makes me laugh. 😂

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Love it! Never fails to make me smile

[@scloftin8861]

As I understand it, that was not scripted. The actor was sick, had been filming all day in the heat and the whip/sword fight was too much for him. The change is absolutely brilliant.

[@odojang]

@@scloftin8861 True story told by Ford himself.

[@bearoyay]

One of the most tragic/conflicting deaths is from the movie Chronicle. Conflicting because the character who dies was mentally breaking down and beginning to destroy everything. Tragic because he was a bullied kid who started to heal by making real friends but accidentally does something very bad and pushes the story off a point of no return. Extra tragic because his remaining friend still loved him even after he had to do it to em :c

[@Toshineko]

The character death that impacted me the most would probably be Darth Vader's. Darth Vader was born a slave, and was chosen to bring balance to the force. Only for him to become a slave to the evil incarnate himself, Emperor Palpatine. It was when he saw his master try to kill Luke that Vader sacrificed himself by trying to throw the Emperor while he got electrified in the process. By the time we got to see his mask taken off, Vader died a peaceful death, no longer a slave. Defeating evil comes at a great cost.

[@le_fancy_squid]

Darth Vader's death always hits me every time I rewatch Star Wars...I think it's one of the best deaths ever. There's just something about it, it's somehow peaceful and heartbreaking. I feel happy for him that he broke free, I'm rooting for him because he killed the Emperor, but I feel sad for what he went through and the fact he'll bear that guilt forever, and that he can't get close to his children now...

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Actually included a mention of Vader's death in the script for this video but ended up cutting it to tighten things up

[@captainthorrek262]

The character death that hit me the most was Howard's mother from Big Bang Theory. It was profound how even the stuff in his freezer became a huge deal since losing it meant losing another connection to his mother.

[@Xandycane]

Even more since the voice actress dies, you knew he was truly feeling those moments.

[@elchiponr1]

Sounds like they took that straight from the Soprano's...

[@Mr.Fishopolis]

This was really helpful. In my YA novel, a young witch is forced to kill her sister's murderers, and I've been struggling with how to handle the final confrontation. But now that you've broken down and explained the conflicted death, I have a better idea of what I'm going to do. With all sincerity, thank you. You are easily the best writing channel on youtube.

[@AskAScreenwriter]

A death that impacted me when I first saw it was Spock's death in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Anyone else?

[@smrndalodz7182]

That was a good movie in terms of deaths. Khan also got a pretty spectacular death, cursing Kirk to the very end. Spock's sacrifice also totally fits in with his 'the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.' He puts it into action.

[@errantwinds-up8uu]

Well as you've got Boromir in here I think this is the first scene I recall where I cried hard. I was a teen then, and other reasons I cried in movies before that were because I was little. Nope, that death just made me cry. Still might if I hear "my brother, my captain, and my king."

[@WolfofBende]

Sean Bean - Patron Saint of character deaths.

[@MichaelJPartyka]

Two deaths in "The Departed" -- you'll know which two. There's also a particular book I don't want to spoil by naming: About a third of the book is told from the perspective of a kidnapped girl who's seriously injured and left to die in confinement by her kidnapper. The book explores her suffering as the heroes try to find her...and when they do find her, instead of their having saved her at the last minute, she's recently died.

[@LorielStarkWinterfell]

Hi! I think there is missed opportunity to have Sean Bean being the example of every death. (to be honest, I am not sure if there is actually all the types of death by Sean, but I have to believe there is :D) Thanks for the content as always top tier stuff.

[@intergalactic92]

There’s definitely the first 3. He has played villains that get killed. Can’t think of one for the 4th type but I’m sure it’s there.

[@lindildeev5721]

​@@intergalactic92 Errol Partridge from Equilibrium. Preston killed him only because he had to and because Partridge wouldn't have hesitated to do it.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Sean Bean is death

[@mlgamings6110]

The main point to me that really is important for killing off main or side characters is to make sure that the character's death are vital to the story. Don't just kill off characters for the sake of shock value or for sadness. In Game of Thrones, every single death of the main characters or side characters is essential for the story to work. If they don't die, the story doesn't work. But killing off characters just for the sake of shock value or to try and get the audience to cry and then basically forgetting about it altogether just makes it frustrating. Like, you just killed one of my favourite characters to get me to feel bad and that's it?

[@mattcavanaugh6082]

Maximus in GLADIATOR is essentially already dead at the beginning of the story, but it's delayed to grant him extra time to seek revenge. Time and again, he avoids seeming certain fates. Once revenge is had, he may finally die.

[@medve5555]

Nicely put. It's all 4 types in 1.

[@mattcavanaugh6082]

@@medve5555 Exactly! Maximus' death sentence is tragic and unfair. Killing other gladiators under duress is conflicted. Finally getting Commodus via his own hubris is satisfying. Maximus dying at the end is an heroic sacrifice.

[@Pirelli913]

Teri's death in season 1 of 24 probably had the greatest impact on me. Up until then, I had never really watched a serialized drama in such spectacular fashion that after the Bauer family had been through hell, I expected them all to survive. My jaw was on the floor and I felt empty inside after as it was the last scene of season 1. And it had a major impact going into season 2. And I know they filmed an alternate ending where she survived as it's on the DVD and I've seen it, but it doesn't have the same impact as the actual ending.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Sadly, I had Teri's death spoiled on me, but the scene still hits hard. Lot of great deaths on that show

[@Pirelli913]

@@WriterBrandonMcNulty Damn, that's a shame it was spoiled for you. I can only imagine what it'd be like had that not happened. I watched season 1 when it originally aired on TV, so social media wasn't as prevalent back in 2002. Although, prior to episode 23, news stations had said there would be a second mole revealed and my mom and I speculated who it'd be. Regarding the major repercussions going into season 2, I forgot to add in my original comment, but there were two: 1) Jack quit working at CTU after the events of season 1 and thus they had to draw him back in somehow. 2) Teri's death made me realize no one on the show was safe.

[@blitzbypowell7183]

Great Video! I get excited every time you post a new writing advice video! I think one thing that I've got an eye for is character deaths! Ive got a few deaths already planned out in my story (when, where and why ) and as I listened to this video I was making a mental note of which death fit in which category! 1.) One is a satisfying death of a very cruel and annoying villain. 2.) Another death is a Heroic one with one character sacrificing themselves for another character (multiple factions are fighting over control of this character so its very plot relevant as well) 3.) And the last death is my favorite one that I have thought through a million times, A tragic plot twist death. This character promises change and hope which comes crashing down in a massive revelation! Anyways awesome video, keep em coming!

[@The_Trident_Master]

I’m glad you added the conflicted death in there, because the other three didn’t really describe a pretty integral one in my book. The main mentor character lives with one regret: that he didn’t kill his father when he had the chance (his father was a terrible person). He finally gets the chance one day but dies himself while trying to. His death allows the main characters to escape, but he still failed at his main goal

[@EntertainmentTalker22]

My stories always have a body count so this definetly helps my planning.

[@ali_2643]

There should be a YouYube Law that Brandon McNulty can only make videos that are at least15min long. Love your videos keep them up.

[@KutWrite]

I'm happy with their current length. In fact, I play them at 1.5x.

[@dragletsofmakara1120]

He is a true wordsmith. Say the most with the least amount of words. Quick. Concise. It’s an enviable skill.

[@thepredman9lol266]

Silent Hill 2 is so good! Glad you're playing it!

[@notwithoutincidence]

Love that Brandon plays Silent Hill 2! 😊

[@1776huckleberry]

Brandon! Thank you for this video, I needed it more than you know, any wisdom on how to write a mixed tragic ending? An example would be armageddon, the tragic ending is there but the hope that was promised is still delivered more or less.

[@erdelegy]

Tragic "death" of the android in the rain in Blade Runner.

[@CastlesKingSide]

Death that most impacted me...hmm... Zeratul in Legacy of the Void. My life....for Aiur

[@andre_santos2181]

I see you are a man of culture as well

[@MissRavenGreen]

I don’t want to give any spoilers. I recently read Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn. That book has a heroic death that is emotional and inspiring.

[@GK_Susebron09]

Mistborn isn't a single book. It's a series. If the heroic death you are talking about is from Hero of Ages, I agree, but if you are talking about The Lost Metal, I have just read it, and am rather conflicted. I think that character ought to have been kept alive.

[@KALtheHighstorm117]

​@@GK_Susebron09 Spoilers I think he's probably talking about Kelsier. The first Mistborn book is sometimes just called Mistborn, or sometimes called the Final Empire.

[@GK_Susebron09]

@@KALtheHighstorm117 Spoilers If so, I wonder if he knows that reports of Kelsier's death have been greatly exaggerated.

[@KALtheHighstorm117]

@@GK_Susebron09 Spoilers I do wonder what role the Lord of Scars will play in Stormlight 5? I can't wait to find out!

[@Disgruntled_Grunt]

In a fantasy novel I'm working on, the first scene is of the main character breaking free from a slave camp. During the escape, his best friend is killed. The main character has been long containing his anger and indignation at being a slave (for survival reasons, when you're trapped in an abusive situation and don't have the power to act, you kind of have to keep a lid on your emotions to avoid being punished for them), and his friend's death forces him to experience/release all that repressed emotion. Acting upon that rage is what will get him involved in the larger plot (wars and magic and such) and eventually become a major player in the goings-on of the world at large.

[@siegfriedmordrake3229]

Ha, I see some similarities with what I'm writing. A young noble girl with psychosis joins the Swedish rebellion of 1520 against Denmark when her father is wrongly executed along with rebels, indirectly because of her. At first she only seeks vengeance and lets her rage burst out but then she'll become a major actor in the rebellion

[@Disgruntled_Grunt]

@@siegfriedmordrake3229 Nice. I'm curious now how someone deals with psychosis in an age before psychology/neurology were a thing.

[@siegfriedmordrake3229]

@@Disgruntled_Grunt spoiler : badly 😅 and mostly with religion, too. But since it's fiction there will be alchemy involved

[@errantwinds-up8uu]

Just going to leave the series Three here, because I think that one is an amazing example. Post-apocaplyptic books if anyone is interested.

[@minutebooks3245]

The Ryan Chappell example from 24 was possibly the most impactful for me. I loved that series up to that point. It seemed so ruthless. I didn't feel like I could root for Jack after that. Chappell was not likeable but in his death he seemed helpless and wronged. I kind of dropped out after that. I don't like bullies and Jack seemed like that to me.

[@asquirrelplays]

my favorite is when the comic reliefs dies, usually by standing up for themselves or someone, and then it just completely changes the entire tone. Usually taking what seems to be a silly/comedic story into a very serious one in the second half. So good. Hits like a truck.

[@gregwise5655]

Very grateful I found your channel ❤

[@JamesRDavenport]

Another Satisfying one is Sean Bean's character in Patriot Games. I'm sure if I had more time I could find a Sean Bean example for all of them.

[@erdelegy]

When the Princess Bride's Man in Black "outwits" the Sicilian in the poison trial!

[@erdelegy]

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome when Blaster dies after the duel with Max from a crossbow bolt shot by Auntie Entity!

[@krraika1847]

An example I have include not one but multiple character deaths. In the 2003 cartoon iteration of Ninja Turtles, there's an episode (Same as It Never Was) where Donatello arrives at an alternate future where the main villain Shredder took over the world, his mentor/father figure Splinter is dead, and his brothers have split up. It's in the battle with the Shredder where 3 of those 4 types you've discussed are arguably shown: Tragic death -- Shown with Donatello's brothers. Michelangelo is the first to fall, surrounded and slain by robots. Next is Leonardo who is killed with his back turned by his rival/frenemy Karai. Then it's Raphael, who in a fit a rage, dies while trying to avenge Leonardo in vain. Each is used to push Donatello forward to win the battle and to make us the viewers feel sympathy for these alternate versions of the characters we have loved watching. Conflicted death -- Karai, right hand of the Shredder. Right after fighting and killing Leonardo (and telling him "Forgive me, Leonardo"), as well as Raphael, Karai is killed with a missile to the face. Her last words are "Master... I am finished." This displays her clear loyalty to her master, the Shredder, which has often placed her at odds with the main heroes despite finding herself agreeing and even allying with them at times. You can see this in the very scene where she fights and kills Leonardo, she tells him "I beg you, leave this place, or you will force me to do that which my duty commands." There is a tragic sense to it in a way but I feel it better suits the mixture of emotions that comes with the scene. Satisfying Death -- Shredder, the main villain. I could go on forever as to why 2003 TMNT has my favorite Shredder, but the main point here, in this particular episode, is that the Shredder has achieved what he wanted and his end happens at Donatello's hands. Right when everything seems lost--with the characters dead and Donatello in the Shredder's clutches--Donatello manages to trap and give the arrogant Shredder a drill to the face. It's very satisfying to watch, to say the least.

[@JustACactus616]

My favorite ones are combinations of one and two. Like Gambit in X-Men ‘97

[@TheSairajNaik]

00:11 why did I hear "The diddliest month"? My brain is weird

[@michaeljordan5630]

Because people are turn it into a tastiest meme that why

[@TheSairajNaik]

I had to repeat that part like 3 times until I heard deadliest

[@MrNoucfeanor]

Get ready for death?! Dude, I need more warning!! x_x /blegh I'm dead now. Boromir was super important. But the death of Cedric in Potter, while quick, impacted Harry & the world for a long time. Great video!

[@chloemchll3774]

Two TV shows that handled the deaths of major/recurring characters really well are Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Battlestar Galactica (the reboot in the 2000s I mean). Buffy first- while the most obvious example is Buffy’s mom (side note: the episode “The Body” which takes place in the immediate aftermath of Buffy finding her mom dead on the sofa is maybe the single finest TV episode I’ve ever seen dealing with the subject) I would also point to the deaths of characters like Jenny Callander, Tara Maclay, Anya, and Spike, not to mention our titular heroine’s death all help to create what made that show special, and that’s really just scratching the surface because I haven’t gone into any bad guy deaths as that list would be way too long. As an aside, while many fans put the spin-off Angel on near equal footing to Buffy, personally, I think it is a vastly inferior series, and a big part of why is that most of the deaths come across as kinda meaningless (the one big exception being Darla, a character who dates back to the first episode of Buffy) or silly, or happening in a way where we can’t really feel sad/angry/happy about it but rather end up with a sort of “well, that happened” response. Similarly, Battlestar Galactica had a number of really satisfying or well thought out deaths for significant characters, often giving background/secondary characters an episode or two to shine leading into the death. A particular favorite of mine involves the conflict between two of the Sharon model of Cylon, specifically Athena and Boomer. Grace Park pulling off both characters in a way that makes it clear to the audience who is who even when the other characters in the series can’t distinguish between them was one of the less appreciated brilliant bits of acting in that series.

[@johannvonbabylon]

Most impacted? Arthur Morgan, of course.

[@Fenrisson]

7:17 - As everyone who can should. It's amazing!

[@tomasstana5423]

Well, weird as it may sound, the death that impacted me the most was probably Spoon from Dog soldiers.

[@MrPleers]

John Coffey's dead in The Green Mile was the one that stood out to me. So sad.

[@vanessaprado4013]

SPOILER ALERT from "Jo's Boys" by Louisa May Alcott (just in case 😜). I'm still grieving Dan. I get his death fits his character arc, his life choices, his personality, it's the right closure for him, even though I was hopeful when he got his redemption and survived… for a few pages 😭😭

[@chocolatespuds]

Definitely do a follow-up about non-violent character deaths (e.g., Terms of Endearment, Goose in Top Gun).

[@seanneff]

I know the examples you use are mostly from film & TV, but a character death that was particularly memorable to me was in the novel Moreta, Dragonlady of Pern. Because of another character's selfishness, she has to go to heroic lengths to stop a plague. She's exhausted, and she dies because of a simple mistake made out of fatigue. So many other people die from the plague in the story, but it's near the end of the book and you think the pretty, young, smart heroine who has just found love won't die. And a moment later, she's gone. A memorable TV death is in the "Love's Labor Lost" episode of ER, where one of the most likeable characters, Dr. Greene, makes a terrible series of mistakes. We're all rooting for Dr. Greene to succeed, and to see one of his patients die because he's in over his head is pretty rough.

[@Ziel-22k]

From all the deaths I've seen (in movies of course) the most impactful was Aragorn's. It wasn't even a real death yet, only a vision, but still carrying so much tension and emotion. "We" are sorry not only for Aragorn, but Arwen, who will live "eternally" in solitude. For his then-companions, Merry, Pippin, Frodo, for his subjects, for his country (king's death=instability) and so on...

[@joseph-fernando-piano]

May be an obscure example, but the main character death in the anime Your Lie in April was so impactful, especially as a musician myself, the way it was framed in the story, holy hell did that ever rip my heart out…

[@pitchforker3304]

** DREDD Spoiler ** In Karl Urban's DREDD movie, when Ma-Ma finally gets what's coming to her, and the way it happens -- so satisfying. Massively underrated action flick, by the way!

[@KristianKumpula]

I've noticed that whenever a story about violent conflict has a character whose sole purpose is to be some kind of mentor or non-related parent-figure for the protagonist, they'll probably die so that the latter is inspired to fill their shoes or something like that. For example Obi-Wan who mentored Luke and Qui-Gon Jinn who mentored Obi-Wan.

[@JollyGreenComics]

I didn’t see a Twitter post for this vid

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Just posted it! For the video, I scheduled a midnight release (while I was sleeping) rather than making everyone wait till I wake up

[@wadegolden3589]

Jacob's death in the movie A Simple Plan was the first time I remember thinking, "Hey, that's better than than the way the book did it!". It's tragic of course, but also somewhat satisfying. Not because you hated him, but Jacob was the reason the cops knew about the plane and the reason the first murder happened. Surprising, but inevitable. Both the movie and the book are outstanding, by the way. Fred's and Wesley's deaths in season 5 of Angel were also tragic, and hit hard at the time and still do on rewatch.

[@raucousgeorge]

****spoilers for The Hitcher (2007) and Goldeneye (1995) **** John Ryder is a #3 and Alec Trevelyan is a #4

[@JohnnyWordSmith]

Not technically a death but when Ralph Cox is cut from the hockey team in Miracle, it always gets me

[@wizakke5399]

Howard Hamlin from Better Call Saul. Idk how to explain it writing-wise, but that scene hit me hard. It's pretty unexpected and I think Lalo as the villain makes it work so well.

[@JanstonCordell]

"Rico! You know what to do!" Jean Rasczak's death in Starship Troopers was brutal for me, he was far and away my favorite character in that movie.

[@danielramsell8703]

One death type that I feel can be really impactful are mercy killings, usually when a character is killed to save them from a much worse fate. What category would this fit into?

[@7jaws7]

Magical Girl Raising Project spoiler after the weakest character kills the strongest character in a magical girl battle royale, she then gets betrayed by one of her friends. I dropped that anime/light novel series and never looked back, knowing I was in for more heartbreak if I kept going. it's basically my Game of Thrones

[@errantwinds-up8uu]

have you watched Madoka? down with your idea just watch if you haven't

[@erdelegy]

Happy Halloween!

[@wikusklinkert]

William Wallace in Braveheart, and Maximus in Gladiator... their deaths make me cry every time I rewatch the movies

[@Chiscribbs]

I think one of the character deaths in a movie that impacted me the most has to be Leslie in The Bridge to Terabithia. It's been a looong time since I watched it, so some details are blurry, but I recall being shocked because it happened so suddenly and unexpectedly at what seemed to be a high point in the story. Perhaps the thing about it that hit hardest was the fact that we, the audience, didn't see it happen. We only heard about it afterward when Jess (the protagonist) did, allowing us to share his shock and disbelief. We're denied the closure of seeing her final moments, just like he is. From that point on, she's just...gone. It's a major turning point in the story, and in Jess's character arc as he struggles with denial and guilt for not having been there to save her. And the fact that both she and Jess are just children makes it all the more heart-wrenching - a child having to come to terms with the death of his friend, who was also a child, is such a tragic thing to consider. Especially after we'd spent so much time up until that point getting to know and love her character.

[@cowyemrsox]

"The Core", however you feel about the movie has alot of well written character deaths. The movie has alot of death in general.

[@elchiponr1]

The little sister dying in 2004 Japanese film 'Nobody Knows' was up there with the most gut wrenching for me.

[@sarahkramer8954]

I'm not a huge fan of the genre, but have to give respect to the death scene of SGT Elias in Platoon. Almost over the top in terms of soundtrack and iconography, but hits hard. Is this category 4?

[@Nuh_uh696]

You really gotta write a movie with this writing wisdom

[@nothing-of5yc]

Standalone Joker move best part of the video Here a cookie 🍪

[@LordBaktor]

Anyone who's read or watched Jojo's Bizarre Adventure can see an author learning how to handle death better and better as the story goes on. At first every major character that dies has a tragic, melodramatic and predictable death scene. Later on death becomes sometimes unexpected, sometimes inevitable but unfair and everything from satisfying to excruciating. The story is so bonkers and out there that I think the way the author handles death is one of the biggest reasons it is still appealing.

[@siegfriedmordrake3229]

I have one in mind during the final battle of Stardust Crusader that snatched a tear or two from me 😢 And even more : the ending of Stone Ocean

[@LordBaktor]

@@siegfriedmordrake3229 The ending of Stone Ocean took me a while to untangle and appreciate. Must be one of the most complex Shōnen endings I've ever read.

[@siegfriedmordrake3229]

@@LordBaktor for sure! It's definitely brilliant in its weirdness

[@MikeBloodslaver]

About that question in the end of the video; there's a manga called Gantz, a brutal story about being trap on a deadly game where the characters are oblidged to kill dangerous creatures, in certain point two of the side characters who had more emotion connection to the lead dies horribly, making the story kinda reboots in certain way...

[@Army_Dog]

While we're on the topic of Terrifier I'd say Tara's death was one that was shocking, the way they set her up to be the main character mixed with how Art shoots her in a non fatal area and then stands over her ominously makes you think Art is being selectively dangerous, but then he finishes the job

[@krampus7520]

This came at EXACTLY the right time because i'm in the last leg of finishing my 2nd draft, and i've starting thinking on the end scene death of one of the major characters (she gets killed by an act of semi random violence) which Localscriptman said is a big no no so i'm making sure her character act lends to her death and it's not compleatly random

[@Terastas]

From Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth (click for spoilers) Aerith This one was an especially hard gut-punch because we already knew about it from the original, but were teased the possibility of a change of fate. And Cloud actually DOES change her fate, only for the whispers to change it right back. Brutal.

[@smrndalodz7182]

On deaths having impact, when I saw the original Mad Max and Mad Max 2 long ago, what really stood out was that when 'bad guys' died, their lives were mourned by remaining members of the gang. Toecutter with Night Rider in the first film, Wez with the guy killed with the boomerang in the second. It kind of makes everybody human, with believable emotions. If you had a gang of marauders in a post apocalyptic wasteland, people would probably genuinely care about other members of the group. The leaders would have to offer some level of actual camaraderie. It kind of made all the characters 3 dimensions. This was a real contrast to a lot of other action films at the same time, where heroes just mow down armies of henchman who seem to be both totally willing to die for a head villain, but also, are not valued as people by that head villain or the other henchman. The former seems a lot more believable. Even groups of truly awful people usually have some kind of loyalty to each other. And those people would really be motivated to fight for each other.

[@iceyflowergamer4474]

For the question of the day, I couldn't decide between the two so i'll list both. [Spoilers for the end of Season 4 of both Dexter and Breaking Bad] Rita Morgan for Dexter and Gus Fring for Breaking Bad. In my opinion at least, both of the episodes where they die were easily my favorite episodes. Rita's death was shocking but was really well set up, and Gus' death was epic as hell. Not to mention the music in both scenes were really added to their respective presentations, especially the music that plays when Gus is walking into the hospital about to take out Hector.

[@KutWrite]

SPOILER for "Better Call Saul" . . Lalo and for poignancy, Nacho. SPOILER for "Mr Inbetween" . . Sadness: Ray's brother, Bruce and Ray's friend, Dave. Satisfaction: Rafael, the slimeball who kills Ray's GF Phoebe, and with help, tries to kill Ray. Also, (off-screen) the two guys who come for Ray in his new life.

[@JanstonCordell]

Rita's death was incredibly powerful. I was shook for hours after watching that episode.

[@homoduplex]

There's a certain character death towards the ending of "Martyrs" that would qualify as complex, and by complex I mean total mindfuck.

[@TedMattos]

The Red Wedding in Game of Thrones had me screaming at my television the entire time. Except for when Robb's mom died... then I felt satisfied.

[@johnhughes2653]

The end of Vanishing Point has one of the most "impactful" deaths you'll ever see.

[@cmkelly842]

Marshall’s dad in HIMYM and Stephen in Backdraft both get me hard. Mostly from being so similar to relationships in my life and seeing my life in the those moments.

[@PhoenixCrown]

I love Vizzini's death in Princess Bride. In such a PG movie, EVERYBODY wanted that guy to die.

[@ludovico6890]

Pretty much every character's death in The Godfather. By the way, Vito Corleone's death is a very quiet, subdued, natural one that is very impactful. Also, I know I'm mentioning it a lot, but Amadeus has Mozart dying at the end. We knew he would from the very beginning of the film, yet it always gets me.

[@roguecraft8456]

Murphy's death in the Dresden Files destroyed me. It took me a while to finish Battle Ground because of that.

[@andre_santos2181]

The death of Deepthroat on x Files season 1

[@erdelegy]

Mixed feelings in the Last Kingdom when Uhtred's brother revenge kills in an honor duel, but then goes waaay overboard on the corpse, dishonoring himself in the eyes of the crowd of clansmen onlookers.

[@Kitty-01447]

I’m excited that you covered terrifier 😂

[@SerenityNoww]

Season 3 of 24 pissed me off, especially the Ryan Chappelle death scene. Negotiating with terrorists should always be off limits, and for good reason.

[@jugalo_deathcock7317]

I was surprised you didn't mention the death of Alec Trevelyan in GoldenEye, but I might've also wanted you to run the spectrum of Sean Bean deaths.

[@EuropaPhoenix]

The death of Howard Hamlin in Better Call Saul season 6. A brutal, unexpected death that has a huge impact on the story and the main characters.

[@ShinGallon]

If you've never done a "Good/Bad Subverting Expectations" video I think that'd be a good one, and to tie it in with this video I can name some impactful deaths: Lambert and Parker in Alien. Because in 1979, the audience didn't know Ripley was going to survive so the expectation would be that when she goes off alone to find Jones, she's the next to die. Then the movie subverts that by having the characters who stayed together (IE the thing you're "supposed" to do in a horror movie) BOTH die. Also, Lambert has the most horrifying death in movie history because the sounds she makes are utterly and completely terrifying. That's a character death that's stuck with me.

[@autumnblueberry]

***Demon Slayer + Ori and the Will of the Wisps spoilers*** Out of all the deaths in Demon Slayer (and there's a LOT), Shinobu Kocho's death impacted me the most. I cried at least three separate times within an hour, and I've only cried over a character's death once before, that being when Ori sacrificed himself in Will of the Wisps. I think what impacted me most about Shinobu's death was the other characters' reactions to her death; it was crushing seeing two characters who rarely/never cry break down after she died, not to mention the look on Giyuu's face when he received news of her fate. While it didn't really have a heavy impact on me, one of my favorite character deaths is Mike from RE4. RIP Mike, he knew a good bar 🫡🍺

[@BradyKaynee]

I wonder if this a "4 Types of Character Death" list or a "Sean Bean Death" list...

[@wolvmarine313]

Michael Corleone was a Marine. I don't think any of us were sad at him doing what he was taught to do efficiently. Semper Fi!

[@mikeschroeder7042]

What about the aftermath of character deaths? I feel like watching the other characters deal with the loss is often the real payoff you mentioned. Like the movie "My Girl". The death at the end is impactful, but it's the scenes immediately following it that give the real emotion. And, on the flip side, you can have a great setup and death only to have the emotion cheapened by having weird or silly reactions from the remaining characters. Off hand i can only think of the famous Darth Vader "Noooooooo".

[@jwoodswce]

Memorable death: Peyton Farquhar in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce

[@Yearofthebows24]

The character death that impacts me the most is when my hero unit dies in AoE2 and I have to restart the whole dang mission. Okay now for a serious one. Tech from Bad Batch. It broke my heart when he sacrificed himself so that his team could escape. I wanted him back so badly. I wanted to see him in season 3. But I know he did what he needed to do as a good soldier and an even better family member (I mean, they are all siblings after all). Ill throw another one out there for you; Maude Flanders. Very sweet and innocent character in the show. She doesnt mean anyone harm and wants to do what she thinks is right, even she can be a little overboard on the religion side. She dies from just an insane freak accident and you just see the life taken out from her family.