20 Heart-Wrenching TV Deaths to Make You Burst into Tears

7. Michael Cordero (Jane the Virgin)

Michael and Jane had been through a lot together, and they were finally starting towards their happily ever after when Michael was shot by Sin Rostro on their wedding night.

He seemed to recover. He could no longer serve as a police officer and was preparing to make the shift to law school.

Fans were heartbroken when the Michael Cordero collapsed after taking his LSATs at the end of Jane the Virgin Season 3 Episode 10 “Chapter Fifty-Four,” even more so when it turned out the portent from Jane the Virgin Season 1 came to pass and the narrator said:

“…And friends, I did say that Michael would love Jane until his dying breath.”

Has anyone found that emoji for gut-punch yet?

8. Poussey (Orange is the New Black)

Poussey’s death isn’t one we saw coming, and it still hurts. Poussey died during a peaceful protest against the actions of Officer Piscatella on Orange is the New Black Season 4 Episode 12 “The Animals.”

What made Poussey’s death so shocking was the positive steps the character had taken to try to make a life outside of Litchfield.

Poussey was not soon forgotten as getting justice for Poussey’s death was a main point in theOrange is the New Black Season 5 riot storyline.

9. Caitlin Todd (NCIS)

Viewers knew that someone was going to die at the end of NCIS Season 2, but they didn’t know who.

The season ended with the team in a shootout with terrorist, and Caitlin diving in front of Agent Gibbs to take a bullet. Don’t worry, she was wearing a vest. She stood up, Gibbs complimented her on a job well done. She smiled.

Then a gunshot and Caitlin fell after taking a single bullet to the head.

NCIS Season 3 Episode 1 and 2 “Kill Ari Part I & 2” opened with the ghost of Caitlin Todd talking to Gibbs:

Kate: Why me, Gibbs? Wasn’t stopping one bullet enough for you? Why did I have to take two?
Gibbs: I-I don’t know.
Kate: You don’t know? Come on, Gibbs, what’s that famous gut tell you? Why did I die instead of you?

10. Ms. Landingham (The West Wing)

Delores Landingham was hit by a drunk driver on her way back to the White House to show President Bartlett her new car at the end of The West Wing Season 2 Episode 22, “18^th and Potomac.”

Her death was sudden and not shown on screen, but it a lasting impact on the series.

The West Wing Season 2 Episode 22, “Two Cathedrals,” immediately follows Delores Landingham’s death and detailed the relationship Jed Bartlett had with his long-time secretary.

It didn’t end there though. On The West Wing Season 3 Episode 3, “Ways and Means,” President Bartlett was looking for a pen that he always keeps in his jacket pocket. Charlie mentioned that Ms. Landingham put the pen there, every morning.

10. Rayna James (Nashville)

Nashville Season 5 began on a new network, and shortly afterward, lost one of its leads. Rayna James survived a scary encounter with a knife-wielding stalker before she was escorted out of harm’s way.

On her way home to Deacon and her daughters, her police car was struck.

Rayna seemed to be recovering but ultimately died due to complications, surrounded by friends and family.

11. Joyce Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Buffy went through some terrifying things before going to college, but the death of her mother may have been the scariest of all. Joyce died of an aneurysm resulting from brain surgery she had earlier that season.

Buffy: The Vampire Slayer Season 5 Episode 16, “The Body,” explored Joyce’s death, from the moment Buffy found her lifeless on the couch. The episode opened with a three-minute sequence with no-cuts and no musical cues for the audience.

What makes Joyce’s death, and “The Body,” so heart-wrenching is the way the Scoobies reacted to her loss, including Anya’s monologue and Willow’s anxiety over what to wear.

As they remembered her, they began to realize exactly what roles she filled in their lives.

12. Rita Morgan (Dexter)

Rita and Dexter had a very complicated relationship, but in Dexter Season 4, they were finally married.

Rita had given birth to their first child, and they were almost happy, save for Rita starting to put together the pieces of the puzzle regarding Dexter’s secret life as a serial killer.

Dexter was also pursuing The Trinity Killer, and on the night that Dexter finally killed him, he came home to find Rita in a blood-filled bathtub with Harrison crying in a pool of her blood. She was Trinity’s final kill, and the site of her in the bathtub sent Dexter flashing back to his childhood trauma.

Dexter picked up Harrison and carried him away from the scene.

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