It seems a lot of female characters, in particular strong-willed ones, get killed off. It’s unfortunate that more female hero/antiheroes don’t have the lifespan of their male counterparts. Depending on how you feel about a particular character, you might miss them or you might not.
When the following three characters were killed off I found myself in denial. I seriously didn’t want these women to go.
Xena – Her death was probably the worst for several reasons. After following her and Gabriel through so many seasons, it felt so wrong that they didn’t get a happily ever after. One of the best things about Xena was that she never became a goody-goody hero. She always had a bit of darkness. She made mistakes. Despite her sometimes beyond-human abilities, she was easy to relate to because she wasn’t perfect, but she ultimately tried to do the right thing. The reason for her death–to bear the brunt of someone else’s act of vengeance, also didn’t seem right.
Mary Watson – A woman of courage and mystery, Mary added so much to Sherlock that seeing her go decreased my interest in the series. Instead of being a source of disruption between Holmes and Watson, she tied them together even more. She fit so well with them, that it felt like watching three lead characters instead of two leads and a secondary. Maybe that was part of the reason she had to go. At times she outshone the guys. I love Sherlock, but it wasn’t the same without Mary.
Wash – Lt. Alicia Washington was the kind of woman you’d want on your side. Courageous and loyal, she was second in command of Terra Nova in the show by the same name. Wash was self-sufficient but a team player. She was stern but compassionate. While I’d hoped for Terra Nova to have a season 2, it wouldn’t have been the same without Wash.
These are just a few great female characters who have been killed off.
Which female characters were hardest for you to let go?
Links courtesy of IMDb.