Death is a sad and unfortunate part of life, and it is inescapable. Also, death can be a very difficult situation to make peace with. And it can be even more harrowing when it's a death we didn't see coming, like in our favorite movie or novel. Who amongst hasn't been deeply affected by the death of a person that doesn't exist? I love Kate Winslet, she is one of my favorite actresses, but I still can't forgive her for not sharing that door with Jack. The memory haunts me. "Never let go." How about... "Here let me make some space?!"
Redditor u/JJsWorkshop wanted everyone to share about which fake deaths may have mattered more than real ones by asking... What fictional death hurt you the most?A fictional death can often be too much to handle. Maybe because our entertainment is suppose to be an escape from the already harrowing parts of life. But we become so attached to these "people" that feel like kin, so when they expire, they leave a hole in our souls. And we shared such a brief time with them.
X is gone...
charles xavier not today GIFGiphyProfessor X in Logan. Like damn, a guy like that didn't deserve to go out in such a violent way. Such an accomplished and well respected man didn't deserve to be buried in some unmarked hole in the side of the road.
Never thought i could feel so bad for a fictional character.
Tears
The Iron Giant. "I go. You stay. No following"... just tears.
Death Exposure
The girl from Bridge to Terabithia probably. What still wrecks me though is Euphemia's dying moments.
I wrote a paper on that a couple years ago, about how books like Bridge to Terabithia are many kid's first exposure to death and how used properly it can be a useful tool in childhood development. Unfortunately, when a lot of teachers teach the book they tend to draw on the wrong conclusions and don't necessarily take the time to unpack Leslie's death that they should.
mufasa GIFOh Fork
Chidi Anagonye in The Good Place.
Agreed. Still one of the best series finales in my opinion though. Saw an interview with the cast I think immediately after where they said they wanted to end it the way life typically ends for our loved ones... With us feeling it was too soon to end and wishing there was just a little more to share. Really underrated show.
Oof. A few of those were rough. I remember the first time I encountered half of them. I still have nightmares thanks to "The Neverending Story." I've never been right around horses because of that scene. Who else feels like sharing more somber endings to ruin my day?
People Break Down The Best Loophole They've Ever Exploited
Oh Lizzie...
"Just look at the flowers Lizzie".
I was so struck by this episode... the most soul-crushing moment for me is when Carol and Tyrus find Lizzie with Mika, and Tyrus takes Lizzie and Judith inside. There's just this moment where Carol is watching them, and there's a bit of really sad but not melodramatic music, and Carol just breaks down sobbing.
Maes
Maes Hughes. Not even so much the death as the funeral.
Maybe an unpopular opinion (?) but I thought Hughes death was sadder in FMA than Brotherhood. True, I did watch the original series before Brotherhood so it was more of a shock but I feel like FMA did give a little more time to the character before his death.
the land before time dinosaurs GIFI'm Down
Carl's wife from UP. Never even heard her talk but damn I still tear up at the end of that scene.
Me starting to watch up: Great, a Pixar film about a man who flies his house with balloons!
Oh Joyce
sad buffy the vampire slayer GIFGiphyJoyce and Tara from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
"Mom? Mom? ...Mommy?"
"Your shirt-"
Instant tears. STILL.
The Prophecy
Hodor, aka Wylis, was the saddest death I've ever seen. His entire life's purpose was to fulfill a prophecy and it affected him at such a young age that he couldn't have any QOL until that point.
Slight nitpick, in the show his real name is Wylis, much unlike a coyote. In the books his name is Walder but they changed it like they did Asha/Yara because they didn't think people were capable of keeping track of two people with similar names.
Falling
Leaves from the vine. Falling so slow...
We never even knew Lu-Ten, and yet his death still absolutely destroyed all of us.
It's not really his death though. It's Iroh's grief that hits so deep. His pain. Because we know and love Iroh and therefore our heart breaks with and for him.
Don't Go!!
cast wilson GIFGiphyCan I count Wilson from Cast Away?
Because I'm counting Wilson from Cast Away.
My brain was like: Its a volleyball stop! But my heart said: We can't abandon Wilson! He stuck by us for so long! Noooo!
Game Guy
Arthur Morgan.
I get more upset when a game character dies than a movie character as I invest more time and effort into the game.
I restarted the whole game before playing the epilogue. I wasn't emotionally ready to let him go. Sounds cheesy but I couldn't help it.
Poor Fry
Seymour (Fry's dog) in Futurama.
Futurama is a funny show but those episodes where Fry kinda reflects on what he left behind always makes me think about what the family went through emotionally after he disappeared.
Yea they weren't the nicest but the episode where Fry visits his moms dream to give her closure always gets me as well.
WHHYYYYY???!!!
Black And White Bambi GIFGiphyBambi's mom.
I'm old.
I'm over 50, and same. My kids have never seen that (or Dumbo) because I just can't take it. Apparently, when I saw it in the theater as a child, I screamed out "why would you take me to this movie?"
Washed...
Wash from Firefly.
Disagree. It amped up the suspense on every action afterwords. Wash is killed, and Zoe gets downed, Simon gets shot, Mal gets his butt kicked... It established that "despite you being in the main cast nobody is safe." Shepard Book's death I think was really unnecessary, but Wash? It reset expectations and set the tone for the rest of the movie.
Oh the Grief
I was debating in my head whether it was this or Old Yeller.
On the one hand, I was younger when I first watched Bambi, and his mother's death taught me that death was a thing that happens.
On the other hand, Old Yeller showed me that sometimes the kindest thing we can do is still horrible, and that my own death will never be as bad as the grief I leave behind.
Oh Ben
scrubs GIFGiphyBen from Scrubs.
My wife has an uncanny ability to guess the twist in movies and tv shows. But this one got her. I'll never forget her gasp when JD said that line.
Bye Mark...
Haven't seen anyone else mention Mark Greene from ER. I was just barely out on my own and missing my parents. "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" holds a very special significance in my family. My Dad was watching too and when I called him after the show, we both sobbed.
I am still unable to process Joyce's passing in Buffy. I won't speak of it in public without tissues nearby. And don't get me started on Tara. No matter how much these deaths hurt though, it's all a testament to great writing and great storytelling, which makes it all worth it.
Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.
Breanna Michele/TikTok
Brandy Denise Mitche/TikTok
Elisa Pacheco/TikTok
Sophie/TikTok
Megz/TikTok
Rae/TikTok
Juicyjazz415/TikTok
Teresita/TikTok
Icelaaa/TikTok
@elonmusk/X