This article addresses sensitive topics including HIV/AIDS, queerbaiting, substance use disorder, and predatory relationships in education.
While many television shows conclude with departing characters, certain exits can leave audiences feeling unjustly hurt, frustrated, or dissatisfied. Similar to the way we grow attached to our favorite characters, we yearn for their journeys to deliver fulfilling resolutions. When executed successfully, these endings align with the characters’ development and story arcs.
However, there are instances when writers deprive deserving characters of happiness, leaving them in disheartening circumstances. While sometimes these endings serve to reflect life’s harsh realities, they can often feel unjust and provoke a strong emotional response from viewers.
10 Lane Kim From Gilmore Girls
Lane Faces Unfortunate Situations
Lane Kim’s narrative in Gilmore Girls resonates deeply for many viewers. Despite battling the constraints of her traditional upbringing, she discovers her passion for music and enjoys a budding romance with Dave, a character who appreciates her for who she is. However, this strong beginning takes a downturn when she becomes involved with Zack, whose emotional immaturity leads to challenges in their relationship, including an unexpected pregnancy with twins.
Lane’s experience with her overbearing mother slowly erodes her autonomy during this pivotal time, showcasing the struggles she endures. Instead of a triumphant conclusion, Lane’s journey concludes with loss, struggling for independence, and a lack of joyful resolution.
9 Caroline Forbes From The Vampire Diaries
Caroline’s Unfulfilled Dreams
Although Caroline Forbes may not be the most frequently mentioned character from The Vampire Diaries, she indeed faces immense misfortune. Early on, Caroline expresses her desire for love and family, yet her journey is riddled with heartbreak and disappointment. From being a secondary choice to Matt to enduring unhappy encounters with Tyler and Klaus, her relationships shape a narrative filled with unfulfilled wishes.
Her bittersweet end may be presented as parenting her daughters; however, she remains mostly absent in their lives due to the circumstances dictated by other characters. Ultimately, Caroline’s dream of being a loving mother is overshadowed by a lifetime of sacrifices, leaving her emotional arc feeling incomplete.
8 Rachel Green From Friends
Rachel’s Sacrifices for Love
In the iconic ending of Friends, Rachel Green’s decision to abandon her promising career opportunity in Paris is shocking to many fans. After years of character development and career aspirations, Rachel opts to stay with Ross—a choice that diminishes her independence. Despite initial hopes for a new chapter, the outcome feels more indicative of manipulation than genuine love.
Rachel Green’s path seems like a regression rather than a victory, as she sacrifices her dreams for a relationship with a man who has previously proven to be insecure and controlling.
7 Justin Foley From 13 Reasons Why
Justin’s Untimely End
Unlike his peers on 13 Reasons Why, Justin Foley undergoes an impressive redemption arc but meets an untimely demise due to AIDS complications. His growth includes finding true friendship and contemplating his future, which ultimately renders his death shocking and disheartening.
Justin’s tragic end reinforces negative stereotypes about individuals living with HIV, showcasing a concerning neglect of realism regarding HIV/AIDS progression in contemporary storytelling.
If you or someone you know requires assistance concerning HIV/AIDS, please refer to valuable resources such as Greater Than HIV or HIV.gov.
6 Tara Maclay From Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Tara’s Tragic Fate
Tara Maclay’s storyline in Buffy the Vampire Slayer resonates with LGBTQ+ audiences as she represents groundbreaking representation. Her relationship with Willow showcases love and acceptance. Yet, in a shocking twist, her death serves primarily as a catalyst for Willow’s revenge rather than as a fitting conclusion to her character arc. Such a fate reinforces the ‘bury your gays’ trope, leaving audiences feeling discontented with her narrative demise.
5 Tracy McConnell From How I Met Your Mother
Tracy’s Heartbreaking End
In How I Met Your Mother, the conclusion surrounding Tracy McConnell is jarring. After spending seasons developing her character, she ultimately meets a tragic and sudden end, leaving viewers shattered. Despite glimpses of joy shared with Ted, her abrupt death casts a shadow over her narrative significance and deprives audiences of the happiness they had anticipated.
4 Eliot Waugh From The Magicians
Eliot’s Lost Opportunity
Eliot Waugh’s arc in The Magicians showcases a truly heart-wrenching love story. Despite the romantic tension between him and Quentin, Eliot struggles with insecurity throughout the series. Ultimately, their relationship remains unfulfilled, culminating in Quentin’s tragic end—a moment that leaves Eliot in a state of profound mourning and unresolved feelings. His subsequent relationship feels more like a mere distraction from a love that should have blossomed.
3 River Song From Doctor Who
River’s Digital Imprisonment
Within the expansive lore of Doctor Who, River Song’s fate remains particularly troubling. In a bittersweet culmination of sacrifice, River ends up trapped as a data ghost, a fate that highlights the cruelty of her treatment. Her digital existence, while allowing her some continued contact with The Doctor, ultimately limits her agency and happiness, resulting in a narrative that feels fundamentally unjust. The Doctor’s decision not to release her from this existence leaves a lingering bitterness.
2 Lena Luthor From Supergirl
Lena’s Missed Romance
Despite significant character development, Lena Luthor’s conclusion in Supergirl falls flat when it comes to her relationship with Kara. Throughout five seasons, their chemistry builds, yet the series persists in employing queerbaiting, frustrating viewers longing for their romance to become a reality. Although Lena’s growth is commendable, her romantic arc remains unfulfilled, leaving audiences with a sense of dissatisfaction. Fortunately, supplementary material hints at their relationship beyond the show, yet this resolution should have been presented onscreen.
1 Aria Montgomery From Pretty Little Liars
Aria’s Troubling Relationship
Upon reflecting on Pretty Little Liars, Aria Montgomery’s conclusion is particularly disheartening. The series has romanticized her relationship with Ezra, her predatory teacher, leading to a troubling end where she marries him. This narrative choice normalizes an inappropriate dynamic between an adult and a minor. It’s disconcerting to imagine her future happily ever after and raises concerns about the message it sends to viewers.
In light of these character arcs, the importance of meaningful and respectful endings cannot be overstated. Viewers deserve narratives that champion empowerment and authenticity.
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