Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the shows mentioned.The best television shows, particularly dramas, have characters that fans want to get behind. There are heroes, villains, characters fans want to root for, and those they want to root against. The most tragic TV characters can’t seem to catch a break. There’s something endearing about them, yet they never get ahead, every move seemingly taking them several steps back.
In many cases, the most tragic TV characters meet even more tragic ends. In rare ones, however, they persevere not because of their circumstances but in spite of them. It’s impossible not to feel endeared to these characters, even if they have done horrifying things.
10 Kenny McCormick
‘South Park’ (1997–)
“Oh my God! They killed Kenny!” These words became a catchphrase for South Park because the character of Kenny McCormick would seemingly die a tragic death in every episode. But then the next episode would air, and he would be miraculously back again.
This made fans believe that maybe Kenny, a South Park character who should have a spinoff, was invincible and would eventually get some respect from his friends. But this never happened. He grew up in poverty, something his friends often tease him about, with an alcoholic father and a mother who works a menial job. His face was always almost entirely concealed, and he never really spoke. He was killed off seemingly for good in the fifth season, only to return in the season six finale. At least now, Kenny doesn’t die in every episode. But his fate remains to die repeatedly, sometimes in the most horrendous ways, like getting trampled by a crowd and hanging from a noose in his closet.
- Release Date
- August 13, 1997
- Seasons
- 27
9 Debra Morgan
‘Dexter’ (2006–2013)
Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) in Dexter had it rough. She always felt like she played second fiddle to her adopted brother Dexter (Michael C. Hall), not realizing the true reason why her father dedicated so much time to him. She oddly felt a closeness with him that sometimes verged on having inappropriate feelings. She was unlucky in love, always choosing men who were emotionally unavailable. In the first season, she gets into a relationship with a man who she is unaware is both a serial killer and Dexter’s biological brother.
She’s constantly unable to find her place in life, working as a Vice Cop at first, which puts her in dangerous situations going undercover as a prostitute. She was completely in the dark about her brother’s Dark Passenger her entire life which created distance between her and her family. Despite being saved by Dexter, her guilt is too much and she ends up leaving the job she loves. In the end, Debra dies a tragic death, never having lived up to her full potential.
Dexter
- Release Date
- October 1, 2006
- Seasons
- 8
8 Hodor
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)
For so many seasons, fans didn’t understand why everyone called Hodor (Kristian Nairn) from Game of Thrones “Hodor.” But the pivotal moment when it’s revealed was enough to make fans well up with tears. The simpleminded servant of House Stark dedicated his life to the job, and he would do anything to protect his family. Considered a character with a mental condition, he only ever says one word: “Hodor.” No one understands why, but this becomes his name.
It’s later revealed that when Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) was stuck in a vision of his younger self, Hodor kept hearing the words “hold the door” and did his best to oblige. This affected his personality and “Hodor” was the only word he could utter from then on. Large, strong, gentle, and loyal, Hodor was viewed by so many as simply someone with diminished capacities. In the end, his destiny prevails and he “holds the door” to help Meera (Ellie Kendrick) escape White Walkers, sacrificing his life for those he loves in one of the TV character deaths that still break our hearts.
- Release Date
- April 17, 2011
- Creator
- Cast
- Kit Harington , Isaac Hempstead Wright , Iain Glen , Peter Dinklage , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Emilia Clarke , Maisie Williams , Sophie Turner , John Bradley , Lena Headey , Liam Cunningham , Aidan Gillen , Alfie Allen , Conleth Hill , Rory McCann , Jerome Flynn , Jacob Anderson , Kristofer Hivju , Gwendoline Christie , Nathalie Emmanuel , Carice Van Houten , Natalie Dormer , Stephen Dillane , Charles Dance , Charlotte Hope , Michelle Fairley , Jack Gleeson , Richard Madden , Hannah Murray , Sibel Kekilli , Julian Glover , Brenock O’Connor , Rose Leslie , Michael McElhatton
- Seasons
- 8
7 BoJack Horseman
‘Bojack Horseman’ (2014–2020)
In this adult animated comedy-drama, BoJack Horseman (Will Arnett) is an anthropomorphic horse who was once a popular actor in a hit 1990s sitcom. But his glory days are over and now, he’s just a washed-up star. When a ghostwriter Diane Nguyen (Alison Brie) approaches to write his autobiography, it gives BoJack a new lease on life. But it doesn’t really have the intended effect.
BoJack is depressed. He has declining mental health, drinks heavily, and does drugs, and he feels generally irrelevant. Despite every effort, BoJack just can’t seem to get out of his funk. He’s a prisoner of his own self-destructive and selfish behaviors, loneliness, insecurities, guilt, and desperate need for approval.
- Release Date
- August 22, 2014
- Creator
- Raphael Bob-Waksberg
- Seasons
- 6
6 John Locke
‘Lost’ (2004–2010)
At first, it seemed like John Locke (Terry O’Quinn) from Lost might actually be getting a second lease on life. He had a hard life growing up in foster care, being conned by his own father to donate his kidney to him. He lost his one true love, and then was pushed out of a window, which paralyzed him, leading to him using a wheelchair. In the world of Lost following the plane accident, however, John can miraculously walk. He emerges as a leader as if this is finally his chance to shine.
He became a leader and one of the best Lost characters, protecting the island from invaders. In the end, however, Locke became depressed once again. He tried to die by suicide but instead, was strangled to death. Adding insult to injury, not a single person showed up at his funeral. John was about as tragic as they come.
- Release Date
- September 22, 2004
- Creator(s)
- J.J. Abrams , Damon Lindelof , Jeffrey Lieber
- Cast
- Evangeline Lilly , Naveen Andrews , Henry Ian Cusick , Daniel Dae Kim , Harold Perrineau , Dominic Monaghan , Emilie de Ravin , Jorge Garcia , Josh Holloway , Michael Emerson , Terry O’Quinn , Matthew Fox , Ken Leung , Elizabeth Mitchell , Yunjin Kim
- Seasons
- 6
5 Meredith Grey
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ (2005–)
The protagonist of Grey’s Anatomy, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) doesn’t seem to be able to catch a break. At every turn, she faces tremendous pain and loss. Her job as a surgeon was challenging enough, but then her husband Derek (Patrick Dempsey), the love of her life, tragically died. She almost died in a drowning accident. She donated part of her liver to her alcoholic father, which led to her hospitalization. She dealt with a shooting at the hospital after discovering she was pregnant.
As if this wasn’t enough, she was involved in a plane crash that killed her friend and caused another to lose her leg. She had emergency surgery for one of her babies during pregnancy. She had marital troubles relating to their careers prior to her husband’s death. The list goes on and on for Meredith who seemingly hasn’t had a moment to breathe since the series began almost two decades ago.
- Release Date
- March 27, 2005
- Cast
- Ellen Pompeo , Chandra Wilson , James Pickens Jr. , Justin Chambers , Kevin McKidd , Jesse Williams , Bokhee An , camilla luddington , Patrick Dempsey , Sara Ramirez , Jessica Capshaw , Sandra Oh , Caterina Scorsone , Sarah Drew , Kelly McCreary , Kim Raver , Jason George , Eric Dane , Giacomo Gianniotti , Jake Borelli , Katherine Heigl , Jerrika Hinton , Chyler Leigh , Chris Carmack , T.R. Knight , Debbie Allen , Jaicy Elliot , Anthony Hill , Kate Walsh , Greg Germann , Isaiah Washington , Aniela Gumbs , Martin Henderson , Payton Silver , Gaius Charles , Tessa Ferrer , Stefania Spampinato , Alex Landi , Scott Speedman , Mark Saul , Nicole Rubio , Richard Flood , Ryder Goodstadt , Steven W. Bailey , Adelaide Kane , Alexis Floyd , Harry Shum Jr. , Midori Francis , Niko Terho
- Seasons
- 21
4 Saul Goodman
‘Better Call Saul’ (2015–2022)
Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) from Better Call Saul, real name Jimmy McGill, has a story so tragic, with fans getting to see him whittled down at two pivotal points in his life. What’s more, he predicts his own fate in Breaking Bad, for which Better Call Saul serves as a prequel. In one episode, he asks what would he do if everything were ever to come to a head, joking that his only option would be to move to Omaha and work at a Cinnabon. In the flash-forwards in Better Call Saul, he’s doing just that, living a meaningless life constantly looking over his shoulder hoping his real identity is never discovered.
What’s so tragic about Jimmy is that he had so much potential that he could have avoided that tragic fate. While he was a talented con man, he genuinely wanted to go on the straight and narrow. But his pompous, jealous older brother constantly made Jimmy feel as though he wasn’t capable nor deserving. He got it in his head that he would never be anything more than a con man. Even when Jimmy went through law school, passed, and became a lawyer, his brother still had no respect for him. Defeated, Jimmy leaned into exactly the person his brother believed he was, now with a law degree, and it led him down a dark and dangerous path. What’s so tragic about Jimmy is that he had the knowledge and talent, but the one person he needed to believe in him refused to do so.
- Release Date
- February 8, 2015
- Seasons
- 6
3 Theon Greyjoy
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)
Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) took fans through such an emotional journey on Game of Thrones. At first, the youngest son of the king of the Iron Islands betrays Robb Stark (Richard Madden), desperate to grow closer to his father who has decided to invade the North. But then, in a surprise twist, Theon is betrayed, and it’s a downward spiral from there.
The worst situation Theon is put in is when he is captured by Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) and forced to become his slave who Bolton calls “Reek.” Tortured, humiliated, and reduced to a shell of his former self, Theon eventually redeems himself when he helps Sansa (Sophie Turner) escape and sacrifices his own life to save Bran from the Night King. The journey was even more tragic knowing that Theon had finally become a good person by the end.
- Release Date
- April 17, 2011
- Creator
- Cast
- Kit Harington , Isaac Hempstead Wright , Iain Glen , Peter Dinklage , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Emilia Clarke , Maisie Williams , Sophie Turner , John Bradley , Lena Headey , Liam Cunningham , Aidan Gillen , Alfie Allen , Conleth Hill , Rory McCann , Jerome Flynn , Jacob Anderson , Kristofer Hivju , Gwendoline Christie , Nathalie Emmanuel , Carice Van Houten , Natalie Dormer , Stephen Dillane , Charles Dance , Charlotte Hope , Michelle Fairley , Jack Gleeson , Richard Madden , Hannah Murray , Sibel Kekilli , Julian Glover , Brenock O’Connor , Rose Leslie , Michael McElhatton
- Seasons
- 8
Watch on Max
2 Jesse Pinkman
‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)
Poor Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) from Breaking Bad was just a rebellious, troubled young man who dropped out of high school and chose to spend his days and nights playing video games and doing and selling drugs. He was effectively forced into a life beyond petty crime when Walter White (Bryan Cranston) needed his help and refused to take no for an answer. The deeper Jesse got through all the seasons of Breaking Bad, the more he wanted to get out, and the more difficult that became.
When Jesse found a wonderful girlfriend, albeit one who shared his vices, Walter watched her die when he could have saved her in one of the most horrific scenes on the show. Jesse later found love with another woman and grew to love her young son as well, only to be forced to watch her brutal execution. From being forced to kill Gale (David Costabile) to losing every morsel of happiness he found, Jesse deserved better.
- Release Date
- January 20, 2008
- Creator
- Cast
- Bryan Cranston , Aaron Paul , Dean Norris , Betsy Brandt , Anna Gunn , RJ Mitte , Bob Odenkirk , Jonathan Banks , Giancarlo Esposito , Steven Michael Quezada , Charles Baker , Christopher Cousins , Matt Jones , Michael Shamus Wiles , Lavell Crawford , Jesse Plemons , Ray Campbell , Tina Parker , Carmen Serano , Emily Rios , Krysten Ritter , Laura Fraser , Jeremiah Bitsui , Mark Margolis , Ian Posada , David House , David Costabile , michael bowen , Kevin Rankin , Aaron Hill , Harry Groener , Patrick Sane , Daniel Moncada , Luis Moncada , Marius Stan , Bill Burr , Todd Terry , Jessica Hecht , Tait Fletcher , Rodney Rush , Kaija Roze Bales , Matt Metzler , John de Lancie , Tom Kiesche , Jere Burns , Maurice Compte , Morse Bicknell , Nigel Gibbs , Tess Harper , Raymond Cruz , Max Arciniega , Cesar Garcia , Jesus Jr. , Michael Bofshever , Julie Dretzin , Mike Seal , Christopher Dempsey , Javier Grajeda , Mike Batayeh , Chris Freihofer , Louis Ferreira , Gonzalo Menendez , Jason Douglas , Adam Godley
- Rating
- Seasons
- 5
1 Poussey Washington
‘Orange is the New Black’ (2013–2019)
A silence fell over the prison when it was discovered that during a riot, Poussey Washington (Samira Wiley) in Orange is the New Black was accidentally killed by a prison guard who kept his knee pressed against her neck. What’s worse, she wasn’t even doing anything at the time and didn’t deserve to nor need to be restrained at all.
Poussey’s entire story, however, is very unfortunate. Incredibly smart, well-liked, and the type of person who avoided confrontation, she was a military brat. Her father was re-posted when it was discovered that Poussey was in a lesbian relationship with the commander’s daughter. It’s implied that she was a small-time marijuana dealer, which is what led to her prison sentence. It’s a crime many others of a different stature, perhaps even skin color, have received a small fine, short sentence, or slap on the wrist for committing. Poussey didn’t belong in prison and it showed. With so much wasted potential, Poussey could have been so much more had she been treated fairly by those in her life who had wronged her.
Orange is The New Black
- Release Date
- July 11, 2013
- Creator
- Jenji Kohan
- Seasons
- 7
Watch on Netflix
