Content material Warning: The next article accommodates spoilers for the reveals talked about.The perfect tv reveals, notably dramas, have characters that followers need to get behind. There are heroes, villains, characters followers need to root for, and people they need to root in opposition to. Probably the most tragic TV characters can’t appear to catch a break. There’s one thing endearing about them, but they by no means get forward, each transfer seemingly taking them a number of steps again.

In lots of instances, probably the most tragic TV characters meet much more tragic ends. In uncommon ones, nonetheless, they persevere not due to their circumstances however regardless of them. It’s unimaginable to not really feel endeared to those characters, even when they’ve performed horrifying issues.

10 Kenny McCormick

‘South Park’ (1997–)

“Oh my God! They killed Kenny!” These phrases turned a catchphrase for South Park as a result of the character of Kenny McCormick would seemingly die a tragic demise in each episode. However then the subsequent episode would air, and he can be miraculously again once more.

This made followers imagine that possibly Kenny, a South Park character who ought to have a derivative, was invincible and would ultimately get some respect from his pals. However this by no means occurred. He grew up in poverty, one thing his pals usually tease him about, with an alcoholic father and a mom who works a menial job. His face was at all times virtually solely hid, and he by no means actually spoke. He was killed off seemingly for good within the fifth season, solely to return within the season six finale. At the very least now, Kenny doesn’t die in each episode. However his destiny stays to die repeatedly, typically in probably the most horrendous methods, like getting trampled by a crowd and hanging from a noose in his closet.

9 Debra Morgan

‘Dexter’ (2006–2013)

Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) in Dexter had it tough. She at all times felt like she performed second fiddle to her adopted brother Dexter (Michael C. Corridor), not realizing the true cause why her father devoted a lot time to him. She oddly felt a closeness with him that typically verged on having inappropriate emotions. She was unfortunate in love, at all times selecting males who had been emotionally unavailable. Within the first season, she will get right into a relationship with a person who she is unaware is each a serial killer and Dexter’s organic brother.

She’s consistently unable to search out her place in life, working as a Vice Cop at first, which places her in harmful conditions going undercover as a prostitute. She was utterly at nighttime about her brother’s Darkish Passenger her complete life which created distance between her and her household. Regardless of being saved by Dexter, her guilt is an excessive amount of and he or she finally ends up leaving the job she loves. Ultimately, Debra dies a tragic demise, by no means having lived as much as her full potential.

8 Hodor

‘Recreation of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

For therefore many seasons, followers didn’t perceive why everybody referred to as Hodor (Kristian Nairn) from Recreation of Thrones “Hodor.” However the pivotal second when it’s revealed was sufficient to make followers effectively up with tears. The simpleminded servant of Home Stark devoted his life to the job, and he would do something to guard his household. Thought-about a personality with a psychological situation, he solely ever says one phrase: “Hodor.” Nobody understands why, however this turns into his title.

It is later revealed that when Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) was caught in a imaginative and prescient of his youthful self, Hodor stored listening to the phrases “maintain the door” and did his greatest to oblige. This affected his character and “Hodor” was the one phrase he may utter from then on. Giant, robust, light, and dependable, Hodor was considered by so many as merely somebody with diminished capacities. Ultimately, his future prevails and he “holds the door” to assist Meera (Ellie Kendrick) escape White Walkers, sacrificing his life for these he loves in one of many TV character deaths that also break our hearts.

7 BoJack Horseman

‘Bojack Horseman’ (2014–2020)

On this grownup animated comedy-drama, BoJack Horseman (Will Arnett) is an anthropomorphic horse who was as soon as a preferred actor in successful Nineties sitcom. However his glory days are over and now, he’s only a washed-up star. When a ghostwriter Diane Nguyen (Alison Brie) approaches to write down his autobiography, it provides BoJack a brand new lease on life. Nevertheless it doesn’t actually have the meant impact.

BoJack is depressed. He has declining psychological well being, drinks closely, and does medication, and he feels usually irrelevant. Regardless of each effort, BoJack simply can’t appear to get out of his funk. He’s a prisoner of his personal self-destructive and egocentric behaviors, loneliness, insecurities, guilt, and determined want for approval.

6 John Locke

‘Misplaced’ (2004–2010)

At first, it appeared like John Locke (Terry O’Quinn) from Misplaced would possibly truly be getting a second lease on life. He had a tough life rising up in foster care, being conned by his personal father to donate his kidney to him. He misplaced his one real love, after which was pushed out of a window, which paralyzed him, resulting in him utilizing a wheelchair. On this planet of Misplaced following the airplane accident, nonetheless, John can miraculously stroll. He emerges as a frontrunner as if that is lastly his likelihood to shine.

He turned a frontrunner and one in every of the very best Misplaced characters, defending the island from invaders. Ultimately, nonetheless, Locke turned depressed as soon as once more. He tried to die by suicide however as a substitute, was strangled to demise. Including insult to damage, not a single individual confirmed up at his funeral. John was about as tragic as they arrive.

5 Meredith Gray

‘Gray’s Anatomy’ (2005–)

The protagonist of Gray’s Anatomy, Meredith Gray (Ellen Pompeo) doesn’t appear to have the ability to catch a break. At each flip, she faces super ache and loss. Her job as a surgeon was difficult sufficient, however then her husband Derek (Patrick Dempsey), the love of her life, tragically died. She virtually died in a drowning accident. She donated a part of her liver to her alcoholic father, which led to her hospitalization. She handled a taking pictures on the hospital after discovering she was pregnant.

As if this wasn’t sufficient, she was concerned in a airplane crash that killed her good friend and induced one other to lose her leg. She had emergency surgical procedure for one in every of her infants throughout being pregnant. She had marital troubles regarding their careers previous to her husband’s demise. The checklist goes on and on for Meredith who seemingly hasn’t had a second to breathe for the reason that collection started virtually twenty years in the past.

4 Saul Goodman

‘Higher Name Saul’ (2015–2022)

Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) from Higher Name Saul, actual title Jimmy McGill, has a narrative so tragic, with followers attending to see him whittled down at two pivotal factors in his life. What’s extra, he predicts his personal destiny in Breaking Unhealthy, for which Higher Name Saul serves as a prequel. In a single episode, he asks what would he do if every part had been ever to come back to a head, joking that his solely choice can be to maneuver to Omaha and work at a Cinnabon. Within the flash-forwards in Higher Name Saul, he’s doing simply that, residing a meaningless life consistently trying over his shoulder hoping his actual identification is rarely found.

What’s so tragic about Jimmy is that he had a lot potential that he may have prevented that tragic destiny. Whereas he was a proficient con man, he genuinely needed to go on the straight and slender. However his pompous, jealous older brother consistently made Jimmy really feel as if he wasn’t succesful nor deserving. He bought it in his head that he would by no means be something greater than a con man. Even when Jimmy went via legislation college, handed, and have become a lawyer, his brother nonetheless had no respect for him. Defeated, Jimmy leaned into precisely the individual his brother believed he was, now with a legislation diploma, and it led him down a darkish and harmful path. What’s so tragic about Jimmy is that he had the data and expertise, however the one individual he wanted to imagine in him refused to take action.

3 Theon Greyjoy

‘Recreation of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) took followers via such an emotional journey on Recreation of Thrones. At first, the youngest son of the king of the Iron Islands betrays Robb Stark (Richard Madden), determined to develop nearer to his father who has determined to invade the North. However then, in a shock twist, Theon is betrayed, and it’s a downward spiral from there.

The worst scenario Theon is put in is when he’s captured by Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) and compelled to turn out to be his slave who Bolton calls “Reek.” Tortured, humiliated, and lowered to a shell of his former self, Theon ultimately redeems himself when he helps Sansa (Sophie Turner) escape and sacrifices his personal life to avoid wasting Bran from the Night time King. The journey was much more tragic figuring out that Theon had lastly turn out to be a great individual by the tip.

Watch on Max

2 Jesse Pinkman

‘Breaking Unhealthy’ (2008–2013)

Poor Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) from Breaking Unhealthy was only a rebellious, troubled younger man who dropped out of highschool and selected to spend his days and nights taking part in video video games and doing and promoting medication. He was successfully compelled right into a life past petty crime when Walter White (Bryan Cranston) wanted his assist and refused to take no for a solution. The deeper Jesse bought via all of the seasons of Breaking Unhealthy, the extra he needed to get out, and the harder that turned.

When Jesse discovered a beautiful girlfriend, albeit one who shared his vices, Walter watched her die when he may have saved her in probably the most horrific scenes on the present. Jesse later discovered love with one other girl and grew to like her younger son as effectively, solely to be compelled to look at her brutal execution. From being compelled to kill Gale (David Costabile) to shedding each morsel of happiness he discovered, Jesse deserved higher.

1 Poussey Washington

‘Orange is the New Black’ (2013–2019)

A silence fell over the jail when it was found that in a riot, Poussey Washington (Samira Wiley) in Orange is the New Black was by accident killed by a jail guard who stored his knee pressed in opposition to her neck. What’s worse, she wasn’t even doing something on the time and didn’t should nor should be restrained in any respect.

Poussey’s complete story, nonetheless, could be very unlucky. Extremely sensible, well-liked, and the kind of one that prevented confrontation, she was a army brat. Her father was re-posted when it was found that Poussey was in a lesbian relationship with the commander’s daughter. It’s implied that she was a small-time marijuana supplier, which is what led to her jail sentence. It’s a criminal offense many others of a special stature, maybe even pores and skin colour, have acquired a small effective, quick sentence, or slap on the wrist for committing. Poussey didn’t belong in jail and it confirmed. With a lot wasted potential, Poussey may have been a lot extra had she been handled pretty by these in her life who had wronged her.

Watch on Netflix

NEXT: The Most Tragic Film Characters, Ranked