Most heart wrenching - Seymour Asses (Futurama) - I don't know anyone who really ever watches that episode. For a cartoon, the writers were had some moments of genius. Most shocking - Glen (The Walking Dead) - I knew exactly what was coming because of the comic books, but Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Stephen Yeun did a great job of acting it out. Most wtf - Kenny (South Park) - Since he died almost every episode, when they actually made it stick for a while fans had a wtf moment. Most surprising - Maude Flanders (The Simpsons) - I don't think anyone saw that episode coming and was a great character expose on the Flanders family. Mrs. Krabappel obviously was hard too because it was forced on the show by the death of Marcia Wallace, poor Flanders. Stuck with me the most - Lennie (Of Mice and Men) - Seen it emulated many times, the whole story really made you like the characters and the ending was terrible. Close second - Dan and Ann (Where the Red Fern Grows) - Not sure why, but this one hurts so much more than Old Yeller, probably because Rawls really goes into how hard Ann takes Dan's death.
Glenn and Abraham in The Walking Dead. I knew Glenn's death was eventually gonna happen because in the book it did but to see it on tv like that, and the way he just sits there mumbling gibberish was terrifying.
Ooooooh, boy, okay. All the times I've cried while reading a book/ watching a tv show or movie... Harry Potter Spoiler Fred Weasley. I was a child when I read this book and that death absolutely destroyed me. I wasn't overly attached to Fred as a character, I just really felt for George. It was a pretty painful part of an otherwise benign series. Scandal Spoiler James Novak. This time I actually liked the character, but the worst part was Cyrus's breakdown after learning of his death. Supernatural Spoiler Meg. Yes, I know it's not the greatest television show in the world but it's my guilty pleasure and I continue to watch it to this day. I loved Meg and the fact that they haven't resurrected her yet like every other character is painful. Oz (HBO television show) Spoiler Chris Keller. Was hoping for a happy ending here although I didn't really expect one. He was a dick but I enjoyed his character. Animorphs Spoiler Rachel. There are almost a hundred books in this series and after reading all of them as a little tween girl the last thing I wanted was to see one of the characters I had become so attached to just get hit in the head by a polar bear and DIE.
Holy shit, an Oz reference. First one of those I've seen in years. How'd he end up dying? Did beecher push him off the tier? He did, didn't he. Been a good 10 years since I've watched that.
Is nobody else going to say Dumbledore? One of the few times I literally couldn't breathe for suspense.
To be honest, I didn't actually find this one that surprising. This probably comes from having read Half-Blood Prince after learning about what usually happens to mentor figures in books. So when Dumbledore showed up with a withered hand and Snape made his Unbreakable Vow, it was more like, "Oh, so I guess this is the book." Then when finally happened, it was more of a, "See! I told you," moment than an "Oh noes!" moment. I guess if I was the appropriate age for the book when I read it and not really familiar with the Death of the Mentor trope, then it probably would have made a much larger impact. Sometimes being old and jaded isn't as fun as it sounds.
I don't think I saw Dumbledore's death coming. It was certainly shocking, though looking back there were hints. Fred's death is far more shocking and tragic to me just because it came literally out of nowhere and it was Fred, a Weasley and one of the awesome twins.
I agree with all of the Harry Potter characters named. I still tear up over Sirius, more over the injustice of Harry finally finding a family and then having it taken away so soon. And Fred. Because, Weasley twins! Poor George. I think the first character that really made me straight up bawl though, was Tylendel from Mercedes Lackey's Magic's Pawn. That one had me crying in the school auditorium in high school drama rehearsal... Also, Kris from Arrow's Fall, also by Mercedes Lackey. Did NOT see that one coming.
define "impact", or what type of impact you mean. The one that always pops to my mind with this isn't a big emotion but more of a realistic piss off. In The Patriot, (spoiler coming if you haven't seen the movie) when they send the daughter/new wife back to her town, known by the British to be supplying the rebellion. That always pissed me off. There's no way in hell Gabriel or his dad would've allowed that. These were smart men, not idiots. Grr.