This is on the list because it’s well-known, but so high up because the experience of death is something that’s pretty regular on this show, whether The Doctor himself or other characters that just somehow turn back up. So, let’s have a think. He gets blasted and dissolved the first time, but that was just a dream. Then he gets removed from existence entirely, and brought back when he is willed back into existence (if only it was that easy). Shame he and Amy couldn’t just avoid those Weeping Angels.
Sam and Dean Winchester have died more times than I can count. The Winchesters have had meetings with death and been to Hell and back an unhealthy number of times – and there’s an entire episode dedicated to killing off Dean in the most varied of ways – hit by a car, a chest of drawers dropped on him, attacked by a dog, slipping in the shower, electrocuted whilst shaving, the list goes on. Hell, there’s a ten minute montage of their collective deaths on YouTube. And yet, they just keep coming back. Wonder if there’s a way to permanently put them down now we’re on, what, eleven series?
It turns out that challenging The Hound in single combat tends to be a bad call. Despite Beric setting his blade aflame with his blood, The Hound proceeds to cut through Dondarrion’s sword – and most of his shoulder. As it goes, the leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners should have been a corpse. However, Thoros of Myr, the drunken priest of the Lord of Light, runs to his side. As Arya tells the hound to “burn in hell”, the unmistakable voice of Beric Dondarrion announces that “he will, but not today.” Turns out that he’s died six times and been resurrected regularly by Thoros, however each death has led to his memories and personality being chipped away. With this in mind, I shall say two words: Jon Snow. Moving on…
This one’s a literary legend – Holmes was such a popular character that Conan Doyle had to bring him back in the books due to fans complaining about his death. The story of The Reichenbach Fall was reiterated in the final episode of series 2 of BBC’s Sherlock, with Holmes apparently falling to his death in order to save John. At the end of the episode, John leaves Sherlock’s grave, asking him to just “don’t be dead” – at which point, the camera pans across to reveal Sherlock watching John from a distance, setting up series 3… which occurred two years later. Loving the suspense, Moffat/Gatiss. Sure, he wasn’t *technically* dead, but we were all fooled, weren’t we?
While I don’t watch the show, it’s undeniable that the death of the Griffin family’s dog, Brian, caused massive upset for the fans of the show. Brian ends up under the wheels of a speeding car, and the family all spend time saying a tearful goodbye. Not a show well known for its emotional moments, the family spent their time mourning – however a few weeks, a replacement dog and many petitions from angry fans later, the Christmas special episode sees Stewie travels back in time in order to jump in front of the car and push Brian out of the way. It might be worth watching out for Seth McFarlane’s TV show now – as he might just drop someone else with a lesser chance of revival…
