8 Shocking Deaths That Shook Station 19 Fans

Article Overview

Station 19 has a tendency to kill off main characters, adding realism and emotional impact to the show.

Season 3 proved to be the most fatal season to date, claiming the lives of three significant characters, namely Ryan Tanner and Rigo Vasquez. Notably, Lucas Ripley and Pruitt Herrera displayed acts of heroism, ultimately sacrificing themselves and leaving a profound impact on both the show and its character dynamics.

Deaths have become a significant aspect of Station 19 over its six seasons. Being a spinoff of Grey's Anatomy, the show follows a similar pattern of eliminating main characters and subjecting them to near-death experiences. Since its first season, the show has fearlessly taken the lives of at least one major character in each subsequent season. These deaths, though sorrowful for the audience, bring a sense of authenticity to the show.

Given its focus on firefighters, it's only natural that characters would be lost throughout the course of Station 19. The characters frequently confront death in their line of work, leading to multiple close calls in each season. While most characters manage to survive these life-threatening situations, there are unfortunate few who do not make it to Season 6 of Station 19. This season has been relatively mild in terms of loss compared to previous seasons, which have witnessed some heartbreaking moments with the deaths of multiple characters.

Lucas Ripley

Season 2, Episode 15 "Always Ready"

Chief Ripley (Brett Tucker) was the first character to meet an unfortunate demise on Station 19. His death was particularly tragic as it came as a surprise and happened too soon. Initially introduced as the Fire Chief of the Seattle Fire Department, Ripley's role in the series expanded as he embarked on a secret relationship with Vic (Barrett Doss), due to their positions within the department and its hierarchy. He was a pillar of support for SFD Station 19, ensuring that Maya remained with the team instead of being transferred to SFD Station 23, and occasionally lending a hand during emergencies.

In the fourteenth episode of season 2 of Station 19, Ripley bravely put his life at risk to save Captain Ted Conlin from SFD Station 42. Subsequently, he went to buy flowers for Vic, intending to propose to her. However, he suddenly collapsed on the sidewalk. Despite Maggie's order for him to stay in the hospital, Ripley defied it, determined to propose to Vic. Tragically, tests later revealed that he had been exposed to a deadly toxin. Nevertheless, Vic agreed to marry him, and they shared a heart-wrenching farewell as he passed away. In recognition of his dedication and service to the Seattle Fire Department, Ripley was honored with a firefighter funeral.

Ryan Tanner

Season 3, Episode 3 "Eulogy"

The third season of Station 19 proved to be the deadliest yet, as it saw the demise of three key characters. One of the casualties was Ryan Tanner (Alberto Frezza), whose death occurred in episode 3 of the season. Ryan was initially introduced as a police officer and a close childhood friend of Andy (Jaina Lee Ortiz), with whom he shared a romantic relationship. He frequently assisted on Station 19's emergency calls and played a vital role in significant incidents like the hot box garage and the skyscraper fire.

In a tragic twist similar to Ripley's, just as he was finally about to confess his feelings to Andy, his life came to an end. They had responded to a distress call from a neighbor's house, where screams could be heard. While Andy's children were being taken care of at the hospital, she and Ryan stayed behind. Tragically, one of the children managed to get hold of their mother's gun and accidentally shot at Andy. Ryan selflessly leaped in front of her, taking the impact of the bullet. Despite being rushed to the hospital, his life could not be saved. Andy mourned deeply for Ryan, finding solace in dreams of their shared moments that enabled her to find closure from the heart-wrenching loss.

Rigo Vasquez

Season 3, Episode 9 "Poor Wandering One"

A few episodes later, Station 19 was confronted with yet another tragic loss - the demise of Rigo Vasquez (Rigo Sanchez). This character, though short-lived, made an impact on the series as a self-assured and misogynistic firefighter who joined SFD Station 19 in season 3. His storyline took a gripping turn when he discovered that Jack (Grey Damon) had unknowingly, and later intentionally, engaged in a romantic relationship with his wife.

Pruitt Herrera

His death resulted from a physical altercation between them, during which Maya (Danielle Savre), the captain at the time, had previously been assured that they could continue to work together. However, an argument during a call escalated and caused an explosion, ultimately injuring Rigo. Despite initially successful surgery, he tragically succumbed to his injuries on the day he was supposed to be discharged. As a result, Maya enlisted the help of Diane (Tracie Thoms), a therapist, to provide counseling for the team.

Season 3, Episode 12 "I'll Be Seeing You"

Pruitt Herrera's (Miguel Sandoval) appearance in season 3 was highly anticipated, yet it unfolded in an unexpected manner. In the pilot episode of Station 19, he had a near-death experience while on duty, leading to a cancer diagnosis during his hospital stay. Consequently, he resigned from his role as captain of SFD Station 19. Although he survived a life-threatening incident in the season 2 premiere and showed signs of remission, he received devastating news at the beginning of season 3 - his cancer had returned, and his time was running out.

Nevertheless, instead of succumbing to cancer, Pruitt ultimately sacrificed himself to save his former firefighters. In episode 12 of Station 19's third season, the team found themselves trapped in a burning warehouse with an unstable roof, facing imminent death. Aware of his limited time left due to cancer, Pruitt decided to vent the roof, ensuring the safety of his daughter and the team he had assembled. Sadly, he did not receive a traditional firefighter's funeral since he had retired beforehand. Despite Andy's efforts to arrange a proper ceremony, the outbreak of the pandemic prevented it from being carried out in person.

Dean Miller

Season 5, Episode 5 "Things We Lost In The Fire"

Okieriete Onaodowan, who spent four seasons on Station 19, decided to leave the show. In response, the writers chose to give his character, Dean Miller, a heroic death. While viewers were shocked by Dean's demise, it served as a fitting farewell to one of the series' most beloved characters. Dean had a significant impact on both Station 19 and the Seattle Fire Department. His dedication to justice led to the establishment of the Crisis One program and, after his death, the Dean Miller Memorial Clinic. He always fought for what was right and for the people he cared about, ultimately leading to his demise.

In keeping with the show's trend of tragic deaths, Dean passed away before Vic fully realized his romantic feelings for her. Although they shared a close bond and considered each other best friends and family, Vic didn't understand Dean's romantic love for her until after his death. Dean died in an explosion during an emergency call in Season 5, Episode 5 of Station 19. Despite efforts to resuscitate him at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, he was pronounced dead. Dean's legacy lives on in Station 19 through the programs he helped create and inspire, as well as his daughter, Pruitt.

Michael Dixon

Season 6, Episode 18 “Glamorous Life”

Michael Dixon, portrayed by Pat Healy, joined the cast of Station 19 in Season 3. The character has generated mixed reactions among fans due to his tough approach towards the team members and his strong political ambitions. Dixon was brought in as the new Fire Chief following the tragic demise of Lucas Ripley, and he went on to display favoritism towards certain members of the team. He specifically pushed Maya to assume a more public role in order to promote positive publicity for the fire department. Additionally, Dixon used his connections to powerful individuals to his advantage, keeping their secrets and leveraging them for his own political aspirations.

At the time of Dixon's death in the series, he had been dismissed from the fire department following a fraud investigation. Instead, he held the position of Deputy Chief of Operations for the Seattle police department and had aspirations of becoming the mayor. The elimination of mental health programs, a major focus in Station 19 Season 6, was one of his goals. It was during this same season that Dixon met his demise due to the floor collapsing at the Firefighters Ball. In his final moments, he provided the audience with a sense of hope that characters like him, known for being antagonistic in the series, had the potential to change. Dixon expressed admiration for his son, despite their difficulties, hinting at the possibility of the character returning to Station 19. He even offered kind words to characters he had previously clashed with. Stream this series on Hulu.

Shows such as Station 19 portray characters with high-risk professions, making it highly improbable for only these six characters to experience major fatalities. As the series progresses into season 7 and beyond, it is inevitable that additional characters will face tragic outcomes.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about the shocking deaths on Station 19. On the one hand, I appreciate the show's realism and emotional impact. The deaths of beloved characters like Lucas Ripley, Ryan Tanner, and Pruitt Herrera have left a profound impact on both the show and its character dynamics. These deaths have also brought a sense of authenticity to the show, reflecting the reality that firefighters often face dangerous situations and sometimes lose their lives in the line of duty.

On the other hand, I sometimes find the deaths on Station 19 to be too frequent and gratuitous. It can be difficult to become attached to characters only to see them killed off a few episodes later. This can also make it difficult to invest in the show's long-term storylines, as there is always the fear that a beloved character could be killed off at any moment.

Overall, I think the deaths on Station 19 are a necessary part of the show's realism and emotional impact. However, I hope that the showrunners will be more careful in the future about how they use character deaths. I would like to see the show focus more on developing the characters and their relationships, rather than relying on shocking deaths to generate buzz.