Shocking Endings: The Ultimate Ranking of TV's Most Satisfying Deaths!

Summary

Despicable villains in TV shows often meet satisfying and deserved deaths, like Gemma Teller Morrow in Sons of Anarchy and High Commander Winslow in The Handmaid's Tale.

The deaths of characters who were initially loved but later despised for their immoral actions, such as Ralph Cifaretto in The Sopranos and Arthur "The Trinity Killer" Mitchell in Dexter, bring a satisfying sense of justice.

The swift and well-deserved deaths of villains like Kilgrave in Jessica Jones and Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones provide closure and gratification to the audience.

In TV history, there have been numerous character deaths that have left viewers satisfied. Often, these deaths are emotionally devastating, such as the demise of Hank Schrader in Breaking Bad or Omar Little in The Wire. Even characters who may not be likeable, such as Logan Roy in Succession, can evoke empathy when their passing impacts the characters that cared for them. However, the deaths of despicable villains can be cause for celebration.

While death is typically a tragic experience, it becomes satisfying when it involves a morally reprehensible character who exists solely in fiction. Some characters may start off beloved but ultimately become despised due to their immoral actions, like the murderous Gemma Teller Morrow in Sons of Anarchy. Several of the most wicked TV characters ever created have received the grim fate they deserve, like High Commander Winslow in The Handmaid's Tale or Arthur "The Trinity Killer" Mitchell in Dexter. Taking all factors into consideration, here are the top 10 most fulfilling character deaths in TV history.

10 Ralph Cifaretto (The Sopranos)

Ralph Cifaretto, an infamous character in The Sopranos, was widely despised both on and off-screen as a member of the DiMeo crime family. His reprehensible actions included insulting Johnny Sack's wife, setting his racehorse on fire, and brutally murdering his pregnant girlfriend. Although Ralph's slightly more sympathetic side emerged when his son suffered an unfortunate archery accident, this did little to atone for his numerous horrific deeds. Despite Tony's previous leniency towards Ralph, viewers ultimately reveled in the satisfaction of witnessing the Soprano patriarch physically assault and strangle this despicable supporting character.

9 Gemma Teller Morrow (Sons Of Anarchy)

Gemma, the widowed mother of Jax Teller, started off as a beloved character in her Sons of Anarchy journey. However, as the series progressed, she gradually eroded the affection that fans had for her. In her relentless pursuit to protect the club, Gemma committed some truly disturbing acts. The point of no return for Gemma came when she murdered Jax's wife, Tara. Throughout season 7, she battled with the guilt of her heinous crime, yet continuously deceived Jax about Tara's demise in order to provoke an unjust gang war. When Jax finally discovered the truth, he exacted revenge on his mother, resulting in a surprising sense of satisfaction.

8 Commander Winslow (The Handmaid's Tale)

High Commander Winslow, an exceedingly loathsome antagonist in The Handmaid's Tale, immediately established his abhorrent nature. Upon finding themselves alone in a secluded chamber at the Jezebel's club, he brazenly attempted to violate June. In a courageous act of self-defense, she utilized his own pen to inflict multiple stab wounds before ultimately crushing him to death with a statue. While the brutality of this act cannot be denied, there was an undeniable sense of triumphant empowerment that resonated with June in that moment. In a world where women are mere objects, devoid of autonomy, the act of eliminating Winslow granted June a semblance of control over her own existence.

7 Arthur Mitchell (Dexter)

John Lithgow took on a completely different role as Arthur Mitchell, also known as "The Trinity Killer," in the fourth season of Dexter. While the show featured numerous sadistic serial killers receiving their deserved punishment, Mitchell's demise was the most satisfying. However, the heartbreaking twist came with it - Dexter eliminated the Trinity Killer but couldn't save his wife, Rita, in time. This unforeseen turn of events retrospectively amplifies the justification for Mitchell's death.

6 Kilgrave (Jessica Jones)

The nefarious Kilgrave, known as the antagonist in the television show Jessica Jones, possesses the extraordinary ability to manipulate and control the minds of others. Utilizing this power, he has committed heinous acts ranging from sexual assault to indirect murder. It was evident from the beginning that Kilgrave's fate was sealed, destined to meet a swift demise at the hands of Jessica Jones. When the moment finally arrived and she ended his life, it was nothing short of satisfying. Displaying her superhuman strength, Jessica seized Kilgrave, effortlessly lifted him off the ground, and snapped his neck, bringing an end to his reign of terror.

5 Ramsay Bolton (Game Of Thrones)

Each time Ramsay Bolton fed someone to his dogs in Game of Thrones, it served as a foreshadowing of his own impending gruesome demise. Ramsay was undeniably deserving of his demise, given his sadistic tendencies and depravity that included torture and necrophilia. Following a face-to-face confrontation with Jon Snow, Ramsay finds himself trapped in the kennels with the very dogs he trained to hunt and devour human prey. Sansa, Ramsay's long-suffering wife, bears witness as he is mercilessly torn apart by his own savage hunting hounds.

4 Jack Welker & His Gang (Breaking Bad)

Walter White met his untimely demise in the gripping finale of Breaking Bad. However, before bidding farewell, he ensured certain vendettas were settled. Finally, viewers discovered the purpose of that formidable machine gun when Walt paid an unexpected visit to Jack Welker and his treacherous white supremacist gang who had double-crossed him in the arid desert. Not only had they mercilessly slain Hank and held Jesse captive as a meth-cooking slave, but they had betrayed Walt's trust.

In an intense confrontation, Walt swiftly pressed a button and instinctively dropped to the ground, triggering the concealed machine gun hidden within his vehicle. With deadly precision, the remote-controlled contraption unleashed a hailstorm of gunfire, obliterating the entire gang. As if that weren't enough, Jesse obtained his well-deserved retribution by ruthlessly strangling Todd to death with the chains that had bound him.

3 Perry Wright (Big Little Lies)

Throughout the first season of Big Little Lies, Jane embarked on a journey to uncover the identity of Ziggy's father, the man who had sexually assaulted her. Meanwhile, Celeste found herself trapped in an abusive marriage with Perry Wright and desperately sought a way to escape. As the plot unfolded, intermittent police interviews provided glimpses of a mysterious incident that occurred at the end of the season. The threads of these individual storylines eventually intertwined when Perry threatened Celeste at the top of a staircase, prompting Jane to recognize him as her assailant. In a moment of primal instinct, Bonnie intervened by forcefully pushing him down the stairs, ultimately protecting both herself and her friends. Given the extent of Perry's malevolence, his gruesome fate was nothing short of deserved.

2 The Governor (The Walking Dead)

The Governor, the first Walking Dead villain to endure for multiple seasons, inflicted endless torment upon Rick and his group. However, as a villain's longevity increases on The Walking Dead, the satisfaction of their demise intensifies. Amidst his tenure on the show, the Governor ruthlessly claimed countless lives, but it was his decapitation of the beloved Hershel that marked the point of no return. Poetically, Michonne later avenged Hershel's death by reclaiming the stolen sword and using it to fatally stab the Governor, leaving him to meet his ultimate fate.

1 Joffrey Baratheon (Game Of Thrones)

Few television characters have ever been as universally despised as Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones. Throughout four seasons, he reveled in treating those beneath him with contempt. However, his reign of terror came to an end when he consumed poisoned wine on his wedding day. In his final moments, Tyrion, who perhaps detested Joffrey more than anyone else, had the opportunity to look into his eyes. The demise of Joffrey was far from swift and painless; it was a protracted process in which he gradually succumbed to the poison in his system, allowing the audience ample time to savor this unforgettable death scene from the acclaimed TV show.