The Shocking Demise of Sharon Raydor in Major Crimes' Final Season: Unveiling the Tragic Truth

Summary

Fans were shocked when Sharon Raydor was abruptly killed off in Major Crimes, diverging from the expectations of a protagonist's fate on a hit show.

Sharon's death in Season 6 was anticipated due to her heart condition, which ultimately leads to her demise during an interrogation with a suspect. This event sparked controversy among viewers. Mary McDonnell, the actress who played Sharon, was surprised not only by the early exit of her character but also by her name being removed from the show's credits, resulting in backlash from fans.

The death of protagonist Sharon Raydor in the Major Crimes episode continues to be one of the most shocking conclusions in television. Major Crimes, a spinoff of The Closer featuring Kyra Sedgwick and J.K. Simmons, focused on the Major Crimes division of the Los Angeles Police Department and was led by Captain Sharon Raydor, played by Mary McDonnell. Raydor's composed and intelligent approach to high-profile cases made her a captivating protagonist, prompting fans to delve into the mystery surrounding her fate on the show.

Following The Closer's conclusion in 2012 after seven successful seasons, Raydor received her own series with Major Crimes. Like its predecessor, the show garnered significant viewership, making it all the more surprising when TNT abruptly canceled the show after six seasons. However, this was merely the start of the unexpected twists. As the show approached its finale, Sharon was abruptly killed off with four episodes remaining, and her character did not appear in any of them. Even years after the series finale, the audience continues to have fervent reactions to this unexpected decision.

What Happened In The Sharon Raydor Death Episode

The shocking twist in Major Crimes, where Sharon's character had gained a dedicated following from fans of both The Closer and Major Crimes, left a lasting impact. Although viewers anticipated her presence until the series finale, Sharon's demise was not entirely unexpected. In Season 6, it was revealed that she had been experiencing heart issues, ultimately leading to a heart condition diagnosis in the episode "Sanctuary City: Part 4." This condition almost caused her to cancel her wedding to detective Andy Flynn, but she ultimately went forward with the ceremony.

Despite ongoing struggles with her health, Sharon's condition took a tragic turn in Major Crimes episode 9, "Conspiracy Theory: Part 4." She collapsed during an interrogation and was immediately rushed to the hospital. Tragically, a doctor later proclaimed her death. Despite fans' hopes that this twist was a ruse to deceive long-standing antagonist Phillip Stroh, it was, in fact, the end for Sharon. Subsequently, she was laid to rest in the following episode, while the team focused on bringing down Stroh once and for all.

Mary McDonnell Was Removed From The Show's Credits

Many shows often choose to kill off the main character in the series finale. However, Sharon's early death sparked controversy among fans. In a later revelation, creator James Duff stated that her death was strategically planned to have a lasting impact on the team in the final episodes and to provide a sense of closure to the show. Duff also believed that if Sharon's death had occurred in the last episode of Major Crimes, it would have resulted in a bleak conclusion for the series. To allow viewers and the other characters to properly mourn, Raydor's demise was timed slightly earlier, enabling them to grieve both her loss and the end of the show.

Sharon's ordeal on Major Crimes already riled up fans, but the show's subsequent decision exacerbated the situation. Despite being a prominent figure on the show since its inception, Mary McDonnell's name was abruptly purged from the opening credits. While altering credits to reflect the current cast is not unheard of in television (as seen in Game of Thrones), this move was regarded as disrespectful by fans, especially considering the limited number of remaining episodes.

McDonnell herself acknowledged (via Variety) that although she agreed with the decision to eliminate Sharon's character early on, the news of her name being taken out of the credits caught her by surprise. In response, devoted followers on social media changed their profile pictures to an image of McDonnell portraying Sharon from the previous credits, and McDonnell herself joined in the tribute. Additionally, McDonnell confesses that she has never encountered anything quite like the fan reaction to Sharon's demise in her entire career. "I will be studying it for a long time to come," she remarks.

What Mary McDonnell Is Doing Now

Although the Sharon Raydor death episode in Major Crimes marked the end of Mary McDonnell's tenure on the show, the actress has enjoyed a prolific career beyond the series that continues to thrive today. Notably, McDonnell has portrayed a diverse range of iconic characters throughout her journey, including her portrayal of the First Lady of the United States in the acclaimed film Independence Day and her captivating role as President in the renowned series Battlestar Galactica.

In Donnie Darko, she delivered a remarkable performance as Jake Gyllenhaal's mother, while also sharing the screen with Kevin Costner in the critically acclaimed film Dances with Wolves, which won Best Picture. McDonnell has recently lent her voice to the animated film The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf and is set to join the cast of Mike Flanagan's upcoming Netflix horror series, The Fall of the House of Usher.