The Big Goodbye

[Wesley Junior]

What do you consider to be the best way to handle a character's exit from a show? And the worst way? List examples of both or either from Angel or Buffy.

 

[white avenger]

To me, the worst way to have a character exit a show would be like Tara or Fred died. Sudden, random, senseless. Realistic for real life, I suppose, but still, not the final scene that I would have preferred for people who I had come to care about. Death, in fiction, at least, should have a reason, not just a random bullet or puff of mystic vapor.

The best way to handle a character's death would be like Buffy, either time, Spike in Season 7, or Wes. A noble sacrifice, willingly, if not happily, made so that others might live. Laughter in the face of death, the way that Spike did it, is just icing on the cake.

 

[Valjavertjinn]

In every TV show, movie, or book that I have really liked, my favorite character has always died. It's sort of eerie, actually. So, after witnessing such destruction and carnage, do I want it all to end? Nope. I have a thing for death scenes. 😛 😀 Maybe that's why I like Joss Whedon's work so much...

 

[orpheusxi]

I agree with white avenger. A noble sacrifice is probably the best way to go. The only "random" death I can think of off the top of my head that deserved more was Anya.

 

[The Scourge]

Death is always the best way to go. It packs an emotional punch and can be a source of drama for a long time to come.

The worst possible thing that could happen to a character is to get Kate Lockley'd.

 

[Xin Rong]

For me the two best exits were Freds and Cordy's. Fred's death was so emotional and really tugged on your heart strings, it was the most tragic of deaths, no promise of heaven, just an end to her life in a brutal fashion really made you realise just how much you loved the character.

And Cordy's death was brilliant, I never saw it coming and her last words 'you're welcome' were so apt and with her you had the sense that she was gone but to bigger and better things, which made you miss her but not feel bad for her, just sorry for the situation that removed such an integral character from our lives.

 

[dexeded]

The worst way would be a pointless exit. I'm not talking about a pointless death, like Anya or Tara, because I like the realism, but a pointless exit. Like Oz. I know, I know, it was because Seth Green pursued a movie career, but still.

Best? Deaths are always nice. Or transferring to another TV show coughcough Cordy from BtVS to AtS, if that counts.