8. Agent Eric Sebso
Eric Sebsos (Erik Weiner) death at the hands of the crusading-yet-slightly insane Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon) was one we did not see coming. After Van Alden finds out about Sebso's ties to Nucky and his involvement in illegal activity that culminated in the death of a government witness named Billy Winslow (Chase Coleman), Van Alden rather forcefully decides to cleanse Sebso of his sins. The most shocking aspect of Sebsos demise is that it happens in front of a Baptist church. As Van Alden tries to coax a confession from the agent, Sebso drowns. Van Aldens path in the series as the crusading moralistic do-gooder is thrown up in the air with this act and eventually leads to his downfall in the second season. Sebsos change in character from comic relief figure to central figure of Nuckys cover-up plot signified a drastic change in the characters arc, and his surprising demise at the hands of Van Alden is not only shocking for the way in which he is murdered, but how Van Alden life subsequently falls apart.