10 TV Shows Where The Villain Kills The Hero
5. Charmed
Unlike Buffy, here's a supernatural-themed show where the protagonist's death actually sticks - eventually, at least.
Though Charmed was initially focused around the three Halliwell sisters - Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs), and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) - eldest sister Prue was clearly the main character of the trio.
During her three seasons on the show, Prue died a total of three times - once near the end of each season, effectively - though the third and final time actually killed her off for keeps.
In the season three finale "All Hell Breaks Loose", demon assassin Shax (Michael Bailey Smith) attacks Prue and Piper, leaving them for dead.
At the start of the next season, it's revealed that Prue died from her injuries, ostensibly because Shannen Doherty wanted to leave the show, after which she was replaced with the witches' long-lost sister Paige Matthews (Rose McGowan).
Doherty's image couldn't even appear in future episodes due to disagreements over licensing her likeness - allegedly, because her asking fee was too high - such that any future references had to rely on awkward from-behind body doubles and implication.
Even though Prue re-appeared in the Charmed comic book series, she had to be placed within the body of another person in order to work around the likeness issues.
Say what you will about all the behind-the-scenes squabbling, but at least Prue's death actually had impact and meant something for the show's remainder.