8 TV Shows That Killed The Main Character Early
1. Spooks - Helen Flynn (Lifespan: Two Episodes)
Spooks made record time with killing off a lead, and gets bonus points for doing it in the most nightmarish way possible.
In only the second episode of season one the character of Helen Flynn was subjected to a fate so nasty it received a record number of complaints at the BBC. In this scene she and follow agent Tom Quinn are captured by a twisted racist, who tortures her using a deep fat fryer. He dips her arm in to get information from Tom, and failing that he dips in her entire head, before putting her out of her misery with a gunshot.
This moment had been planned from the start by creator David Wolstencroft to let viewers know Spooks wasn't a glossy, lightweight show. The characters were in real danger and there would be no last minute rescues. Although the scene left a bad taste in the mouths of viewers, Spooks quickly proved to be a gripping thriller that didn’t need to rely solely on shock tactics.
Can you think of any other TV shows where the main character died early? Share your picks in the comment trend below.