9 TV Shows That Survived Death Of The Main Character

3. Homeland - Nicholas Brody

Homeland started off as a thriller two-hander between Clare Danes and Damian Lewis, with the former starring as CIA Agent Carrie Mathison, and the latter U.S. Marine Nicholas Brody.

In the show's formative years, the crux of the narrative was the idea that Brody had been turned after being captured by al-Qaeda as a prisoner of war, and that distrust, mystery, and relationship is what really drove the show forward and made it something of an overnight sensation.

That storyline, however, wasn't sustainable long-term, and it wasn't too long before Homeland needed to shake things up, which arrived at the end of Season 3. By that point, despite Carrie believing in his innocence, Brody is one of the most wanted criminals in the world, and is eventually found guilty of treason after being captured in Iran. Carrie wants to clear his name, but Brody accepts his fate, and is publicly hanged.

It's a huge game-changer for the series, but it actually worked in the show's favour. It allowed it to evolve into something different, and while there have been some struggles along the way, it's been consistently interesting, which the dynamic between Carrie and Brody had long since stopped being. Six years on from his death, the show will return for its eighth and final season later this year, having grown well beyond him.