10 Times Writers Wished They'd Given Their Characters a Second Chance

Writers tackling the tricky business of killing off beloved characters in ongoing storylines are essentially walking a tightrope—one misstep and the fans might as well be brandishing pitchforks. Because, let’s be honest, we’ve all been there, haven’t we? One moment you're invested in a character's journey, and the next, they’re unceremoniously dispatched in a way that makes you question the literary judgement of everyone involved. Did they honestly believe that was the right move? Spoiler alert: sometimes they don’t.

Take the famously nefarious Klaue from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Poor Andy Serkis was met with the unfortunate fate of being blasted away by Killmonger (the ever-charming Michael B. Jordan). Sure, he was a villain, but resorting to his demise sent director Ryan Coogler on a nostalgic jaunt down memory lane, wishing he'd kept Klaue alive a little longer. “I like Klaue,” he confessed to the Toronto Sun. “I was bugged by having to do that.” Imagine being *that* conflicted about a villain. It’s a farcical kind of love, intertwined with the harsh reality of having too many characters on your plate, forcing the writer to toss a few overboard.

Then there’s Tyreese from The Walking Dead, fated to die right from his inception courtesy of the source material. Poor Chad Coleman could hardly escape his predestined doom when blood loss—and yes, the whole arm business—culminated in despairing fan reactions. Yet, there Coleman was, strutting into the post-apocalyptic sunset, satisfied amidst the chaos. Fast forward to Comic-Con 2022 when creator Robert Kirkman was asked about his homicidal tendencies. His response should have come with a therapist’s disclaimer: “Regret? Who, me?”

And speaking of regret, in the world of British television, the beloved Last Tango in Halifax served up a plate of anguish when Caroline’s wife, Kate, met a fatal end in a car crash. Writing maestro Sally Wainwright found herself in hot water with fans who called foul at the miserable demise of yet another female character—adding yet another notch on the belt of the dreaded “dead lesbian cliché.” Wainwright later expressed her heartfelt remorse, admitting, “I was very sad to do it. I thought it was the right choice, but I regret it now.” Note to writers: You can’t always anticipate which characters the audience will latch onto.

Rocky director, Sylvester Stallone, also tossed Apollo Creed into the jaws of demise, laying the groundwork for the franchise’s gritty sequel strategies. While that single death served the story well, mentors and father figures are a rarity in action movies, often leading Stallone to ponder, “Was this a tad hasty?” In retrospect, he mused in a 2021 documentary that killing off Apollo was "foolish." Did he envision a future where Apollo, now wheelchair-bound, mentors the next generation? Oh, Sylvester, we would have loved to witness that!

Now, if we dive into the darker waters of television with *The Boys*, we find Lamplighter’s self-immolating farewell—a scene so gut-churning it deserves its own therapy session. Showrunner Eric Kripke later faced the music and admitted, “We were sure he needed to die, but once we cast Shawn and saw his performances, I regret it.” How sad that it often takes a marvelous performance to remind us just how good a character could have been!

John Carpenter once quipped about the little girl who met a tragic fate in *Assault on Precinct 13*. In a moment of youthful folly, he made a choice that now has him scratching his head in regret—nothing like a good ol’ case of writer’s remorse, right? “I don’t think I’d do it again,” he confessed, possibly shaking his head at the absurdity of it all. Lesson learned: sometimes, youthful exuberance doesn’t age well.

As for Mako Mori in *Pacific Rim*, she’ll forever be remembered for her fridging—a term used when female characters are dispatched merely to notify the male lead of emotional gravity. Director Steven S. DeKnight admitted with a heavy heart that killing Mako off didn’t lend the weight it should have. “It was a great regret because I loved that character. I loved Rinko,” he lamented. It’s a pattern that often cycles back, reminding us that some characters deserve more than a fleeting glimpse.

On the other side of the spectrum is Lexa from *The 100*, whose death was met with much ire, marking her demise as another entry in the all-too-familiar “Bury Your