TV is no stranger to shocking exits, but 2024 and 2025 have been especially ruthless. It seems like no oneâs safe anymore (whether itâs your favorite fire captain, a beloved dad figure, or a long-standing soap villain). These five shows recently said goodbye to their main characters in dramatic, emotional, or downright jaw-dropping ways⦠and yep, weâre still trying to recover.
âChicago Fireâ â Budget Cuts? and Broken Hearts
NBCFans of âChicago Fireâ got hit with a two-for-one gut punch when it was announced that Daniel Kyri (Ritter) and Jake Lockett (Carver) are both leaving after Season 13. Yep, two fan-favorite firefighters, gone. Why? Due to budget decisions. But the exits still caught a lot of people off guard.Â
Kyri shared a heartfelt message on Instagram thanking fans, and while their final episodes havenât aired yet: weâre expecting tears, tension, and probably at least one slow-motion goodbye.
âEastEndersâ â Goodbye, Nish (and Good Riddance?)
BBCâEastEndersâ rang in 2025 with some serious drama, killing off Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) in spectacular soap fashion. After manipulating pretty much everyone around him, Nish was shoved off a hotel balcony by Ravi (his own son). Honestly? Deserved. The death wrapped a long, twisted arc and gave the rest of Walford a chance to finally breathe. It was messy, it was shocking; and it was peak âEastEnders.â
âThe Last of Usâ â Joelâs Brutal End
HBOSeason 2, Episode 2 of âThe Last of Usâ did not hold back. Joel (Pedro Pascal) was ambushed and killed by Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) in a scene lifted straight from the video gameâand yep, it was just as brutal on-screen. The episode, titled âThrough the Valley,â left fans divided, but the showrunners stood by the choice. It set Ellie up for her next chapter, but that didnât make it any easier to watch. RIP to our apocalypse dad, maybe weâll see you again soon.
âAlert: Missing Persons Unitâ â Nikkiâs Quiet Exit
FoxNikki Batista (Dania Ramirez) was the heart of âAlert,â so her sudden Season 2 departure was a surprise. No big sendoff, no dramatic last case⦠just gone. While no official reason has been confirmed, it seems like the show is shifting focus. Still, Nikki brought heart, grit, and a whole lot of intensity to the team, and her absence? Itâs going to be felt.
â9-1-1â â Bobbyâs Final Call
FoxPeter Krauseâs Bobby Nash was the glue of â9-1-1,â and his Season 8 exit left us wrecked. From day one, Bobby was the teamâs rockâsteady, wise, and always ready to throw himself into danger to save someone else. So it was fitting (and absolutely devastating) that he went out in full hero mode, using the last dose of a life-saving antidote on Chimney. No backup plan, no hesitation; just classic Bobby doing what he does best: putting others first.Â
Angela Bassett called the twist âjaw-dropping,â and Kenneth Choi admitted he sobbed when watching the episode, even though he was present for filming. Honestly, same. It was one of those rare moments on TV that felt both painfully sudden and completely earned. And now? The firehouse will never be the same.
TV giveth, TV taketh away. But these exits? Yeah, they hit differently.
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