10 TV Finales That Actually Killed Main Characters (3 of 6)

Tony Soprano — The Sopranos

Anyone who’s seen the Sopranos finale remembers the diner scene: a family meal, tense looks, then a sudden cut to black. It’s probably one of TV’s most famous ambiguous moments. For years, fans argued whether Tony died in that instant. Creator David Chase later called it a long-planned “death scene,” but ambiguity lives on. Whether he died or not, that blackout reshaped how shows could end: unresolved, uncomfortable, and unforgettable. Frankly, a lot of fans hated it, and thought it was the stupidest thing ever, but to each their own.

Debra Morgan — Dexter

Dexter spent years trying to protect Deb, but the final choice was the hardest one he’d ever made. After surgery complications leave Deb brain-dead, Dexter decides to end her suffering by ending her life. Even though it’s a mercy kill, it haunts Dexter and forces viewers to wrestle with the messy ethics of love and violence. The original series left Dexter’s fate ambiguous, but Dexter: New Blood later brings further closure.