History Main / KillerFinale

* ''Series/{{Dexter}}'': The female lead, Debra, died in the Season 8 finale after getting shot but surviving long enough to be declared brain dead. The original ending was initially going to end with Dexter's death via lethal injection, too, but this ended up not happening. He is instead murdered (though [[MercyKill it's only done to spare him of such a fate]]) by his son Harrison in the finale of ''[[Series/DexterNewBlood New Blood]]'', the sequel miniseries.

* ''Series/OneFootInTheGrave'' is perhaps notable for being a rare example of a sitcom killing off its main character in its final episode, with Victor becoming the victim of a hit-and-run incident.

* In the Season 13 finale of ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'', which ended ''The Chorus Trilogy'', Church is KilledOffForReal when [[HeroicSacrifice he essentially destroys himself to power the Meta's armor so the Reds and Blues can survive their last stand against Charon Industries.]]

* ''WebVideo/CriticalRole: Vox Machina:'' Vax'ildan's [[LivingOnBorrowedTime bargain for his temporary resurrection]] comes due when the BigBad is defeated in the penultimate episode. In the finale, he has enough time to enjoy the party's victory, then vanishes with a manifestation of the [[GodOfTheDead Raven Queen]].

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman,'' where the penultimate episode was about [=BoJack=]'s DyingDream, but the final episode reveals that he survived.

* ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'': Pops, being the ultimate good of the universe been having a battle with his brother, Anti-Pops, the ultimate evil. Each battle ended in a tie, which would reset the universe each and every time. To prevent the universe from being reset again, Pops performs a HeroicSacrifice by launching his brother and himself [[HurlItIntoTheSun into the sun.]]

* ''Manga/BananaFish'': The show ends with Ash getting stabbed by Lao and bleeding to death in the library. And this is just after he sees Eiji going home to Japan.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean'' kills almost the entire main cast before [[CosmicRetcon resetting the universe]], allowing for the next part, ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun'' to serve as a ContinuityReboot.

* ''Series/{{Dexter}}'': The female lead, Debra died in the Season 8 finale after getting shot but surviving long enough to be declared brain dead. The original ending was initially going to end with Dexter's death via lethal injection, too, but this ended up not happening. He is instead murdered (though [[MercyKill it's only done to spare him of such a fate]]) by his son Harrison in the finale of ''[[Series/DexterNewBlood New Blood]]'', the sequel miniseries.

** Sadoc Burrows dies in the final of the first season.

* In the Season 13 finale of ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'', which ended ''The Chorus Trilogy'', Church is KilledOffForReal when [[HeroicSacrifice he essentially destroys himself to power the Meta's armor so the Reds and Blues can survive their last stand against Charon Industries.]]

* The first season finale of ‘’WesternAnimation/HazbinHotel’’ features Sir Pentious getting KilledOffForReal by Adam before he can make a HeroicSacrifice, though it’s subverted when later in the episode, Sir Pentious ascends to Heaven.

* The penultimate episode of ‘’WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012’’’s fourth season, fittingly named “Requiem”, shows [[TheMentor Master Splinter]] being murdered in cold blood by the Super Shredder, and the following episode begins with his funeral before the Turtles and their allies decide to avenge Splinter by defeating Shredder once and for all.

* ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'': Pops, being the ultimate good of the universe been having a battle with his brother, Anti-Pops, the ultimate evil. Each battle ended in a tie, which would reset the universe each and every time. To prevent the universe from being reset again, Pops performs a HeroicSacrifice by lauching his brother and himself into the sun.

* The ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'' series finale pulled no punches:

* In the run-up to ''ComicBook/YoungJustice'' and ''ComicBook/Titans1998'' ending, [[ComicBook/WonderGirl Donna Troy]] and Omen from the Titans, and Slobo and Secret from Young Justice, were all killed; the former two were killed by Indigo and a rogue Superman robot, while Slobo and Secret were both killed by Darkseid (although, since Secret was already technically dead, she actually reverted to being Greta Hayes, the girl she was before her death.)

* In the run-up to ''ComicBook/YoungJustice'' and ''ComicBook/{{Titans}}'' ending, [[ComicBook/WonderGirl Donna Troy]] and Omen from the Titans, and Slobo and Secret from Young Justice, were all killed; the former two were killed by Indigo and a rogue Superman robot, while Slobo and Secret were both killed by Darkseid (although, since Secret was already technically dead, she actually reverted to being Greta Hayes, the girl she was before her death.)

* ''Manga/BananaFish'': The show ends with Ash getting stabbed by Lao and bleeding to death in the library. And this is just before he see Eiji going home to Japan.

'''Since this is a Death Trope, Administrivia/SpoilersOff. You have been warned.'''

** The first series ends with the poisoning of the entire royal family being poisoned, including the main character.

* John Marston is killed by a firing squad in ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption''. You play the epilogue as his son, Jack Marston, but you're not given any story missions (only one stranger mission) and you're allowed to just roam around and finish any buisness you had and 100% complete the game.

** ''The Last Hope'', the last book of the ''Omen of the Stars'' arc, involves the death of several major characters and supporting side characters, such as the original main character Firestar, ''Power of Three'' protagonist Hollyleaf (who returned only the book prior), the [=ThunderClan=] cats Ferncloud and Sorreltail, and the spirits of Spottedleaf, Tigerstar, Hawkfrost, and Brokenstar.

** ''The Last Hope'', the last book of the ''Omen of the Stars'' arc, involves the death of several major characters and supporting side characters, such as the original main character Firestar, ''Power of Three'' protagonist Hollyleaf, the [=ThunderClan=] cats Ferncloud and Sorreltail, and the spirits of Spottedleaf, Tigerstar, Hawkfrost, and Brokenstar.

* ''Series/{{Dexter}}'': The female lead, Debra died in the Season 8 finale after getting shot but surviving long enough to be declared brain dead. The original ending was initially going to end with Dexter's death via lethal injection, too, but this ended up not happening.

* In the finale of ''Anime/AngelBeats'', the main characters are the only ones left in purgatory and hold a graduation ceremony to say goodbye to each other before they move on. Everyone is able to disappear besides Otonashi, who remains trapped in the afterlife, alone.