15 TV Characters Who Were Supposed to Die But Fans Saved Them

Television writers often map out character deaths long before the scenes are filmed to raise the stakes of a narrative. Sometimes an actor delivers such a compelling performance that the creators are forced to change their plans completely. Fan reaction and on-screen chemistry can turn a short-term guest spot into a series regular role that lasts for years. These characters were originally marked for death but survived to become television icons.

Jesse Pinkman

Creator Vince Gilligan planned to kill Jesse Pinkman in the ninth episode of the first season of ‘Breaking Bad’. The writers strike of 2007 shortened the season and gave the creative team time to rethink the plot. Aaron Paul shared incredible chemistry with Bryan Cranston that made the duo indispensable to the show. Gilligan realized that losing Jesse would be a massive mistake for the dynamic of the series. He survived to become the emotional core of the show for all five seasons.

Jack Shephard

The character of Jack Shephard was originally played by Michael Keaton and was meant to die in the pilot episode. This shocking twist was intended to prove to the audience that no character in ‘Lost’ was safe. Test audiences reacted extremely negatively to the sudden death of the apparent hero and felt cheated. The creators rewrote the script to keep the doctor alive as the leader of the survivors. Matthew Fox took over the role and Jack became the central protagonist of the series.

Carol Peletier

Carol takes her own life early in the source comics for ‘The Walking Dead’ because she cannot handle the pressure of the apocalypse. The showrunners planned to kill her in the third season and keep the character T-Dog instead. Melissa McBride impressed the writers enough with her performance to spare her character. She transformed from a timid victim into one of the most formidable survivors on the show. Carol became the longest-running female character in the history of the franchise.

Castiel

The angel Castiel was originally planned for a six-episode arc in season four of ‘Supernatural’. He was meant to be killed off by the demons he fought to demonstrate the high stakes. Fans reacted so strongly to Misha Collins and his chemistry with Dean Winchester that the producers kept him. He eventually became a series regular and an integral member of the main team. Castiel remained a vital part of the story until the very end of the fifteen-season run.

Steve Harrington

The Duffer Brothers originally wrote Steve Harrington as a quintessential bully who would not survive the first season of ‘Stranger Things’. Joe Keery brought a surprising amount of charisma and humanity to the role during production. The creators realized the character had redemption potential and decided to spare him. He eventually transformed into a brave protector and babysitter for the younger children in Hawkins. Steve became one of the most beloved figures in the entire series.

Boyd Crowder

Boyd Crowder dies at the end of the pilot episode in the original Elmore Leonard short story that inspired ‘Justified’. Walton Goggins delivered such a magnetic performance that the writers felt compelled to keep him alive. Test audiences loved the intellectual and volatile dynamic between him and Raylan Givens. The producers decided to keep him as a recurring character who eventually became the primary antagonist. He remained the perfect foil for the hero throughout the entire series run.

Andy Dwyer

The character was originally scripted as a temporary guest star for the first season of ‘Parks and Recreation’. Writers planned to write him out of the show after his breakup with Ann Perkins. Chris Pratt made the lovable slacker so funny that the producers decided to make him a regular. He became a central part of the ensemble and married April Ludgate. Andy evolved from a lazy boyfriend into a successful children’s entertainer.

Spike

Joss Whedon initially designed Spike as a short-term villain to be killed quickly in season two of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. James Marsters brought a unique punk rock charisma that resonated deeply with the audience. The vampire proved so popular that he returned as a main character and romantic interest. His redemption arc became a crucial element of the later seasons and the spinoff. He is often cited as one of the best examples of a villain turned hero.

Lafayette Reynolds

The character is murdered at the end of the first book in the ‘The Southern Vampire Mysteries’ novels. Nelsan Ellis brought such energy and heart to the role on ‘True Blood’ that fans absolutely adored him. The showrunner decided to deviate significantly from the books to keep him in the series. He survived until the very end of the television adaptation as a fan favorite. His survival allowed the show to explore deeper storylines about magic and mediumship.

Felicity Smoak

She was originally hired for a one-scene role as an IT technician in the first season of ‘Arrow’. Emily Bett Rickards had instant on-screen chemistry with star Stephen Amell that the producers could not ignore. Positive fan reaction led to her role expanding significantly and she joined the main cast. She ultimately became the female lead and married the main character. Her technical skills became essential to the operations of the vigilante team.

Helo

The script for the ‘Battlestar Galactica’ miniseries called for Helo to die when he gave up his seat on the raptor. Tahmoh Penikett impressed the producers so much that they kept his storyline going on the occupied planet Caprica. Fans became invested in his survival and his complex relationship with a Cylon model. He eventually rejoined the fleet to become a moral compass for the show. His survival was critical to the overarching plot regarding human and Cylon hybrids.

Sophia Burset

The writers originally planned for Sophia to die from medical neglect in the first season of ‘Orange Is the New Black’. Laverne Cox delivered a portrayal that audiences found incredibly compelling and socially important. Jenji Kohan realized the character had more stories to tell and kept her alive. She remained a vital part of the Litchfield community throughout the series run. Her storyline highlighted critical issues regarding the treatment of transgender inmates.

Klaus Mikaelson

The original plan was for Klaus to die at the end of season three of ‘The Vampire Diaries’. Joseph Morgan played the ancient hybrid villain with such complexity that fans did not want him gone. The creators decided to spare him and explore his history further in subsequent seasons. He became so popular that he received his own spin-off series called ‘The Originals’. His character arc expanded to focus on family and fatherhood rather than just villainy.

NoHo Hank

Bill Hader initially wrote the polite Chechen mobster to die in the pilot episode of ‘Barry’. Anthony Carrigan brought such a unique and hilarious energy to the role that the plan changed. The creative team found him too delightful to kill and rewrote the season to include him. He evolved from a throwaway villain into a central character with his own complex storylines. Fans consistently cite him as the funniest and most endearing part of the dark comedy.

Logan Echolls

Creator Rob Thomas intended for Logan Echolls to be the obligatory psychotic jackass of ‘Veronica Mars’. Jason Dohring infused the character with a hidden vulnerability that sparked chemistry with the protagonist. The writers noticed the potential for a complicated romance and rewrote his trajectory. He went from a hated antagonist to the primary love interest for Veronica. The character remained central to the movie and the eventual revival season.

Please tell us which of these character survivals made the biggest impact on you in the comments.