Line #47 JustForFun/HowToKillACharacter


1	''Need to have a character buy the farm? It's easy! Just:''
2
3	# Put them in red clothes: For [[RedShirt throwaway characters]] and [[BringMyRedJacket warriors]] ''and'' [[LittleDeadRidingHood young girls]] a fatal choice of fashion.
4	# Inflict them with GenreBlindness.
5	# Or with too much [[DeathByGenreSavviness Genre Savviness]].
6	# Get 'em [[SexSignalsDeath laid]].
7	# ...preferably [[CartwrightCurse by the main character]].
8	# Put them on [[NewMeat "point"]].
9	# Let them be completely [[TooHappyToLive happy]] for a [[FinaglesLaw minute]].
10	# Hire Creator/TimMinear. Or Creator/JossWhedon. Or both. (If German, Kai Meyer is recommended.)
11	# Make them do something -- anything -- [[HeroicSacrifice noble]].
12	# Make them [[TooCoolToLive more interesting than the lead]].
13	# Have a UsefulNotes/{{ratings}} [[TonightSomeoneDies slump]].
14	# Convince the actor to [[ActorLeavesCharacterDies leave filming]].
15	# Make it very plain that the character [[AnyoneCanDie can not die]].
16	# Announce that they are [[RetIrony retiring]] from a life of public service in two weeks.
17	# Let them [[YouHaveFailedMe goof up]] when they're working for the BigBad.
18	# Alternatively, let the BigBad decide that they have [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlived their usefulness]].
19	# Let them [[HeelFaceTurn have a change of heart]] and [[RedemptionEqualsDeath switch sides to fight with the heroes]].
20	# Send them out of doors on a [[PartlyCloudyWithAChanceOfDeath partly cloudy day]], especially near sunrise or sunset.
21	# Let them [[FatalFamilyPhoto show a picture of their sweetheart (or their baby)]] to the rest of TheSquad.
22	# [[DistantFinale Flash forward]] to their deathbed, years later.
23	# Cast a very old or infirm actor, [[RealLifeWritesThePlot and wait for them to die]].
24	# Give them [[DoomedAppointment critical information to deliver]] to the main characters.
25	# Offer them some SchmuckBait.
26	# Have them chase the heroes across a RopeBridge.
27	# Get them a job at a DangerousWorkplace with NoOSHACompliance.
28	# Let the hero come and [[TheBlofeldPloy visit their boss]].
29	# Assign them to operate the ExplosiveInstrumentation.
30	# Protect them with [[FailsafeFailure lots of safety equipment]].
31	# Introduce them to the [[BolivianArmyEnding Bolivian army]].
32	# Throw a [[DangerousSixteenthBirthday sixteenth birthday party]] for them.
33	# Cue up a ReallyDeadMontage.
34	# Relocate them to [[TheTokyoFireball Tokyo]]...
35	# ... or to a town where [[NothingExcitingEverHappensHere nothing exciting ever happens]].
36	# Have them [[AndYourLittleDogToo go out of their way]] to be mean to everyone.
37	# Cast them as the villain in a [[KarmicDeath Disney]] film.
38	# Give them that secret potion, the one that turns you [[OneWingedAngel into a monster]]. Because WhatMeasureIsANonHuman, really?
39	# Let them fall below the BishonenLine.
40	# Enlist them in the [[RedshirtArmy armed forces]] in a monster/disaster movie.
41	# Draw them a [[DeadlyBath bath]], and to make sure it's fatal, make it [[CandlelitBath candlelit]]).
42	# Send them [[InevitableWaterfall down a river]].
43	# Make them the SacrificialLamb used to establish a unique reputation for your show.
44	# Chase them into the street without giving them time to LookBothWays.
45	# Have another character [[IWishedYouWereDead curse their existence]].
46	# Write when you're [[CreatorBreakdown having a bad day]].
47	# Hire Ron Marz. (Though this is hit-or-miss. You might just end up with the hero's girlfriend [[StuffedIntoTheFridge stuffed in a refrigerator]].)
48	# Have them uncover the {{Masquerade}} or discover the hero's SecretIdentity when the plot doesn't make it convenient for them to do so.
49	# Make them a main character's double from an AlternateUniverse.
50	# Cast them as the main character's [[NotMyDriver pilot or chauffer]].
51	# Make them a [[TheMentor mentor]] who is [[ThePlotReaper more powerful than the hero]].
52	# Have them visit the hero's [[DoomedHometown hometown]] after the hero [[RefusalOfTheCall refuses the Call]].
53	# [[RunningTheAsylum Become a writer for the franchise, and write that character's death.]]
54	# [[ExecutiveMeddling Become an executive for that franchise, and order that character killed off.]]
55	# Make them reveal their [[BuryYourGays homosexuality]].
56	# Sign them up for [[SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome the sequel]].
57	# Assign them the job of [[MentorOccupationalHazard mentoring a hero]].
58	# [[DieForOurShip Put them "in the way"]] of your OneTruePairing.
59	# [[MerchandiseDriven Stop selling their toy.]]
60	# Hire Creator/YoshiyukiTomino.
61	** Alternatively, hire Creator/GenUrobuchi.
62	# Ask Creator/GeorgeRRMartin. He seems to [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire know]] what he's [[AnyoneCanDie doing]].
63	# Send them to a place [[SnowMeansDeath that gets snow]].
64	# [[NoKillLikeOverkill Hit them with everything]] [[DeathInAllDirections from every direction.]]
65	# Hire Creator/RASalvatore. With Troy Denning and Karen Traviss on backing vocals.
66	# Have them say [[GenreBlindness "I'll be right back."]] Might not kill them, but it will make a liar out of them at least.
67	# Have someone say words to the effect of [[TemptingFate "We couldn't do without him."]]
68	# Have them be the hero's [[ItsPersonal best friend]].
69	# Or even better, a [[DisposableWoman love interest]].
70	# Make them be a {{Mook}}. Especially one without a name or [[FacelessGoons wearing a mask]].
71	# Write them as a bland, cliched OC that the audience demands they be killed off as a [[TheScrappy pointless annoyance]], then bring in a MarySueHunter.
72	** Make them a Mary Sue and then alert the [[WebOriginal/ProtectorsOfThePlotContinuum PPC]].
73	# Have them kidnap [[MamaBear someone's]] [[PapaWolf kids]].
74	# Have them [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves betray]] the hero. They [[HeelFaceDoorSlam won't survive that]], [[WelcomeBackTraitor right?]]
75	# Get them [[DeathByChildbirth pregnant]]. (Sometimes works even if [[MisterSeahorse it's a man]].)
76	# [[DeathByFallingOver Trip them.]]
77	# Have them [[ThrownFromTheZeppelin decline]] to participate in the [[BigBad Big Bad's]] evil scheme when he offers them the chance. Alternatively, choosing to play along [[BoardToDeath can be fatal too]].
78	# Let someone [[DiedInYourArmsTonight hold them in their arms.]]
79	# Make them a [[TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth pure girl.]] Especially a DelicateAndSickly one.
80	# Destroy their hometown [[NukeEm with a nuclear bomb.]]
81	# Make them a CrazySurvivalist.
82	# Cast them in an [[Anime/GraveOfTheFireflies anti-war film.]]
83	# Show how unbeatably badass they are, [[TheWorfEffect then have the new guy come in...]]
84	# Have them [[DeadlyDeferredConversation delay a conversation with somebody until later]].
85	# Have [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons a lawyer ban them from returning]].
86	# Give them a [[LeeroyJenkins pointless cause to die]].
87	# Put them in ''Series/GameOfThrones''.
88	# Make them cute and [[DeathByNewberyMedal aim for a Newbery medal]].
89	# Cast them as [[BlackDudeDiesFirst the only black person in a group]].
90	# Give them [[BuryYourDisabled a disability]].
91	# Give them [[IncurableCoughOfDeath a cough]].
92	# [[LethalDiagnosis Diagnose them with anything]], but especially [[TheTopicOfCancer cancer]].
93	# Make them a small pet, such as a goldfish or a hamster, in a [[BlackComedyPetDeath black comedy]] or a [[DeathIsASadThing children's cartoon]].
94	# In [[ConvenientMiscarriage one way]] or [[TragicStillbirth another]], kill them before they're even a character.
95	# If they're semiconscious or unconscious, tell them to PleaseWakeUp.
96	# Have the doctors do all they can, and then say so. Alternatively, have the doctor look serious or apologise for no apparent reason.
97	# If someone asks if they're dead, make them unable to finish their sentence ("Is he...?").
98	# Take them [[NightSwimEqualsDeath swimming at night]].
99	# Avoid giving them a personality.
100	# Exploit the VideoGameCrueltyPotential.
101	# Hook them up to an [[{{Flatline}} electrocardiogram]].
102	# [[WebAnimation/BattleForDreamIsland Eliminate them to the TLC]]. Sure, they'll survive, but it will keep them out of the show for a while…
103	# Make them [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest parents of the main character]].
104	# Have them [[DeathByLookingUp look up at a large falling object directly above them]].
105	# Have them [[EvilIsNotAToy summon dark forces]] ([[DemonLordsAndArchDevils demons, devils]], {{eldritch abomination}}s, etc.)
106	# Have Creator/SeanBean play them.
107	# Rewrite the show to make it more dangerous / raise the target audience.
108	# [[DeathByFlashback Have a flashback of them during a life or death situation]].
109	# Make them a DecoyProtagonist. Especially one without a name.
110	# Make them a [[ExposedExtraterrestrials naked alien]], exposing them to [[Literature/WarOfTheWorlds germs]] and [[Film/{{Signs}} water]].
111	# Have them [[DangerThinIce walk on thin ice]].
112	# [[DeadlyClosingCredits Roll the credits while the character is in a life-or-death situation]].
113	# [[DeadlineNews Make them a news reporter in a life-threatening situation]].
114	# [[DeathByDepower Take their powers away if said powers are literally keeping them alive]].
115	# Have them murder a dog, and Franchise/JohnWick WILL destroy them no matter how overpowered or unkillable they are.
116	# When the character is in a life-or-death situation, have other characters talk and look worried. Even if the character has survived far worse beforehand, said situation will suddenly become dangerous.
117	# Make them a FinalBoss in the ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'' and ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'' timeline. [[spoiler:Mr. King, the only BigBad to be fought directly, is the only one who dies.]]
118	# Make them [[TooPowerfulToLive so powerful that they have to be removed from the picture quickly to maintain conflict]].
119	# [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Declare that they died offscreen, then cut to a legal document that prevents them from ever returning]].
120	# Make them a grandparent, especially if it's an educational work.
121	# Cast them as the hero in a Creator/CormacMcCarthy story.
122	# Cast them as the FinalBoss in a StylishAction game.
123	# If they're a secondary character, give them a sudden emotional scene.
124	# Have them threaten [[WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty Morty Smith]], causing Rick Sanchez to end them.
125	# If their entire existence is a ForeverWar against a single villain, don't let them make plans for a life outside of said villain. Then revoke said villain's JokerImmunity.
126	# Cast them as one of the main girls in a ''Creator/KeyVisualArts'' visual novel.
127	# [[BigGuyFatalitySyndrome Make them]] TheBigGuy.
128	# Subject them to the [[Series/DoctorWho De-Mat Gun]] (or another weapon or attack with [[RetGone similar capabilities]]), [[PlayAlongMeme then have the fans pretend to not recognize, remember, or notice them]].
129
130
131	...but really, WhyDontYaJustShootHim
132
133	[[labelnote:Disclaimer]][[OurLawyersAdvisedThisTrope The above examples are provided for educational purposes only.]] Any resemblance to works of fiction past, current, or future is [[BlatantLies purely coincidental.]] [=TVTropes.org=] and its contributors cannot be held responsible for [[ImmuneToBullets bulletproof skin]], [[PocketProtector bulletproof pocket-sized mementos]], [[SoftWater conveniently placed pools of water,]] {{Healing Factor}}s, [[NotQuiteDead insufficiently thorough deaths,]] JokerImmunity, [[YouKilledMyFather vengeful offspring]], LegacyImmortality, [[MauveShirt shirts that turn out to be slightly more lilac-colored than red,]] {{Gypsy Curse}}s, [[UnfinishedBusiness angry ghosts]], {{Expendable Clone}}s, [[OneWingedAngel vastly more powerful final forms]], {{Backup Twin}}s, [[FirstLawOfResurrection inexplicable acts of resurrection,]] or other means by which a character can [[NoOneCouldSurviveThat thwart certain death,]] [[DeathIsCheap return to life,]] [[MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning strike back from beyond the grave,]] or otherwise continue to influence the story following his or her intended demise. All liability for fan backlash, [[FaceHeelTurn alignment shifts]], and [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone horrified self-examination]] resulting from killing off a character belongs solely to the creator of the fictional work in question. [=TVTropes.org=] and its contributors do not condone causing ''non''fictional deaths, as such acts are evil and therefore wrong regardless of how [[EvilIsCool cool]], sexy, and [[EvilFeelsGood fun]] they may be.[[/labelnote]]

Context JustForFun / HowToKillACharacter