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[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/TheNonAdventuresOfWonderella https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wonderella_in_heaven_6175.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Death in superhero comics sucks [[BackFromTheDead either way.]]]]

->''"Apparently, not everyone gets to have a dramatic death."''
-->-- '''Jean Kirstein''', ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''

When a character is permanently written out of a show, especially killed off, in a way that is unexpectedly anti-climactic or mundane, they Dropped a Bridge on Him.

This can be a case of WriterOnBoard (or worse, RunningTheAsylum), but may also be an attempt to make the best of a [[RealLifeWritesThePlot difficult, real life]] situation.

Sometimes, when a character is KilledOffForReal in a universe where DeathIsDramatic, a lot of work is put into it. They may make a HeroicSacrifice, or have ADeathInTheLimelight in their last appearance. If done well enough, it might even be their DyingMomentOfAwesome. This trope applies when such things are generally expected, often because of previous dramatic deaths in the series, but don't happen. Note that when AnyoneCanDie, this trope does not apply.

To compare, take the ''Series/NYPDBlue'' death of Det. Bobby Simone (Creator/JimmySmits) versus the death of Det. Danny Sorenson (Rick Schroder). Smits dies of SoapOperaDisease with a TearJerker sendoff. Schroder left the series, so his character is [[BusCrash killed off-screen]], between seasons.

[[TropeNamers Named for]] the death of Captain Kirk (Creator/WilliamShatner) in ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'', which was expected to be a key, climactic event after 30 years of adventuring. Instead, he was killed beneath a collapsed bridge in a manner typically reserved for {{Red Shirt}}s.

When done off-screen (like the Sorenson example), it's known as a BusCrash. For the exact opposite, see ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill. See also ActorLeavesCharacterDies, TheCharacterDiedWithHim, SurprisinglySuddenDeath, SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome, DistractedFromDeath, NotSoInvincibleAfterAll. If this is done to a character repeatedly with the aid of NegativeContinuity, see TheyKilledKennyAgain. If you're looking for this trope on an expanded scale, see RocksFallEveryoneDies.

Not to confuse with [[LiteralMinded dropping a]] [[ColonyDrop literal drawbridge onto someone]], though it may overlap with this trope.

'''As a {{Death Trope|s}}, all spoilers will be unmarked ahead. Beware.'''

[[noreallife]]
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!!Examples:

[[index]]
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/AnimeAndManga
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/ComicBooks
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/ComicStrips
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/FanWorks
* [[DroppedABridgeOnHim/AnimatedFilms Films — Animation]]
* [[DroppedABridgeOnHim/LiveActionFilms Films — Live Action]]
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/{{Literature}}
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/LiveActionTV
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/MythAndLegend
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/ProfessionalWrestling
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/TabletopGames
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/{{Theatre}}
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/{{Toys}}
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/VideoGames
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/{{Webcomics}}
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/WebOriginal
* DroppedABridgeOnHim/WesternAnimation
[[/index]]

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