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Sorting Algorithm of Deadness

Using the scientifically Infallible power of the Sorting Algorithm of Deadness, who do you think is the next in line for being brought back from the great Bus in the sky?

To use the Algorithm, simply add the Column's "Death Value", and divide by the number of applicable rows.

Relative deadness factor Deader than Dead Maybe Back Later Be Back Soon Death? What's That?
Death Value 4 3 2 1
Cause of death Irony, Bridge Drop, Overkill, Stuffed in the Fridge, Ret-Gone Redemption, Sacrifice, Bus Crash, Mortal Wound Reveal No One Could Survive That!, just plain killed in battle Jumping
Audience Expectation Anyone Can Die Killed Off for Real, Tonight, Someone Dies Disney Death Back from the Dead, Death Is Cheap, Nobody Can Die
Body Found? Dead and Buried
Only Bits And Pieces
At The Morgue Never Found, Frozen, Petrified Left for Dead
Reaction Montage, Bond One-Liner He's Dead, Jim It's Personal Faux Death
Last Words Crap, Killed Mid-Sentence, Carry on men, His Name Is... Catchphrase, "Famous last words", Final Speech, Obi-Wan Moment "Fly, you fools!" "Piece of cake" "My Death Is Just the Beginning"
Characterization Red Shirt, Loved One, Mauve Shirt Recurring Character, C-List Fodder Regular Protagonist, Archvillain
When did they die? 10+ years ago, Series Finale 5-10 years ago Same year Same arc
"Died" and come back? Not yet Died once, but got better Twice I've lost count

If the character hasn't died yet (but seems likely to), see Sorting Algorithm of Mortality. All of this is trumped by the First Law of Resurrection.

Currently, The real Caulder from Advance Wars: Days of Ruin and Teri Bauer from 24 are the only characters to have scored 4, the highest possible. And are notable for having 4 in every category. At one point, Shirley from Code Geass and also scored 4, thanks in part to a special CLAMP bonus that became harder to defend as the series went on. Chloe Sullivan from Smallville is currently the only character to have scored a perfect 1, in the episode Fracture, with the rest of the cast not even taking her death seriously, fully expecting her return.


Baseline Example: The death of Superman.

  • Cause: Heroic Sacrifice, so he's not coming back from that too quickly, or the sacrifice will be cheapened. 3.
  • Genre: It's a comic book, so Death Is Cheap. 1.
  • The Body: Deader than Dead, a Pietà Plagiarism too for supes sake! So no chance of Faking the Dead. 4.
  • Reaction: Really Dead Montage, uh-oh. 4.
  • Characterization: Protagonist. 1.
  • When did he die: Same year, so 2.
  • Come Back?: This was a first, so 4.
  • Average: So add it up... we get a pretty high score, 19! Since it's not a videogame, divide by 7, and we get... 19/7 = 2.7, meaning supes isn't coming back for at least a few months, maybe even years. In actuality the Death Of Superman happened in January 1993 and he came back some time before May 1994.


Now let's make a prediction with the death of Batman in Final Crisis.

  • Cause: Heroic Sacrifice, give or take. 3.
  • Genre: Comic book, so Death Is Cheap. 1.
  • The Body: Dead and buried, but it's a little more complicated. Still, it's a 4.
  • Reaction: He's Dead Clark, plus "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" probably counts as a Really Dead Montage. 3.5.
  • Last Words: "Try Me." 3.
  • Characterization: It's The Goddamn Batman, people. 1.
  • When did he die: Same year, so 2.
  • Come Back?: This would be the first time, so 4.
  • Average: 21.5/8= 2.7. A semi-high score, and DC seems to be sticking to this one for a while. Still, he'll definitely be back, likely before the end of 2010 at the latest. CORRECT!

Note: This sub-page is for Western Animation examples only. Please ensure that you put new examples in the correct Sorting Algorithm of Deadness sub-page.


    open/close all folders 

    Adventure Time 

Tree Trunks

  • Cause Of Death: Exploded, counts as a Bridge Drop: 4
  • Genre: Death Is Cheap, I mean, we saw someone explode before and they came back the same episode: 1
  • Body Found: Floating around in some kind of crystal heaven, maybe?: 3
  • Last Words: None, although death was sudden, so: 4
  • Characterization: C list/recurring: 3
  • When: Same arc: 1
  • Died and come back?: Not yet: 4
  • Total: 20/7 = 2.86. Jury's still out on poor Tree Trunks, the show is very light-hearted but also random, so... it's anyone's guess.
She's back. Turns out the explosion was really a teleport.

    Avatar: The Last Airbender 

Jet

Aang and the Avatar as a whole, after being shot by Azula.

  • Cause of Death: Just plain killed in battle. 2.
  • Genre: Children's show that kills for real, so no safety there. 3.
  • Body Found: Death witnessed and confirmed. 3.
  • Reaction: Falls to the ground and appears to be asleep, as if in Faux Death. 1.
  • Last Words: Shot out of the sky before he can say anything. 4.
  • Characterization: Protagonist. 1.
  • When did they die?: Season finale. 4.
  • "Died" and Came Back?: Not yet. 4.
  • Average: 2.75. For a main character, an incredibly high risk of death, but still, resurrection is pretty likely.

    Ben 10 

Grandpa Max in Ben 10: Alien Force

Conversely, Vilgax's death in the final episode of Ben 10

  • Cause: Incinerated by a gas line explosion. No One Could Survive That!, except, y'know, Vilgax already has. A lot. 2.
  • Genre: As far as I remember, not even background characters ever actually died on the show (except for one episode where it was implied hundreds of 10 year old campers were eaten by giant mushrooms), but Vilgax and Tetrax did get to actually kill some background characters in The Movie, and there have been a fair share of Disney Deaths. I'd say 2.
  • Body: Unlike all of his previous apparent deaths, which were all No One Could Survive That! (Word of God is that he survived the Season 1 finale by teleporting away before the ship exploded), this time we actually get to see Vilgax's body partially dissolving from the force of the explosion. Probably as close as this cartoon's ever come to Deader than Dead. 4.
  • Reaction: A dramatic final episode victory pose by the Ben 10 Team, with The Hero himself stating that Vilgax is toast once and for all. Which is just a Never Say "Die" way of saying He's Dead, Jim. 3.
  • Characterization: Arch Villain. And How. 1.
  • When Did They Die?: About, what, 5 to 6 years ago? Being buried under Ben's home town, you'd think he'd have popped up again sooner if he was still alive. 4.
    • That would actually be a 3.
  • Died And Came Back: A definite yes. 1.
    • And that would be a 2, or a three if the series started killing off more people (for real) after he came back.
  • Average: 2.43. I'd love to see him come back and smear one of those stuck-up Highbreed Commanders against the wall.
  • Still 2.43, but you shouldn't fudge the formula anyway.

Elena

  • Cause: Heroic Sacrifice, killing herself to stop the nanite swarm that had taken over her body and mind. 3.
  • Genre: Death Is Cheap, remember when Max came back? 1.
  • Body: They left the nanite swarm there... and it started moving at the end of the episode. 1.
  • Reaction: Seeing as how they kept talking about how Elena was already dead, 3.
  • Characterization: A former love interest of Ben. 4.
  • When did they die?: The current arc. 1.
  • Came back?: Not yet, 4.
  • Average: 2.43 yet again! We're 1/2 on these thus far (and the jury's still out on Vilgax), so it's anyone's guess whether or not the swarm brings Elena with it when it inevitably rfketurns. Leaning toward yes, she's coming back.

    Code Lyoko 

Franz Hopper:

  • Cause of Death: Sacrifice. 3.
  • Genre: A little iffy. Up until then no one quite died, but it's repeatedly stressed that if someone did, there would be no way to bring them back. 3.
  • Body: Didn't have one. His digital form was destroyed, but digital code being what it is... 3.
  • Reaction: Violent crying and a place of honor in the wrap-up montage. The heroes finally give up on him. 4.
  • Characterization: He was a pretty major part of the plot, so 2.
  • When: One day before the final episode. 1.
  • Come back: He's survived a few death-like situations, but never anything quite this bad. 3.
  • Average: 2.7

XANA:

  • Cause of Death: A computer program specifically designed to kill him and powered by a sacrifice. 4.
  • Genre: See above. 3.
  • Body: Once again, see above. 3.
  • Reaction: Celebration on the part of everyone aware of his existence. But he is the villain...3.
  • Characterization: Archvillain, definitely. 1.
  • When: See above. 1.
  • Come Back: No. 4.
  • Average: 2.7

Conclusion: If there is a next season, both of them are probably coming back.

    The Dragon Prince 

Viren

  • Cause: Tackled off a mountain, so 1.
  • Body: Never found. 2.
  • Characterization : [1], 1.
  • When: Claudia revived him at the end of the episode, so 1.
  • Died and come back: Nope, so a 4.
  • Score: 9/5 = 1.8

Sarai

  • Death: Killed in battle- 2.
  • Expectation: [[Killed Off For Real]]- 3
  • Body: Dead, buried, 4.
  • Characterization: Loved one, [2] to boot, so 4.
  • When: 9-10 years ago- 4
  • Came back: No- 4.
  • Score: 21/6- 3.5

    Futurama 

Calculon

  • Cause: He died during a performance of a death scene, so irony: 4
  • Genre: Nobody Can Die: 1.
  • Body: Found. 4.
  • Reaction: He's Dead, Jim, 3
  • Last Words: NA
  • Characterization: Recurring, 3
  • When: Same year, 2
  • Died and come back: Not yet, 4
  • Total: 21 divided by 7=3. He's gone.

Roberto

  • Cause: Bridge Drop, 4.
  • Genre: Nobody Can Die: 1.
  • Body: Found, 4
  • Reaction: NA
  • Last Words: NA
  • Characterization: Recurring, 3
  • When: Same year, 2.
  • Died and Come Back: Not yet, 4.
  • Total: 18 divided by 6=3. Amazingly the exact same as Calculon.

    Generator Rex 

Rylander

Average: 3. Tough luck Mr. Rylander.

    The Legend of Korra 

Mako and Bolin's parents

  • Cause: Slaughtered in front of their children to traumatize them. Stuffed into the Fridge. 4.
  • Genre: Children's adventure series that isn't afraid to kill of character. 3.
  • Body Found: Death witnessed and confirmed by a character on-screen. 3.
  • Last Words: None known to us. 4.
  • Characerization: Loved one. 4.
  • When Did They Die: More than ten years ago. 4.
  • Previous Deaths: None to our knowledge. 4.
  • Average: 26/7=3.71. Very, very, very likely to be dead.

Amon/Noatak

  • Cause: Boat exploded while he was on it, planning to start a new life. There Is No Kill Like Overkill, Retirony. 4.
  • Genre: Children's show that supposedly employs Killed Off for Real like its predecessor; as he's the first character to actually die, however, there's no way to tell whether it's that or a Disney Death. 2.5
  • Body Found: Never Found the Body. 2.
  • Reaction: N/A. No one else who's still alive was around when it happened.
  • Last Words: "It's been so long since I heard my name..." 3.
  • Characterization: Arch-Enemy. 1.
  • When Did They Die: Season Finale. 4.
  • Previous Deaths: Nope. 4.
  • Average: 20.5/7= 2.92. He has a chance, but only a slim one.

The Earth Queen

  • Cause: Suffocated to death on-screen, denying the tyrant the most basic of rights: the right to breath. Death by Irony. - 4
  • Genre: Children's show that has regularly killed antagonists, but only occasionally killed heroes. Killed Off for Real. - 3
  • Body Found: Death witnessed and confirmed on-screen. - 3
  • Reaction: Her killer says "To your people ... freedom is just as essential as ... air. And without it ... there is no life. There is only ... darkness.," as she suffocates and falls to the ground. Bond One-Liner. - 4
  • Last Words: "You wouldn't dare kill a queen!" Tempting Fate. - 2
  • Characterization: Recurring Character. - 3
  • When Did They Die: Same arc. - 1
  • Previous Deaths: Not yet. - 4
  • Average: 3. Dead, with little chance of return.

Mako

  • Cause: Heroic Sacrifice. - 3
  • Genre: Children's show that has regularly killed antagonists, but only occasionally killed heroes. Killed Off for Real. - 3
  • Body Found: Left for Dead. - 1
  • Reaction: Faux Death. - 1
  • Last Words: "I love you, too. Now go!" - 3
  • Characterization: Protagonist. - 1
  • When Did They Die: Series Finale. - 4
  • Previous Deaths: Not yet. - 4
  • ''Average: 20/8=2.5. He should be okay, but there's some chance he's dead.

    Metalocalypse 

Cardinal Ravenwood

  • Cause: When he tried to actually do something about Dethklok, his boss made him vomit his intestines. Definite death by irony. 4.
  • Genre: Death Is Cheap, it's a standard gag on the show to bring back people who were seen "dying" at the end of a previous episode, revealing that they were only horribly mutilated. 1.
  • Body: Found by Dethklok in his last moments alive. Unknown what they did as he lay there dying. 4.
  • Reaction: He's dead, Jim. 3.
  • Characterization: Regular antagonist. 2.
  • Time of death: Same year. 2.
  • Back from the dead before? Not yet. 4.
  • Average: 20/7 = 2.857. He might come back in a couple seasons, but it's unlikely.

    My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic 

Twilight Sparkle was turned to stone in one episode; just for fun, let's see what the algorithm has to say:

  • Cause: She was out doing an errand before getting petrified; Bridge drop, 4
  • Genre: It's a kid show where no one has ever died, 1
  • Body: As mentioned before, she was turned to stone, 2
  • Reaction: When Fluttershy found Twilight petrified, she was more worried about the kids she was babysitting than her, 1
  • Last Words: There wasn't any. N/A
  • Characterization: The leader of the Mane Six, 1
  • When: Same episode, 1
  • Died and Come Back: Not yet, 4
  • Average: 14/7 = 2. The algorithm says she'll be back soon and she was revived in the same episode. What a shock.

King Sombra, at the Season 3 premiere.

Queen Chrysalis at the end of "A Royal Wedding"

  • Cause: Twinkle in the sky, so No One Could Survive That: 2
  • Audience Expectation: Kid's Show: 1
  • Body: Never found: 2
  • Reaction: Much rejoicing: 4
  • Last Words: Screaming, so Oh, Crap!: 4
  • Characterization: Arc Villain: 2
  • When did she die: End of season 2, so same year (at least less than five years before her reappearance): 2
  • Come back: No: 4
  • Average: 21/8 = 2.625 So between see you soon and may be back later. (Eeyup, comes back in season 6)

    The Simpsons 

Homer Simpson's Mother

  • Cause of Death: A form of Heroic Sacrifice, or Thanatos Gambit to be more exact: 3
  • Genre: Maude Flanders has been Killed Off for Real: 3
  • Body Found: Of course, the very idea that she could come back depends on the assumption that the ashes in that urn were the ashes of something other than Mother Simpson's cremated body. It's The Simpsons, you know that if they bring her back they'll just make some Hand Wave to explain how Mona faked her own death. Besides, after Sideshow Bob faked his own death, I'm not putting anything past the writers. 2 points (Faking the Dead)—or 4 points (Deader than Dead) if you don't buy that whole "not actually her ashes" claim.
  • Reaction: Montage: 4
  • Characterization: Loved One: 4
  • When did she die? Same year: 2
  • Died and come back? The bus accident: 3

If we consider the "Body Found" too controversial to count, this gives us a score of (19 divided by 6), or 3 and a sixth. She might be coming back, but don't count on it.

Maude Flanders

  • Cause of Death: Bridge drop, 4.
  • Audience expectation: Tonight, Someone Dies: 3
  • Body found?: Buried. 4
  • Reaction: She's dead, Ned. 3
  • Last words: She said her last words a while before dying. N/A
  • Characterization: Recurring character. 3
  • When did she die?: 10+ years ago. 4
  • "Died" and come back?: No.

21 divided by 6 = 3.5, so somewhere between "maybe" and "definitely dead".

    South Park 

Just because it should be so obvious, Kenny. May not count as it's one of the show's Running Gags.

  • Cause of Death: Absolutely Everything, Usually at Random. 4
  • Genre: Death Is Cheap. 1
  • Body Found: Highly variable, but usually of the splattered variety and thus usually dead and buried or never found. 3.5
  • Reaction: Oh-my-god-they-killed-Kenny-you-bastards. I think this scores a 0 for nobody caring (except for one episode). Even the other characters expect him back. 0
  • Characterisation: One of the four protagonists. 1
  • When did they die: Earlier today or yesterday, roughly. 1
  • Died and came back: I lost count. 1
  • Total: 11.5/7 = 1.64. Of course Kenny is coming back.

Chef

    Star Wars The Clone Wars and Rebels 
Obi-Wan Kenobi
  • Cause of Death: Shot off a roof to a mysterious doom. - 1
  • Genre: Since it's a prequel show, pretty much everyone is Saved by Canon. - 1
  • Body Found: Body not checked to see if dead. - 1
  • Reaction: Anakin swears to hunt down Obi-Wan's murderer with all his fury. - 2
  • Last Words: Tempting Fate. - 1
  • Characterization: Protagonist. - 1
  • When did they die: Same arc - 1
  • Died and Came Back: Not yet. - 4
  • Total: 12/8=1.5. Yeah, he's coming back in the same episode, isn't he?

Darth Maul

  • Cause of Death: Admits to his faults in the last moments of his life, so that his Redemption Equals Death. - 3
  • Genre: Antagonists have been killed off with some regularity, although fake deaths are common and appearances beyond death are possible. - 3
  • Body Found: Death witnessed and confirmed. - 3
  • Reaction: After he Dies Wide Open, his eyes are slowly and significantly put shut. - 4
  • Last Words: Dies in hope that "We will be... avenged," - 3
  • Characterization: Archvillain and archnemesis. - 1
  • When did they die: Same year. - 2
  • Died and Came Back: Cut in half, lost in an abandoned spaceship, tortured into submission on Mandalore, fell off a giant Sith temple on Malachor and who knows what else. Death Is Cheap for this guy. - 1
  • Total: 20/8=2.5. He's dead for a time. but he should be back after a fair amount of time.

    Steven Universe 

I know she's very likely to return, but…

Jasper (at the end of S 03 E 02)

  • Cause: No One Could Survive That!. 2
  • Genre: Disney Death. 2
  • The Body: Never Found. 2
  • Reaction: It's Personal, maybe. She (as Malachite) had it out for the Crystal Gems. 2
  • Characterization: Sort-of main antagonist. Not enough appearances to be recurring. 2
  • When: Same year, roughly. 2
  • Come Back?: Not yet. 4
  • Average: 20/7 = 2.857. It'll be surprising that she's coming back within the season, and episode titles give the implication that that might be the case.

    Transformers 

Optimus Prime

  • I'm not even bothering to do the math. He's always going to come back. Simple as that. Average: 1.
    • But... but... Algorithm!
    • Therefore...
    • Cause of Death: Killed by Megatron in a Heroic Sacrifice / One Final Battle — 3
    • Audience Expectation: It's a show meant to sell toys to six-year-olds. Nobody thought they'd have the cojones. — 1.
    • Body/Casing Found?: Yes, was presumed to be buried after the events of the movie — 4.
    • Reaction: Pretty much a He's Dead, Jim mixed with It's Personal. — 2.5
    • Last Words: A fine Final Speech, and a passing of the Matrix to Hot Rod. — 3
    • When?: Same Year — 2
    • Died and come back?: Not to that point. — 4
    • That gives us a 19.5/8=2.4. Which evens up with his next TV appearance later that year (albeit as a zombie controlled by the Quintessons...)
    • See, the algorithm works. Respect the algorithm. Love the algorithm.

Prowl from Transformers: Animated

  • Cause: Died by sacrifice, 3
  • Genre: Resurrections were common in this incarnation of Transformers, but there were some deaths in the third season, 2
  • Body: Dead and probably buried, 4
  • Reaction: He's Dead, Jim, 3
  • Last Words: "Famous last words". 3
  • Characterization: Regular, 2
  • When: Died at the Grand Finale, 4
  • Died and Come Back: Not yet, 4
  • Average: 25/8 = 3.125. If they are going to make another season, don't expect him to come back.

    The Venture Brothers 

Henchman 1 (Scott Hall)

  • Cause: Strangled/punched by Brock Sampson. Later subject to an effortless Neck Snap prior to Gargantua-1's destruction. He tends to be thorough, so No One Could Survive That! for 2.
  • Audience Expectation: Last seen on All This and Gargantua-2. 3
  • The Body: Never Found the Body for 3.
  • Reaction: "First time", the Monarch said "It's Personal"... which is just to say "business as usual" with the added flavor that the next raid on Dr. Venture Jr. is in his honor/revenge. In last appearance though, not so much of a thought. 3
  • Last Words: Relishing confronting Brock when he got his concentration broken by Hank's entrance. 4
  • Characterization: Parodied mercilessly by 21 and 24 as a Mauve Shirt of the highly expendable pathos inducing variety. 3
  • When did he die: All This and Gargantua-2. 2
  • Died And Come Back: Prior to his last appearance, was seemingly dead at the hands of Brock Samson. 3
  • Average: 23/8 = 2.875. He got away the first time. This time he might not be so lucky.

#24

  • Cause: No One Could Survive That!, though it did seem a bit like a Bridge Dropping. 3.
  • Audience Expectation: Doesn't really have Negative Continuity, but considering Henchman 1's improbable comeback after his first presumed death among other things, the series gravitates between 2 and 3. In this case, likely 3 given that all the Venture clones are destroyed at this episode as well.
  • The Body: If the head we saw is his, then 4. Otherwise 3.
  • Reaction: None yet besides 21's, but it was right at the end of the episode and season, so 2.
  • Last Words: An Oh, Crap! when his seatbelt was stuck. 4
  • Characterization: Called out as a Mauve Shirt in the show, but was more like a Regular. 3
  • When did he die: The season 3 finale. 3.
  • Died And Come Back: Not yet. 4.
  • Average: 26/8 = 3.25 if it is his head, 25/8 = 3.125 if not. Probably not likely given he's gone from 21's head too

Molotov Cocktease and Monstroso

  • Cause: Suicide, letting the car fall off the cliff with herself and her lover still inside. 1.
  • Genre: 2, again, for same reasons as above.
  • The Body: We don't see either of their bodies. 2.
  • Reaction: We only see Brock's reaction. Brock threats to kill her. She reminds him if she dies her mercenaries will kill his friends and loved ones. Then she falls off the cliff which shocks Brock. 2.
  • Last Words: "I'd rather die." which may or may not count as "My Death Is Only The Beginning" because her death causes the mercenaries to attempt to kill everyone at the party. So 1.5.
  • Characterization: Recurring Character. 3.
  • When did they die?: Season 5. So 3.
  • Died and Came back?: Not yet. 4.
  • Average: 2.3125. They'll probably come back, but you shouldn't get your hopes up just yet.
They come back in the fifth season.

Dr. Jonas Venture, Jr.

  • Cause: Heroic Sacrifice, though he was also suffering from cancer as well. 3
  • Audience Expectation: All This and Gargantua-2. 3
  • The Body: Never found after the explosion. 2
  • Reaction: A funeral. 4
  • Last Words: "Go Team Venture!" 3
  • Characterization: Recurring character. 3
  • When did he die?: All This and Gargantua-2. 2
  • Died and came back?: Nope. 4
  • Overall: A solid 3. Not likely to be seen alive from here on out.

    Winx Club 

Nabu

  • Cause: Exhausted himself closing the dark abyss in an attempt to protect the earth fairies from Ogron's Evil Plan. It suceeds. Heroic Sacrifice = 3
  • Genre: Winx Club is aimed at 6-12 year old kids (mostly girls) and everybody found shocking that a main character was Killed Off for Real. Let's give it a 2.
  • Body Found: Yes. This takes a full 4, since Aisha used it to restore Tir Nan Og
  • Reaction: Aisha even pulled a Face–Heel Turn, so I think it counts as 2.
  • Last words: Said goodbye to Aisha. 3.
  • Characterization: C-List Fodder in season 3, but upgraded to Regular in Season 4, so 2.
  • When: Same Year. 2
  • Came back: Not yet. 4.
  • Average: 23/8= 2.88. Considering the nature of the show, maybe he will be back.


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