From Sarah Potts to Spot, Tara Ward relives the TV deaths that haunt us still.
All week long The Spinoff will be opening up about the end. Click here to read more of our Death Week content.
Nothing yanks on your heartstrings or makes you sob into your supper like the unexpected death of a beloved television character. Despite most TV characters being entirely fictional (sure, whatever), a shocking or tragic TV death can evoke a strong emotional response that lingers for a long time. It can sear itself into your consciousness so deeply that you won’t ever hear ‘Chasing Cars’ by Snow Patrol without thinking of poor, sweet Denny or hear a quiet whisper without wondering what Ned Stark actually said before he lost his head.
To mark Death Week on The Spinoff, we’re reliving these terrible, heart-wrenching moments all over again. Grab your tissues and prepare to take an emotional trip down memory lane, as we remember some of our most devastating TV deaths. (Don’t worry, there’s no recent shows here to so no spoilers – unless you still haven’t caught up on what happened on Outrageous Fortune in 2007.)
Sarah Potts catches a superbug (Shortland Street)
Of all of Shortland Street’s many, many deaths, Sarah Pott’s sudden departure in August 2014 left the nation reeling the most. Struck down while finding a cure for a mysterious virus, Sarah’s tragic passing provoked an unprecedented outpouring of grief from fans. In the weeks following her death, Shortland Street’s “RIP Sarah Potts” website was viewed by a whopping 1.6 million New Zealanders, which is almost as many dead wives as Dr TK Samuels has had.
Spot goes to the dog park in the sky (Telecom)
Spot the Telecom dog was the nation’s telecommunications hero in the 1990s, with the clever wee canine skateboarding into our hearts each time Telecom launched a new product. Spot died off-screen in Sydney in 2000 at the age of 13, and landlines never had the same appeal again. “We received a constant stream of fan mail for him over the years,” Telecom said in a press release announcing Spot’s death. “He became such a New Zealand icon that he even featured in a Listener poll as preferred prime minister.”
Aurora gets hit by a party bus (Outrageous Fortune)
She had the most beautiful name in all of West Auckland, he was the loveable rogue with a mullet to die for. Aurora Bay and Van West were childhood sweethearts and star-crossed lovers, and just when it seemed like they’d found true happiness, Aurora hooned off on a motorbike carrying a backpack of drugs and got smooshed by a party bus. She was farewelled with an emotional backyard funeral, but lives on in several heartwarming tribute videos.
Steve and TP’s car crash (Shortland Street)
That yellow car, that huge explosion, the shocking death of two core characters. The 1994 car crash that killed Steve and TP was one of Shortland Street’s first big stunts, and although it’s a simple set-up by today’s standards, this scene still hits hard. Also, how many times has Dr Chris Warner cheated death? The man has a better survival rate than a cockroach.
Rose Matafeo’s chickpea (Taskmaster UK)
The cause of death may be unclear, but this sad farewell tugged on the heartstrings of humans and legumes alike. The mournful dirge, those quiet footsteps, the sorry sobs of New Zealand comedian Matafeo as she watched poor little Chick Pataki take their final journey to the Taskmaster garden. RIPea, indeed.
Claire McLeod drives off a cliff (McLeod’s Daughters)
It’s been twenty years since Claire (played by New Zealander Lisa Chappell) accidentally drove off a cliff, but every moment of this TV death still makes the heart hurt. Claire had never been happier than on the day she carked it, and then that stupid white horse ran in front of her and that stupid pothole appeared in the road. Before we knew it, Claire’s ute was hanging over a cliff. If only she hadn’t gone to Gungellan for corn chips! Carbohydrates strike again.
Astar’s dying swan (Good Morning)
Good Morning gave us the performance of a lifetime in 2007 when craft queen Astar transformed into a dying swan. A feathery vision of style and grace, Astar was heaven sent to tiptoe among mortals like Megan Alatini and Johnny from Dancing with the Stars, and her performance peaked as the swan took her final breaths and twitched alone on the floor. One YouTube viewer summed it up perfectly: “I just moved here from the States, television is different here.”
Everyone in Brokenwood (The Brokenwood Mysteries)
It’s impossible to single out just one memorable death in The Brokenwood Mysteries, because they’ve all been delightfully bonkers. It’s a miracle anyone stays alive in this murderous town, but what better way to go than be poisoned by spider venom during a Lord of the Rings tour, or stabbed to death on a ghost train, or found tied to the local rugby goal posts completely in the nude? Absolute scenes.
Patrick gets hit by a car (Offspring)
No, it’s not a New Zealand show, but Australian dramedy Offspring gave us one of the most devastating deaths on television. One minute Dr Patrick was walking to his beloved Nina’s baby shower, the next he was having brain surgery after being hit by a car. Rewatching this episode had me sobbing to the point of dehydration, and even though Ghost Patrick visited Nina and their daughter afterwards, Offspring would never be the same again.
Carmen killed by runaway Mack Truck (Shortland Street)
Yes, it’s another Shortland Street death, but the Mack Truck slamming through the hospital reception in 1995 lives on as one of the show’s most epic events. At first it seemed new mum Carmen Roberts had only suffered minor injuries in the crash, but the next day — during the show’s only ever Christmas Day episode — Carmen collapsed and died of a brain injury, ruining Christmas forever.
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