So, not entirely sure where this thread should go, a it's not restricted to Books/Anime, but all media, but this seemed close enough.

Basically what it says on the tin. What are some of the most iconic deaths you've come across, at least in your opinion?

Maybe there's already been a thread like this, but I couldn't find one on a brief search, and if there was one, well maybe your opinion has changed. or Maybe you've come across more.

Anyway, I'll list three of mine, to start:

Harry Stamper, (Bruce Willis) from Armageddon. I think this is one we all know, but it sticks out to me. I remember watching the movie when I was a kid, and it's been one of the few scenes that've ever made me cry a bit.

Mae Hughes, from Fullmetal Alchemist. (Both versions) One most anyone who has a passing interest in Anime will know, it's still iconic to me, simply because it's the first one in anime I ever watched. He doesn't have the sort of badass death other anime characters might have gotten, but he didn't need it to stick with me. In fact, the relatively simple way he died is probably one of the reasons it's one this small list.

Zack Fair, from Final Fantasy VII. Zack is probably my favorite FF character. He's not the strongest, at least not by the end of FF7, but he did have a huge impact on the story in general. Even if we didn't see him much in the main game, he still had a presence and it never failed make me melancholic.


Certainly there are other characters I could list, but I'll end this post here.

 

Thorin Oakenshield from The Hobbit. The slow death of wounds while talking.

Old Dan and Little Ann from Where the Red Fern Grows. Do I really need to say anything about this?

 

Vincent D'Onofrio as Pvt. Leonard 'Gomer Pyle' Lawrence in Full Metal Jacket. "I am in a world of shit."

Tom Hanks as Capt. John Miller in Saving Private Ryan. "Earn this."

Alan Tudyk as Hoban Washburn in Serenity. "Watch how I soar."

Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, episode 'the Body'. [Buffy: "Mom! Mom? Mom... mommy?"]

Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty in Blade Runner. "All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain."

 

End of Evangelion...

 

I second Joyce's death in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Though it still can't reach the level of Tara's death. I think after that "your shirt" moment i literally froze. Both deaths were sudden to the extreme.

Edit: Oh, and Anya's death. She kinda got killed and nobody even noticed it. QQ

 

Seconding Roy Batty from Blade Runner. Also these:

- Walter Kurtz (Apocalypse Now)

- Spock (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)

- Asuka Soryu (The End of Evangelion)

- Spike Spiegal (Cowboy Bebop)

- Gwen Stacy (Spider-Man)

- Jason Todd (Batman -- particularly the Under The Red Hood version, since that didn't have some of the nonsense associated with the comic version like the Joker becoming Ambassador of Iran)

- The Boss (Metal Gear Solid 3)

 

Dumbledore, obviously Even though it was heavily hinted at all through the book, even though people had been predicting it before the book even came out, it somehow managed to surprise nonetheless. Maybe the ignobility of it. Maybe the way in which we thought he was out of the woods after getting out of the Cave. Maybe just because the character had been such a constant presence, even back when he hadn't had much time on the page.

I third Joyce. I actually just reached that episode today in my Buffy marathon rewatch. There may have been some manly tears when Buffy told Dawn.

Buffy's own death a few episodes later was massive, and expertly foreshadowed. Death is your gift.

Harry's death in Deathly Hallows was powerful. Not the death itself, but the segment leading up to it where he makes the conscious decision to die, but is still afraid.

Aeris in FF7. Was utterly shocked that they would kill off a playable character in whom I had invested a lot of time and power leveling.

 

Going with the Buffy/Angel theme ...

Doyle in Season 1 of Angel

Cordelia in Season 5 Episode 12 (You're Welcome) of Angel

The vampire in Season 5 Episode 13 (Why We Fight) of Angel

Dresden Files ...

Susan's death in Changes and Morgan's in Turn Coat.

 

Not really a specific death, but the series of deaths in the Scrubs Episode "My Lunch".

 

Abel, as in Cain's brother and the "first" murder victim.

 

Ace's death in One Piece.

 

Well, I've got one from literature, television and film:

Gatsby in the Great Gatsby.

Ryan Chappelle on 24.

Tony Montana.

 

Lavitz Slambert from Legend of Dragoon... relearning the timing on Albert for Gust of Wind Dance was annoying for a bit.

The Mana Tree

Nina Tucker, of Fullmetal Alchemist fame.

Hoban Washburn is a good one, but Sheppard Book is also a point of significance of sorts.

Eh, most of those are semi-joking, although Secret of Mana was the first game I personally owned and completed(Uniracers and Evo didn't really count). Legend of Dragoon was also an awesome game, with rather impressive CG scenes for it's time.

I find it difficult to think of examples that really stand out to me at this time. Maybe later.

 

Sir Walter Beck from Fable 3.
Teach me to be a hero. It let me forgive that game.

Ben Sullivan in Scrubs. One of my favorite episodes.

Harry's death in book seven was quite something to me.

Most of the FMA deaths especially Hughes and Nina.

 

Ace from DCAU.

 

Love all the Buffy and Angel mentions. Joss Whedon's shows may sometimes vary ridiculously so in quality, but deaths are something he's always managed to pull off well. Joyce, Buffy herself, Fred, Tara, and Wesley.

24 is another show that pulled off deaths fantastically. Teri's death at the end of S1 was so unexpected. It was all over, and then... George Mason had the first redemptive death in S2. Everything works about that scene on the plane with Jack. Ryan Chappelle in S3. David Palmer, one of the greatest fictional presidents, in S5. Chloe watching as Edgar dies in S5, too.

One of the John's in mid-S3 Farscape. Finally seeing what wormhole weapons were all about. And later that season, Crais. "Talyn... Starburst!"

And I'll fourth or fifth Aeris, of course. No matter your opinion on FFVII (it's overrated), that death significantly influenced gaming.

 

Most iconic deaths

Fredo in The Godfather Part II

John Coffee in The Green Mile

Doc Holliday in Tombstone

Frodo,Gandalf,Bilbo,Galadriel, & Elrond when they sail to the Undying Lands

Ron Weasley when he's killed by the chessmen in first year....Wait Sorry....wishful thinking

I'm sure there's more but I just can't think of any at the moment.

 

Mufasa.
/tenchar

 

Boromir in the Fellowship film.

Dominic Vail in NCIS: LA.

I agree with the 24 deaths and would add Curtis Manning's death at Jack's hand in S6.