Author: Chris Harnick / Source: E! Online
Who: Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes on The Walking Dead
Why: Lincoln wanted to spend more time with his young family instead of traveling from the UK to the US.
How: Rick Grimes was gravely injured, but still saved his friends and family from two zombie herds.
They thought he perished in a blast, but he was rescued and taken to a mysterious location. His story will continue with three TV movies on AMC.Reaction: Fans were heartbroken at Rick’s sacrifice…and then excited and confused about the movies that are coming.
Verdict: C-. This would’ve been a solid B+ had AMC not immediately announced Rick Grimes would return in three movies. The news cheapened the impact of his exit.
Who: Josh Charles as Will Gardner on The Good Wife
Why: “I thought that I felt however much I’ve enjoyed the experience, I was ready for the next chapter of my life, both creatively and personally,” Charles said after his character left the show.
How: Will Gardner was gunned down in a courtroom, devastating his former lover/coworker Alicia Florrick.
Reaction: Fans were obviously upset—and shocked! The Good Wife kept Charles’ exit pretty much a secret. Sorry Willicia shippers.
Verdict: A. Heartbreaking and surprising. The shock reverberated for weeks — if not months — and his exit invigorated the show and set Alicia on a new course. We hated the choice at first, but it got so much better.
Who: David Duchovny as Fox Mulder on The X-Files
Why: Duchovny’s contract was up at the end of the seventh season and he reportedly wanted more money and a lighter work schedule.
There was also a lawsuit happening. He returned in seasons eight and nine, but not in the same capacity.How: Mulder was abducted by aliens in the season seven finale and returned, near death, in season eight. He then went into hiding, only to emerge toward the end of the series to help bring out the truth.
Reaction: Mulder and Scully were the backbone of The X-Files. The show went on for two more years without Duchovny appearing regularly, but they episodes are largely considered…not the show’s best.
Verdict: C-. Weak. Mulder and Scully forever! At least we get another six episodes with them coming to Fox this season.
Who: Josh Bowman as Daniel Grayson on Revenge
Why: In season two, after a bit of a creative downfall, Bowman did an interview saying he wanted Daniel to be killed off the show. Harsh! But then showrunner Sunil Nayar said he didn’t mean it, and then Bowman said he didn’t mean it. One season later, the death happened regardless, which Nayar told us was a “creative collaboration “with the actor. Bowman, meanwhile, told us his words were misinterpreted, saying, “I’m extremely appreciative of the show.” Um…Got it?
How: After learning Emily’s true identity and kind of becoming a total d—k, Daniel redeemed himself by taking a bullet, literally, for his ex. And it was just after he found out he was going to be a father! Sob!
Reaction: Fans were very, very upset over the death of Daniel, meaning the show totally did its job in redeeming the character, who just the season before shot Emily on their wedding night.
Verdict: A. While we still think having Daniel be the body on the beach in season one would’ve been a bold and awesome choice, his death had so much meaning on a show that sometimes treats death the way a garbage man handles trash.
Who: Michael Vartan as Michael Vaughn on Alias
Why: No reason was ever given, but rumors swirled that Vartan’s exit had to do with his breakup with lead actress (and on-screen love interest) Jennifer Garner (Sydney Bristow).
How: In the fifth season premiere, he was shot by a rogue agent after being told that his wife Sydney was pregnant.
Reaction: The fans completely freaked out, begging J.J. Abrams to bring Vaughn back, and…whether it was planned from the beginning or not, Vaughn was discovered miraculously alive, 10 episodes later, living in Nepal and having faked his own death.
Verdict: C+ The whole thing was ridiculous and shocking, but all water under the bridge when we got our precious Vaughn back, and the fans got the happy ending for Sydney and Vaughn that they so desperately wanted in the very end.
Who: Julianna Margulies as Carol Hathaway on ER
Why: Margulies turned down a big payday—we’re talking $27 million—when she decided to leave ER and get some other type of life fulfillment. “I’m a smart girl,” Margulies, told More. “I had a year’s worth of work waiting and a mortgage completely paid at age 32. I was under no illusion that I was going to be some big movie star. My dad said, ‘If you got hit by a bus tomorrow, were you living your life truthfully, or were you waiting to get rich?’ If I died and my soul started leaving my body, would I be looking down going, ‘You idiot. You could have gone to Prague, you could have been on Broadway’? Those are the things I wanted to do.”
How: Nurse Carol Hathaway left Chicago and got in a plane to Seattle where she met Doug Ross and they lived happily ever after. Her exit was made even more enjoyable by the surprise cameo George Clooney did!
Reaction: Carol and Doug ended up together so…yeah. People were pleased.
Verdict: A. Great. The right ending for the characters.
Who: Christopher Meloni as Detective Stabler on Law & Order: SVU
Why: After 12 years on the show, contract negotiations reportedly fell through and Meloni went on to do True Blood and some flicks, including Man of Steel.
How: Stabler shot a…
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