TV Shows Accused Of ‘Freezing’ Female Actors For Shocking Deaths

From Law & Order: SVU to Yellowstone‘s The Marshalssome TV shows have received criticism for killing off their female characters because of the plot.

The concept of “freezing” refers to the device where a woman is killed – or injured – in the media for the purpose of furthering the male character’s story. When this idea was coined by a comic book writer Gail Simonecriticism has spread to other channels – including TV.

The Marshals is a new show about murder Kelsey AsbilleMonica in the series premieres in March 2026. Monica was originally introduced in Yellowstone, which aired from 2018 to 2024, but was eventually removed from the story when CBS ordered the spinoff to focus on her husband, Kayce (Luke Grimes).

“The way Yellowstone ended up for Kayce was that he rode off into the sunset,” Grimes told Entertainment Weekly at the time. “Obviously we’re not going to just watch this guy live his dream. There’s no drama.”

Grimes defended the need for narrative movement.

“Something will have to happen to prevent him from having that,” he continued. “Otherwise, why would he take the badge? The last time we saw him, he was throwing the badge in the field. Are you going to pick it up?”

Keep scrolling to find some female characters TV fans feel haven’t gotten their due:

‘The Marshals’

Monica’s off-screen death was not well received by all Yellowstone fans have been asking how his absence was written as a way to advance Kayce’s story in his new show.

‘Secret Invasion’

Not everyone is on the Secret Invasion scene that led to Maria Hill’s (Cobie Smulders) a painful death.

‘Boys’

Queen Maeve’s (Dominique McElligott) decision to sacrifice herself in the war with Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) did not go well because although she survived, she was eventually eliminated from the show.

‘Law and Order: Special Victims Unit’

Stabler’s story changed when his wife, Kathy (Isabel Gillies), was killed in a car bombing. Law & Order: SVU viewers criticized the NBC series for using that as a way to spice up the character’s story.

‘Andor’

After Cinta (Verada Sethu) was killed off in season 2, there was internet chatter about the decision.

‘Bad Break’

Most of Jesse (Aaron Paul) love interests including girlfriend Jane (Krysten Ritter) and Andrea (Emily Rios) became victims as a way to further Jesse’s arc.

‘Dexter’

Dexter faced a similar conflict when Dexter (Michael C. Hallwife, Rita (Julie Benz), met a cruel end because of where his story needed to go in the show.

‘Supernatural’

Go ahead SupernaturalSam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) ran the story as they hunt demons, ghosts and monsters, which doesn’t leave much time for romance. As a result, their partners met cruel ends in the game … such as Mary’s mother (Samantha Smith) death.

‘NCIS’

Leon (Rocky Carrollwife, Jackie (Paula Newsome), and Gibbs’ (Mark Harmon) ex-wives Shannon (Darby Stanchfield) and Diane (Melinda McGraw) and former fiancee Ellen (Erin Cummings) all died on the show.