6 Most Emotional Sci-Fi/Fantasy Death Scenes
These are the six on-screen death scenes that I personally found extremely sad. They are scenes that, even when watched a second or third time, can still bring tears to the viewer's eyes. There's a depth of emotion behind them. They're not just chosen because a character died unexpectedly, or a character that was beloved died, they're chosen because that death was either very significant and had a lot of emotional repercussions for the plot and for other characters, or because of the way it was filmed, acted, and realized on screen.I'm not including book deaths because there's a huge difference between the two mediums in this case, but both TV and movies are included. Also, I've limited myself to two scenes per world/series.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Seriously, if you haven't watched one of the movies or tv shows I mention then be warned: I will speak freely and I may spoil important moments for you!
FINAL WARNING FOR SPOILERS
From Middle Earth:
Faramir/Pippin's Song
Yes, I know Faramir didn't end up dead, but this was a very emotional near-death so it will count. This scene would not have been as moving as it was without the juxtaposition between Denethor's uncaring attitude as he ate in the hall and kept himself entertained and Faramir's insane ride out to battle just so he could prove himself to his father. He basically sacrificed himself so that maybe his father would love him like he loved Boromir.
The scene is the culmination of many glimpses we've been given of the brothers' relationship with each other and their father, all of which were sad, but this scene in particular was heartbreaking. What makes it most moving is the fact that Faramir was always the stronger man though his father was unable to recognize that. If only they had kept Faramir's original reaction to the Ring from the book it would have been even better!
Boromir
I didn't like Boromir, but he was the first character to get an actual arc in Lord of the Rings. He has his motivations and his personal background with Sauron - Gondor is right next to Sauron's Mordor and has suffered immensely even before the story starts! He is tempted and then completely overtaken by the Ring's power, but he fights this and redeems himself in his valiant final defense of Merry and Pippin. He sees his mistake just before his death at the hands of the most brutal of the Uruk Hai and no matter how much I hated Boromir before I was moved by this scene.
From Harry Potter:
Cedric Diggory - "My son!" Movie 4
This scene played out very differently for me in the book and on screen. In the book, and for most of the movie I didn't really like Cedric Diggory. He was pitted against Harry, he was popular, Malfoy supported him over Harry and made those badges, and we didn't really get to see him much or have a reason to care about him. For these reasons I wasn't really that moved by his Death. It was sad, but it wasn't tragic. When I saw the movie however, and his father started saying "My son!" and grieving with the music and shocked faces of the other students in the background, it was a very moving scene.
From Dark Angel:
Ben - Episode: Pollo Loco
Ben's entire story was very tragic. His fear of the "nomalies" during their time at Manticore, the stories he invents to deal with it, and his progression into insanity as he is unable to leave Manticore behind even after the escape; all of that just perfectly expressed the horror of what Manticore was doing to those kids. It culminates in the final scene where he is lying injured, begging Max not to let them take him back there like a child. It was one of the strongest and saddest episodes of the show (and in Sci-Fi in general) and Jensen Ackles' acting had a lot to do with that.
Diamond - Episode: Shortie's In Love
Original Cindy's friend Diamond was a trouble-maker and you could read her as a little bit of a stereotypical character at first, but as the episode goes on that back story ceases to be so important as the tragedy of what was done to her in the supposed prison becomes clear. When we learn that she had been manipulated and experimented upon, when we see the visual manifestation of all the diseases that have been pumped into her system, and when she takes the evil company boss down with her it's a very moving and very haunting moment. I find that entire episode spine-chilling.
From Never Let Me Go
Tommy's Rage
This entire movie is a tragic look at what it means to be human and what can happen when people look the other way. It's one of the most depressing (but at the same time awesome) films that I've ever seen, but the one moment that just destroys me every time I see it is Tommy's rage scene shortly before his death. It's a direct reaction to everything that's happened to him his whole life, to the chilling revelation by Madame that the whole art program was there to try and figure out if those kids even had souls and you can see his soul exploding with all the pent up emotions that he had been holding in before. This was exceptionally well acted by Andrew Garfield. Heartbreaking.
PS: I didn't include Wash's death in Serenity because I don't acknowledge that movie in my personal canon of the Firefly series. The series was awesome, the movie was like a bad imitation of it with ninja moves and excessive gore and the complete betrayal of killing off one of the best characters in the stupidest way so yeah, I'm trying hard to pretend the movie Serenity doesn't exist. Read my Serenity review here.
What do you guys think? Any moments I missed? Any shows or movies I should watch so I can make a better list? Let me know!
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