Top 10 Surprising TV Deaths In television, killing off a character must be done just right. Too minor a player and no one cares; too major a character and everyone cares too much – unless it’s done with flare. The element of surprise is key. For example, despite it being arguably the greatest series ever, Breaking Bad didn’t shock audiences when Walter White died. The guy had terminal cancer and even more terminal enemies, for God’s sake. This list, rather, deals with surprise demise. Following are ten TV deaths that few viewers saw coming. Arguably the most anticipated reboot of all time was the return of the beloved sitcom, Roseanne, after 21 years. Unfortunately for the Conner family matriarch, it was also one of the shortest-lived.