TV Shows Criticized for ‘Fridging’ Female Characters Through Shocking Deaths
From Law & Order: SVU to Yellowstone‘s Marshals, numerous TV shows have faced criticism for eliminating female characters to advance the narrative.
The term “fridging” describes a plot device in which a woman is killed or injured in media to further a male character’s storyline. Coined by comic book writer Gail Simone, this critique has spread across various mediums, including television.
Marshals has recently come under scrutiny for the offscreen death of Kelsey Asbille‘s character, Monica, in the series premiere in March 2026. Monica was first introduced in Yellowstone, which ran from 2018 to 2024, but was ultimately removed when CBS launched a spinoff centered around her husband, Kayce (Luke Grimes).
“Kayce’s ending in Yellowstone was literally him riding off into the sunset,” Grimes shared with Entertainment Weekly at the time. “We can’t just watch this guy live his dream life. That wouldn’t create drama.”
Grimes justified the necessity for a narrative shift.
“Something has to disrupt his happiness,” he added. “Otherwise, what would motivate him to take a badge? The last time we saw him, he threw a badge into a field. Is he just going to leave it there?”
Scroll down to discover other female characters whom fans feel were not given proper treatment:
‘Marshals’
Monica’s offscreen death was poorly received by many Yellowstone fans, who criticized how her removal served to advance Kayce’s plot in the spinoff.
‘Secret Invasion’
The tragic death of Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) in Secret Invasion still resonates with fans.
‘The Boys’
Queen Maeve’s (Dominique McElligott) decision to sacrifice herself in a battle with Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) did not sit well, as she was ultimately written out of the show despite surviving.
‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’
The narrative took a dark turn when Stabler’s wife, Kathy (Isabel Gillies), was killed in a car bombing, drawing backlash for being used to enhance his character arc.
‘Andor’
Following the death of Cinta (Verada Sethu) in season 2, an online discussion erupted about the implications of her removal.
‘Breaking Bad’
Many of Jesse’s (Aaron Paul) romantic interests, including girlfriend Jane (Krysten Ritter) and ex Andrea (Emily Rios), met tragic ends to further Jesse’s development.
‘Dexter’
Dexter faced similar backlash when his wife, Rita (Julie Benz), suffered a tragic fate to facilitate his narrative progression.
‘Supernatural’
In Supernatural, as Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) pursued demons and monsters, their partners often faced grim fates, including the death of their mother, Mary (Samantha Smith).
‘NCIS’
Leon’s (Rocky Carroll) wife, Jackie (Paula Newsome), along with Gibbs’ (Mark Harmon) former spouses Shannon (Darby Stanchfield) and Diane (Melinda McGraw), and ex-fiancée Ellen (Erin Cummings), have all met tragic ends on the show.
