This was originally going to be a poll, but I wasn't allowed so many options, so it's just turned into a general question with a list of suggestions.
What is your favourite Whedon death scene?
(the options I was going to have for the poll were: Angel (Becoming, pt 2), Anya, Book, Buffy (Prophecy Girl), Buffy (The Gift), Cordelia, Darla (Lullaby), Doyle, Fred, Jenny, Joyce, Penny, Spike (Chosen), Tara, Wash, Wesley and all others falling under 'other')
The reasons you choose for picking a favourite are up to you: the one that makes you cry the most, the most shocking, the most well written, the most moving, the most heroic, the way they die, or maybe you were just glad to see the character go.
I think a character's death is as important as a good ending to a story. There are so many ways to kill off a character, and so many ways to deal with it within the show. Joss Whedon seems to have covered a good deal of these ways, and invariably does it well.
I'll start.
I've chosen Wash, but it was a hard choice. Doyle's death invariably leaves me bawling like a little girl, and Joyce's death was, of course, incredibly written. I also really like the way Anya's death was done: just a very brief, violent scene in the midst of a messy battle, without any warning or sap or deliberation (although at the same time, I hate Anya's death because I just love Anya).
But I've gone with Wash because it just left me so speechless and in shock. I didn't realise how much I loved his character until he was, so very suddenly, gone.
I don't really like the tendency in movies and TV shows to have long, slow, drawn out deaths with lots of crying and goodbyes and gatherings round the deathbed (which Whedon pretty much avoids, apart from with Fred's death, and even then it's done so well, what with her flying across the room and turning into a blue demon, and Wesley's death, which was again offset by Illyria putting her fist through Vail's head).
So that's why I liked the way Wash died. There was no warning, no question about it, as in 'Maybe he's not really dead' or 'Maybe they'll bring him back.' And personally I find the shock-deaths even more heartbreaking than the drawn-out tear-jerky deaths, because there's no time for last goodbyes, and it highlights the finality of death.
beagle
I vote Wesley's.
But I really only cried as I remember when B dies in The Gift. Especially when I read the tombstone epitaph. Then the tears really fell. I'm such a girl, whatever, I like myself.
Oh and of course for 42 straight minutes of The Body. I think it's more the pain of the survivors than the actual death that does it for me. Actually I change my vote The Body, as TV Guide said, is very probably the best hour in the history of television.
dramagirl
Ooooh...
In a way Tara's, because you just didn't see it coming at all and it sparked some great episodes. Two To Go and Grave are just awesome...
In a way Buffy's in The Gift, because I really like what she says to Dawn and the gravestone gets me every time. (sob)
And then in a way Wesley's, Joyce's, Fred's: Joss Whedon doesn't half write a good death scene, does he? Genius man.
greengirl00
I'm gonna go with Wash. That made me depressed for about a week after I saw it. It was really sudden, and I just did not expect it, even now I don't expect it when I watch.
At the same time though, Joyce's was really well written, adn the unexpectedness of Anya's and Tara's really got me, too (especially with the cruelty of finally giving Amber Benson a regular slot).
TwoToGo-Grave
It kills me to see, but I would have to go with Fred. It hurts so much and is just so real as far as the emotions go.
Second in my mind would be Cordy because of how sweet and then crushing (and so beautifully written) it is.
I'm not counting any in which the character came back, though, or else I'd go with Angel (but if it's not a final death, I don't want to count it).
NotFadeAway
I'd go with Fred as well. I can't go with Tara, because all it does is make me very sad and mad...
ildjarn
Wesley. Mainly for the brilliant acting of Amy during that scene.
Ant4buffy
Wesley. Made me cry.
Beckyxx
Its a close tie between Doyle and Joyce.
I sobbed when Doyle finally got to be the hero but the suddeness of Joyce made me go cold. It was not what I was expecting.
After watching it I went and hugged my mum! I got so sad!
cardboardy
its a close tie between buffy (the gift) and Tara.
I guess im reflecting back on the impact they had when i first watched the series. also i choose on the basis of the impact of those deaths on the story, and the people left behind.
i think i'll pick tara though, just because buffy comes back so it loses its impact after the first watch. whereas Tara... well she was just gone. in a show with eternal damnation, resurrection and the living dead, taras death is breathtaking.
Wynter
I can't pick a favourite, because all of the deaths have sucked
