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[zombie killer]

Please use spoilers. They are very nice. How would you like it if you learned that the main character of your book dies at the end? Or if when you are casually talking to your friend, they mention that

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Artemis dies in the end

(eoin colder). That is a very bad feeling to have. So please use spoilers.

[Tawa]

So, if you haven't read the last few Harry Potter books, you wouldn't know that

Spoiler: Don't read if you haven't read book 13! (click to show/hide)

Digging the spires releases demons

but you could avoid it by reading the title.

Consider the Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan, where

Spoiler: Spoilers for A Memory of Light (click to show/hide)

Bruce Willis is a ghost.

*Googles 'firefly + anthony'*
....oh. I see.   o_o

Great. Now I'm on the list.

Dagnabbit brain, quit obsessively hitting spoiler tags!

At least I have no clue what you're talking about.

[Muz]

I've learned something while trolling English literature exams in school: A good number of character deaths happen because the writer has no idea what happens next.

A lot of writers write with the start in mind but never think about the middle or ending. So you'll get a good start, but it gets weaker when the writer has no idea what to do. In some books, the character tosses a death to wind it past the climax and just end the book somehow. Great writing often has the plot planned from start to finish before the writing begins, and is iterated until the plot is just right.

Sometimes they toss a major plot event to heat things up, like a character death. This is akin to jumping the shark.. a desperate move. The replacement character is no better or might be a Mary Sue.

Tolkien did a few character deaths, but it doesn't change much because the story is already planned out. Those deaths are part of the plot, not something written on a whim.

[Darvi]

Please use spoilers. They are very nice.

That's odd, most people are complaining because others are using spoilers.

[GlyphGryph]

Unlabeled spoilers are worse than no spoilers honestly.

Also there are very few situations where I think even major character deaths can be considered "spoilers" in a way that effects later viewing. It only really counts for scenes where the impact comes FROM the surprise, honestly - if the death is telegraphed in the book, and they often are, I dont think theres any real concern with "spoiling" things - its the difference between saying that the Doctor marries River versus River is whatsernames youknowwhat.

Actually even the second is barely a spoiler.

And River dying certainly isnt a spoler!

[Tawa]

-snip-
Sometimes they toss a major plot event to heat things up, like a character death. This is akin to jumping the shark... a desperate move. The replacement character is no better or might be a Mary Sue.-snip-

You know what's worse? When they make a sequel to a work (this generally happens more in movies, but meh), there is an annoying tendency to add in a previously non-existent romantic subplot. This also tends to involve the creation of a really, really annoying object of affection. This also seems to be worsening nowadays.

[Funk]

Character death is not bad, so why are many of them bad?

The most common bad character deaths are the red shirt that had im going to die soon printed on there t shirt.
As we know there going to die there deaths are basicy there to bring tension, we aren't invested in them at all and often the plot isn't going to remember them as well.

How many times do you see a red shirt on star trek die and no one talk of them again? at best you get a throw away line of how X didn't make it. 

Now lets take Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, when hidden textScotty's nephewdie's we care that he died, why?
is it that he has lines? or is it that Scotty carying him up to the bridge?  sure he dies to ram home how bad the attack has been but his death still has some weight to it.

[Neonivek]

Character death is not bad, so why are many of them bad?

Two reasons
1) It is usually used as a cheap shock death to shock the readers into being more interested
2) It is usually against the narrative flow that was previously established.

But even if the death is a good death... often you are just throwing away an otherwise good character.

The most common bad character deaths are the red shirt

A person isn't necessarily a character... and lets face it the red shirts are RARELY characters and pretty much exist only to die.

[RedKing]

There's also the fact that character death can play against genre/mood, which can be jarring or it can be incredibly effective if used well.

Watched The Grand Budapest Hotel (new Wes Anderson film) this weekend, and it's a zany screwball comedy in which at least six characters (and a cat) are killed, a couple of them in brutal and grisly fashion. It's sorta played for laughs, but more of a "ha ha oh jesus WTF?"

[LeoLeonardoIII]

I also loved Budapest Hotel.

Spoiler: Budapest Hotel semi-spoiler (click to show/hide)

The scene where the lawyer is fleeing is quite good.

I think Neonivek has it right. And it might be that the story was flagging so the author decided to kill off a character just for an easy bump in drama - but it rarely works out like that.

Since the cat it out of the bag, I think the way certain characters in Serenity died was just pointlessly trying to cash in on some tragedy. It felt like as soon as a given character's skill set was no longer absolutely necessary for the story to continue, they offed him. Maybe it was meant to come after a crowning moment of awesome, but as a viewer it just felt cheap.

Also the movie looked and felt completely different from the show. They probably shouldn't have bothered, honestly. It was the Indiana Jones: Crystal Skull for the Firefly series.

[Neonivek]

So, what's worse; plot armour, or a character dying?

Imagine reading a Sherlock Holmes book... and someone spots Sherlock Holmes and just shoots him dead.

Plot Armor is a bad thing when it harms the narrative.

[Graknorke]

So, what's worse; plot armour, or a character dying?

Imagine reading a Sherlock Holmes book... and someone spots Sherlock Holmes and just shoots him dead.

Depends. Why'd he get shot?

[Neonivek]

So, what's worse; plot armour, or a character dying?

Imagine reading a Sherlock Holmes book... and someone spots Sherlock Holmes and just shoots him dead.

Depends. Why'd he get shot?

He is Sherlock Holmes... Reason enough

[Graknorke]

So, what's worse; plot armour, or a character dying?

Imagine reading a Sherlock Holmes book... and someone spots Sherlock Holmes and just shoots him dead.

Depends. Why'd he get shot?

He is Sherlock Holmes... Reason enough

No, it isn't. What is the shooter's motivation?

[Frumple]

Getting rid of Sherlock Holmes, presumably.