[SPOILERS FOR THE O.C.] Over the past couple years, in the age of The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones, killing off major characters has become a go-to narrative device for TV shows looking to subvert their audience’s expectations.
But back in the day when one of the main stars of your show died, it was because of drama behind the scenes. That was doubly true in a show that wasn’t about fighting zombies or dragons but about navigating high school relationships in a rich neighborhood. Related: Was This Restaurant Impossible Alum A Murderer The Whole Time?!? So when The O.C.
killed off Marissa Cooper — one of the four leads of the show — in a dramatic car crash for the Season 3 finale, it was one of the most shocking moments in TV history.