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Television series from Law & Order: SVU to Yellowstone and its spinoff Marshals have faced criticism for eliminating female characters to advance the storyline.
The term “fridging” describes a narrative device where a female character is harmed or killed to drive a male character’s development. Originally coined by comic book writer Gail Simone, this critique has broadened to include television and other media.
The latest show under scrutiny is Marshals, which faced backlash for the demise of Kelsey Asbille’s character, Monica, in its March 2026 premiere. Monica was first introduced on Yellowstone, airing from 2018 to 2024, but was written out when CBS launched a spinoff centered around her husband, Kayce, portrayed by Luke Grimes.
“Kayce’s journey concluded with him riding off into the sunset,” Grimes shared with Entertainment Weekly. “Clearly, there needs to be conflict to maintain interest.”
While Kayce Dutton is set to lead his own spinoff, Marshals, the conversation has largely focused on the conspicuous absence of his wife, Monica. The original series, Yellowstone, introduced audiences to the Dutton family, owners of Montana’s largest ranch, and began by exploring the relationship between Kayce and Monica.
Grimes defended the need for a narrative shakeup.
“Something’s gonna have to happen that gets in the way of him having that,” he continued. “Otherwise, why is he gonna take a badge? The last time we saw him, he was throwing a badge in a field. Is he gonna go pick it up?”
Keep scrolling for other female characters that TV fans felt didn’t get their due:
‘Marshals’
Monica’s offscreen death wasn’t received well by all Yellowstone fans who questioned how her absence was written as a way to drive Kayce’s story on his new show.
‘Secret Invasion’
Not everyone is over a scene in Secret Invasion that led to Maria Hill’s (Cobie Smulders) tragic death.
‘The Boys’
Queen Maeve’s (Dominique McElligott) choice to sacrifice herself in a fight with Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) didn’t land well because despite her surviving, she was ultimately written out of the show.
‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’
Stabler’s story took a turn when his wife, Kathy (Isabel Gillies), was killed in a car bombing. Law & Order: SVU viewers slammed the NBC series for using that as a way to spice up the character’s story.
‘Andor’
Diego Luna in Andor season 2 Disney+/Lucasfilm /Courtesy Everett Collection
After Cinta (Verada Sethu) was killed off in season 2, there was online discourse about the decision.
‘Breaking Bad’
Most of Jesse’s (Aaron Paul) love interests including girlfriend Jane (Krysten Ritter) and ex Andrea (Emily Rios) became victims as a way to push Jesse’s arc further.
From the famed J.R. Ewing on Dallas to the many losses of Grey’s Anatomy, see some of the most shocking deaths from television shows (WARNING: spoilers ahead!)
‘Dexter’
Dexter faced similar controversy when Dexter’s (Michael C. Hall) wife, Rita (Julie Benz), met a cruel fate because of where his story needed to go on the show.
‘Supernatural’
Jensen Ackles. Jared Padalecki Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett Collection
Over on Supernatural, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) drove the story as they hunted for demons, ghosts and monsters, which didn’t leave a lot of time for romance. As a result, their partners had brutal conclusions on the show … similar to mother Mary’s (Samantha Smith) death.
‘NCIS’
Leon’s (Rocky Carroll) wife, Jackie (Paula Newsome), and Gibbs’ (Mark Harmon) former wives Shannon (Darby Stanchfield) and Diane (Melinda McGraw) and ex-fiancée Ellen (Erin Cummings) have all died on the show.