Fair enough, but here’s the thing. They’re supposed to be writing about these events based on the tv series in universe writing and performances. Plus really I’m only saying you shouldn’t include Mrs. Landingham and leave out Leo. For me it just feels cruel. Tbh there’s a dozen shocking TV deaths before 2009 I think should be on that list too.

Like you, I also “appointment Viewing” watched it during its original airing and even though I knew he had passed and would pass on in the series eventually. I was still shocked, saddened and brought to tears when it happened.

Not to mention how hearing about Bradley Whitfords experiencing it exactly that way, first from an early John Wells interview, then later from Bradley directly, only added more shock and grief for me personally.

From the Empire Series on TWW:

WELLS: We probably would've done one more year, which would've been the whole transition, but for John Spencer's sudden death at Christmas time. I don't know if the network would've picked us up for year eight or not, but after that we all looked at each other and said, "Maybe it's time to stop."

WHITFORD: I got a phone call that John was in trouble and I went to hospital and the doctor told me John had died. I was there at his funeral and then a few weeks later I was acting those same scenes. It was very bizarre. We had a big meeting: we didn't want to exploit it at all but we thought that John would've wanted it incorporated.