Summary

Showrunners can not give to bolt down off a theatrical role when the story is qualified upon them , which is usually reliable in the case of a show ’s protagonists . However , sometimesa character ’s patent plot of land armor is just slothful writing . While the audience plausibly knows that particularcharacters can not diebecause they are framed as the protagonists , the show does not have to put them in position they should not logically be able-bodied to survive .

Several late shows have advertised themselves as having " anyone can pop off " background , includingGame of Thrones , Attack on Titan , andThe Walking Dead . Yet even these serial publication admit a core group of character with an abnormal ability to quash death , at least for some fourth dimension . On the other hand , some plot so adamantly cut their own rules that fans ca n’t assist but point out the obvious plot armor .

10Bonnie Hangs Around Until She is Properly Resurrected

The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)

Bonnie dies closely to the end ofThe lamia Diariesseason 4when she expend too much power to resurrect Jeremy , and the exploit kill her . However , Bonnie manages to hang around for several season after this . For the first part of season 5 , she is a ghost only Jeremy can see . She then returns to the cosmos of the livelihood by becoming the “ anchor ” to the Other Side .

In season 6,Bonnie and Damonbecome trapped in a 90s purgatory , which they both eventually escape . After this , Bonnie is alive again with no strings attach . While Bonnie technically does die , she is not beat from a tale viewpoint . After the season 4 close , Bonnie continues to be a even part of the story and Kat Graham continues to be a regular on the show .

9Eren Survives Being Eaten By A Titan

Attack On Titan (2013-2023)

Attack on Titanadmittedly shoot down off a lot of characters , but Eren clearly needs to be there until the last . During his first battle , Eren is swallowed by a Titan when he deliver Armin . The next few episodes are spent depicting the other characters fight Titans to defend the Trost District . It is frustrating for the audience who knows that Eren must have endure because the main fictional character is not go to give-up the ghost in instalment 5 . When the reveal thatEren endure by turning into a Titanhimself comes , it is fabulously strange . It becomes less so as the Titans ’ origins are further explicate throughout the series .

While the Attack on Titan Zanzibar copal features many of its characters meeting their tragical demise , some death are especially disconcerting to view .

8Walt And Jesse Escape A Drug Deal Gone Bad

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

Breaking BadprotagonistsWalt and Jesseare systematically capable to escape horrendous spot in their on-going conflict with their competition in the drug trade . At the beginning of time of year 2,Walt and Jesse are hold captive by Tuco but manage to escape moments before Walt ’s brother - in - practice of law Hank arrives and pop Tuco . The fact thatJesse was guess to die in season 1demonstrates how showrunner Vince Gilligan envisioned a level where of import fiber could die – Jesse was even supposed to die in a botched drug deal like the one he and Walt elude . However , Aaron Paul ’s carrying into action lead to Jesse remaining a part of the show for all five seasons .

7Jon Snow Is Brought Back From The Dead

Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)

Game of Throneswas advertise as a show where anyone could give way , even the principal characters . However , there was still much speculation about how Jon Snow would return after his death intheseason 5 finale . It seemed like Jon was essential enough to the secret plan , and behind - the - scenes details also clew fans in . While expiry is final for almost every other character reference onGame of Thrones , Jon arrive a pass because he needs to live out his role in the story . Similarly , the Lord of Light is reckon to enable Melisandre and other practician to resurrect masses because they have a fate to fulfil .

6Hopper Is Imprisoned In Russia

Stranger Things (2016-2025)

InStranger Thingsseason 3 ’s ending , the main characters ’ architectural plan to destroy the Russian Gate to the Upside Down run wrong when Hopper is apparently killed in the explosion . However , many fans suspect that he had somehow survive , which was confirmed in the former mystifier forStranger Thingsseason 4.Joyce and Hoppertogether produce a balance between the grownup and younger persona on the show , which would n’t have make as well if only Joyce remain . Hopper is revealed to have live by jumping out of the blast wheel spoke in fourth dimension , before being captured by the Russians and channelize to a prison ingroup .

5The Butcher Is Stopped Before Killing Glenn

The Walking Dead (2010-2022)

InThe Walking Deadseason 5 premiere , Rick , Daryl , Glenn , and Bob are all catch at Terminus , but the butcher who is contrive to slit all their throats is interrupt moment before he kills Glenn . Therefore , Glenn lives to fight another daytime . The Walking Deadis also experience for killing off prominent characters who are say to “ be safe , ” yet there are still present moment where plot armor is manifestly at body of work . Glenn is eventually defeat off in the season 7 premiere .

4The Main Cast Survives Mordor’s Creation

The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power (2022-Present)

When Orodruin / Mount Doom extravasate and creates Mordor in the final episode ofThe Lord of the Rings : The Rings of Powerseason 1 , only a few mass die in the plosion . The only main fibre who suffers any last scathe isQueen Regent Miriel , who is blinded by the ash tree . Miriel and the other characters later on design to lead their people to safety and return to fight in the future . Realistically , this eccentric of explosion should have destroyed everything and everyone in the vicinity , including the nearby villages .

3Spike Is Impervious To Sunlight

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

Buffy the Vampire Slayerestablishes that it stick to the traditional lamia rule that vampires burn up up in the sun . However , Spike is too crucial of a character to be killed off so well . In time of year 4 , he acquire the Gem of Amara , a doughnut that protect him from sunlight à laThe Vampire Diaries . Spike assay to bolt down Buffy , but she manages to take the ring from him . Yet when she does , his fiery dying is check long enough for him to get to safety . Other vampire inBuffy the Vampire Slayerburn up irregular after being caught in the Dominicus . The only intellect Spike live on this is because of plot of ground armor .

2Arya Survives Being Stabbed

While she fall under other fictional character ’ tribute from clip to time , Arya Stark is mostly on her own for several seasons . The odds of a pre - teen girl with little combat training surviving on her own in theGame of Thronesworld should be slender to none . But this is Arya , and the show needs her . This becomes peculiarly apparent later in Arya ’s solo journey when she is attacked bythe Waifand stabbed several time . She manages to get away and is cared for by Lady Crane . It is worth pointing out that Jon die in minutes from essentially the same injuries .

There are a figure of far-famed lesson of plot armor in HBO ’s hit series Game of Thrones .

1June Is Not Punished As Other Characters Are

The Handmaid’s Tale (2017-Present)

Gilead ’s regime inThe Handmaid ’s Talewill down or mangle anyone who steps out of line , with particularly harsh rule for charwoman . They demonstrate their willingness when characters such asJanine , Emily , and Serena Joy are maimedfor speaking out , having a forbidden human relationship , and reading , respectively . However , the show ’s independent character June narrowly head off punishment again and again . WhileThe Handmaid ’s Taleeffectively appropriate Gilead ’s cruel society , it does raise the question of why June is never toss off when she actively rebels against the political science . June and other master characters are protected by plot armor because the story revolve around them .

Three combined panels from left to right show a man looking behind him, a man with a surprised expression, and a woman lying on the floor.

Daenerys emerging from the fire and Jon facing down a charging army

Tony Khan and Sting merged image

plotarmor_savedcharacterslives

Eren as a titan in Attack on Titan

Walt and Jesse sitting in a car in season 2 episode 1 of Breaking Bad

Jon Snow lying on the ground dying in Game of Thrones

Hopper looking serious in Stranger Things Season 4

Daryl and Glenn in the woods in The Walking Dead

James Marsters as Spike in a Blue Shirt in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Arya threatening Jaqen, saying she is going home to Westeros