Character exits happen on television for a variety of reasons, either the actor is ready to move on to other projects, there is a conflict on the set, the actor is unsatisfied with the material their character is being given, or the amount of screentime they're getting.
Either way, some writers handle these situations in a way that's becoming of the character, while others make it their mission to break down the character they created before saying the final goodbye. Ultimately, these character exits tend to stick with the audiences for better or worse.
Best Character Exits
Matt Casey
Jesse Spencer has been the lead of Chicago Fire for ten seasons, and when the actor decided it was time to move on, the writers gave him a thoughtful exit storyline, which left room for his return if he ever decided he wanted it.
Bringing back the storyline from seasons 1 and 2, Matt heads to Oregon to take care of the Darden boys, which he previously looked after when their mom was in jail. With their mother back in prison for another DUI and no one else to step up, Matt knows he needs to do the right thing and give up his family at Firehouse 51 to be the family to the boys who need him more. It's a great exit, worthy of the character that fans have loved for ten seasons.
Nic Nevins
Emily VanCamp has recently parted ways with the show she's been starring on - The Resident. Similar to what happened with the exit of Derek Shepherd's character on Grey's Anatomy, the writers knew that Nic leaving her husband and daughter would be too uncharacteristic for her. It would ruin the great character she's reprised through the seasons.
So the writers decided that death was the way to go with her exit, and she was sent off in a heartbreaking episode of The Resident, in which they honored the character of Nic Nevins, not to mention the stunning performance by her on-screen husband Matt Czuchry.
Fiona Gallagher
Wanting to move on to other projects, Emmy Rossum left the beloved comedy Shameless at the end of season 9. Fans have loved this tough and brave character, who did everything in her power to look after her family, even though she inevitably ended up messing up now and then.
The writers have broken the character down in her last season. It looked like Fiona was on her way to the same fate as most of her family (drinking, trouble with the law, etc.), but she gets some unexpected money and finally gets it together. Following advice from her brother Ian, Fiona gets as far away as possible from the Southside, but not before leaving half the money for her siblings. It was a great way to honor the character and give her the bright future she deserves.
Lexie Grey
Grey's Anatomy has had many exits, but few were handled as tactfully as Lexie's. Chyler Leigh worked side by side with the creator of the show Shonda Rhimes to work out a storyline that would work for her character.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, Lexie confesses her love to Mark in an emotional speech worthy of one of the best couples on the show. Watching her struggle with her feelings for the entire season, it was satisfying to give her character that last moment before she embarked on a plane ride that eventually turned out to be her last. Lexie dies as a result of the plane crash, holding the hand of the man she loves with nothing left unsaid. And that, somehow, made it easier to let her go.
Derek Morgan
Criminal Minds had its fair share of poorly handled exits, but it can't be said for Derek Morgan. In an interview with E! News, Shemar Moore told that he stayed in the show long enough because he felt he owed the character a proper goodbye, and the writers honored that with a very hero-like exit.
After being put through hell in his final season, Derek gets to hold his son and retire to a more peaceful and demon-free life with his family. After the struggle the viewers have watched him go through, he deserved no less than a fairytale ending.
Worst Character Exits
Elliot Stabler
Being a lead of SVU for 12 seasons, fans were left disappointed when it was time to say goodbye to detective Elliot Stabler. The loss came unexpected and the character did not receive any proper send-off, simply mentioned having retired in the next season premiere.
It's somewhat understandable that because the reason for his exit was failed contract negotiations, the writers simply did not have the time or opportunity to give him a proper goodbye, but it still felt short of the great character they created. However, he has recently joined a spin-off, returning to his role of Elliot Stabler after almost ten years.
Mina Okafor
Mina was one of the most beloved characters in The Resident, and while the writers gave Emily VanCamp a wonderful exit, the same cannot be said for Dr. Okafor.
Even though writers knew about the actress' desire to leave, they wrapped her story up by getting her deported from the USA, forcing her to return to Nigeria. As she was planning to go there anyway, it didn't make much sense to create the deportation plot, and it just wasn't the goodbye she deserved.
Elena Gilbert
Elena Gilbert was a very controversial part of The Vampire Diaries because fans either loved her or hated her, and there was no middle ground. Either way, she was the show's lead, and after Nina Dobrev's 6-year contract expired, she expressed the desire to leave.
Since the writers wanted to keep making the show, they decided to continue the show without their lead character instead of wrapping it up. Considering the show lost its lead and its leading ship Delena, it was a surprise it continued for two more seasons. Luckily, they didn't kill Elena off, but merely put her in a coma, allowing Nina to return for the series finale and give the fans the happy ending they deserved.
Alex Karev
Despite Grey's Anatomy having an entry in the best exits, there could be a whole list consisting of all the poor exits they've given characters. Most fans would agree though, that the worst one was given to Alex Karev. He was the character with the most character development through the seasons. Starting as a jerk, he grew into a brilliant pediatric surgeon and a wonderful friend and husband.
Or so everyone thought. Until Justin Chambers wanted to move on from the show, and the way they decided to write him off, was by leaving his wife for a former flame Izzie Stevens because he found out Izzie gave birth to his children. It seemed very far-fetched for Alex to just leave everyone he loved, especially Jo. And the tear-jerking letters he left behind didn't make it any better.
Erin Lindsay
Many fans would agree that Chicago PD was never the same after Erin Lindsay left Chicago, but it was how she left that had fans reeling in anger. It was no secret that there were some problems on the set of Chicago PD, but Sophia Bush's exit completely blindsided everyone.
After being given a horrible storyline in season 4, it was more than expected that the writers would fix it in season 5, but season 5 never came for Erin. And so they decided they would ruin all of the character development in a single episode. After the worst things she's overcome, like the grief that led to her addiction, they had Erin sacrifice the life she's built in Chicago to help her dead-beat mother. It was such a bad episode, the fans were angry already, but knowing that this is how they let the beloved character go was unforgivable.