Major Crimes star Mary McDonnell has broken silence on the controversial death of her character several episodes before the cancelled TNT drama‘s series finale, per Variety:
I have been watching, reading and listening to the fans’ reactions to Sharon’s death, and it’s taken me a while to find the essence of my experience. I have been approached by several journalists, but in truth, I was not ready to speak until now.
The fan reaction to the death of Sharon Raydor has been sharply illuminating, deeply, deeply humbling, and a true confirmation of what Commander Raydor stood for. When all of this was in the planning stages, I was hoping we would be able to both announce the end of the series and give a gentle warning as to the death that was coming. My original understanding was that the arc was created as part of an impulse and strategy that revolved around staying in control of the narrative, as it was clear the show would be canceled, which of course it was.
She added:
What surprised and humbled me, and in a deeper sense than ever before, woke me to the incredible power of the medium, was the level of authentic grief that emerged after Sharon’s death. Many fans were truly saddened, angry, and overwhelmingly frustrated. I knew how much Sharon was loved. I knew she was a role model. What I hadn’t totally comprehended was how much importance she held as a symbol. And how her importance had grown since the election last year.
How do you feel about Raydor’s death? Did it rub salt in the wounds or was it an interesting twist?
LINDA ALTMAN says
The ending of the series was a terrible disappointment! I felt the writers just “threw something together” to get it over with!
Also, The death of Sharon has also ruled out the return of the series, as has become practice lately on so many popular shows!
Linda says
I was disappointed that Sharon’s death made me feel she chose her passion for her job over her love for her family. She still had health options ahead of her. Even though her doctor said her heart just stopped, to me it was presented as if she did not take proper care.
Candy says
I am done with TNT Shows. I have no interest in any of their new shows. This was my #1 show to watch. Hated the way it ended with Sharon’s death. I’ve watched since it started. The cancellation was terribly disappointing. I was hoping another station would pick up the show and all it’s characters.
Kristen says
I agree. After reading about why tnt cancelled a show still doing very well and not caring how their actual viewers felt, so they could change the image their channel portrays to younger viewers i will never even start to watch another show on their channel. I watched their channel almost daily but now I refuse to anymore.
And I was very dissapointed in the way they killed Sharon as well. They got me to go from hating her on the closer to loving her on major crimes. Then it was bad enough they ended the show but to finish the show without her alive anymore was heartbreaking. It’s too bad and not the way I wanted to remember major crimes.
Jim says
Didn’t bother me any … I never warmed up to her character after the evil person she played on “The Closer” while trying to bring down Kyra Sedgwick‘s character. Mary McDonnel played the “I don’t care how many people die, just don’t tarnish my public image politican” too well for my taste and for that she really deserved some sort of television award.
Anna says
I never got into Sharon either. Could only take about two seasons once Kyra Sedgwick left. Sharon’s irritating son, Rusty, made the decision to give up on this show very easy.
Sharon B says
I loved this show. I felt that the death of Sharon was more than sad. She loved her family and they knew that. She also wanted justice for those that died from murder. She reminded me of the fierce Eve Dallas in the J D Robb books. It was the choice of TNT to end this series that actually was still doing good. That is what they do. Perhaps the options were there for more medical help, but stop and think how they would have gotten rid of her later. A stroke, a coma? I will definitely miss this show. I liked the whole crew. A group of people for justice and for each other. What more could you ask. I now have no Major Crimes shows to look forward to. Great job for all those on this show.
A Johnson says
It was totally not necessary!
Maybe the writers felt they had to kill her off to get the emotional reaction from the loyal viewers but that was not true. Like myself, so many people loved this show & the characters & were extremely sad to see the show end. They should have trusted that instead of using her death to get a gut reaction. I kept hoping they would announce a spin off with Provenza running Major Crimes.
TNT has a bad habit of canceling successful shows which just shows how much they don’t care about their fans (Rizzoli & Isles, Saving Grace, Southland, etc). I do believe though, the more successful a show becomes, the higher salary the actors are paid & maybe that’s part of the reason for the cancellation?
Disgusted says
Connecting her importance with the election and politics is absurd! That’s the problem with Hollywood. They don’t stick to what they do best! Disgusted.
TV Show Fans Lose..AGAIN! says
Killing off “Sharon” with a couple episodes left…pointless….The finale? Was TOTALLY EASY to figure out. Rusty killing Stroh..no imagination needed there. When it was announced that Major Cromes was done after this season, I had to smile..not because the show was ending, because it was one of my enjoyable TV times..but because now I can reduce the TV tier and save almost $30 a month! Seems ALL of the cable/satellite channels get a GOOD show on, hook you for a few seasons and then yank the rug out..Major Crimes was the last holdout for me..Am done with paying through the nose to find the time was just wasted in the end.
TV Show Fans Lose..AGAIN! says
*Crimes*
Bronco46 says
I was glad they drove a stake into the heart of this series. It needed to end. The characters
were clearly well past their prime. The stories were looking silly with 60+-year-old detectives
going in AHEAD of SWAT in barricaded suspect situations. I’m sure there were police officers
all over the county rolling their eyes during scenes like those.
I’m surprised at the number of people sorry to see this series come to end, and end in this
way. It was clearly time. And killing off Raydor was a good way to immortalize the character.
It’s clear by the many fans who call the character by the first name that they had forgotten
that the actress didn’t die. A made up character was killed off for dramatic effect. And probably
to assure that this story is over.
This show had strayed so far from the original idea of a special crime unit as to be almost
unrecognizable. It had become more a social issues based soap opera, instead of a realistic
crime drams that Kyra Sedgwick had originated.