This Power Character's Death Proves Exactly Why The Original Show Was So Great
Power had many memorable deaths throughout its six seasons, but one character's departure remains iconic as it helped prove exactly why the series was so great. Although the ongoing spinoff shows have continued the franchise's legacy and added compelling new chapters to the Power universe, the original show is still the best of the bunch. Power's greatest episodes provided some of the best hours of TV throughout the 2010s, mainly because of how high-stakes the drama was, and the writers weren't afraid to kill off big characters, given the protagonist was killed off a few episodes before the finale.
However, one fan favorite's death still stands out, not only because of how gripping the entire sequence was, but because of how it defined the entire franchise. Even though crime and violence were incredibly common in the 2014 show, Power still had some shocking deaths that viewers weren't quite ready for, yet those that could be spotted a mile away still hurt, especially Joe Proctor's. The criminal defense attorney did a lot of good for the main characters, but his final moments were excruciatingly painful considering his departure was only a matter of time, despite his good intentions.
Why Proctor’s Death Remains One Of Power’s Best Moments
Proctor's Final Episode Perfectly Built Towards His Heartbreaking Demise
Joe Proctor's Power death is still among one of the show's best moments over five years later. The entire episode built toward his demise, as Cooper Saxe pressured the lawyer to give up Angela's killer. Although Saxe wanted him to name Ghost, Proctor ended up telling the truth and ratted on Tommy instead, which instantly closed the walls on him. He went to Ghost for protection and briefly stayed in the protagonist's apartment, but once Tommy caught wind that Proctor planned on snitching in court, he was quick to find his location and went straight for the kill.
Alongside the shootout in Ghost's apartment being one of the tensest scenes in the show, the way Proctor went out was pretty badass. He didn't have the same sort of combat prowess as Tommy - given he was in the law industry - but he did at least call his daughter to give her a final farewell before accepting his fate. Putting two fan favorites against one another meant something had to give, and while it sucked to see Proctor go, his death emphasized the ruthless nature of Power's storytelling while providing drama and suspense in the process.
Joe Proctor’s Death Was Heartbreaking, But It Had To Happen
Despite Everything Proctor Did For Ghost & Tommy, Turning To The Police Sealed His Fate
As heartbreaking as it was to see Tommy take down Joe, the attorney's death was inevitable once he gave up information on the drug dealer. The series has made it crystal clear that anyone who rats on those within the drug industry is bound to wind up dead, and despite Proctor's charm and history with the protagonists, he was no exception. He successfully helped both Tommy and Ghost avoid prison time and was easily one of the duo's most useful allies across all six seasons, yet the moment he stepped out of line, it cost him his life.
While he may not have deserved his fate compared to many of the more cold-hearted and ill-natured characters in the show, Proctor was far from innocent.
While he may not have deserved his fate compared to many of the more cold-hearted and ill-natured characters in the show, Proctor was far from innocent. He bent the rules on numerous occasions and had his own demons, all while aiding criminals, meaning his death wasn't exactly unjustified despite it still being sore from an audience perspective. Once he ratted, the only alternative would be killing Tommy, and considering the drug dealer was arguably Power's best character - alongside being much more battle-hardened than Proctor - the lawyer had no real chance of surviving.
Ultimately, the most painful part of Proctor's death was that it came at the hands of Tommy, who had been protected by Joe's excellent knowledge of the law time and time again. However, given Tommy is still a major part of Power's overall narrative and remains adored by fans despite his flaws, killing Proctor was clearly the right decision for the franchise.
Power’s Frequent Deaths Highlighted The Inevitable Fate Of Being Involved In The Drug Game
Very Few Central Characters Managed To Survive Power's Brutal Final Season
Proctor wasn't Power's only high-profile character to meet his end in brutal fashion; in fact, most of the show's major players ended up dead by the final season. While the likes of Tommy, Tariq, and Tasha all escaped season 6 with their lives, they were the lucky few, considering just how many important characters ended up dead. While villains like Lobos and Milan understandably got their comeuppance, Power wasn't exactly biased in pretending its protagonists were great people, as Ghost and Kanan were also killed thanks to the drug trade, as were many of their crew.
A new Power show titled Power: Origins is in the works, but no release date has been confirmed for the project.
Despite Dre's attempt to avoid this fate by making a deal with the FBI, he was burned alive in prison, confirming almost everyone gets what's coming to them in the Power universe. Even Ghost's daughter was killed as collateral damage, proving the innocent also suffer from the drug life. Luckily, the constant death didn't become stale and was actually a strong reminder of how cruel the show could be. This was easily one of the franchise's greatest strengths, and with Proctor's exit perfectly epitomizing its ruthless nature, the scene still stands out among Power's numerous deaths as a defining moment.
Power
- Release Date
- 2014 - 2020-00-00
Power, released in 2014, follows a successful New York entrepreneur who covertly leads a drug empire catering to wealthy elites. As he seeks to leave the criminal world behind and protect his family, he navigates the precarious balance between his dual identities.
- Network
- Starz
- Cast
- Joseph Sikora, Omari Hardwick, Kaitlin Mesh, Naturi Naughton, Vinicius Zorin-Machado, J.R. Ramirez, Leslie Lopez, Kathrine Narducci, Charlie Murphy, Lucy Walters, Andy Bean, Larenz Tate, Luis Antonio Ramos, Adam Huss, Shane Johnson, Donshea Hopkins, Sung Kang, Lela Loren, 50 Cent, Sinqua Walls, Rotimi, Michael J. Ferguson, Jerry Ferrara, Monique Gabriela Curnen, Michael Rainey Jr.
- Creator(s)
- Courtney A. Kemp
- Seasons
- 6
