Drama Co-Lead Being Killed Off: TVLine Blind Item Theories!

"If there's doubt over whether the death will stick, then I'm leaning heavily toward TVD, probably Stefan. It would create Angst Central, given how important both the Damon/Stefan & Stefan/Caroline relationships are this season. It's also an interesting idea, since there's no 'other' side anymore. How would they bring him back?" —Alisha

"[Ausiello's clue] regarding 'grandma's pearl necklace' makes me think it's Mellie on Scandal." —Suki

"I say Ichabod on Sleepy Hollow. The Blind Item notes it's an 'established show,' which puts it more or less between Seasons 3 and 7. The posibility of the death not being real calls for a supernatural, fantastic show. That leaves us only with OUAT and Sleepy Hollow as posibilities. I cross out OUAT because it has no 'co-leads.' So we have only SH left. That makes sense, since Abbie may find a way of resuscitating Ichabod again." —Maria Alvarez Lopez

"Daryl Dixon was one of the first people who crossed my mind. They have been teasing the arrival of the Negan character who, the first time he appears in the comic book, kills off one of the main and most popular characters. I can see Negan swinging his barbed wire-covered bat, Lucille, at Daryl's head, and then the screen goes black. If they decide the death doesn't stick, they can easily have someone of less consequence 'take the hit' for him at the last second." —The Squatch

"Let's not forget The Blacklist. Red and Liz are as much co-leads as on any other show — especially this season with the two on the run. And considering the show has lost a lot of buzz, killing Lizzy in the Fall Finale might get it all back." —J.J. Francesco

"Once Upon a Time's Hook wouldn't surprise me, especially given the 'we're going to hell' clues the showrunners have been giving lately. If they did go here, it would only be for the dramatic effect over the winter break. There is absolutely no way they'd kill off Hook permanently. ABC completely loves him, and with good reason." —ellebelle1975

"My hunch here is Laurel from Arrow. The actress is still officially considered the co-lead, and she has quite her own fan base, so she can be considered a fan favorite among Arrow viewers. There have been rumors in the Arrow fandom on Tumblr about Katie Cassidy leaving. So, that's where I place my bet." —courieroldstyle

"It would be their 'Who Shot JR?' moment — and the show is highly influenced by Dallas and Dynasty. Lucious' ego is unchecked and he hasn't had to pay for all the dirt he's done." —TripleB1981

"Hmm, I sent a question to Michael Ausiello asking if Gibbs or Tony is leaving NCIS, and this Blind Item turns up a couple of days later. We have Gibbs saying 'things change' just about every episode this season, Jeanne set to make a return in November, hints from the cast and producers that MAJOR upheavals are coming, and the fact that Michael Weatherly has a show in development with The CW and has signed with a talent agency — when previously he has been a free agent. All this has got me thinking something is hinky over at NCIS. Hope I am wrong." —Donna2712

"My mind went to AoS. As for who's getting the axe, most likely candidate is Ward. He's got Hunter and May after him and is officially the big bad; and if the show follows its patterns and kills off all the big bads by the end of the season, Ward will be included in that list. I hate to see him go, he's a great character, but he personally attempted to murder half of the team and if May wanted him before, she won't rest now until he's a goner. You've gotta have a death wish if you kill anyone important to Melinda May." —Mandie

"How has no one guessed Chicago Fire???? It's got to be either Taylor Kinney or Jesse Spencer. My money is on Taylor Kinney." —Jamie

"I'm thinking it's Lady Gaga on AHS, given that she's only [scheduled to be] in eight episodes — which she'll reach right before the fall finale." —Michael

"If it is Sam or Dean from Supernatural, I will not be happy — especially since Billie the Reaper said last week that the next time one of them died, he wouldn't come back." —Jane

"I gotta go with OUAT...I mean, the fall finale is called 'Swan Song,' for crying out loud." —karakk

"I was considering Hayley from The Originals. There have been a couple rumors circulating lately about killing her off, but I just don't see how they'd swing it after building the entire show around her and her baby. She does qualify as a co-lead, though, with Joseph and Daniel." —Becca

"They cannot start Gilmore Girls 2.0 by killing off Lorelai." —Lindsey (She kids! She kids!)

"Sleepy Hollow's showrunners have said fairly consistently that there are two witnesses, but haven't confirmed that Abbie is one of them. There have been quite a few theories that it's actually Ichabod and Jenny that are the witnesses. I personally don't think the show could continue without Abbie, if only because all the Ichabbie shippers out there would die right along with her... but the question of whether or not the death will stick leads me to believe it's a supernatural series." — luckeemisspiggy

"First thing that comes to mind is Annalise Keating on How To Get Away With Murder... considering the flash-forwards we've been getting." —ItzBee

"Gotham? Gordon and Bullock could be considered co-leads, and there are rumors that Donal Logue is ready to go..." —Spence

"Did anyone notice that Sherlock Holmes died in the books and then resurrected? Why couldn't the showrunners pull off the same plot twist?" —Seraphine313

"This is a good point. In The Final Problem, Holmes and Moriarty apparently go over the Reichenbach Falls to their death, but it turns out that Holmes survived the fight in The Adventure of the Empty House. Elementary hasn't made a huge effort to repeat Conan Doyle's storylines but they have to some extent." —Billie

"To me it sounds like Stiles on Teen Wolf. Dylan O'Brien has a movie career on the rise, they're bolstering the roles of the newcomers on the show, he's not out for as much of the promo stuff, and he's stopped talking about being loyal to the show until the end. Now, he's saying he doesn't want to be on the show until he's 30. It just seems to me that he's on the way out." —Georgie Smith

"My first thought was Scandal. I wouldn't put it past Shonda to kill off Fitz at this point." —SW

"Thursday's Bones episode made me feel almost sure it will be Booth. It dealt with him reading Brennan's book, seeing she killed off the character based upon him, and getting upset. At the end of the episode, she said there were ways to bring the character back. I think it will happen in the 'real life' of the show." —Alexandra

"[I'm betting on] a winter finale that allows them to play the second half of the season with whichever way works best for Hayden [Panettiere, currently on leave to treat post-partum depression]. The show would, quite honestly, suck without Hayden in it... but she has to do what is best for her and her baby." —Ben

"Exactly what I was thinking. Maybe Hayden has warned them she might not come back, so they are giving her an out." —Lauren

"I'm worried it's Danny on H50, except for the part that says 'fall finale,' since CBS doesn't really do those. I really hope it's not him!!!" —Grace

"Gotta be Castle – they have already been hyping a big twist in the fall finale that will shake things up even further. Beckett's a goner, folks." —Brian

"I think it's Shemar Moore from Criminal Minds. As [Matthew Gray] Gubler stated in an interview, someone is leaving 'for a while.' Maybe there is a plot twist there. Also, read Shemar's posts on social media, where it states he is 'taking decisions and making changes.' Regarding the 'Co-Lead' clue, that is exactly what he is, a co-lead in an ensemble." —The Rookie

"I'm worried it's Arrow's Felicity (especially because 'whether the death will actually stick' is the same phrasing the producers used in their post-premiere interviews)." —SUZYQUE

"My first thought was Snow White on Once. They hinted at something this week in the episode. Maybe she's looking to take a break." —Kls

"Snow on Once Upon A Time, if only for her importance to the series and the use of the word 'fair' [in the Blind Item]." —Claire

"Molly from Mike & Molly, freeing up Melissa McCarthy for a triumphant return to Stars Hollow on Netflix's [Gilmore Girls revival]." —Scream Queen