Why did Boomer get killed?

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Boomer was a polarizing character in the hit shows Wentworth and Good Girls – but his story ended in tragedy both times when he was killed off. As a fan of both shows, I‘ve done a deep dive to answer why the writers chose to condemn Boomer to death. Read on for my insights into Boomer‘s crimes, his relationships with other characters, the significance of his demise, and why this controversial character ultimately met a grim fate (spoilers ahead!)

Boomer‘s History of Chaos in Wentworth

Let‘s start with Boomer‘s arc in the Australian drama Wentworth. Boomer (played by Katrina Milosevic) was an inmate at Wentworth Prison who constantly caused trouble.Convicted for grievous bodily harm and drug trafficking, she had violent outbursts and refused to follow prison rules.

As the show revealed, Boomer‘s aggression stemmed from a traumatic childhood. She grew up abused in foster homes and joined a gang to find belonging. This led her to continue the gang‘s criminal orders even in prison.

While Boomer had her wild side, she also showed loyalty to friends like Liz Birdsworth. But she kept breaking the rules at others‘ expense, sometimes even innocents like Liz:

As you can see, while Boomer cared for Liz, she also made reckless choices hurting her. A pattern of self-destructive behavior ultimately led to Boomer‘s own demise in Wentworth‘s final season.

What crimes led to Boomer‘s death in Wentworth?

In Season 8, Liz suffers a stroke leaving her with locked-in syndrome – aware but unable to move. Liz had asked Boomer to euthanize her if this happened.

Motivated by loyalty, Boomer smothers Liz with a pillow to end her misery. But this act of murder lands Boomer with a life sentence. Shunned by other inmates for breaking Liz‘s trust, Boomer feels hopeless and hangs herself in her cell.

So while some may see Boomer‘s actions as merciful, she still betrayed Liz‘s wishes and committed manslaughter. Boomer‘s rash decisions resulted in her tragic fate. Her suicide underscores how prison trauma can destroy individuals psychologically.

Boomer‘s Role in Good Girls

Next let‘s examine Boomer in the dramedy Good Girls. He‘s played by David Hornsby and works at the grocery store Fine & Frugal.

When moms Beth, Ruby and Annie start money laundering and their cash goes missing, they suspect Boomer is the thief. In fact, he‘s innocent but ends up their kidnapping victim held hostage in Beth‘s basement.

The women force Boomer into a dangerous engagement with Mary Pat to cover his disappearance. But when Mary Pat hits Boomer with her car, they think he‘s dead.

Or so they believe…until Boomer returns very much alive in Season 2 after recovering with his grandma. In an ironic twist, Beth lies again and claims she killed Boomer this time.

Boomer‘s demise for real in Good Girls

In Season 3, we learn Beth‘s confession was another falsehood – Boomer is actually Rio‘s prisoner. But Boomer finally meets his permanent end when:

• Beth‘s daughter Emma shoots him in the groin to stop his escape
• Beth and Rio debate whether to kill Boomer
• Beth finally performs a mercy kill, shooting Boomer in the chest

So why did the writers keep killing off then reviving Boomer, only to kill him again for real? Let‘s analyze the deeper meaning behind his fate in Good Girls.

Why Does Boomer Keep Facing Death? Diving Into the Significance

At first glance, Boomer comes across as a fool who keeps getting in trouble. But looking closer, his death serves important purposes in both shows. Here are the symbolic meanings behind Boomer‘s grim fate:

Wentworth: Crime Leads to Unescapable Punishment

In Wentworth, Boomer is killed off to represent inescapable consequences for criminal acts. She wants to show mercy to Liz but instead commits manslaughter. Her ultimate suicide symbolizes how prison trauma can damage inmates forever.

By writing this tragic arc for Boomer, the show creators emphasize how Wentworth changes people and strips away their humanity. Her death reminds that lawbreaking leads to irrevocable punishment, even for sympathetic souls like Boomer.

Good Girls: Protecting Secrets and Completing Beth‘s Descent

On Good Girls, Boomer needs to die to protect the women‘s money laundering secret. As long as he lives, he could expose their crimes at any time. So his murder, while sad, ensures the protagonists‘ safety.

His death also cements Beth‘s transition into a real criminal. At first, she resisted violence but shooting Boomer shows she has hardened and will do anything to survive. Boomer‘s demise represents the point of no return in her morality shift.

Retribution for Toxic Masculinity

Moreover, Boomer meets his fate at the hands of furious women in both shows. Though he could be charming, he also manipulated female characters. So his death provides female retribution against misogyny.

Liz kills Boomer for betraying her trust. Mary Pat tries to kill Boomer in rage after he assaults her. And Emma and Beth team up to finish him off for good. The women handing Boomer his sentence represents justice against his chauvinistic behavior.

Boomer‘s Value as an Antagonist and Comic Relief

While Boomer is easy to root for, he also serves important narrative roles as an antagonist and comedic character. His crimes continually drive the plot forward and ramp up the shows‘ stakes. Yet his buffoonery also lightens the shows‘ dark tone.

By keeping Boomer around awhile before killing him, the writers maximize his value in these capacities. His eventual death then provides a dramatic twist once viewers have connected with him.

So in different ways, Boomer had to die in both shows to fulfill thematic, character development, and narrative purposes. Next let‘s look at how fans reacted to his controversial demise.

Fans Mourn Boomer but Accept His Fate

Given Boomer‘s complex characterization, fans experienced some ambivalence regarding his death. Most seemed to agree it served the stories well, even if they regretted losing the eccentric character.

Wentworth Fans‘ Reaction: Poetic Tragedy

Viewers of Wentworth felt Boomer‘s bleak suicide fit her downward spiral. As one fan commented: "It was a tragic end to Boomer‘s story arc but also poetically cathartic." Others felt she finally faced karma for her chaotic behavior.

While sad to lose actor Katrina Milosevic, the audience accepted Boomer‘s tragedy as the natural conclusion to her chaotic journey. Her dramatic demise allowed the character to go out memorable after seasons of wild antics.

Good Girls Fans‘ Take: Necessary Evil

Reactions were more divided among Good Girls viewers. Some felt Boomer deserved better, just when he was becoming more likeable. As one fan said: "I was just starting to warm up to him! Wish he had gotten a second chance."

But the majority agreed killing Boomer was a necessary evil to protect the show‘s protagonists. And that his murder sealed Beth‘s character transition for good. As one viewer put it: "Sad to see him go, but he kind of had it coming after everything he did."

Conclusion: Boomer as a Controversial Catalyst

While Boomer was a supporting player, he took on an oversized role propelling the drama in both shows. His chaotic presence, crimes and mistakes led to his tragic death in each series – but also moved other characters‘ arcs forward.

By serving as an unpredictable troublemaker, Boomer gave viewers an entertaining character to watch. Yet his undeniable charms could not redeem his repeat bad behavior. His death, while heartbreaking, ultimately served greater purposes. It set characters like Liz, Beth and the Good Girls on new trajectories.

So while we as the audience may miss Boomer, his shocking demise gave these shows their flavor. His fate proves that all actions have consequences – even for beloved rascals like Boomer. His may not have been the most heroic death, but it was certainly an impactful one from a storytelling perspective.