From Law & Order: SVU to Yellowstone's Marshals, some TV shows have received backlash for killing off their female characters for the sake of the plot. The concept of "fridging" refers to a plot device where a woman is killed - or harmed - in media for the sake of propelling a male character's story line. While the idea was coined by comic book author Gail Simone, the critique has extended into other mediums - including TV. Marshals is the newest show to be questioned for killing off Kelsey Asbille's Monica in the March 2026 series premiere.