NY Magazine vs. The Killing Disease (Haha, I like the alternate title in the URL.)
I'm always glad when people take on this trope, since just because
Anyone Can Die doesn't mean anyone SHOULD die. Too often the wanton slaughter of main characters is used as a cheap way to achieve
True Art Is Angsty and not as a legitimate storytelling decision with consequences and thematic relevance. (And even then,
fridging someone isn't exactly a great artistic decision, either.) Just because it's depressing doesn't mean it's good! Any trope can be used for good or evil.
...And this concludes your irregularly scheduled tropebombing.