Anna Daniels
This is the case that the show, itself, makes. To understand why they would choose to kill off a fast fan-favorite, it helps to know a bit more about who Ben Davis was.
Wendy Byrde’s brother moved in with his criminally-connected family at the beginning of Season 3, after losing his job as a substitute teacher. He quickly ingratiated himself to fans and the fictional townspeople, starting up a relationship with cunning Byrde underboss Ruth Langmore (Julia Garner). Davis was on medication to treat his bipolar disorder, something that interfered with his budding relationship when he couldn’t perform in the bedroom. Ben made the ultimately fatal decision to go off his medication, becoming more and more unstable as the series progressed.
He blew up at Helen Pierce, revealing to her teenage daughter that she works for a murderous drug cartel, and this was what got him killed. Helen told Omar Navarro that Davis should be dealt with and, after Wendy and Ruth both attempted to hide him, Wendy made the gut-wrenching decision to give her brother up to cartel hitman Nelson (Nelson Bonilla).
Given the grave consequences the show doles out to people who run afoul of cartel business, Davis’ death makes sense. Beyond that, having Davis be alive in a secretly orchestrated plot by the Byrdes would rob Wendy’s decision of its emotional weight. It appears that Davis is well and truly dead.
Written by: Looper
