A shocking on-screen death has sparked a wave of criticism and grief among viewers of the Slovak television series Dunaj, k vašim službám, after the popular character Magda Koptíková was brutally killed in a recent episode. The character, portrayed by actress Monika Szabó, was executed by gunshot before her colleagues in a department store, a scene that has deeply affected both the cast and the audience.
Szabó herself described the experience as emotionally challenging, revealing she needed to “scream it out” after filming the scene. “It was really challenging for me. I went to the dressing room and I just needed to scream it all out,” she said, according to reports from Pravda. The actress emphasized the emotional toll of portraying such a dramatic death, stating it was the first time in her career she felt the necessitate for psychological recovery after a performance.
The decision to kill off Magda, a character known for her bravery and integrity, has prompted strong reactions from fans, many of whom expressed their disappointment and anger on social media. Comments posted on Facebook, as reported by Diva.sk, voiced frustration that a beloved character had been removed from the show, with some questioning the pattern of eliminating “good” characters. “It was horrible… I really liked Magda… It always has to be someone from the good side who dies,” one viewer wrote.
The intensity of Szabó’s emotional response was not limited to the set. She revealed she was initially stunned when informed by her manager that her character would be written out of the series, and broke down in tears upon receiving the news. The actress shared her feelings on Instagram, describing the experience of saying goodbye to Magda as akin to losing a close friend. “Saying goodbye to Magda is not easy. She has come a long way – full of pain, love and courage! Some characters you don’t play. Some you live through. Magda was one of them,” she posted.
Filip Šebesta, who played Magda’s on-screen husband, Laco, also responded to the character’s death, expressing his admiration for Szabó’s performance and acknowledging the impact of Magda’s loss on their characters’ storyline. “Magda in your performance was admirable! Our serial line was short but intense thanks to you,” Šebesta wrote on social media.
Alexandra Dubovská, head of production at Markíza, the television network airing the series, acknowledged the difficult decisions involved in crafting the narrative. In a recent interview, Dubovská explained that the creative team had considered killing off other characters but ultimately decided to spare them, highlighting the challenge of balancing dramatic impact with audience expectations. She cited a previous storyline involving a bombing as an example of a scene designed to evoke strong emotional responses from viewers.
Even as some fans have called for the demise of the series’ antagonists, it remains unclear whether the show’s writers will heed those requests. The future direction of Dunaj, k vašim službám, and whether any of its villains will face consequences for their actions, remains to be seen.
