Splat. Eek. Elizabeth Renstrom for TIME In this week's issue of TIME, James Poniewozik explores the question of why today's TV dramas - even the really good ones - are increasingly dependent on violence. And gore. And guts. And blood. Did we mention gore? The article, available to subscribers here, addresses the difference between smart television violence and mindless television violence, looking at shows including The Walking Dead, Boardwalk Empire and The Following. Poniewozik also interviewed Kurt Sutter, the creator of Sons of Anarchy, and you can read more about that here. Or - if you're not eating right now - you can click forward to see six of the ickiest ways television characters have recently kicked the bucket. Warning: Not just violence. Spoilers, too. Next Boardwalk Empire