I don't think they're "using her as a prop*" because she's POC, I think they're "using her as a prop*" and she happens to be POC. It's just a pretty white show, which is weird given the demographic breakdown of the NYC I see daily, and because it uses the "main-cast woman of color" as the primary non-white face, it's…

Strong lady protagonist in a hospital bed, being gloated over by the old white guy puppet-master antagonist isn't really a position of power. Considering the last powerful woman in that position ended up suicide bombing herself to death (because what do you expect the hopeless and bitter CIA agent you strapped a bomb…

Realistic enough? I don't think that's the complaint (and if that could be a complaint about Shaw's demise, it certainly doesn't transfer over to Carter's). I think there's room to love the show, the actors, and the characters and still find it a little messed up that it's the badass women who die or get iced for half…

As for why Shaw triggers these character changes and not Carter… Carter was taken down by a vanquished enemy, as part of a personal revenge rampage, and then her killer was immediately dispatched. Carter won, and died winning. Shaw was taken out by an enemy who had them on the run, and who is still threatening their…