To be fair, Todoroki got iced too, and both of them at least died in battle, rather than being victims of the Super-Duper World Crunch (which, admittedly, is one of the coolest things I've ever seen.) And this is the show after all which had Femme beat BLACK (okay he intentionally threw it but still) and a likeable, competant L'Arc. So obviously the writers are getting better.
Speaking of the deaths, I love how Blade's death is exactly how I always envisioned it would be, no matter the version- screaming 'til the end.