Mellie did deserve better, but if nothing else her death was at her own hand, not someone else's (and I sort of love that the show subverted Pretty Little Headshots two episodes in a row)

I got my older brother hooked on the show over winter (yay for christmas dvds) and these were the only two eps he saw first run. When 2.11 ended, we didn't really talk, just gestured wildly at each other, then the TV. And 2.12 wrought a reaction from him I don't think I've ever heard before..."quit it with this action crap, and get back to the story!"