Yeah, I found her death FINE. To me, I had more feminist issues with Penny before she was killed, than after. At least being killed she served a narrative function! And no, I didn't find it gratuitous at all. TBH, I found the feminist grumblings very simplistic and to me they kind of missed the point... but I never seem to be on the same page as fandom, so there you go. Act III made it for me--without Act III it was tepid at best.