Virtually every TV show contains a twist or surprise at some point, and this can apply to any genre or theme. It’s a tried-and-tested strategy that can shake up a formulaic plot or change the direction of the entire show. Some of the biggest change the way we think about the serie up until that point, and these TV show twists are even better on a rewatch. That said, the most controversial TV show twists have divided fandoms, even leading to lower ratings and bad reviews. Controversy might be memorable, but a well-done twist also has to make sense.
A bad or illogical TV show twist can overshadow the plot and characters for the rest of the series, and dominate discussions of the show from then on. On the other hand, the most genius TV show twists can go down in TV history as a defining moment for the entire creative team. Some of the best twists of all time are shocking in the moment, but make sense on a rewatch, where we can look at the background and build-up before the reveal. These are the ones that keep us thinking about them, even years later.
10
M*A*S*H*
Henry Blake’s Death
MASH’s biggest twist formed one of the show’s most tragic moments, which was described as “the saddest sitcom episode of all time.” The season 3 finale, “Abyssinia, Henry,” killed a major supporting character offscreen. While this moment was spoiled in newspaper articles before the episode aired, it was still one of the most genius twists.
Larry Gelbart, the showrunner, had tried to avoid leaks by keeping Henry Blake’s death a secret until the last moment, and the cast and crew had assumed that Henry would get a happy ending. The twist is genius for the way in which it was hidden from all involved, and for delivering a strong anti-war message in a believable way in a show that had mostly been a comedy.
9
Game of Thrones
The Red Wedding
Despite the failure of the final season of Game of Thrones, the show has generally given us some incredible twists. The pilot episode’s twist had viewers hooked, and the infamous Red Wedding has all the best features of Game of Thrones. The moment included drama, shifting politics, and gore, all of which came as a shock.
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The Red Wedding is still so memorable because it killed several main characters at an event which should have been a joyful occasion. After Robb Stark asked Walder Frey for his forgiveness for breaking his promise to marry his daughter, it appeared that all was indeed forgiven. Instead, the Starks were invited to a wedding, where many of them were massacred, including Robb.
8
Gossip Girl
Dan Is Gossip Girl
The identity of the mysterious blogger known as Gossip Girl was kept secret from the show’s characters as well as its audience. But alas, in the final episode, Gossip Girl was revealed to be Dan Humphrey, the outsider and scholarship student who had never fit in with what Gossip Girl called “Manhattan’s elite.”
The group’s resident writer should have been the main suspect.
The ending divided Gossip Girl’s fans, as many of Dan’s actions made no sense if he had been the blogger. However, some reviewers have described the twist as “clever” as the group’s resident writer should have been the main suspect, but he was one of the characters that few viewers had considered.
7
Sons of Anarchy
Jax And The Sons Set Up Agent Stahl
The hypocritical and cruel Agent Stahl was one of Sons of Anarchy’s most hated supporting characters, and Jax and the Sons finally outsmarted her in season 3. This moment resolved one of the most tense storylines, ending the season on a high note, with Stahl’s satisfying death at the hands of Opie.
Season 3 had set Jax up as a rat, with Stahl placing him in increasingly risky situations. Jax’s love for the club and his family were his greatest struggles throughout the show, and he could be easily manipulated. This made Stahl’s blackmail very believable. However, the finale revealed that the Sons were in on this the entire time, as Gemma receives a note Jax left, explaining it all.
6
Blackadder
The Men Are About To Die
The iconic British comedy Blackadder follows the exploits of Blackadder and his descendants through history. Some of the best British comedians of all time star, and the show revolved around a combination of wit and stupidity. This is why one hard-hitting scene has become more famous than the show itself. Blackadder Goes Forth appears to end on a happy note, before a final terrible twist that is just as heartbreaking years later.
The main characters are living in the trenches in World War One, and Blackadder is trying to get out of fighting by pretending to be mad. While his attempts are hilarious, the episode takes a dark turn when the men are ordered to prepare to fight. When the first gunfire stops, they think for a moment that the war is over, but it is only a short break before the men charge over the wall to their deaths.
5
The Good Place
The Characters Are In The Bad Place
The Good Place began with a relatively simple premise, in which Eleanor is mistakenly sent to the Good Place after her death. For most of season 1, her struggle to learn ethics while not revealing herself as an impostor was the main storyline. However, the genius twist turns the entire premise of the show on its head, and it is still one of the best TV show twists of all time.
The Good Place was nominated for fourteen Primetime Emmy Awards.
Eleanor realizes that everybody is unhappy in The Good Place, which means that she and her companions must actually be in the Bad Place. Michael’s resulting evil laugh confirms that this is the case, and this opens up the entire show, taking it in a more complex and philosophical direction. This sets up the rest of the series as the main characters try to get into the real Good Place.
4
The Simpsons
Maggie Shot Mr. Burns
The Simpsons is not generally known for extreme plot twists, as the show generally relies on running gags. Most episodes of The Simpsons are standalone episodes, and this means that twists can potentially be confusing for most of the audience. That said, The Simpsons has pulled off some clever moves over its 36 years on air, including the shooting of a main character.
When the unpopular Mr. Burns is shot, virtually everyone in Springfield becomes a suspect. Later, it is revealed that Maggie shot Mr. Burns in a bizarre series of accidents. The episode is solvable, with plenty of clues that point to Maggie, and this has kept audiences analyzing the Simpsons episode years later.
3
Breaking Bad
Walter’s Contact Was There All Along
Breaking Bad is known for its shock factor, with moments like Gus’s infamous “box cutter” scene living in viewers’ heads forever. That said, one of the show’s greatest strengths is its balance between explosive violence and subtler moments. These scenes work to develop the characters, but are often more disturbing than the gorier parts of the show.
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One of Breaking Bad’s most subtle twists is the identity of Walt’s contact. Walt and Jesse sit in Los Pollos Hermanos, getting increasingly nervous, which seems to attract the attention of the mild-mannered server, Gus. Rewatching Breaking Bad after the twist reveals that Gus is the very dangerous contact, it becomes clear that he is watching Walt and Jesse from the background throughout the scene.
2
Westworld
Bernard Isn’t Human
While Westworld features many non-human characters, the twist revealing that Bernard is also not human is one of the pivotal moments in Westworld season 1, and it shocked many viewers. Bernard is shown to be empathetic, and apparently has the ability to feel sorrow. However, when Theresa and Bernard find his own blueprint, Dr. Ford arrives and orders Bernard to kill Theresa.
The emotionless way that Bernard carries out the order is extremely disturbing, but the twist is genius, as there were hints throughout Westworld that Bernard is not human. He doesn’t appear to understand anything that would challenge his reality, as hosts are programmed to do. He reveals very little about his past, and trusts Ford more than he should.
1
Money Heist
The Plan Is Not As It Seems
Money Heist’s first twist happens during the pilot episode. At first, the show appears to be a typical story involving a bank robbery, with the Money Heist characters choosing code names, donning masks, and researching the building that they will be robbing. However, they are being led by a genius, and this becomes clear when the scope of Money Heist’s operation is revealed.
The characters in Money Heist do not intend to leave the mint.
The characters in Money Heist do not intend to leave the mint, but to stay inside for as long as possible, printing their own money. This twist suddenly changes Money Heist from a bank robbery with compelling characters to a much more exciting and unpredictable story, where almost all the details have been engineered by the mysterious Professor.