10 Unforgettable Plot Twist From TV Shows (And 8 That Made Fans Lose Interest)

If there's one thing that basically every TV series in existence loves, it's a good, old-fashioned plot twist. We can see why, to be honest: shows would get stale if the same old thing happened again and again! We viewers need a big change from time to time to shake things up and keep us interested. We're fickle beings, and if a series gets boring, we'll just find a new one to watch. The writers can't have that! Thus, they lure us back in with an unexpected tragedy, a surprising revelation, or a shocking conflict.

Of course, not every TV plot twist goes down well with a show's fans. There's a fine line between making things exciting, and making them totally ridiculous. Some shows are highly skilled at staying on the right side of this boundary; others have fallen pretty flat over the years. In extreme cases, a plot twist has been so bad that it's driven viewers away from the show, not kept them hooked! Here are just a few surprising storylines that have been met with varying responses from audiences. Did they have you on the edge of your seat or leave you feeling totally let down? Well, you'll have to read on and find out!

18 Cersei's Actions In 'Game Of Thrones' Season Six Surprised Even Book Fans

Right from the very first episode of HBO's Game of Thrones, it's been clear that Cersei Lannister isn't someone you should mess with. Whether it's having her enemies "got rid of", getting a bit too close to her brother Jaime, or constantly trying to seize more power, you can pretty much always find Cersei at the heart of some nefarious scheme. Den of Geek once named her the second worst villain in Thrones history - only paling in comparison to her own son, Joffrey.

While most of Cersei's choices have been shocking, her actions at the close of Thrones' sixth season truly took fans' breath away. Since the show has now surpassed its source material's timeline, not even book fans saw her destruction of the Great Sept of Baelor coming. It was an act of extreme revenge that Observer.com pinpointed as the exact moment Cersei went insane.

17 The 'Agents Of Shield', Grant Ward Reveal Saved The Entire Show

With Entertainment Weekly reporting that Agents of SHIELD could be concluding for good after its current season, what better time to remember its best plot twist ever? Back in the show's early days, it swiftly silenced all of its major critics by pulling a major shock out of the bag. At the time, TOR.com claimed that an otherwise fairly slow and unsurprising series suddenly became high-octane thanks to this big reveal.

We speak, of course, of the true identity of S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Grant Ward. Turns out this brooding, darkly handsome guy was actually working for the evil group HYDRA as an undercover spy. He ended up betraying all of his S.H.I.E.L.D. comrades when his real allegiance became clear. Of course, things didn't turn out so well for Grant in the end. He met a grizzly end in what Variety called some "brutal" final moments. But still…  How could he!

16 Every 'Friends' Fan Was Totally Shook When Monica And Chandler Got Together

While Monica and Chandler are now one of the most iconic TV couples of all time, their relationship was a bit of a curveball plot-wise when it first aired! A Vulture article that reminisced about that big reveal pretty accurately recalls the intense "shrieking at the TV" levels of shock that many Friends fans experienced. Sure, Monica and Chandler had always got on well, but finding out they'd spent the night together in London? That was a plot twist and a half!

Something even more surprising about the Monica/Chandler pairing is the fact that the Friends showrunner never actually wanted it to happen! According to Cosmopolitan, the show's co-creator Marta Kaufmann initially intended the two's night of passion to be a bit of a joke. However, when studio audiences reacted favorably to the idea of a romance, she decided to stick with it! We're so glad she did.

15 The 'Game of Thrones' Red Wedding Was Arguably The Biggest Plot Twist Of The Decade

Game of Thrones really knows how to deal its viewers a huge plot twist - especially when it comes to "getting rid of" various characters. While there have been some tragic losses in recent seasons, many fans still haven't recovered from the Red Wedding episode all the way back in Season Three!

Seeing two members of the Stark family perish at the hands of the Freys was a bolt from the blue for any Thrones fans that hadn't read the books. Even those that had still found themselves traumatized by what they were witnessing! You only have to re-read Mashable's reactions compilation from 2013 to see just how shocked the viewing public was. People screamed. People cried. George R.R. Martin probably sat cackling somewhere. It was a very sad day for House Stark fans everywhere.

14 Zoe Barnes' Fate In 'House Of Cards' Was A Genuine Surprise

Way back at the beginning of the Netflix smash hit series House of Cards, a young reporter named Zoe Barnes was one of the main focuses of the show. As Bustle notes, she was basically the "viewers' entry point" into the grim and grisly world of this fictional version of Washington DC. As she explored all of the dirty deeds and questionable morals of America's top politicians, we joined her for the ride. We all kind of assumed that this would remain the case for the entirety of the series' run.

But, of course, a huge drama like House of Cards is never going to do what we expect, is it? In the very first episode of the show's second season, Zoe was unceremoniously pushed in front of a subway train by then Vice-President Frank Underwood. To say that audiences were totally blindsided is an understatement.

13 George's Ending Was Definitely The Most Heart-Wrenching 'Grey's Anatomy' Plot Twist

Long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy has always been infamous for getting rid of popular characters, even before Game of Thrones made it cool. McDreamy, Lexie, Denny, Mark… The list goes on and on. Seriously, nobody's safe in that show. However, out of all of the tragic passings we Grey's fans have seen, none were quite as shocking as that of George O'Malley.

As ScreenCrush notes, George's demise was nothing if not heroic. He lost his life after shielding someone from being hit by a bus. However, that didn't make it any less heart-wrenching. Things were made worse by the fact that the crash left George so disfigured that his colleagues didn't realize it was him until it was too late. Seriously… Is Shonda Rhimes actively trying to break all of our hearts? It certainly seems that way!

12 We Still Can't Get Over Jane's Demise In 'Breaking Bad'

When the entire concept of a TV show revolves around the production and trade of an illegal substance, you know that some pretty shady things are going to go down. However, this didn't leave Breaking Bad fans prepared for the huge shock that was Jane's exit in Season Two. Even though Walt had the chance to save Jane as she began to choke, he chose not to. It was such a cold and heartless act that according to Metro, Walt actor Bryan Cranston can't talk about it without crying.

Of course, this course of action didn't exactly end well for Walt. Jane happened to be the love of his buddy Jesse's life. In a moment of egotistical cruelty, Walt tells Jesse that he was indirectly responsible for Jane's demise in an episode that Rolling Stone called Walt's ultimate downfall. Talk about ruining a friendship right there…

11 The Entirety Of 'Stranger Things' Season 2 Was A Giant, Amazing Plot Twist

Netflix Original Stranger Things became an immediate hit upon its release back in 2016. We all became immediately hooked on Eleven, Mike, and the gang's exploits, even if they were pretty terrifying a lot of the time! The show's popularity only increased when its second season dropped just a few months ago. According to Recode, over 16 million people tuned into its first episode in the U.S. alone!

But what is it that's made Stranger Things into a cultural phenomenon? Well, its constant plot twists certainly know how to keep an audience hooked! Season two gave us plenty of shocks and surprises, not least with the revelation that Eleven wasn't the only "special" child kept in Hawkins Lab. It's hard not to become invested in a show when you have no idea what it'll throw at you next!

10 Brody's True Allegiance Took Us All By Surprise In 'Homeland's First Season

The long-running thriller drama series Homeland has been providing us with plot twist after plot twist for seven seasons now. There are always going to be some shocking reveals when a show deals with the actions of spies and traitors, and Homeland certainly doesn't disappoint! Arguably its biggest surprise of all came all the way back in the show's first season when we learned of Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody's true allegiance.

As Digital Spy notes, pretty much all of Homeland's first season revolved around whether Brody was an innocent guy or a terrorist in disguise. For most of the episodes, the show had the audience totally fooled: we had no reason to suspect that he had been "turned" after all. However, that all changed in an instant when we witnessed Brody collect an explosive vest from a terrorist associate. We'd been totally hoodwinked in a genius move by the writers.

9 Rebecca's Diagnosis In 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' Was Satisfying and Pretty Revolutionary

It's not often that mental illness is given a sensitive and true-to-life portrayal on primetime TV. It's even rarer that this takes place in an irreverent comedy-musical show like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend! From the moment we first met lead character Rebecca Bunch, it was clear that she wasn't entirely well. I mean, she dropped her entire life in New York City to essentially stalk a guy she'd dated as a teen all the way to California.

Rebecca's behavior became more and more erratic as each season of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend went on. Initially, this was chalked up to depression and anxiety. However, Season Three revealed an unexpected but ultimately powerful diagnosis for her: Borderline Personality Disorder. It was a twist that, although initially a shock, makes perfect sense with hindsight. As Elle notes, this representation of BPD is also an important move in breaking down the stigma around a largely misunderstood illness.

8 Everyone Disliked 'How I Met Your Mother's Final Plot Twist

Okay, is there anyone out there who actually enjoyed How I Met Your Mother's series finale? One of its stars, Alyson Hannigan, even admitted to news.com.au that the episode has a ton of issues! For starters, the fact that The Mother passed away mere minutes after we discovered her identity disappointed many fans. Then it became clear that this demise was all a plot device so that Ted could get back together with Robin! WHAT? Nine seasons of character development all went down the drain in one hour!

Of course, Robin and Ted ending up together also meant that Robin and Barney had to ultimately divorce. As Vulture notes, considering we spent the entirety of the final season watching this couple's wedding unfold, this was a huge anticlimax. Basically, the finale had too many plot twists that were all terrible ideas. Thanks, CBS!

7 The Revelation Of 'Gossip Girl's Identity Was A Total Letdown

Another show, another big reveal that left fans sorely disappointed. While Gossip Girl was often all about the characters' affairs, arguments, and angry confrontations, at the heart of it was the mystery of the titular gossip-monger's true identity. Fans waited six seasons to find out who'd been signing their name "xoxo Gossip Girl" for so long, only to end up totally outraged when this plot twist finally occurred.

As Metro succinctly puts it, the discovery that Dan was Gossip Girl all along left viewers feeling totally "fobbed off". For one, Dan taking on that role makes pretty much no sense when you consider all of the secrets that he revealed. He must have written dozens of posts openly tearing down himself, and it doesn't seem like him to be so malicious about those around him. Sorry, Gossip Girl's writers, but we still don't buy it.

6 Why Did 'Friends' Writers Make Rachel And Joey Date?

Last year, one particularly passionate Twitter user decided to post an extensive thread explaining why Rachel and Joey should have been one of Friends' lasting couples. Joey would care for Rachel more than Ross ever could! Their chemistry was real! While Cosmopolitan jumped on the pro-Joey-and-Rachel bandwagon pretty quickly after the Tweets were posted, a whole load of Friends fans are still convinced that this brief relationship was one of the show's worst ever plot twists.

As Self.com notes, Rachel and Joey had a beautiful friendship before their flirtation came along. Why couldn't it have stayed that way? Men and women can be friends without developing feelings for each other! In the same article, Rachel actress Jennifer Aniston admitted that the couple would never have worked out - their connection was physical rather than emotional. It was a misstep that many Friends fans wish they could forget.

5 'Pretty Little Liars' Series Finale Twist Fell Pretty Flat

Throughout its seven seasons, Pretty Little Liars was a rollercoaster of plot twists, big reveals, and heightened emotions. The identity of A, the Liars' main tormentor, changed multiple times. Plenty of characters changed allegiances over the years, and - as the show's title suggests - everyone got caught out in a lie or five. It was honestly hard to keep up with what was going on in the final few seasons.

These PLL plot twists varied in their success. Some genuinely excited and pleased the show's fans; others fell flat. One shocking event that definitely fits into the latter category is the final episode's big AD reveal. It turns out that Spencer has a British evil twin named Alex Drake who's been behind some of the Liars' most traumatic experiences. As MTV notes, nobody saw it coming, and nobody was particularly impressed. Troian Bellisario's questionable British accent didn't help matters!

4 'Sherlock's Writers Left Fans Furious When They 'Revealed' How He Survived That Fall

The BBC's modern-day Holmes adaptation Sherlock developed a cult following pretty much from the word go, making a star of its lead actor Benedict Cumberbatch. As Digital Spy noted at the time, the Season Two finale - "The Reichenbach Fall" - was one of the most talked TV events ever when it aired in 2012. Sherlock seemingly fell to his demise from the top of a pretty tall building, only to miraculously survive unscathed. How did he do it? We were all desperate to know!

Unfortunately, Sherlock's writers decided to disappoint everyone when Season Three hit our screens. After two years of feverish speculation, they didn't solve the mystery at all. They showed a few possible explanations but didn't actually confirm which - if any - was the correct one. As Vanity Fair noted, fans were pretty displeased by this, and showrunner Steven Moffat didn't seem to care. Oh dear.

3 Glenn's Reappearance In 'The Walking Dead' Disappointed Many Fans

The Walking Dead has a history of seriously irritating its fanbase. As Forbes reported, it did so recently when Carl Grimes met his end thanks to a rogue zombie bite. Still, if we're going to talk about questionable plot twists on this show, we have to bring up Glenn's first "ending" and his subsequent "resurrection". As Variety notes, it was one of the most unrealistic things to ever happen on the show.

In The Walking Dead's sixth season, Glenn and Nicholas found themselves trapped in an alleyway with a whole load of zombies. Realizing that this wasn't going to end well, Nicholas ended his own life. Glenn, meanwhile, was last seen screaming as the undead creatures advanced on him. His demise was certain, right? Apparently not! Glenn reappeared a few episodes later, having survived by hiding under a dumpster. Yep, really. Still not buying it, to be honest.

2 'Dallas' Actually Tried To Pull Off The Awful "It Was All A Dream" Trick

Remember back in school, when your English teacher told you never to end a story with "and it was all a dream?" Well, classic 1970s drama Dallas chose to ignore that rule, totally writing off its ninth season as one extended dream sequence! Mental Floss described the move as one of the show's most audacious ever, and it certainly got a strong reaction from fans. Some found the twist hilarious; others felt cheated and totally lost faith in the show.

According to Mental Floss, pretty much nobody knew that this plot twist was going to take place before it aired on TV. The show's actors, crew members, and even CBS Executives were just as surprised as the viewing public when the supposedly-deceased Bobby Ewing stepped out of that infamous shower!  Still, it can't have been too much of a disaster: Dallas survived for seven more seasons and was recently rebooted.

1 'Roseanne's Original Finale Plot Twist Annoyed A Lot Of Viewers

Almost as annoying as the "it was all a dream" ending is the "it was all the events of a character's novel" explanation. This is the solution that popular sitcom Roseanne went with when it first ended back in 1997, and fans were NOT pleased. In a piece summarizing Roseanne's original ending prior to its reboot this year, Uproxx succinctly called the "it was all fictional" twist "terribly weird". All in all, that's a fair summary.

In Season Nine of the show, we're led to believe that Roseanne's husband, Dan, has had an affair, totally betraying his wife. However, it turns out that this was all a fantasy Roseanne concocted to console herself following Dan's tragic passing. Well, until Season Ten, when this was also revealed to be a fiction. Dan is still alive, and he's not a cheater. Confused? We're not surprised…

References: denofgeek.com, observer.com, ew.com, variety.com, tor.com, vultrue.com, cosmopolitan.com, mashable.com, bustle.com, screencrush.com, metro.co.uk, rollingstone.com, recode.net, digitalspy.com, elle.com, news.com.au, vultrue.com, metro.co.uk, cosmopolitan.com, self.com, mtv.com, vanityfair.com, digitalspy.com, forbes.com, forbes.com, variety.com, mentalfloss.com, uproxx.com