There is nothing quite like experiencing a truly great plot twist in a favorite television series. These moments that leave fans shocked and astounded help to stay in the minds of the audience for years after. Looking at some of the reactions to these plot twists among Reddit users really solidifies the impact they can have.
From heartbreaking deaths to reveals that put everything into a new context, these surprises were pulled off brilliantly. It is also interesting to see the different types of shows that can leave audiences stunned with their great storytelling.
10 White Bear – Black Mirror (2011-2019)
The anthology series Black Mirror tells a new story about the dark side of technology with each new episode. “White Bear” was one of the most unsettling episodes as it found a woman waking up with no memory in a small town where she is constantly hunted for the amusement of a live audience.
Though the audience immediately sympathizes with the main character, the ending reveals she is a convicted murderer and her punishment is to be put through this experience, again and again with her mind being wiped each time. AUMOM108 called it a “thought-provoking terrifying experience as we watch the horrors continue.”
9 John Locke Is In A Wheelchair – Lost (2004-2010)
From the very first episode, Lost was a show that left the audience constantly asking questions about what is really going on with this mysterious island the plane crash survivors find themselves on. And some of the biggest reveals just delivered more questions.
Throughout the first few episodes of the show, John Locke is shown to be a skilled survivalist who seems to have some strange appreciation for the island. In a flashback episode, it is revealed that Locke was paralyzed from the waist down before going to the island. Redditor warkidd explains “that was the moment that got me hooked on the show.”
8 Nina Myers Is A Mole – 24 (2001-2010)
As if the premise of 24 wasn’t intriguing enough with one season unfolding over the course of 24 hours, it also delivered some truly shocking moments. but it was the first season that packed perhaps the biggest punch.
Nina Myers was seen to be a loyal ally of Jack Bauer in his mission to stop a terrorist plot. However, it was then revealed that she was actually a mole working for the enemy and ends up killing Jack’s wife. Redditor OShaunesssy called the reveal “a game-changer for the series.”
7 Buffy Was In Heaven – Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
While Buffy apparently died in the fifth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, few fans thought she would stay dead. But while her return wasn’t a surprise, it did deliver a pretty heartbreaking reveal.
After being resurrected by her friends, Buffy reveals that she was in heaven at peace and happy only to be torn away from it and but back into a world of violence. It was an interesting way to ad consequences to her resurrection and KGB_Panda said the moment “hit me really hard when I was a kid.”
6 Trinity Kills Rita – Dexter (2006-2013)
A show in which the protagonist is a serial killer is shocking enough, but Dexter still featured a lot of big twists throughout its run. But likely the most devastating one came with the Trinity Killer’s final attack on Dexter.
As Dexter is able to track down Arthur Mitchell and kill him, he appears to have won. However, he then returns home to discover that Mitchell had already visited Dexter’s home and murdered his wife, Rita. Redditor propsnuffe called it a great twist in “one of the greatest seasons of any TV I’ve ever seen.”
5 Ward Is A Hydra Agent – Agents Of SHIELD (2013-2020)
The Marvel show Agents of SHIELD had the difficult task of trying to build a show while also having to respond to the events of the MCU movies. However, this ended up working to its advantage at the end of the first season as it tied into Captain America: The Winter Soldier‘s plot.
As it is revealed that Hydra has been operating within SHIELD for years, one of the show’s main heroes, Ward, is revealed to be a Hydra agent. Redditor BelovedApple pointed out that not only was the reveal a shock but also that “he stayed the bad guy.”
4 The Truth About Fry’s Brother – Futurama (1999-)
The animated comedy Futurama was a hilarious adventure about Phillip J. Fry who was accidentally frozen in the 20th century and woke up in the 30th century. But along with the laughs, Futurama sometimes had some really emotional moments.
The episode “Luck of the Fryrish” follows Fry learning that his brother took his lucky clover and even his name after Fry disappeared. But his jealousy over his brother’s success was misplaced as it was actually his nephew who was named after Fry to carry on his memory. Redditor admiralvic said the reveal “really only adds to the scenes before it.”
3 It’s The Bad Place – The Good Place (2016-2020)
It is not often a comedy series delivers a truly great twist, but The Good Place had quite a surprise at the end of its first season. The show follows a group of people trying to cope with existence in the afterlife as they are taken to a paradise known as The Good Place.
But as the characters face anxiety and uncertainty about whether they belong there, they realize that they are actually in “the Bad Place” where they are being psychologically tortured. Redditor patrickkingart called Ted Danson’s sudden turn to evil in this moment “one of my favorite things from the whole series.”
2 William Is The Man In Black – Westworld (2016-)
The HBO sci-fi series Westworld is another show that featured a number of twists throughout, with some critics feeling like the mysteries outweighed the actual story. However, the reveal late in the show’s first season concerning the villainous Man in Black and the chivalrous William left audiences stunned.
The Man in Black is shown to be hunting Dolores while Williams goes on a heroic adventure with her. But it is eventually revealed the audience has been watching two different timelines and William eventually becomes the Man in Black. Redditor swinginachain1 praised it as “an extremely well-executed twist.”
1 “We Have To Go Back!” – Lost (2004-2010)
It’s not surprising that Lost featured more than one twist that really stuck with fans. However, the one that came at the end of season 3 truly took viewers by surprise and changed the show going forward.
The episode features flashbacks of Jack in the real world as many previous episodes had, but the final moments reveal that they are actually flashforwards as he reunites with Kate. As if the fact that they are now off the island wasn’t shocking enough, Jack insists that they need to go back. JosephSim claimed the ending “melted my f***ing brain when it went down.”
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