A well-placed plot twist can make a good TV show even more captivating, and some revelations become part of pop culture forever. We’re used to watching long-running thrillers with strong characters and hoping for a surprise turn of events. That’s par for the course when it comes to the genre.
However, the best plot twists aren’t necessarily found in the thriller genre, as sitcoms and dramas can wrap up major storylines in unexpected ways or completely change character arcs with one big development. From the stunning series finale of a popular medical drama to an unforgettable reveal on an AppleTV+ drama, these plot twists are still worthy of discussion.
Dan Is Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl
For six seasons, a mysterious figure watched New York City teens, broadcasting their every move and their bleakest, most complicated secrets. While many tried to guess who Gossip Girl was, few thought it would be the seemingly kind-hearted Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley).
This remains a controversial twist to this day, since not everyone thinks Dan should have been chosen. His true identity was the talk of the Internet when Gossip Girl’s series finale aired in December 2012.
It solidified the fact that even a sometimes melodramatic teen drama could give us a stunning plot twist. It also added layers to Dan’s character and made rewatching the show more fun. But perhaps more importantly, it made everyone intrigued by Badgley’s starring role in You.
Bernard Is A Host
Westworld
Many believe the HBO series Westworld had an excellent first season and then dropped in quality, which makes this plot twist stand out even more, since it makes those first 10 episodes feel even more special and unforgettable.
When you watch episode 7, “Trompe L’Oeil,” and see Theresa Cullen (Sidse Babett Knudsen) realize Bernard Lowe (Jeffrey Wright) is a host, it’s a wild moment, made more disturbing when Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins) demands that he murder Theresa. This alters the course of the rest of the season, since it’s now clear that Bernard is dangerous and untrustworthy.
While not a perfect series, Westworld explores questions of humanity, morality, reality, and happiness. It may not have delivered on its premise, but it’s at least thought-provoking, and this twist is proof of that fact.
Season 9 Wasn’t Real
Roseanne
With just a few exceptions, a story ending with an “it was all a dream” twist isn’t usually popular, but that’s exactly what happens in the series finale of Roseanne.
In “Into That Good Night,” we find out that the events of season 9 weren’t real, and Roseanne Connor (Roseanne Barr) wrote about these incidents in a book. The two wildest revelations: the Connors never became wealthy thanks to a lottery win, and Dan Connor (John Goodman) passed away from his season 8 heart attack.
This was upsetting, since it was weak storytelling — and also because the whole point of the sitcom was watching a family who weren’t privileged or well-off financially. Fans were shocked, confused, and unhappy with this ending, making this a twist that went down as one of TV’s worst.
The “Who Shot J.R.?” Scene In Season 3 Finale
Dallas
Decades before soapy small town shows were the norm on TV, Dallas had everyone on the edge of their seats with season 3, episode 25, “A House Divided,” when someone shot J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman).
As the episode aired in March 1980, it wasn’t conventional practice to have such a big plot twist in a season finale, which made it even more significant. CBS ran ads with the phrase “Who shot J.R.?” to get people talking even more about their popular drama, and everyone wanted to know the answer.
It’s also amazing to think that 350 million watched the Dallas season 4 premiere, “No More Mister Nice Guy: Part 1,” as we don’t hear about such overwhelmingly high ratings for a network TV show anymore.
Gemma Isn’t Dead
Severance
Learning the truth about Gemma Scout (Dichen Lachman) is what took Severance from an admittedly confusing but fascinating sci-fi series to AppleTV+’s most beloved and impressive one.
Since Mark Scout (Adam Scott) is such a relatable protagonist and grounds the dark and intense show, this plot twist also brilliantly moves the story forward, as he’s grieving when Lumon hires him.
It’s not only fun to come up with theories about Gemma and the other characters and storylines, but this plot twist lets us know that anything could be possible in the world of Lumon, and that’s important information. In a TV landscape where it takes years to see new seasons of favorite shows, Severance is consistently high-quality and gripping, and every episode is worth it thanks to turns like this.
Season 3’s Flashbacks Are Really Flash-Forwards
Lost
The most compelling Lost plot twist comes at the end of season 3, when we find out that the flashbacks are flash-forwards, taking place in the future.
“Through the Looking Glass” is an otherwise dark and upsetting episode, as Charlie Pace (Dominic Monaghan) dies, and the huge twist stands out just as much. We realize we’re not seeing Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) and Kate Austen (Evangeline Lilly) having a conversation from the past, but instead, they’ve managed to leave the island and get back home.
It’s chilling when Jack says, “We have to go back,” as it’s clear there’s a mysterious and likely dangerous reason why his time on the island isn’t actually over. Fans chatted about this moment until the season 4 premiere, and it altered the rest of the show. Now we knew that we could be watching the past, present, or future.
The “It Was All A Dream” Finale Twist
St. Elsewhere
Before today’s compelling medical dramas, like the standout The Pitt and the entertaining Grey’s Anatomy, St. Elsewhere surprised viewers with its series finale. In “The Last One,” you find out that nothing on the show actually happened. Tommy Westphall (Chad Allen), who has autism, dreamed up this whole story with a snow globe featuring the hospital, St. Eligius Hospital.
Even the show’s cast members had strong feelings about the ending. Christina Pickles told Entertainment Weekly, “I thought it was wonderful,” as viewers could add their own interpretations, while Bonnie Bartlett called it “terrible.”
It’s not easy for a finale that aired in 1988 to still feel so important, but ever since this one, savvy viewers have been more prepared for unexpected scenes in the final moments of a show’s run.
Ross Is Rachel’s Baby’s Father
Friends
We may still be wondering if the Friends couple was actually on a break, but at least we know Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) and Rachel Greene (Jennifer Aniston) lived happily ever after. And we got to enjoy the fun plot twist of Ross and Rachel having a baby together.
This is a big surprise, since it seemed that Tag Jones (Eddie Cahill) was the father. This would have been disappointing, as many believed Ross and Rachel were meant to be together.
The moment when the show shares that Ross is the baby’s father in season 8, episode 2, “The One With The Red Sweater,” is so satisfying because it’s the culmination of years of longing, love, and ups and downs. It also changed the sitcom permanently, as the last few seasons focused on deep topics like parenthood and looking to the future.
It’s Really “The Bad Place”
The Good Place
Even without the reveal that “The Good Place” is actually a type of hell called “The Bad Place,” this sitcom would still be different from anything else on TV. However, “Michael’s Gambit” solidified it as a truly creative ride.
As Michael (Ted Danson) lets everyone know the truth and Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) thinks she’ll never see her new friends again, it’s a game-changing moment that shows her character development. Eleanor thought she was selfish and incapable of genuine emotions or caring about others, but now she’s scared and worried.
Sitcoms aren’t known for wild plot twists, which makes The Good Place so smart and enjoyable. It’s tough not to mention this moment when sharing our love for it with others, but it truly has to be experienced.
The Red Wedding
Game Of Thrones
There are a lot of moments to remember on HBO’s most popular fantasy show, but “The Red Wedding” is the most violent and mind-boggling plot twist. Season 3, episode 9, “The Rains of Castamere,” ups the stakes on Roslin Frey and Edmure Tully’s wedding and crafts a stunning and bleak story around Robb Stark (Richard Madden).
After more than a few characters are killed during The Red Wedding, Roose Bolton (Michael McElhatton) kills Robb because Robb angered House Frey when he didn’t marry into the family, breaking the agreement between House Frey and House Stark.
It’s no wonder the episode has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating and remains one of the most discussed today. The twist not only meant that several great characters were gone, but it made the rest of Game of Thrones must-see TV, since we needed to know what other wild things could take place.