25 People Share The Wildest TV Cliffhangers They’ve Ever Seen
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Oh, those cliffhangers. There's nothing like a good cliffhanger to produce mixed feelings overload.
Isn't it frustrating when a season's worth of television ends on a cliffhanger? It's horrible, but it's also fantastic since it typically means you'll have something to look forward to in a few months (or, let's be honest, much longer).
We have a love/hate relationship with TV cliffhangers, but they are present in all good shows. What gives?
Because any good show builds up tension and suspense throughout the course of the season, and sometimes even seasons. Why else would viewers stay watching?
Cliffhangers have become a staple of TV shows, and they're even used in sitcoms to keep viewers coming back for more. It assures that the audience will tune in next time to see what happens by putting a character or group of characters in a difficult predicament or presented with a surprising discovery at the end of an episode/season.
It's also a great technique to keep the audience guessing and thinking about the show in between episodes. There have been a lot of memorable cliffhangers in television history, and here are 25 of the best, according to the Reddit community.
Take a look:
1. The Good Place: When the gang discovered they were in the Bad Place and Michael erased their memories in the Season 1 finale
"Then Eleanor found the note telling her to find Chidi, but had no memory of him! The show left it there for A YEAR. That stressed me out a LOT," said Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist who specializes in relationships and emotional well-being. She emphasizes that unresolved tension in narratives can significantly impact viewers' emotional states, stating, 'Cliffhangers can create a sense of anxiety and anticipation that lingers long after the episode ends.'
NBC2. Quinn's vehicle accident on the route to Rachel and Finn's wedding in Glee Season 3.
"That cliffhanger really set the stage for an intense continuation of the season! The unresolved wedding between Finn and Rachel left viewers eager for answers, showcasing the power of suspense in storytelling."— Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist
Fox3. Dexter Season 4 ended with Dexter discovering Rita dead in the bathtub.
"I have yet to see anything that tops it."—Dr. Esther Perel, couples therapist and author
Showtime
4. In the Orange Is the New Black Season 4 finale, when Daya snatched the gun.
"And then we had to wait a whole YEAR to find out what happened!"— Dr. Esther Perel, couples therapist and author
Netflix
5. The Game of Thrones Season 5 conclusion, when Jon was killed.
HBO
6. In the last moments of Season 2 of Sherlock, it was revealed that Sherlock had staged his death.
"When it panned to Sherlock WATCHING John at his own grave, it absolutely blew my mind," reflects Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a relationship therapist who emphasizes the emotional impact of storytelling in media.
BBC
7. During the Season 2 finale of Weeds, there was a major confrontation.
"Everything that could go wrong did: Shane's 'kidnapping,' the standoff with everyone's guns on Nancy, the safe with the drug-free zone sign in it, Silas getting arrested...it was such a colossal mess. As Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a relationship therapist, states, 'Cliffhangers often reflect the chaos and unpredictability of real life, making them resonate deeply with audiences.' This kind of dramatic tension is what keeps viewers engaged and eager for resolution."
Showtime
8. In the Season 5 conclusion of The Vampire Diaries, Damon and Bonnie "died."
"Even though I was sure they couldn’t really be gone, the episode still broke my heart," reflects Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a relationship therapist and author. "Cliffhangers can evoke deep emotional responses, reminding us of our own experiences with loss and uncertainty."
The CW
9. In Jane the Virgin's Season 4 final, Michael was discovered to be alive.
The CW
10. When Chuck was shot in Prague at the end of Season 3 of Gossip Girl.
"The emotional rollercoaster of a cliffhanger can be overwhelming, often leading viewers to experience heightened stress and excitement," says Dr. Adam Grant, organizational psychologist and author of *Think Again*. "It's a powerful reminder of how storytelling can impact our emotions."
The CW
11. In the Season 3 finale of Friends, you couldn't tell if Ross walked into Rachel's or Bonnie's room.
"The anticipation and engagement that cliffhangers create can be likened to the suspense in a good book, where readers are compelled to turn the page. It's a powerful tool for storytelling."— Dr. Paul Bloom, Psychology Professor
NBC
12. When Ruby and Olivia were shot at the end of Season 1 of On My Block.
Netflix
13. In the Season 4 finale of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Jake and Rosa were arrested.
"The suspense of not knowing whether a show will be renewed can be incredibly stressful for fans. It's a relief when storylines are resolved, providing the closure that viewers crave," says Dr. John Gray, relationship author and expert on emotional connections in media.
NBC
14. When the first season of Supernatural ended with the main protagonists being hit by a semitruck.
"There are countless memorable cliffhangers in television history, but the one from Season 1 of Supernatural remains a standout. Dean, having just endured torture, is bleeding in the backseat, while Sam is grappling with the aftermath of a demon attack.""As Sam argues with their father about their next move, BAM! Their car collides with a semitruck, leaving all three unconscious. This shocking moment had me, at just 15 years old, screaming and rewatching the season multiple times, desperate to uncover what happened next," says Dr. John Gottman, renowned relationship researcher and author of "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" on his website gottman.com.
The CW
15. In the Season 2 finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy pushed Angel into the vortex.
"While it may seem mild compared to today's cliffhangers, I distinctly remember the anticipation I felt waiting to see how Buffy would navigate her challenges and how Angel would return. It truly captured the essence of storytelling that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats." — Gretchen Rubin, happiness researcher
The WB
16. At the end of Book 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Azula shoots Aang with her lightning while he is in the Avatar State.
"The emotional impact of a cliffhanger can be profound, often leaving viewers in a state of suspense and anticipation. As Dr. Angela Duckworth, a renowned psychologist, states, 'The thrill of uncertainty can heighten our emotional responses, making the resolution all the more satisfying.' This episode's ending exemplifies that feeling perfectly, as it left me questioning everything until the very last moment."—Dr. Angela Duckworth, psychologist
Nickelodeon
17. When Alex was shot in the fifth season episode "Loss" of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
"Then the squad gets called to a top-secret meeting the night before her funeral and it’s Alex! She had to fake her death and enter witness protection to escape the Colombian drug cartel. As Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist, states, 'The thrill of suspense in storytelling can mirror the complexities of real-life relationships, where stakes are high and emotions run deep.'"
NBC
18. The Alias Season 2 finale, in which Sydney awoke two years in the future.
"I thought I had seen it all, but that twist completely caught me off guard. It was a brilliant moment that left me in awe of the storytelling."— Dr. Alexandra Solomon, Relationship Therapist
ABC
19. In the Season 1 conclusion of Manifest, you can't say who got shot.
"Jared and Zeke are fighting over a gun, Michaela walks in, and then the gun fires. I had to wait a whole year for that one :/"— Dr. Laura Berman, sex therapist
20. The Season 4 finale of The 100 finished with a cryptic flash-forward.
"Almost every season finale on that show is great and has a big cliffhanger, but none can compare to the Season 4 finale, 'Praimfaya.' The entire episode is an edge-of-your-seat countdown that ends with the expectation of a big time jump. But the last four minutes are an unexpected shock to the system and had me anxious for an entire year until the next season aired."— Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist
The CW
21. The Season 3 conclusion of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "The Best of Both Worlds," in which Picard is assimilated by the Borg.
"And Riker gave the order for the Enterprise to destroy the Borg ship! And then it just cut to black!!"— Dr. Esther Perel, couples therapist and author
CBS
22. The West Wing's Season 1 finale, in which white nationalists opened fire on the president and his staff before the screen went dark.
"The season ends leaving you with NO idea who got hit or what happened!! You don’t find out that both Josh and Bartlet were shot until the first two episodes of the next season. Best/worst cliffhanger ever."— Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist
NBC
23. At the end of Supernatural Season 9, Dean became a demon.
"I still remember how much I cried watching him die, and I didn’t think it could get much worse than that. Until he opened his eyes and they were black. I screamed so loud, my mother was outside and she still heard me."— Dr. Terri Orbuch, Relationship Researcher
The CW
24. The Walking Dead's Season 6 conclusion, when Negan hits somebody with Lucille and you have no idea who it is.
"As a fan of the series, I was devastated by the cliffhanger. It felt like a betrayal to the audience who invested so much emotion into the characters!"—Dr. Laura Berman, sex therapist
"When a show builds up suspense only to leave viewers hanging, it can be incredibly frustrating. It’s a reminder of how important resolution is in storytelling."
—Dr. Pepper Schwartz, sociologist
AMC
25. In the Season 1 finale of Jane the Virgin, Jane's baby was taken.
"It was so shocking and unexpected, and it had you waiting forever to find out what happened to poor Mateo!!!"
The CW
What do you think of your list? Some shows go even further and leave their viewers apprehensive and stressed at the end of each episode.
But, since TV and movies are supposed to make us feel, we're not mad at them. In fact, we want them to continue doing it.
