People Share 16 Great And 15 Awful Plot Twists From Hit TV Shows
Plot twists can make or break a show.
There are many things necessary to make a story work, at least when it comes to TV. Besides the main characters, the ambiance, the dialogues, and chemistry, the most important thing is the story.
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If the story sucks, then all the greatest actors in the world can't save the show. For the story to be interesting, it has to have some plot twists and major events that will change the course of the story, and make it more interesting, thus activating existing viewers and attracting new ones.
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That is the idea behind it. But how does it work in practice?
Well, sometimes these plot twists don't work out that well. Bad plot twists invalidate everything that has transpired so far in the story.
They detract from the story's significance and ruin the whole experience. Usually, that happens later in the show, when writers find it harder and harder to maintain the dynamic.
They then start introducing sometimes ridiculous changes, all in the name of keeping the audience interested. We have to be honest and say that sometimes these plot twists are great, and really add to the overall experience.
We have selected some of the best and worst examples of plot twists. Let's take a look:
1. Good plot twist: "And that's how I met your Aunt Robin," Ted said at the end of the pilot episode of How I Met Your Mother.
"Experiencing a major plot twist as a teenager can be quite impactful. However, it's important to recognize how the narrative can shift dramatically from that point onward," says Dr. Helen Fisher, biological anthropologist and author of "Why We Love."
CBS
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2. Bad plot twist: On Pretty Little Liars, Ezra confessed that he met Alison and understood who Aria was before they "first" met in the pub.
"Ezra was originally working undercover and planning to seduce Aria for his book about Alison, which he also had a thing with."— Dr. Ramani Durvasula, clinical psychologist
Freeform
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3. Good plot twist: On How to Get Away with Murder, Annalise's husband, Sam, was revealed to be the dead person the students were burning.
"It's one of the most captivating pilots I've ever watched, leaving me utterly speechless, and the subsequent episodes were filled with astonishing plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat."— Dr. Terri Orbuch, relationship researcher
ABC
4. Bad plot twist: Love Quinn revealed to Joe that she's a stalker and a killer on You.
"It was a disappointing twist that felt forced, undermining the show's integrity. Such choices can alienate viewers and diminish their overall experience," says Dr. Terri Orbuch, relationship researcher and author at terriorbuch.com.
Netflix
5. Good plot twist: In the Modern Family pilot, it was discovered that all of the family were related..
"I was genuinely surprised to realize that all the families on Modern Family were interconnected. It’s a testament to how deeply we can engage with individual narratives without seeing the bigger picture of their relationships."— Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist
ABC
6. Bad plot twist: Grey's Anatomy. When Alex departed Seattle to join Izzie.
"The character's journey from being disliked to becoming a respected surgeon in a loving relationship only to leave abruptly feels like a betrayal of his development. As Dr. Michele Weiner-Davis, a marriage therapist, states, 'When characters abandon their growth, it can leave audiences feeling disillusioned and robbed of a satisfying conclusion.' A character's integrity is essential for a meaningful narrative, and it would have been more impactful for him to face a tragic end that honored his evolution."
ABC
7. Good plot twist: When it was revealed that Rebecca and Jack's moments in the pilot episode of This Is Us were set in the 1980s and also that Kevin, Kate, and Randall were their children.
"I literally gasped and then cried. Learning how everyone was connected, they did such a fantastic job of showing that.""It was really a great first episode!"— Daniel Goleman, psychologist
NBC
8. Bad plot twist: On Pretty Little Liars, Cece turned out to be "A."
"The portrayal of a trans character as a villain can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and is often seen as an outdated trope. It's crucial to ensure that trans roles are played by trans actors to promote authenticity and representation in media," says Dr. Ramani Durvasula, clinical psychologist and author of "You Are Why You Eat."
Freeform / Via Courtesy Everett Collection
9. Good plot twist: When Eleanor disclosed because she had no idea what she's doing at the Good Place and that she was not really the person everybody assumed she was.
NBC
10. Bad plot twist: Justin Foley died abruptly after 13 Reasons Why disclosed that he had HIV-1 and had progressed to AIDS.
"How do you give a character who had so much growth — he was a person we hated in the first season and eventually became the absolute favorite — that kind of ending?"— Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist
Netflix
11. Good plot twist: In Orange Is the New Black, Alex showed up in the same prison as Piper.
"Throughout the episode, Piper remembered some of the memories with Alex that got her into prison in the first place and then Alex appeared at the end."— Dr. Shefali Tsabary, parenting expert
Netflix
12. Bad plot twist: At the end of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Rory told Lorelai she was pregnant.
"While Amy Sherman-Palladino had a vision for her characters, the reality of a revival nearly a decade later often leads to inconsistencies in character development. It's crucial for writers to maintain the integrity of their characters, and abrupt changes can feel like a betrayal to the audience," says Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist and author of "Loving Bravely" (dralexandrasolomon.com)."Rory's unexpected pregnancy storyline, especially with Logan being engaged to someone else, raises questions about narrative choices. Such plot twists can feel like a lazy attempt at shock value rather than a meaningful development," adds Dr. Michele Weiner-Davis, marriage therapist and author of "Divorce Busting" (divorcebusting.com).
Netflix
13. Good plot twist: When the smoke creature first emerged in Lost first episode.
"I knew from then that this was going to be about a lot more than a plane crash."— Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist
ABC
14. Bad plot twist: On Veronica Mars, Logan was killed off.
"The way a character is killed off can feel like a betrayal to loyal fans, especially if it's done without proper narrative justification. It can evoke strong emotional reactions, leading to feelings of anger and disappointment," explains Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, emotion researcher at lisafeldmanbarrett.com.
Hulu
15. Good plot twist: When Sarah noticed the woman who jumped in front of a speeding train, she noticed that they shared the same look on Orphan Black.
BBC America
16. Bad plot twist: When Chuck discovered that his dad, Bart, had pretended to die on Gossip Girl
"It felt completely unnecessary and arbitrary, especially since the character was destined to die the following season. It would have been better if he had remained deceased."— Dr. Laura Berman, sex therapist
The CW
17. Good plot twist: Mad Man pilot - When Don went home to his wife, even tough he acted like a bachelor
"It was so well done."
—Dr. Laura Berman, sex therapist
AMC
18. Bad plot twist: When it is revealed that Ted's love for Robin, rather than the mother, is the focus of How I Met Your Mother.
"The ending is all kinds of messed up, and quite frankly, disrespectful to Tracy."—Dr. Laura Berman, sex therapist
CBS
19. Good plot twist: On Dead to Me, it was discovered that Judy was the motorist who killed Jen's husband in a hit-and-run.
Netflix
20. Bad plot twist: When Charles and Chic's relationship was exposed on Riverdale.
"I really groaned at the scene. Charles, Betty’s long-lost half brother, was dating Chic, the guy who pretended to be Betty's long-lost half brother. It felt like a twist that was more confusing than compelling."— Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist
The CW
21. Good plot twist: When it was revealed that the girls were brought to the island intentionally
"That show excels at plot twists in general. It is so intriguing and felt so well done," says Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist and expert on human relationships.
Amazon Prime
22. Bad plot twist: On Revenge, David was revealed to be alive.
"The central theme of the show revolved around Emily seeking revenge for her father's death, only to discover he was alive, which undermined the emotional buildup. As Dr. Laura Berman, a renowned sex therapist, states, 'Plot twists can be powerful, but they must resonate with the audience's emotional journey to be effective.' The character's portrayal also shifted dramatically, contrasting sharply with the loving father depicted in earlier flashbacks, which can leave viewers feeling disconnected from the narrative."
ABC
23. Good plot twist: On Once Upon a Time, Prince Charming was discovered alive and in a hospital bed.
"That moment was the whole reason I kept watching. I was hooked from that moment on," says Dr. Ian Kerner, a renowned sex therapist and author, highlighting how pivotal plot twists can enhance viewer engagement.
ABC
24. Bad plot twist: On Pretty Little Liars, A.D. turned out to be Spencer's long-lost British twin.
"It felt as if the writers cobbled together random fanfiction ideas without a coherent plan. The numerous plot holes made it hard to believe that this was intentional storytelling."—Dr. Sue Johnson, couples therapy pioneer
Freeform
25. Good plot twist: In Only Murders in the Building, Mabel was shown to have known Tim Kono, the murder victim.
Hulu
26. Bad plot twist: On Gossip Girl, Rufus and Lily meet their secret son.
"He was there for a couple episodes, then it was never mentioned again."— Dr. Esther Perel, couples therapist and author
The CW
27. Good plot twist: In The Boys, when A-Train slammed into Hughie's girlfriend and murdered her.
"I definitely wasn’t expecting that in the first five minutes."— Dr. Helen Fisher, biological anthropologist
Amazon Prime
28. Bad plot twist: On Scandal, Olivia was kidnapped.
ABC
29. Good plot twist: When it was revealed that Kate's captor was vice principal Martin Harris, and Kate blamed Jeanette of spying on her while she was held captive in Cruel Summer, everyone was shocked.
Freeform
30. Good plot twist: In Black Mirror, just before the princess was released by her captor, the prime minister had intimate relations with a pig on broadcast as a condition of her release.
"The lengths to which individuals go to protect others can often be misguided, leading to unnecessary sacrifices."— Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist
Netflix
31. Bad plot twist: On Jane the Virgin, when Jane discovered Michael was still alive.
"While plot twists can be thrilling, they can also undermine character development and relationships that viewers have invested in," says Dr. Esther Perel, couples therapist and author of "Mating in Captivity" (estherperel.com)."When a character's journey is abruptly altered, it can feel like a betrayal to the audience, especially after they've witnessed years of emotional growth," she adds.The CW
What do you think of the list? We noticed that most of the good plot twists happened at the beginning of these shows.
It is possible that the writers do their best at the beginning, and resort to ridiculous story changes when they run out of ideas as the show progresses. What do you think?
