20 iconic plot twists that changed TV forever

The Storm - The Umbrella Academy (Season 1, Episode 10) | Image Source: Netflix (Borderline Entertainment)
The White Violin - The Umbrella Academy (Season 1, Episode 10) | Image Source: Netflix

Plot twists in the world of TV are some of the most exciting narrations the audience can experience, where they will only be stunned to know that their favorite character can alter the show's storyline. It may reveal secrets about hidden identities, betrayals, or deep mysteries that redefine everything.

This way, the plot becomes more thrilling and raises the bar higher, forcing viewers to remake all moments. These can be revelatory or heartbreaking losses, precisely what makes it a force to be reckoned with.

Iconic twists reformed series and character arcs that prove how a well-timed twist can change one's perception of the story and bring one back to watch it repeatedly.

1) The Rains of Castamere - Game of Thrones (Season 3, Episode 9)

The Rains of Castamere Game of Thrones (Season 3, Episode 9) | Image Source: Prime Video (HBO)
The Rains of Castamere Game of Thrones (Season 3, Episode 9) | Image Source: Prime Video (HBO)

This episode is infamous for the brutal Red Wedding, a new benchmark in how betrayal would shake up Westeros. The episode marked the unyielding political game that defined the series, the senseless carnage of so many with the slaughter of Robb Stark, Catelyn, his mother, and most Stark loyalists. In the score of the haunting episode of "The Rains of Castamere," a chilling death anthem and dirge come out.

2) I'm Thinking of You All the While-The Vampire Diaries (Season 6, Episode 22)

"I'm Thinking of You All the While" - "The Vampire Diaries" (Season 6, Episode 22) | Image Source: The CW

Elena Gilbert's transformation into a sleeping curse significantly changes The Vampire Diaries. The removal of the main character, portrayed by Nina Dobrev, radically alters the narrative focus. This creative choice makes the show enter into a new dynamic, making Stefan and Damon grow and come to terms with themselves, which, in turn, changes the face of the series, questioning identity and love as if the main hero did not exist.

3) Gift - Buffy the Vampire Slayer (S5-E22)

Gift (S5-E22 )Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Image Source: The WB
Gift (S5-E22 )Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Image Source: The WB

In the season finale, Buffy willingly jumped into the portal to save her younger sister, Dawn. At this moment, she solidified her status as a tragic hero in the minds of both audiences and critics. It also deepened the show's exploration of themes such as love, duty, and the weight of choice. The sacrificial nature of this character defines the central theme in the next season when her character's death affects all.

4) A Curious Thing - Once Upon a Time (Season 3, Episode 19)

A Curious Thing - Once Upon a Time (Season 3, Episode 19) | Image Source: ABC Studios
A Curious Thing - Once Upon a Time (Season 3, Episode 19) | Image Source: ABC Studios

In "A Curious Thing," Regina experiences a dramatic redemption as she finally uses her dark powers for good and breaks a curse with a true love's kiss. This episode not only deepens the character of Regina but also shifts the show's focus toward the themes of forgiveness and transformation. Her growing relationship with Henry reveals the complexities of motherhood and heroism.

5) Lost - Through the Looking Glass (Season 3, Episodes 22 & 23)

Lost - Through the Looking Glass (Season 3, Episodes 22 & 23) | Image Source: Prime Video (ABC)
Lost - Through the Looking Glass (Season 3, Episodes 22 & 23) | Image Source: Prime Video (ABC)

In "Through the Looking Glass," the show defied narrative expectations with flash-forwards, revealing the characters' grim fate from fighting on the island. The climactic face-off between Jack and the Man in Black reveals deeper motivations for each character and the depths to which each will sink for their ideology. This episode is crucial because of its thematic development regarding fate versus free will, leaving viewers confused about what reality is truly all about.

6) No Better to Be Safe Than Sorry -The Magicians (Season 4, Episode 13)

No Better to Be Safe Than Sorry -The Magicians* (Season 4, Episode 13) | Image Source: Universal Cable Productions
No Better to Be Safe Than Sorry -The Magicians* (Season 4, Episode 13) | Image Source: Universal Cable Productions

The series finale features Quentin Coldwater's self-sacrifice, representing growth and the high cost of heroism. His choice to confront the darkness directly is a powerful commentary on bravery and vulnerability. This emotional weight underlines the character-driven storytelling in The Magicians; the tone is, at turn, somber but hopeful for future storylines.

7) To Kill the King - Merlin (Season 1, Episode 12)

To Kill the King - Merlin (Season 1, Episode 12) | Image Source: BBC
To Kill the King - Merlin (Season 1, Episode 12) | Image Source: BBC

Morgana's connection to dark magic changes her from an ally to an enemy, impacting the relationship between Morgana and Merlin and the larger narrative. Merlin is shocked to find out the lengths Morgana would go to exact revenge on Uther for imprisoning Gwen's father, Tom. The battles Morgana wages between herself and others speak to the ideas of betrayal and ambition, leading to a struggle that rings throughout the series.

8) Swan Song - Supernatural (Season 5, Episode 22)

8. Swan Song - Supernatural (Season 5, Episode 22) | Image Source: Prime Video (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
8. Swan Song - Supernatural (Season 5, Episode 22) | Image Source: Prime Video (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

"Swan Song" is a testament to the strong bond between brothers Sam and Dean Winchester in a climax of tragedy, sacrifice, and fraternity. Sam's readiness to go into the apocalypse alone solidifies the theme of loyalty and sacrifice throughout the series. It makes Sam's fate a delicate subject making viewers rethink their notion of heroes and the concept of choice. It's one of the most memorable episodes in the Supernatural saga.

9) The End - Lost (Season 6, Episode 17)

The End - Lost (Season 6, Episode 17) | Image Source: Prime Video (ABC Studios)
The End - Lost (Season 6, Episode 17) | Image Source: Prime Video (ABC Studios)

In "The End," characters confront their past and the island's secrets in a showdown. Such significant revelations go further into telling the story and reinforcing the importance of redemption and the repetitive pattern of destiny. The show intensifies emotional stakes while having characters deal with their wrong decisions and choices, creating beautiful closure. This episode is the core of the intricate narrative mechanism interlocking personal character histories with the overall mythos.

10) How We Get to Peace - The 100 (Season 5, Episode 8)

The Family Reunion - The 100 (Season 5, Episode 8) | Image Source: Prime Video (Warner Home Entertainment)
The Family Reunion - The 100 (Season 5, Episode 8) | Image Source: Prime Video (Warner Home Entertainment)

Old animosity finally boils over as the family faces their inextricable destiny. The re-emergence of old friends and foes reveals complex questions of trust, betrayal, and the moral ambiguities that define survival in a post-apocalyptic world. The plot thickens with the theme of forgiveness and the repercussions of previous activities, reminding viewers that ties of family can be strong and weak at the same time.

11) Bound by Blood - Shadowhunters (Season 2, Episode 9)

Bound by Blood - Shadowhunters( Season 2, Episode 9) | Image Source: Netflix (Hulu)
Bound by Blood - Shadowhunters( Season 2, Episode 9) | Image Source: Netflix (Hulu)

Bound by Blood is a thematic episode that explores emotional turmoil as characters confront their demons in the face of external threats. This installment of the book is fundamental in the struggle that Clary faces in trying to understand her identity and the burden of her lineage, leading her ultimately to accept her powers. The mesh of action and character development ensures that the series will explore intricate themes and reveal how personal struggles are just as perilous as the supernatural battles they fight.

12) Alpha and Omega - Supernatural (Season 11, Episode 23)

Alpha and Omega - Supernatural (Season 11, Episode 23) | Image Source: Prime Video (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment)
Alpha and Omega - Supernatural (Season 11, Episode 23) | Image Source: Prime Video (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment)

"Alpha and Omega" is a pivotal episode of Supernatural. This episode explores themes of faith and its consequences following the conflicts between heaven and hell. The episode continues with the idea that a thin line is being drawn between heaven and hell and brings the concept of the depth of the motive as they try to comprehend the mess. This emotional depth brings richness to the mythology and makes the audience think about what is good and evil as they step forward to the challenges that await them in subsequent seasons.

13) Displacement - The Expanse (Season 4, Episode 6)

Displacement - The Expanse (Season 4, Episode 6) | Image Source: Prime Video (Amazon Studios.)
Displacement - The Expanse (Season 4, Episode 6) | Image Source: Prime Video (Amazon Studios.)

"Displacement" presents external challenges at Ilus and inner conflicts. The hostile environment in which they must survive forces characters to come to terms with the depth of their pasts and how that will change and deepen their relationships, along with complicating choices that seem impossible. This added layer of complexity only builds The Expanse into its reputation for richness in storytelling, revealing the diverse human condition in the face of enormous space and its accompanying moral dilemmas.

14) Just Harried - Charmed (Season 3, Episode 15)

Just Harried - Charmed (Season 3, Episode 15) | Image Source: Netflix (Paramount Home Entertainment)
Just Harried - Charmed (Season 3, Episode 15) | Image Source: Netflix (Paramount Home Entertainment)

In "Just Harried," a powerful demon resents the Halliwell sisters' destinies, plotting to alter them for his advantage, and is forced to grapple with the concept of destiny alongside the Halliwells. The episode of Charmed powerfully develops the themes found in the bond of sisters and how the determinate paths are influenced significantly by powerful choices. It becomes even more emotional and vital because they face their fears and insecurities, supporting the message behind the series: empowerment and sisterhood.

15) The End's Beginning - The Witcher (Season 1, Episode 1)

The End's Beginning - The Witcher (Season 1, Episode 1) | Image Source: Netflix ( Netflix)
The End's Beginning - The Witcher (Season 1, Episode 1) | Image Source: Netflix ( Netflix)

The opening episode introduces Geralt of Rivia, whose struggle with his identity as a monster hunter is intertwined with the darker aspects of humanity. As Geralt encounters many complex and subjective dilemmas, the episode sets the foundation for this complex, deep world of The Witcher—the words "destiny" and "choice" strike in his relationship with the key.

16) Lens - The Leftovers (Season 2, Episode 6)

Lens - The Leftovers (Season 2, Episode 6) | Image Source: Prime Video (Studio Distribution Services)
Lens - The Leftovers (Season 2, Episode 6) | Image Source: Prime Video (Studio Distribution Services)

In the episode "Lens," the story unfolds in a world that has yet to recover and heal from the effects of the Departure. All these themes could not fail to be conveyed within these poignant moments, showing how all the characters inside were in emotional unrest and even more, so those moments and truths that were always covered but never healed: a time when a significant chunk of people learned the consequences of the departure for the first time from themselves and their past.

17) Chapter 12: The Siege - The Mandalorian (Season 2, Episode 4)

Chapter 12: The Siege - The Mandalorian (Season 2, Episode 4) | Image Source: Hotstar (Disney+ )
Chapter 12: The Siege - The Mandalorian (Season 2, Episode 4) | Image Source: Hotstar (Disney+ )

The episode showcases a performance in character development where the bond between Mando and Grogu evolves within a vast universe. With daunting challenges ahead, the themes of loyalty and sacrifice are clear, underlining those bonds beyond mere friendship. The episode weaves action with emotional development so the audience may witness both characters grow together.

18) The White Violin - The Umbrella Academy (Season 1, Episode 10)

The White Violin - The Umbrella Academy (Season 1, Episode 10) | Image Source: Netflix (Borderline Entertainment)
The White Violin - The Umbrella Academy (Season 1, Episode 10) | Image Source: Netflix (Borderline Entertainment)

In this explosive season finale titled "The White Violin," the siblings confront their traumatic past as the apocalypse looms over their future. The unraveling of many secrets is set free, making the characters realize their identity and sense of responsibility. The price deals with emotions; siblings deal with powers and relations. It shows the complexities of family relations and what they give up in love's name; it does make The Umbrella Academy get the dramatic end to support an unusual family tale narrative.

19) The Battle of Starcourt - Stranger Things (Season 3, Episode 8)

The Battle of Starcourt- Stranger Things (Season 3, Episode 8) | Image Source: Netflix (Monkey Massacre Productions and 21 Laps Entertainment)
The Battle of Starcourt- Stranger Things (Season 3, Episode 8) | Image Source: Netflix (Monkey Massacre Productions and 21 Laps Entertainment)

In this final season, filled with action, characters unite in a climactic battle against the Mindflayer, demonstrating their strength through friendship and teamwork. It is a deepening bond between them because of their loss and understanding of themselves in the middle of chaos. The emotional moments are the most significant tool in the face of fear as characters realize what they are made of. "The Battle of Starcourt" is a reasonable conclusion for the season; it gives room for future conflicts and makes the characters' relationships richer.

20) The Bone Orchard - American Gods (Season 1, Episode 1)

The Bone Orchard - American Gods (Season 1, Episode 1) | Image Source: Prime Video (Paramount Pictures Transmission Films.)
The Bone Orchard - American Gods (Season 1, Episode 1) | Image Source: Prime Video (Paramount Pictures Transmission Films.)

In the thrilling premiere of American Gods, Shadow Moon's release from prison launches him into a realm filled with mythology and supernatural intrigue. The viewer meets an explosive tapestry of old and new gods in this contemporary tale, focusing on questions of belief and identity. The film's surreal imagery and complex narration give a unique tone that lets audiences into a world where myth and reality blend.

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Edited by Abhimanyu Sharma