10 TV Show Twists That Fooled No One

Not every plot twist is skillfully crafted to mislead viewers; there are numerous TV scenes where viewers could predict the outcome long before the big reveal, sometimes as early as three episodes or seasons in advance. This can be due to poorly executed foreshadowing, casting decisions that give away too much information, or writers following a very obvious trail of clues. While it’s true that the internet has made it more challenging for writers to surprise audiences, some shows seem to put minimal effort into keeping us guessing.

Instead of shocking revivals of cherished characters or the unexpected and seemingly illogical appearance of overpowered family members near the finale, let’s discuss some television plot twists that fell flat for viewers.

1) Game of Thrones – Jon Snow’s Resurrection

As a die-hard Game of Thrones fan, when Jon Snow (Kit Harington) seemingly perished at the end of Season 5, it wasn’t sorrow that swept over me, but rather suspicion. It felt all too calculated, this sudden departure. The fact that HBO kept Harington on the press tour only added fuel to the speculation fire. Then, there was Melisandre (Carice Van Houten) mysteriously appearing at Castle Black right before Jon’s supposed demise – a sign so blatant, it might as well have been written in the stars, hinting at his return.

As the sixth season commenced and entire episodes focused on Jon’s lifeless body, it became evident that the series was delaying events for dramatic impact. When he miraculously came back to life, it elicited a collective shrug rather than a surprise. We had all been anticipating this moment. A genuine twist would have been if he had remained deceased, even in a show known for offing popular characters, such an event would have caught us off guard.

2) Gossip Girl – Dan Is Gossip Girl

Discovering Dan Humphrey (played by Penn Badgley) was actually Gossip Girl didn’t feel surprising, but more like an insult to those who watched closely throughout the series. The revelation didn’t align with any of his actions or words presented in the show and even contradicted scenes where he was alone, suggesting he couldn’t have been Gossip Girl. It seemed that this twist was designed for shock value rather than maintaining a consistent storyline.

For years, the Dan theory had often been proposed by fans, yet generally disregarded due to its illogical nature. However, when the show unexpectedly adopted this theory, instead of shocking, it was more perplexing. If Gossip Girl was meant to be all-knowing, it seemed as though Dan was manipulating posts about events he himself appeared to be unaware of. This included revealing personal and problematic secrets about himself and his family. The finale attempted to present this as a clever twist, but instead, it felt more like a desperate last-minute attempt rather than a deserved conclusion.

3) The Good Place – The Good Place Was the Bad Place

To put it simply, while some viewers might have been taken aback by the twist in “The Good Place,” those who paid close attention probably saw it coming from the start. From the very beginning, the series seemed somewhat contrived with its excessive focus on frozen yogurt, unusual censorship of profanity, and overly cheerful atmosphere – all elements that were just a bit too idealistic.

Reddit detectives and sharp-eyed viewers noticed the subtle hints suggesting a darker secret in this utopia, and when it was disclosed that the characters had been in the Bad Place all along, it felt like confirmation rather than shock for many viewers. However, this doesn’t mean it wasn’t skillfully done. It was one of those rare plot twists that still worked even if you had a feeling it was coming. Despite that, it remained enjoyable, just not surprising after Episode 3.

4) Game of Thrones – Bran the Broken

As a die-hard fan of Game of Thrones, I must admit, the show’s final season left me scratching my head more than once. The plot twists seemed to miss their mark, and that’s why two entries in this paraphrase are dedicated to some of those missteps.

The moment they declared Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) as the king of Westeros, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of collective confusion from fellow fans. It just didn’t resonate with our collective understanding of the characters and their journeys throughout the series.

Throughout the series, Bran’s character arc was often enigmatic and less emotionally engaging compared to others, with his “Three-Eyed Raven” storyline being a significant factor. The sudden twist in his story seemed unexpected, lacking any substantial foreshadowing or thematic resolution. If hints were subtly planted earlier, the execution could have been better. For numerous viewers, it appeared as if the writers randomly selected his fate, almost like drawing a name from a hat. This twist might have aimed to surprise the audience, but instead, it felt disappointingly unconvincing, especially considering the multitude of sensible and spectacular storylines that could have unfolded instead.

5) How I Met Your Mother – Ted’s Wife Dies

The core plot of the series “How I Met Your Mother” revolved around the enigma of who the main character’s mother was. When Tracy, portrayed by Cristin Milioti, was introduced, she embodied intelligence, humor, warmth, and all that fans had been eagerly anticipating. However, the writers chose to end her life so Ted (Josh Radnor) could eventually be with Robin (Cobie Smulders).

The creators believed the final plot turn would be a surprising, deeply moving revelation. However, it turned out to be one of the most universally despised TV endings in history. Fans had anticipated this twist due to the recurring jokes about the blue French horn and the continuous focus on Robin, which seemed out of place at times. When the characters acknowledged that the storyline was indeed centered around Robin, it didn’t seem genuine. It appeared as if the twist was contrived merely for the sake of having a twist, and it undermined nine years of character development while failing to surprise anyone.

6) The Flash – Harrison Wells Is Reverse-Flash

When The Flash character Dr. Harrison Wells, portrayed by Tom Cavanagh, was first introduced as Barry Allen’s (Grant Gustin) intelligent yet enigmatic mentor, viewers quickly began to suspect that something wasn’t quite right about him. With his seemingly impeccable intellect and knack for being one step ahead of everyone, Wells exuded a strong villainous vibe from the outset. Adding to this were instances where he would unexpectedly rise from his wheelchair and enter his hidden high-tech lab, which was anything but discreet.

The revelation that Harrison Wells was actually the Reverse-Flash in the show didn’t surprise many comic book fans because they were already familiar with Eobard Thawne’s character. Instead of a shocking twist, it felt more like an anticipated conclusion. Even the show’s efforts to maintain mystery couldn’t outdo the speculations and analyses spread online. By the time the truth was revealed, many viewers had already watched multiple fan-edited videos pointing this out. While the performance was excellent, the twist was far from unexpected.

7) Friends – Rachel Gets off the Plane

In the final episode of the popular sitcom “Friends”, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) chose to forgo an outstanding job prospect to prioritize her relationship with Ross (David Schwimmer). She realized her feelings for him during a phone conversation, which led her to disembark from a plane bound for Paris.

This ending to their relationship was predictable and overused, and moreover, it undid all the growth Rachel’s character had shown throughout the series. In essence, this wasn’t an unexpected plot twist in any sense; it was a rather disappointing choice for her well-developed character who had struggled tirelessly to build her career.

From the “spoiled daddy’s princess” she was portrayed as in the initial episodes, Rachel transformed into a mature, career-focused woman. However, the creators opted to depict them as destined lovers or soulmates, which not only felt unrealistic but also seemed to trivialize the toxic aspects of their relationship and implied that everything was alright between them. This didn’t sit right with many viewers.

8) Sherlock – The Entire Deal With the Holmes Sister

The last season of BBC’s Sherlock was quite a disappointment, transforming a cherished series into something almost unrelated, causing frustration among viewers. Among numerous issues, the portrayal of the Holmes sister (played by Sian Brooke) stands out as particularly problematic.

The show attempted to make her character, initially perceived as a supporting one, a shocking revelation as the primary villain. However, her inconsistent portrayal as someone with almost supernatural intelligence, psychological skills, and predictive abilities made the series shift from an engaging detective drama to a contest between semi-divine entities. Her imprisonment, playful mischief towards Holmes, and the finale in which she was reunited with her siblings after committing multiple murders – despite these events, her character’s motivation and actions remain inexplicable even since her introduction.

9) Lucifer – Lucifer’s Daughter

Despite character Aurora “Rory” Decker-Morningstar (portrayed by Brianna Hildebrand) not being inherently problematic, introducing her towards the finale of the series felt illogical and out of place.

After investing numerous seasons and years into developing compelling narrative arcs, I’m left puzzled as to why the creators decided to introduce something entirely novel rather than further developing what was already established. Given the abundance of cherished characters, it seems peculiar that the finale would prioritize a new character and relationship dynamic over any of them. The decision to do so, however, led Lucifer (Tom Ellis) to return to Hell as its healer, a development that could have been justified in various other ways, especially considering the time and effort invested in setting it up. Ultimately, the Rory storyline felt underdeveloped and fell short of the intended twist that the showrunners may have envisioned.

10) Sherlock – Moriarty Lives?

Besides facing criticism for the Eurus issue in the final season of Sherlock, the BBC made another misstep by handling one of the show’s most notable characters – Jim Moriarty, played by Andrew Scott. The end of Season 3 left fans excited with hints of Moriarty’s comeback as a significant antagonist from earlier seasons. However, his subsequent absence in later seasons disappointed many “Sherlock” enthusiasts who were eagerly waiting for his return.

Instead, it turned out that this was yet another one of Eurus’ tricks or schemes. The revelation that Moriarty wasn’t truly dead but had been participating in the games devised by his supposed arch-enemy’s sibling seemed uninteresting and stripped a complex, witty, maliciously charming, and multifaceted character down to a supporting role. This twist felt more like an insult than an intriguing plot development, if I may be frank.

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2025-08-12 01:18