9 Most Out-Of-The-Blue Plot Twists In TV Show History

High-caliber television show writers actively challenge our perceptions, and we deeply value unexpected twists that surprise us. A well-crafted twist prompts us to reevaluate and recontextualize everything we believed we understood about the characters and the overarching narrative. Now, let us briefly examine some of the most skillfully executed plot twists that have significantly altered our perception of television shows today. A fantastic twist makes you rethink and recontextualize everything you thought you knew about the characters and the story overall.

Let’s take a quick look at the most masterfully executed plot twists that completely changed how we perceive TV shows today. Read on, if you’re not scared of spoilers!

1. The Good Place—Welcome to The Bad Place

Just when you think you’re watching a fun little comedy about karma, soulmates, and the afterlife, The Good Place pulls a quick one. Turns out, Eleanor and the rest of the characters aren’t in heaven, aka “the Good Place”—they’re actually in “the Bad Place,” and everyone around them is a demon who is basically torturing them psychologically. The mid-season reveal completely upended the entire premise, making rewatching Season 1 an entirely immersive experience.

2. Breaking Bad—Walt Poisons a Kid

As if Walter White wasn’t already teetering on the line between anti-hero and full-blown villain, the revelation that he poisoned Brock to manipulate Jesse was downright chilling. For a second, we actually believed that Gus did it until the camera quietly pans to a pot of lily of the valley in Walt’s backyard. That’s our chemistry teacher, all right!

3. The Haunting of Hill House—Nell is the Bent-Neck Lady

This one is a real doozy. Throughout the season, our poor, innocent Nell is haunted by the traumatizing visions of a lady with a broken neck. Then, we find out it’s actually Nell herself, or rather her own ghost but from … the future? After her death, Nell somehow went back in time to haunt her younger self. Nobody saw this one coming, and it’s not because she’s an apparition.