Making a successful TV show requires a combination of factors. Not only must its story be engaging and its characters interesting, but it must also feature unique elements and the ability to keep its audience coming back for more. The need to strive toward successfully integrating multiple elements has seen many great TV shows fail, but it has also lent itself to some incredibly innovative turns. Often, TV shows deliver wild plot twists in pursuit of keeping their audience engaged, leading to them taking unexpected turns that no one in their audience could have predicted, pivoting either in a sense of narrative or tone.
Doing so doesn’t always work as the writers, producers, and networks often hope, but it’s still a bold and impressive choice. Changing the direction of a show’s story or otherwise reframing its narrative due to a particular revelation is a creative risk that may not always pay off, but it’s rarely forgettable. When a TV show takes a dramatic and unexpected turn, it’s almost always worthy of note, for better or for worse.
1) Westworld
Often considered one of the best sci-fi TV shows of all time, Westworld‘s narrative explored many classic themes and tropes of the genre. However, a season one twist also saw the show take an unexpected turn. The revelation that Bernard was himself an android host was a huge twist for the show, as it established that hosts weren’t solely confined to being the attractions of the titular park. It reframed the moral debate at the show’s core, painting its characters in a whole new light and adding a whole new level to Westworld‘s narrative.
2) Community
Community is undoubtedly one of the most beloved and innovative modern sitcoms, thanks to its willingness to play with the boundaries of the genre. However, its later seasons saw key cast members leave, forcing the show to take an unexpected turn. Not only did it attempt to replace beloved characters – with somewhat mixed results – but it also saw the show’s protagonist, the ill-tempered and self-centered Jeff, go from a student at Greendale Community College to one of its professors. It marked a narrative shift that interestingly didn’t affect the show’s tone a great deal, but it was undoubtedly an unexpected turn.
3) Two and a Half Men
Though it may be remembered as a TV show with a disappointing final season, Two and a Half Men was once one of the most-watched sitcoms in the world. At its core, it followed two brothers, Charlie (Charlie Sheen) and Alan (Jon Cryer), as well as Alan’s son, Jake. However, when behind-the-scenes issues saw Charlie Sheen fired from the show, it seemed as though Two and Half Men would be over without its leading man. Instead, the show took a turn, bringing in Ashton Kutcher to lead its final seasons as a whole new character. It later took another turn when Jake was written out of the show, reducing its two and a half men to just two.
4) Prison Break
On paper, Prison Break‘s premise was always relatively short-sighted. Its first season was incredibly tense and dramatic viewing, with its protagonist attempting to break his older brother out of prison to save his life. However, its first season finale saw the escape succeed, forcing subsequent seasons to turn away from its titular premise. Later seasons saw the brothers recaptured and forced to once again break free from incarceration, leading Prison Break to be remembered as a show with countless narrative turns that proved largely divisive.
5) Behind Her Eyes
Released by Netflix, British thriller series Behind Her Eyes initially seemed an entertaining but ultimately forgettable watch. However, its story, which takes a turn from a tense psychological thriller involving its protagonist’s affair with a married man to a paranormal horror involving astral projection and body swapping, was packed with staggering twists. The unexpected turn saw Behind Her Eyes seemingly shift genres halfway through its story, making it an unforgettably mind-blowing and thoroughly surprising watch.
6) Lost
Lost might have come to be remembered as a great TV show with an awful finale, but its many twists helped to make it one of the most successful shows of its time. The first time one of its twists truly shocked audiences, however, provided a narrative turn that flipped the show’s story upside down. When it was revealed that Jack’s off-island scenes weren’t flashbacks, as had been assumed, but rather flash forwards, it repainted Lost‘s entire narrative in a new light. It was a turn that no one could have seen coming, and one that helped establish Lost as a master of the TV plot twist.
7) Scrubs
Though Scrubs might be best known for its consistently funny and often heartwarming story, it also took a few unexpected turns during its run. The most notorious came in season three, in an episode featuring Brendan Fraser’s Ben. Its final revelation that Ben had been dead for the majority of the episode shocked unsuspecting viewers, and established Scrubs‘ ability to deliver devastatingly emotional twists that no one saw coming. Scrubs also later took an unpopular turn by returning for a ninth season with a whole new cast and revised premise, further establishing it as a show willing to keep its audience on their toes.
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