The best TV plot twists are people who make you sit up straighter, jaws on the ground, arms in your head, dashing to rewind the scene and shout “no approach!” to an empty room. Over the previous twenty years, the small display has morphed from a comfy backdrop for dinnertime to a battleground for storytelling. And far of that transformation is because of the artwork of delivering plot twist.
Status dramas have gotten extra widespread with streaming platforms taking the reins, and TV reveals now not play it secure. They dive proper into essentially the most mind-bending sci-fi thrillers, horror slow-burns, and tangled household sagas. They’ve grow to be extra cinematic and bold. And on the coronary heart of those TV reveals of the twenty first century are surprises that flip the complete narrative round. From identification reveals to long-laid secrets and techniques, these plot twists deepen character arcs, subvert well-worn tropes, and hold us urgent “subsequent episode” each time.
So right here they’re, the 20 best TV plot twists of the twenty first century to this point.
20
Peter Is From One other Universe in ‘Fringe’
For a significant a part of Fringe, Peter Bishop is the genius who helps the Fringe Division in exploring the unknown and unraveling weird scientific anomalies. However below the floor of his sharp mind and his sophisticated relationship with Walter Bishop, his father, lies a secret that adjustments the course of the complete collection. In Season 1, Olivia Dunham stumbles upon Peter and coaxes him to assist her get entry into St. Claire’s Psychological Establishment, the place Walter is admitted.
In Season 2, the present takes a stunning detour into the previous, revealing Peter isn’t from the world he believes he belongs to. Walter, determined to avoid wasting him, crosses right into a parallel universe and kidnaps the alternate Peter, which units off a series response that ripples by way of the present’s overarching conflicts. The twist is efficient as a result of it recontextualizes every part we thought we knew about Peter’s existence.
19
Elliot’s Jail Actuality in ‘Mr. Robotic’
Mr. Robotic has lengthy been thought-about one of the vital creative and stimulating TV reveals of the twenty first century. On the heart of this thriller is Elliot Alderson, a hacker who will get embroiled in a posh plan to take down a world monetary system. Whereas Season 1 lays the groundwork for the collection, Season 2 takes issues to a different stage by infusing refined clues about Elliot’s seemingly mundane routine, like dwelling together with his mom and avoiding computer systems, and suggesting that it’s all too suspicious.
The reality hits like a brick in Episode 7, when Elliot is revealed to be in jail the complete time. The present basically misdirected the viewers and made Elliot’s world look eerily off with out ever explicitly telling why. The arc is good as a result of it says that Rami Malek’s character has been an unreliable narrator, even to himself. The jail setting explains his isolation and his disconnect from the outer world and even his conversations with Christian Slater’s Mr. Robotic.
18
Peggy Was Pregnant All Alongside in ‘Mad Males’
Mad Males is a charming character research that explores the lives and personalities of the promoting executives of Nineteen Sixties New York Metropolis. And Peggy Olson, performed splendidly effectively by Elisabeth Moss, is the definition of ambition within the collection as a result of she carves out an area for herself within the male-dominated trade. However within the finale of Season 1, the present delivers a twist that’s each stunning and deeply tragic, however it additionally leaves followers with a newfound respect for Peggy.
Mad Males
- Launch Date
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2007 – 2015-00-00
- Community
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AMC
All through the season, Peggy endures damaging remarks and her weight acquire is commented on, however by no means in a approach that explicitly suggests the rationale behind it. Which is that she was pregnant the complete time and did not even understand it. The reveal comes when she’s rushed to the hospital, unaware that she’s about to present start. The being pregnant was a results of a quick affair with Pete Campbell – a second she had mentally blocked out. When she tells him after, “I had your child, and I gave it away,” it’s a uncooked and unflinching second.
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17
Martha Is Lastly Getting Out in ‘The Individuals’
The world of The Individuals is advanced and ripe with Chilly Struggle tensions and household secrets and techniques. Some characters you’re intrigued by, and a few you wish to see completely satisfied. From the second Martha Hanson is launched, she looks like a ticking bomb. A secretary on the FBI, she’s recruited by Philip Jennings, who poses as “Clark” and tries to control her into planting surveillance bugs.
Over the course of a number of seasons, Martha transforms right into a tragic determine, and by Season 4, her whole world comes crumbling down. Her marriage is a life, her job is compromised, and the FBI is closing in on her. When Philip lastly reveals his actual face, it’s extra like a demise knell. However then, in a uncommon act of mercy, the present does one thing surprising – it lets Martha stay. She’s despatched to the Soviet Union, and whereas the liberty is warranted, it additionally feels haunting as a result of in Season 5, once we see her once more, she’s remoted and quietly devastated.
16
Penelope Is Woman Whistledown in ‘Bridgerton’
When Bridgerton arrived on Netflix, it was a cultural phenomenon. The collection pulled audiences in with its luxurious setting, intricately woven romantic storylines, and, after all, the mysterious identification of the gossip columnist, Woman Whistledown. From the very first episode, her scandal sheets start to stir the pot in Regency-era London, and the hunt for her identification turns into a scrumptious subplot. Eloise takes it upon herself to unmask her and begins suspecting everybody, from dressmakers to debutantes.
Bridgerton
4
/5
- Launch Date
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December 25, 2020
- Community
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Netflix
- Administrators
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Tom Verica, Tricia Brock, Alex Pillai, Alrick Riley, Bille Woodruff, Cheryl Dunye, Sheree Folkson, Julie Anne Robinson
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Ruth Gemmell
Woman Violet Bridgerton
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Luke Thompson
Benedict Bridgerton
However the brilliance of the plot twists that Penelope Featherington is Woman Whistledown is how the collection hides her in plain sight. The wallflower of the present, she’s candy, neglected, and perpetually dwelling within the shadow of her friends. She’s quietly observing, she’s at all times current on the balls, and he or she’s at all times listening. However she’s the final individual anybody would suspect. Particularly since Whistledown’s sharpest blows are geared toward her family.
15
Father Paul Is Monsignor Pruitt in ‘Midnight Mass’
One other identity-reveal-plot-twist is available in Netflix’s Midnight Mass. The masterpiece from the thoughts of horror auteur Mike Flanagan is an unsettling exploration of religion and mortality. It begins with Father Paul Hill arriving on Crockett Island because the compassionate priest despatched by the archdiocese to exchange the growing older Monsignor Pruitt. However one thing’s off. Miracles start to happen and the townspeople begin to really feel completely different.
By Episode 3, titled “Proverbs,” the reality is surfacing, and we discover out that Father Paul isn’t a brand new priest in any respect. He’s Monsignor Pruitt, rejuvenated after encountering a vampire in Jerusalem and consuming its blood. The reveal is chilling as a result of it turns a narrative of religion into one in all fanaticism. It’s additionally thematically wealthy and intelligent, proving the horror style might be considerate too.
14
The Upside Down Connection in ‘Stranger Issues’
The Duffer Brothers’ Stranger Issues pays a nostalgic homage to ‘80s popular culture and is beloved by followers for its ensemble of characters and the mysterious and terrifying alternate dimension referred to as the Upside Down. For 3 seasons, the present teased it as an eerie, decaying parallel world that appeared to reflect and evolve alongside the true one. However in Season 4, the present drops the reality that the Upside Down isn’t evolving in any respect. It’s frozen in time. Particularly, on November 7, 1983, when Will first vanished.
The element is uncovered by Nancy and the crew whereas navigating the dimension and coming throughout Nancy’s diary, which stops updating after that date. In a approach, it not solely provides lore but additionally retroactively alters the emotional and narrative stakes of the collection. The plot twist does solid some doubt on iconic scenes like Will speaking by way of Christmas lights in Season 1, however total, it builds intrigue round Vecna’s management over time and reminiscence.
13
Bernard Was a Host in ‘Westworld’
Westworld has lengthy been considered one of the vital formidable and intellectually stimulating TV reveals of the twenty first century, and for good cause. Jeffrey Wright’s Bernard Lowe is launched because the calm and considerate programmer who appears to be the ethical compass and a distinction to the park’s chaos. He’s a trusting confidant to Ford, a grieving father, and a quiet observer. However in Season 1, Episode 7, the present pulls the rug from below us and divulges that Bernard isn’t human. He’s a bunch. A machine created by Ford himself.
Westworld
- Launch Date
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2016 – 2022
- Community
-
HBO
The revelation reframes each interplay Bernard has ever had. His empathy and his grief, and even his romance with Theresa Cullen. And whereas we’re nonetheless processing the data, we see Ford forcing Bernard to get rid of Theresa and watching him obey with out hesitation. It’s the first time we see a bunch homicide a human, and it’s completely gut-punching.
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12
Nina’s Twisted Nature Revealed in ’24’
24 was full of twists and turns and the collection demonstrated simply why each second counts. However one character’s journey has grow to be the stuff of legend. Nina Myers begins 24 as Jack Bauer’s trusted colleague at CTU. She appears loyal and composed, and he or she even had an affair with Jack when he was separated from his spouse, which provides a layer of emotional complexity to their dynamic.
24
- Launch Date
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2001 – 2009
- Showrunner
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Robert Cochran
- Administrators
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Robert Cochran
All through Season 1, she participates within the investigations revolving round terrorist threats and what not. However within the last hours of the season, the present detonates a bomb – Nina is the mole. Identical to Jack as soon as suspected. Seems, she has been working in opposition to the CTU. The misdirection is intelligent as a result of the present introduced Nina as a personality who was essential in uncovering different moles earlier within the season. The twist was controversial however efficient.
11
Jonas and Martha Finish It All in ‘Darkish’
In an try to separate the right TV ending of the twenty first century and the best TV plot twist of the twenty first century, we now have Darkish, a present about time journey, household secrets and techniques, and the unraveling of actuality itself. Jonas’ journey within the collection begins with the disappearance of Mikkel, however it rapidly spirals right into a mind-bending exploration of time loops and alternate realities. And by Season 3, we’re launched to not only one, however two mirrored worlds – that of Jonah and Martha – and so they’re each locked in a loop orchestrated by their older selves, Adam and Eva.
Darkish
- Launch Date
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2017 – 2020-00-00
- Community
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Jantje Friese
Within the last two episodes, when Claudia reveals the existence of a 3rd “origin” world, it strikes us that Jonas and Martha, the emotional core of the collection, will not be simply victims of the loop, they ARE the loop. They journey again to the origin world and forestall Tannhaus’ household from dying in a automobile crash so he would by no means invent time journey. As they succeed, their our bodies begin to flicker and pretend, which means that they’ve destroyed each their worlds as effectively and damaged the cycles.