Everyone loves it when aTV showdrops a big plot twist, but there are some that, when you think about them properly later on, make no sense. Acontroversial TV show twistcan divide a fandom and change the trajectory of the story forever.While it is great when a show takes a big risk, pulling off a satisfying plot twist is not easy.
SeveralTV show plot twists weren’t planned in advance, which could explain why they don’t fully make sense. Regardless of whether these twists worked or not, it became apparent to audiences that no matter how enjoyable, they failed to make sense.
10The Timeless Child
Doctor Who
Doctor Who’sTimeless Child storylinewas one of the most shocking and groundbreaking moments throughout the show’s lengthy history. Unfortunately, while Chris Chibnall’s most ambitious plot asDoctor Who’s showrunner wasn’t the worst idea in the world,it was executed in a way that didn’t do justice to the actual story.
AlthoughDoctor Who’s lore allowed for changes to the titular Time Lord’s origins quite easily, there have always been limitations, andthe Timeless Child created plot holes. For example, how could the Fugitive Doctor have a TARDIS if she came before William Hartnell’s First Doctor, the incarnation who stole the blue box?
Cast
An alien from the planet Gallifrey travels through time and space to explore, solve problems and fight injustice while also making friends with human beings. His spaceship, called TARDIS, resembles a police box, but it is much more than it appears to be.
Both the classic and modern eras ofDoctor Whoestablished that Time Lords have 12 regenerations, but can be given more, so how did they work out how to do this so quickly after starting experiments on the Doctor as a child? Unlike many, I didn’t hate the Timeless Child storyline, but consideringit provides more questions than answers, it’s no surprise it was retconned.
9Daenerys Breaks Bad
Game Of Thrones
Daenerys burning King’s Landing inGame of Throneswas a truly astounding moment. Daenerys’ succumbing to her fate as the Mad Queen was surprising, but it wasn’t the oddest thing, either, especially consideringASoaFlikes to subvert fantasy tropes. However,the timing was what didn’t make sense about this plot twist.Why would Daenerys, after seasons of abuse, betrayals, and injustice, suddenly go on a killing spree and murder who knows how many innocent people is a question the show didn’t properly answer.
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
The Targaryen woman’s issue was with Cersei, and while I understood that the years of pain became too much for Daenerys,the unnecessary fatalities couldn’t really be justified. Granted, Daenerys had lost pretty much everyone important to her, but their deaths shouldn’t have warranted the destruction of King’s Landing, nor should Jon’s claim to the throne. Sadly, Daenerys’ character development flew out the window.
8Rachel Gets Off The Plane
Friends
Ross and Rachel’s relationship inFriendswas one of the most frustrating in sitcom history, and while it was good that they finally agreed to sort themselves out in the finale, it was disappointing that Rachel got off the plane. Rachel’s character development was fantastic. She began the show as a spoiled girl who didn’t know how to function without her father’s money, andby the end, she was strong, independent, and didn’t need to rely on anybody.
She worked really hard at her career, and despite proving it through all 10 seasons of Friends, moving to Paris would’ve fully confirmed that Rachel wasn’t the same person from the pilot.
Even though Ross and Rachel were the loves of each other’s lives, it didn’t mean that the past damage should be ignored.Rachel deserved a new start. She worked really hard at her career, and despite proving it throughall 10 seasons ofFriends, moving to Paris would’ve fully confirmed that Rachel wasn’t the same person from the pilot.
Friends is a television sitcom that debuted in 1994, revolving around six young New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood. The series highlights their friendship as they support each other through personal and professional challenges, encapsulating the ups and downs of life in a comedic and relatable manner.
It was a shock that at the very last moment, Rachel decided to stay in New York for Ross, but it didn’t add up for her character. In fact, even if she still decided she wanted to be with Ross, she would’ve approached the topic sooner, rather than wasting an expensive plane ticket and messing around with two massive fashion companies yet again.
7John’s Affair
Sherlock
One thing aboutSherlockthat has always infuriated me was John Watson’s affair. While this wasn’t as big a plot twist as the titular character faking his death or the Eurus reveal, it was still unexpected.Martin Freeman’s version of John Watson simply wouldn’t cheat on his wife, and I will not be convinced otherwise. John had chances to walk away, like when he discovered Mary wasn’t who she said she was. However, he chose to stand by his wife and loved her despite her dark past.
In this incarnation of Sherlock from creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman assume the roles of Sherlock and Watson as they establish their partnership and begin solving strange mysteries throughout the U.K. and beyond. Set in a more 2010’s modern setting, Sherlock’s eccentric and complex nature is accentuated as he solves seemingly supernatural crimes with unparalleled intellect while struggling to connect with others on a human level. Meanwhile, Watson blogs the stories summarizing their cases while building a strained but caring friendship with his new partner.
What was so gutting about John’s affair was that it was revealed in the same episode asMary’s death inSherlock. The fact that John ended things with the mystery woman didn’t redeem the affair, and him struggling with the guilt while grieving the mother of his child didn’t garner sympathy, either. Even though having a baby puts strain on a marriage,the affair made no sense for John’s character, especially as it would be impossible for him to hide such a secret while being best friends with the legendary Sherlock Holmes.
6Michael’s Alive
Jane The Virgin
The reveal that Michael was alive inJane the Virginmade sense in regard to Sin Rostro’s tyranny, but the logistics behind her actions didn’t. After Rafael told Jane in the season 4 finale, the show’s story was all over the place. Why would Rose fake Michael’s death, cause his amnesia, and then leave him in Montana with the hopes that she’d scare him enough not to attempt to figure out his real identity is the real question.It simply seemed too risky, and Rose wouldn’t have leverage this way.
Jane the Virgin
Loosely based on a Venezuelan telenovela, Jane the Virgin follows a young Latina woman, Jane, who despite being a virgin, falls pregnant after being artificially inseminated by mistake. The comedy-drama chronicles her relationships, pregnancy, and motherhood.
The fallout of Michael’s return made little sense, too. Even when Michael regained his memories, it wasn’t him again, not really. The Michael Cordero Jr. audiences knew would never give up fighting for Jane, which he did not once, but twice, after reuniting with her.Everything that happened between Jane and Michael during this arc was anticlimactic, to the point that viewers wondered what the point of bringing Michael back actually was, other than to hurt everybody.
5Maggie’s True Identity
Paradise
Cal’s killer reveal inParadiseseason 1’s endingwas a brilliant plot twist, but for the identity of the murderer to come to light, there was another unexpected turn. Without Dr. Gabriela Torabi realizing Maggie couldn’t be who she said she was, Robinson and Xavier wouldn’t have figured out it was Trent, who posed as librarian Eli, who killed the President.
Torabi discovered that Margaret Davis had a nut allergy, and so the diner waitress “Maggie” should have carried an EpiPen everywhere she went. Of course, this immediately made it clear that“Maggie” wasn’t Margaret Davis.However, how she and Trent spent all that time underground without anyone else picking up on this made no sense.
Paradise is a crime drama set in an affluent community where prominent residents' lives upend after a shocking murder.
Torabi selected those who went to Paradise, and with information like that, they would’ve prepared and brought a good supply of medication with them to hand out to the survivors. Surely the fact that Maggie failed to collect her medication would’ve set off alarm bells. I love howParadiseled the characters to Cal’s killer, butthe way Trent was discovered lacked some logic.
4Buster Admits To Killing Lucille Two
Arrested Development
After he spent all season denying it, Buster admitted in the very last moments ofArrested Development’s final episode that he did indeed kill Lucille Two, better known as Lucille Austero. However, despite Buster’s murderous past, the show did such a good job at making it seem like the youngest biological sibling inArrested Development’s Bluth familydidn’t do it that when he finally confessed to the crime, it made no sense.The show didn’t fully explain Buster’s motives, nor how he managed to get Lucille Two’s body into the wall, either.
Arrested Development, a television series premiered in 2003, follows the dysfunctional Bluth family who are coping with the loss of their fortune. Central to the narrative is Michael Bluth, the diligent son attempting to stabilize the family amidst their eccentricities and financial turmoil.
I don’t get whyArrested Developmentbothered to explain that Buster killed his grandmother as a child, and then tried to cover up his murder of Lucille Austero (minus a few subtle references), only to backtrack at the end. Lucille Austero’s brother, Argyle, sent Gob off with a body bag that had cement on it in “Taste Makers,” too. Argyle said it was Tony Wonder, but this wasn’t the case, so surely it would’ve made more sense if it were Lucille Two instead. While this revelation may have made sense at the start of this storyline, it definitely didn’t by the end.
3Robin & Barney’s Divorce
How I Met Your Mother
There were severalcontroversies inHow I Met Your Mother’s ending, and while there were some hints that the Mother died, Robin and Barney’s divorce wasone of the more unexpected moments in the show’s finale. Although neither of the characters in season 1 was the kind of person to settle down, their later character development changed them for the better. After everything Robin and Barney went through,How I Met Your Motherdecided that their happy ending wouldn’t last very long.
How I Met Your Mother is a television series that follows a father telling his children about his past. Released in 2005, it explores his experiences and adventures with four close friends, leading up to meeting their mother, as depicted through a series of flashbacks.
Robin and Barney’s relationship inHow I Met Your Motherwas complicated, but full of growth from both parties. In the show’s final season, Barney and Robin still faced issues, but they’d proved that they were better together than apart. They both wanted similar things out of life, but unfortunately,Robin’s work schedule put a strain on their marriage. Although I understood Barney’s struggles, it didn’t make sense that he found it that hard to keep himself busy or entertained enough while travelling with Robin. It was rather strange that, after only a few years, the pair called it quits.
2The Paternity Test
The Office
I love thatThe Officeeventually confirmed that Dwight was Phillip’s father. Frankly, it would’ve been a disservice toAngela and Dwight’s relationship inThe Officeif anyone else were Phillip’s dad. Even though it was later explained why the DNA test in “Free Family Portrait Studio” said Dwight wasn’t the father,Angela’s reaction to the situation didn’t make sense.Angela knew Dwight was Phillip’s biological father, but when the doctor confirmed her son wasn’t a Schrute, she didn’t seem confused.
This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
Whyshe aggressively chases after Dwight, screaming and shouting, if she didn’t want her ex to discover the truth makes no sense. Angela clearly didn’t know Dwight had picked up the diaper of the other baby Phillip, Jim and Pam’s son. Perhaps she initially thought her husband was Phillip’s father, but I don’t get why she would later question the DNA test and, presumably, redo it. This was one of my favorite plot twists inThe Office, but it didn’t make complete sense.
1Effy’s Therapist Killing Freddie
Skins
There were so many problems with Effy’s therapist inSkins, and the plot twist that he was obsessed with his patient was bad enough, let alone what he did to Freddie after. The main issue with Freddie’s death as a plot twist was thatthe show never explained the reason why Dr. John Foster was so deranged when it came to Effy.
Foster’s motivation was unclear, and viewers couldn’t understand why he thought brutally murdering Effy’s on-off boyfriend was a logical next move.
Foster’s fixation on Effy seemingly came out of nowhere, which made him killing Freddie in a somewhat jealous rage even stranger. This plot twist was undoubtedly jaw-dropping and was a moment nobody saw coming, but it would’ve been more impactful if audiences were given some context.
Created by Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain, Skins is a British drama series released in 2007. This teen drama offers an introspective look at a group of teens in England as they navigate sex, drugs, mental health, death, and more over seven seasons, with the final seasons seeing a shift in the cast. An American remake was released in 2011 on MTV but only lasted one season.
Foster’s motivation was unclear, and viewers couldn’t understand why he thought brutally murdering Effy’s on-off boyfriend was a logical next move. Foster wasn’t that unhinged that he believed getting rid of Freddie was a good way for him to be with Effy, otherwise, we would’ve picked up on his villainous personality shift earlier on.
