# What was the most shocking turn on series TV? \[LOTS OF OPEN SPOILERS -- edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586 "2014-12-07T17:48:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/21 "2014-12-07T20:13:49Z")
A lot of people were “shocked,” or maybe “pissed off” is a better term, that the killer wasn’t revealed at the season finale of the first season of _Twin Peaks_. Actually, he sorta had been revealed episodes earlier, but not in a way that was acceptable to most audience members, who wanted a more conventional whodunnit. Anyway, as far as an episode not going in the direction people expected, that one ought to make the list. I didn’t watch the show, but “Who shot JR?” became a catch phrase over the summer, and the first ep. of the following season brought in a lot of new viewers (probably beyond the writers and producers wildest dreams), so as far as an ep. shocking or at least touching people who didn’t even watch the show, that one gets special mention. It was actually a news item on the 11pm news that So-and-so shot JR (I don’t remember who it was, but I knew at one time). ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/22 "2014-12-07T20:13:58Z")
Henry Blake seems to be the best example, but I’d vote for Magnum’s death in the “real” last episode of Magnum PI. I read TV guide, but had no idea that 1) it was the series finale and 2) they were going to kill him off. Quite the shock, especially as my friend asked during the episode if Magnum was going to die, and I said “sill boy, of course not. He’s the lead.” So it was quite a shock to me. Of course, then they brought him back to life. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/23 "2014-12-07T20:27:35Z")
Didn’t Sonny Crockett deliberately blow away an unarmed man in _ **Miami Vice** _? It’s been ages since I watched that show, but IIRC the victim had had Sonny’s wife (Sheena Easton) murdered. I remember the whole scene being pretty intense, with a big bang at the end. It pretty much marked the beginning of Don Johnson’s noninvolvement with the series, if I’m not mistaken. (Sonny was put on “indefinite leave” afterwards, or something like that.) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/24 "2014-12-07T20:39:53Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > So-and-so shot JR (I don’t remember who it was, but I knew at one time). Sue Ellen’s hot little sister Kristen (played by Mary Crosby), whom JR had been boning on the side. Bobby’s resurrection wasn’t all that unexpected; hell, people disappeared and reappeared all the time in _ **Dallas** _, even after being presumed dead, and EVERYBODY wanted him to come back. What was so hokey was that they tried to pass the whole previous season (including its cliffhangers) off as just one of Pamela’s dreams. The failed attempt to replace the “presumed dead” Jock Ewing with another actor (Steve Forrest) was an absolute howler! They never did explain that one (though Bobby did finally identify him as an impostor), except for a hint at the beginning of the next season that the guy may be been under the delusion of being Jock Ewing. I’ve always been convinced the attempt was real, and it just fizzled out when everyone realized how stupid it was (kind of like everybody, including Francesca, pretending that Frasier’s new partner was really Ray at the start of _ **Due South** _’s third season). ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/25 "2014-12-07T20:47:59Z")
The biggest twist for me was Lock being revealed to be in a wheelchair at the end of his first major episode of LOST. Great twist and a jaw-dropping moment for my wife and me. We just sat there shocked. Blown away. Also from LOST, the moment where Desmond actually gets Penny on the phone. We were blown away, in tears, and had been completely manipulated by the writers and show-makers. > [@Eddie\_F](#): > > Only speaking for myself, of course, but Ned Stark’s death-by-beheading in _Game of Thrones_ shocked the right shit out of me. I had read the book, at had countless others, but I did see my wife’s reaction(yep, shocked). The Red Wedding blew it away by a mile, though. My wife was so shocked from the Red Wedding, I had to console her for a good 10-15 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/26 "2014-12-07T21:05:31Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Didn’t Sonny Crockett deliberately blow away an unarmed man in _ **Miami Vice** _? It’s been ages since I watched that show, but IIRC the victim had had Sonny’s wife (Sheena Easton) murdered. I remember the whole scene being pretty intense, with a big bang at the end. > > It pretty much marked the beginning of Don Johnson’s noninvolvement with the series, if I’m not mistaken. (Sonny was put on “indefinite leave” afterwards, or something like that.) A tv drama in which Don Johnson is married to Sheena Easton just about sums up why I hate so many shows of the era. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/27 "2014-12-07T21:44:14Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > The biggest twist for me was Lock being revealed to be in a wheelchair at the end of his first major episode of LOST. Great twist and a jaw-dropping moment for my wife and me. We just sat there shocked. Blown away. For me, the shock was when the guy got sucked into the jet engine. I think that was within the first 15 minutes. Whoooooah! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/28 "2014-12-07T21:53:19Z")
I was shocked near the end of the last season of _The Wire_, but I feel like it’s still spoiler-worthy. Omar getting popped by the little kid. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/29 "2014-12-07T21:59:19Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > In the pilot episode of \*The Shield \*(from wikipedia): > > _Eighteen months into the “Farmington Project”, Detective Vic Mackey and his Strike Team prepare to take down a major drug dealer who has never before been caught with product. Meanwhile, following a homicide, Detectives Wyms and Wagenbach discover that a child is missing, sold to a pedophile by her drug-addicted father. Captain David Aceveda installs Detective Terry Crowley as a new member of the Strike Team in order to have an inside man to root out their corruption. The episode ends with **Mackey taking the opportunity to kill Crowley** during the high risk raid._ > > Bolded part. That told me this TV show was going to be different. What I came in to say. Completely hooked me from the first episode. Perfect use of music also - I can’t hear Bawitdaba without thinking about it. And of course later in the series Shane blowing up Lemmy with a hand grenade. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/30 "2014-12-07T22:06:42Z")
Agreed that the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones and Locke’s wheelchair reveal in episode 4 of LOST are good ones. I thought Jane’s death was a big deal in Breaking Bad, in so far as that was not only a shock but a turning point as the final nail in the coffin that turned Walter into a really bad guy. Also, Gus’s death was both shocking and epic. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/31 "2014-12-07T22:11:59Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Oh, c’mon guys. > > “Mr. Worf. Fire.” > > TO BE CONTINUED > > “Dum dum. Dum dum. Dumm dum dum.” In terms of “turn of events”, not even the biggest one in that series, if you ask me. That would be… “He is human…and humans have a way of showing up when you least expect them.” My choice: Maddie’s miscarriage (if you can call it that, that late in the pregnancy) on _Moonlighting_ - even though TV Guide spoiled it by mentioning it in the next week’s issue. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/32 "2014-12-07T22:15:03Z")
Oh, also on Breaking Bad, As for an event, episode six of season one (Crazy Handful of Nothing) when Walt tells Tuco he has one thing wrong: Walt isn’t holding crystal meth… BOOM! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/33 "2014-12-07T22:29:06Z")
The Good Wife: Will Gardner getting offed in the courtroom. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/34 "2014-12-07T22:30:25Z")
The Lone Gunmen’s deaths on **The X-Files**. The promos ahead of time said that “a” character would die, so 3 at once was an amazing upset to fans I think _I_ was most shocked by the death of Karen on **John Doe** , though ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/35 "2014-12-07T22:30:45Z")
The current season of **Homeland** has been one mindfuck after another. Can’t wait for tonight’s episode. ---
**Author:** ![Idilia\_Dubb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c2a13f/32.png) [@Idilia\_Dubb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idilia_Dubb)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/36 "2014-12-07T22:31:48Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > The death of Henry Blake in MASH was hugely shocking to people as I recall. The elevator drop in “LA Law” was also a big shock for viewers… I came in to say this. And Buffy’s mom. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/37 "2014-12-07T22:38:55Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > Tessa Noël’s death in **The Darkness** episode of Highlander. > I still haven’t recovered. Many of us never will. Richie’s (accidental) death at the hands of his long-term mentor was much more shocking, since we had many more seasons for the character in question to “sink into” the minds of viewers. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/38 "2014-12-07T22:49:54Z")
House of Cards Zoe’s death. I thought she was going to play a large role and be instrumental in bringing Frank down Homeland Brody’s death. Sons of Anarchy Tara’s death. This probably wouldn’t have been as shocking if it weren’t such a brutal scene. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/39 "2014-12-07T22:54:59Z")
[Serena Sutherland](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVjmXSS0wKA): > [@](#): > > Is this because I am a lesbian? ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586/40 "2014-12-07T22:56:55Z")
> [@Jack\_Burden](#): > > The current season of **Homeland** has been one mindfuck after another. Can’t wait for tonight’s episode. You’re gonna be pissed 🆒 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-shocking-turn-on-series-tv-lots-of-open-spoilers-edited-title/706586.md?page=3)