When it comes to fantastic storytelling, it isn’t just about shocking the audience with epic TV moments–it’s about the thrilling reveals of truths that were cleverly disguised and so eagerly awaited. The most incredible plot twists don’t push the plot to the wayside, but elevate it, rewarding the viewers who were paying very close attention. Whether it’s reality-bending revelations or hidden identity reveals, the greatest twists force audiences to rethink what they know about the entire series.
Masterfully crafted series like Mr. Robot, which makes haunting identity reveals that correlate to its plot’s mental health themes, and Lost, which delivers epic twists that startle its viewers with its change from its normally predictable format, are perfect examples of plot twists done right. Featuring this list are moments that contributed to the greatness of TV and shows that epically delivered them.
10
The Bent-Neck Lady
‘Haunting of Hill House’
This haunting plot twist is a reveal that shook its viewers to their cores. The Haunting of Hill House is a horror drama that alternates between the present and the past as the Crain family tackles their trauma. As one of the most recurring figures in the series, the “Bent-Neck Lady” has been seen tormenting the youngest daughter of the Crain family, Nell (Victoria Pedretti), since her childhood.
In a clever twist, Haunting of Hill House reveals who the “Bent-Neck Lady” actually is. Nell moves back home, only to seemingly take her own life later in the series. During her last moments, she is thrown into her past—revealing that she has been haunting herself the entire time as the “Bent-Neck-Lady.” The Haunting of Hill House took the traditional ghost story and geniusly changed it into something much more complex and mind-bending with this twist, making it a clever change to a slightly typical trope that is quite memorable.
9
Penelope Is Lady Whistledown
‘Bridgerton’
Bridgerton stuns fans with this brilliant reveal of the identity of the iconic Lady Whistledown. The romance series primarily follows the Bridgerton household and their journey in finding love. At the helm of it all is the hidden and quite popular gossip writer Lady Whistledown.
All throughout Season 1, the show drops breadcrumbs about the enigmatic gossip writer, essentially misdirecting and redirecting fans until the final reveal leaves them quite baffled. Lady Whistledown is, in fact, the quiet wallflower, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan). The reveal is both unexpected and fair. Bridgerton does misdirection so well that, though it is hinted, the twist still manages to catch viewers entirely off-guard. The genius plot twist is definitely an underrated one and has earned its place among those on this list.
8
Vecna’s True Identity
‘Stranger Things’
This epic plot twist ends the fourth season of Stranger Things on an ominous and dramatic note. The sci-fi horror series is set in the 1980s and centers on a group of friends in the small town of Hawkins as they battle parallel-dimensional monsters.
Season 4 features moments from both the past and present, and by its finale, it is discovered that the vicious Upside Down monster, Vecna, is actually the first child with powers—Peter/Number One (Jamie Campbell Bower)—and the mastermind behind just about everything tragic happening in Hawkins. The thrilling twist ties in various threads throughout the entire series, connecting dots even fans seemed to have forgotten about. Through the plot-twisting reveal, fans are made aware of an even more stunning truth: Peter is the cause of the 1979 lab massacre, which was initially thought to be caused by fan-favored character Eleven, making it one of the most masterful twists on TV.
7
Mr. Robot = Elliot (Mental Illness Revealed)
‘Mr. Robot’
Mr. Robot features a plot twist that draws slight comparisons to Fight Club’s well-known dual identity reveal, but still effectively stands on its own, becoming one of TV’s most well-executed moments. The psychological thriller follows the brilliant but troubled hacker with anxiety and depression, Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), as he is recruited by a man called “Mr. Robot” to take down corporate conglomerates.
Mr. Robot’s ninth episode during Season 1 reveals what has been suspected by viewers for some time: Mr. Robot is actually an alter ego in Elliot’s mind, and the manifestation of his dead father. Though the show had been foreshadowing the moment, it is still quite the shocking reveal that cleverly transforms the thrilling series into a study of mental illness. Viewers laud the epic twist as one of the most satisfying and slightly shocking confirmations they’ve ever witnessed. Mr. Robot’s reveal is considered genius because it tied directly into the show’s harsher themes while still surprising its audience, defying the expectations of those conditioned to plot twists.
6
The Red Wedding
‘Game of Thrones’
This horrific plot twist left the world in complete and total shock. The series Game of Thrones features noble families and their intensely violent fight for the Iron Throne and power over all of Westeros.
During Season 3, fans of Game of Thrones saw the price Robb Stark (Richard Madden) had to pay for falling in love and going back on his word. The Starks are invited to a wedding, hosted by Walder Frey (David Bradley), but in a vicious turn of events, are all slaughtered due to House Lannister’s plot. The Red Wedding is often lauded as one of the most shocking moments to reach television. It greatly changed the course of the epic fantasy series, driving it towards what was likely inevitable bloodshed. The twist is epic, and its impact on viewers was quite traumatic. It is a twist never remembered fondly but always remembered with haunting vividness.
5
Nina is the Mole
’24’
24 is a real-time action thriller that wields a memorable plot twist that stands among one of the greatest TV’s ever produced. The series follows counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) as he tackles crisis after crisis within a span of 24 hours.
Throughout Season 1, Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke) is presented as a trusted ally and ex-lover to Jack, but during the final hours of Day 1, it is revealed that Nina is actually a mole and has been from the very beginning. This changes her from a well-known ally to a sinister villain in one fell swoop. The brilliant twist not only changed how viewers saw the character but also the entire show. Audiences were genuinely blindsided by the twist, and to this day it stands as a masterclass in character development and misdirection. 24 delivered a thrillingly clever twist that sets the gold standard for the delivery of spy thrillers.
4
Multiple Timelines / The Man in Black
‘Westworld’
This genius plot twist is a reveal that showcases Westworld’s bold and ambitious narrative. The series is an intricate sci-fi show that is set in a futuristic theme park where lifelike robots called “hosts” offer guests a taste of their Wild West fantasies. The series grapples with questions of consciousness, identity, and free will, all the while highlighting that something isn’t right from the very beginning.
In a genius game, Westworld features the recurring character, William, as both a young and older man across two timelines, later revealing that he is, in fact, the Man in Black. William’s past adoration grows through the years, shown, curdling into something dark and twisted, turning him into the character fans witness in the present. By essentially telling the story out of order, Westworld left it up to viewers to make assumptions that were likely very far from the truth, pulling off a clever trick that inevitably shocks audiences. The execution of the genius twist delivered a satisfying moment for fans, even those who may have predicted it. The Man in Black=William twist elevates Westworld, an already captivating show, greatly, and deepens fans’ investment.
3
“This is the Bad Place!”
‘The Good Place’
The Good Place is a witty sitcom that delivers an epic twist in the form of a eureka moment. The series follows Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), after she wakes up in the paradise of the afterlife known as “The Good Place,” only to realize that there has been a mix-up, and she doesn’t actually belong there. To stay, she gathers friends who help her change into a truly good person.
After Michael (Ted Danson) is effectively tricking Eleanor and friends, without both characters and audience knowing, the moment Eleanor has her realization, the game changes for everyone. Michael, once seen as the quirky angel, is in fact a demon, and Eleanor’s discovery leads audiences to rethink the entirety of Season 1. It’s a clever play that fundamentally improves the show incredibly. The twist is daring, especially for a sitcom, and genuinely surprises most viewers of the series, marking it as a great addition to this list of genius plot twists.
2
“We Have to Go Back!”
‘Lost’
This series has featured some of the best mysteries and twists TV has ever produced. Lost is a drama that follows the surviving passengers of Oceanic Flight 815 as they crash-land on a strange island filled with secrets.
For the first few seasons, Lost delivers its reveals through flashbacks, but by Season 3 there is a slight format change. During season 3’s finale, viewers are left assuming that they are witnessing character Jack Shephard’s (Matthew Fox) tragic flashbacks before the plane crash. In an epic twist of things, fans’ expectations are thrown out the window, as it is revealed that the “flashbacks” are actually flashes of the future–marked by the iconic words, “We have to go back.” The moment is regarded as one of TV’s best twists, leaving fans reeling with possibilities. Lost proved that it wasn’t afraid to reinvent itself, and stands as a landmark series with mind-bending twists.
1
Reincarnation
‘From’
From features a climactic twist that answers and confirms fans’ many questions and thoughts, but also raises much more. The horror-mystery series follows the residents of a small town who are unable to leave. To add to their troubles is the fact that the man-eating monsters hauntingly creep out of the surrounding forest at night, eager to snack on each individual.
From is a series rife with intense mystery. Throughout Season 3, many things are starting to make sense for fans, yet it is not until the finale that fans learn a few of the haunting truths of the town and its residents. Tech entrepreneur Jade (David Alpay) and devoted mother Tabitha (Catalina Sandino Moreno) are revealed to be reincarnations of people from the town’s bloody history. What might have been seen as typical supernatural mischief actually held a greater depth that included space and time. The moment is lauded as one of TV’s greatest and most well-rewarding twists. The twist takes From to new and seemingly impossible heights, ensuring this genius moment a place in the number 1 spot.
