Ah, the cliffhanger. Audiences usually hate being left with an unresolved plot thread at the end of an episode (or worse, a season). However, when done right, a cliffhanger can build your suspense for the (presumably awesome) payoff down the line. Here are the ten best examples!
Abel is Kidnapped (Sons of Anarchy)
In one of Sons of Anarchy’s most appalling twists, the second season ends with IRA member Cameron Hayes kidnapping the protagonist Jax’s son, Abel. This twist got even wilder when Jax discovered that Abel had been adopted by a loving family and decided to simply leave him there in Ireland.
Who Did Negan Kill? (The Walking Dead)
When the charismatic and loathsome villain Negan appears on The Walking Dead, audiences know someone’s gotta go. Since the comparable scene in the comics has fan-favorite character Glen killed, fans were terrified that this would be his fate in the show, too. Of course, The Walking Dead had fans second-guessing themselves by shooting the scene from the point of view of the victim, leaving their identity a mystery until the next season premiered.
Ross’s Wedding Vows (Friends)
Ross and Rachel’s on-again, off-again romance was a major plot thread going through the entirety of Friends. As such, Ross slipping up during his wedding to Emily by calling her “Rachel” is about as juicy as drama gets. The episode leaving things unresolved is even more poignant.
Who Shot JR? (Dallas)
If you weren’t around to see it in the 70s, take our word for this one: Dallas was a big deal. When the show’s main antagonist, JR, is shot in the season 3 finale, everyone who watched the show couldn’t wait to share their theories on who the culprit was. The furor over the event was so great that bookies took bets on which character was responsible! The phrase “who shot JR” entered the pop culture lexicon as shorthand for any cliffhanger.
Meredith and Addison Meet (Grey’s Anatomy)
Meredith and Derek’s relationship is the emotional core of the early seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, so Addison’s shocking reveal at the end of the ninth episode hit everyone like a punch in the gut. Addison introduces herself to Meredith by accusing her of having an affair with her husband, leaving audiences to puzzle out whether she’s lying or if Derek is actually a sleazeball.
Assassination Attempt (The West Wing)
The assassination attempt on likable President Bartlet in the finale of The West Wing’s first season was a genuine shock for viewers. The show had, up to that point, been essentially devoid of violence and action. What’s more, Bartlet was never depicted as a controversial figure, leaving the mystery of why someone would try to kill him a huge mystery.
Deb Catches Dexter in the Act (Dexter)
The first time Dexter makes us think the titular murderer might finally be outed comes in the season 6 finale. While delivering justice to the Doomsday Killer, Travis Marshall, Dexter is caught by his adoptive sister, Deb. The episode ends on a thrilling cliffhanger, leaving viewers to wonder whether Dexter would ever harm his own sister.
Hidden Manipulator (24)
The hit show 24 knew how to craft taught political drama. That was on full display in the fifth season, when it was revealed that President Logan actually engineered the assassination of his likeable predecessor, President Palmer. By dropping this reveal in the middle of the season, 24 left viewers wondering how the evildoer would meet justice.
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Who Shot Mr. Burns? (The Simpsons)
In a direct parody of the Dallas “who shot J.R.?” cliffhanger, The Simpsons pulled the exact same stunt with the loathsome magnate Mr. Burns. Just like with Dallas, The Simpsons introduced a long list of possible suspects before pulling the rug out from under everyone by having the baby, Maggie, be the culprit.
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Hank Discovers Walt’s Secret (Breaking Bad)
One of the most intense moments in Breaking Bad comes late in the show’s run when Hank, Walt’s brother-in-law, discovers that the criminal mastermind Heisenberg is none other than the unassuming chemistry teacher. It happens at a potentially hilarious moment, too: Hank makes the discovery while reading a book of Walt Whitman poems and using the bathroom.
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