One of the best parts of watching a TV show with twists and turns is coming up with theories about what will happen next. These classic series likeGame of ThronesorHow I Met Your Motherexemplify why audiences are so drawn to projects that intertwine secrets and mysteries into the DNA of the story. A good show will be compelling and enjoyable to watch, whether these fan theories are proven wrong or right.The payoff of the shocking reveals is part of what keeps us returning to these serieslong after they’re over.
From the bestfantasy TV shows with strong mystery elementsto sci-fi thrillers and beloved sitcoms, there are many ways a series can engage the audience and keep them guessing. Regardless of genre, a good TV show relies on plot twists and unexpected story developments to keep the viewer engaged. However, it wouldn’t be fun or interesting to wonder what’s coming next unless the characters are strong and the relationships between them are worth rooting for. These shows found the perfect balance between character and plot, drawing me in and making me miss their heyday onscreen.
For fans of George R.R. Martin’s books, the first five seasons ofGame of Thronesweren’t too much of a mystery. However, for many new fans of the landmark fantasy series,Game of Throneshad enough shock factor to give it an edge not just within the fantasy genre but in the television landscape as a whole.Though there was arguably a decline in quality afterGame of Thronesran out of books to adapt the stories from, this made the series even more exciting since none of the audience members knew what would happen next.
These 4 TV Shows Are The Biggest Game Of Thrones Replacements So Far: Which Fantasy Epic Is Winning?
After Game of Thrones, there are four major fantasy TV shows that have attempted to fill its void. Here’s our breakdown of which one is winning.
Even when the twists and turns ofGame of Throneswere polarizing, they were never boring and encouraged the viewer to stick with the show to see where the beloved characters ended up. There are manyGame of Thronesspinoffs in development or currently on the air, and it will be interesting to see how the story’s world can be expanded. After the jaw-dropping deaths, battles, and betrayals thatGame of Throneswas known for, it will be difficult for a fantasy show to come close to its cultural impact.
Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
89%
85%
Westworldis asci-fi TV show that I would love to see comeback, as the series' final season never saw the light of day. However, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to discover how the writers and showrunners would wrap up the iconic show that provoked so many viral theories and conversations.After the explosive first season, it was impossible not to wonder whatWestworldhad in store,as the final episodes of season 1 had us questioning the nature of humanity and the emerging consciousnesses of the hosts.
ThoughWestworldlost some steam as the seasons progressed, it was returning to its former power by the end of season 4 and had crafted a world with plenty of compelling unanswered questions. The characters inWestworldwere a large part of what made the series fun to theorize about, as their motivations and the secrets they kept often held the key to the answers. While it’s unlikely,I’ll always be holding out hope thatWestworldwill make its triumphant return and leave me astounded once again.
80%
75%
ThoughOnce Upon a Timedidn’t hide the fact thatthe existence of fairy tale creatures and stories was part of the fabric of the story,there were still plenty of mysteries to uncover. Slowly revealing the past and the character’s backstories through magical flashbacks,Once Upon a Timewasn’t afraid to get complex, introducing a large ensemble cast throughout the seasons. Character motivations and the dark meanings behind their actions also played a huge role in the series' twists and turns.
As the series continued, it was always fun to guess what fairy tale character would be introduced next and how the series would put a dark twist on their story.
As the series continued, it was always fun to guess what fairy tale character would be introduced next and how the series would put a dark twist on their story. The way the characters were connected and the hidden family tree that was continuously expanding throughout the story madeOnce Upon a Timea mystery you never wanted to stop solving. Every installment ofOnce Upon a Timemanaged to tie together its threads neatly by the narrative’s end.
78%
It’s almost impossible to think of a better twist than the shocking reveal at the end ofThe Good Placeseason 1. The series takes everything the viewer thinks they know and understand about the story and subverts it, changing the formula of the show and proving that the fantasy and sitcom genres can go hand in hand.A lesser show might have lost its magic after the big revelation about the truth of the Good Place,but the remaining seasons managed to stay fresh and interesting.
Thanks to the snappy dialogue, thoughtful plotting, and perfect cast,The Good Placeis worth watching until the end. AsThe Good Placeevolved, the audience got to see genuine change and growth in the characters and managed to throw in a few great surprises along the way.The Good Place’s first big narrative turn was far from the last time that the show surprised audiences,butThe Good Placedidn’t stop there. It deftly weaved social commentary and nuanced ethical conversations into its plot.
97%
90%
Rami Malek starred inMr. Robot,the thriller series that focused on the emerging field of hackingand the ways surveillance and cybersecurity are affecting global privacy. He and Christian Slater are unforgettable inMr. Robot, with a chilling chemistry that makes all of their scenes together unbearably tense. As the series progressed, the audience learned about the relationship between their characters, discovering that Elliot (Malek) wasn’t fighting for the hacker group he thought he was.
Mr. Robothad a lot to say about the intersection between technology, capitalism, and the age of the internet, which has made the series grow more relevant with time.
Through Elliot’s eyes, reality is malleable inMr. Robot, and using an unreliable narrator is always a great way to keep the viewer guessing.Mr. Robothad a lot to say about the intersection between technology, capitalism, and the age of the internet, which has made the series grow more relevant with time. With every season,Mr. Robotattempted to top the twists that made it so dynamic at the start and encouraged audiences to stick with the show as it evolved.
94%
93%
One of thebest post-apocalyptic TV showsand a definitive work within the zombie genre,The Walking Deadfranchise has a firm grip on the culture since it premiered in 2010. The main series might have come to an end in 2022, but this hasn’t stopped audiences from loving the many spinoffs and expansions of the world. However,the originalThe Walking Deadwill likely remain the best installment of the story’s universe,as it introduced fans to the narrative and kept them guessing to the very end.
Full of blood, guts, and gore,The Walking Deadenjoyed tricking the viewerinto thinking characters were dead or gone forever and then bringing them back. While this was emotionally wrought, it made for good television and set the precedent thatThe Walking Deadwasn’t afraid to trick the audience. It’s still enjoyable to revisitThe Walking Deadnow that the series has ended, but watching it the first time around was unforgettable.
79%
Even whenLostgot frustrating in the later seasons, this didn’t stop me from theorizing about the truth of the island and coming up with wild ideas about what really happened to the survivors.AsLostprogressed, the supernatural elements became more pronounced,allowing audiences and critics to come up with increasingly outlandish speculations about what would happen next. What helped anchorLostin reality was the fact that it was impossible to stop caring about the characters.
It’s these unexplainable events and overlapping narrative turns that cementedLostas such an innovative series.
There are many memorableLostmoments that changed the shape and direction of the show that even die-hard fans could never have seen coming. The flash-forward reveal at the end ofLostseason 3 changed the course of the series forever and proved to the audience thatLostwasn’t afraid to shake up its formula and change the rules of the world. It’s these unexplainable events and overlapping narrative turns that cementedLostas such an innovative series.
86%
Easily one of the best and most popular sitcoms of the 2000s and 2010s,How I Met Your Motherstayed fresh and relevant because it maintained its central premise. The conceit ofHow I Met Your Mothermade us wonder which of Ted’s (Josh Radnor) love interests would end up being the mother of his children. Unlike some sitcoms, which let their couples get together too soon,How I Met Your Motherwaited until the end of the penultimate season to reveal its twist.
10 TV Shows That Had Their Endings Planned From The Start
The joy of watching TV shows is witnessing the unexpected story arcs unfold, but some writers had the series' arc planned from the beginning.
Of course, it wasn’t that simple, andHow I Met Your Mothermanaged to trick us during the series' final moments,but I enjoyed every second of wondering who Ted would end up with. Though there were some romantic interests who were obviously not the mother, the group’s core dynamic was just as compelling. Few sitcoms are able to keep their story as exciting as long asHow I Met Your Motherdid, and the potential twists were part of its success.
84%
Pretty Little Liarsisn’t just one of thebest teen romance TV shows ever made, but it’s also a complex mystery series with high stakes and shocking plot twists.For all seven seasons, the show reinvented itself,allowing the characters to evolve and the drama to change but keeping the mysterious spirit of the story alive. One of the best parts ofPretty Little Liarswas that the series had a strong sense of humor and self-awareness, which let the writers and showrunners have fun with the somewhat outlandish plot points.
No matter what you believed or thought was the truth on the show, the writers always had a trick up their sleeve, subverting expectations whenever possible.
ThoughPretty Little Liarsis sometimes written off as a “trashy” teen drama, the series has a lot to offer, and the fast pace lent itself to keeping the audience guessing at every turn. No matter what you believed or thought was the truth on the show, the writers always had a trick up their sleeve, subverting expectations whenever possible. This made it all the more exciting to attempt to figure out who A was every season and figure out how all of the villains were connected to Alison.
81%
Tatiana Maslany was unforgettable inOrphan Blackthroughout the show’s five seasons, somehow clearly differentiating between the many characters she played.Maslany portrays Sarah Manning and her many clones throughoutOrphan Black,a series that throws you into the deep end from the first moments of the pilot. Slowly piecing together the truth and uncovering how Sarah was connected to these women who share her DNA was a gripping challenge that never failed to capture my attention.
Orphan Blackdeals with themes of humanity, eugenics, and the effects of emerging technologyon human life, as Sarah’s existence is part of a greater conspiracy than she realizes. ThoughOrphan Black: Echoes, the short-lived spinoff, was an interesting continuation of the story, little could top the thrills of discovering what Sarah would learn next and how she would outwit the people who sought to control her. The truth ofOrphan Black’s story always managed to shock us, allowing the show’s legacy to live on.
92%
