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Warning : This list contains major spoilers for several TV show .
Summary
Having a shocking persona reveal involving a character the hearing is n’t ( or is ) expecting , or the full extent of their plans are explained , can be very satisfying and elevate a show . Shows likeGossip GirlandGravity Fallsare built around the eventual reveal of an anonymous role . How and when this quality or their program are let on may determine the succeeder of the intact show .
However , there are several shows associate with a big character reveal that have been criticized for their secret plan twists or other intellect . Writers are challenged with equilibrise shock valueand bear that something will not be shocking but will make for a better story . However , even when everyone is aware of a character ’s arrival , delivery can count for a sight and their first conniption will still be gripping . For instance , if the show is based on iconic source material , everyone will be expecting a fundamental character to appear and will be thrilled when it does happen .
Gravity Falls (2012-2016)
Cast
When Dipper and Mabel Pines are drop off to spend the summer with their uncle in Gravity Falls , they discover that all is not as it seems in this humble Ithiel Town . When Dipper discovers a unusual journal in the timber , the twins team up up to figure out the town ’s enigma .
While the author of the mysterious Gravity Falls journals being break to be " Grunkle"Stan ’s long - lost twinned brother Fordwas not exactly shocking , the showrunners played it well . Fans had predict this spin long before , pass to a deprave image being leaked as a red herring and a meta - jest about the whole position in a late episode . However , the instalment " Not What He Seems " is masterfully written , gradually and tensely raising the stakesas Dipper and Mabel discover Stan ’s base and the portal . The lead - up to and striking reveal of the author is still satisfying , even if viewers know it was do .
Some plot twists from popular video shows were very obvious because they were base on overdrive trope or character reference who served no other design .

9Grant Ward Is A HYDRA Agent
Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-2020)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is a television series that follows Agent Phil Coulson as he assembles a team within the Strategic Homeland Intervention , Enforcement and Logistics Division to investigate mysterious phenomena , safeguarding the human race from extraordinary threat . Debuting in 2013 , the series expands on the Marvel Cinematic Universe ’s exploration of covert operations .
The MCU did an excellent problem of depicting the HYDRA rise inAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.alongside the release ofCaptain America : The Winter Soldier . This includes the devastatingreveal that Agent Ward , a member of Coulson ’s essence squad , turn for HYDRA . When give the prospect to kill the baddie John Garrett , Ward shoots two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents instead . However , this twist is essentially soak of any rewatch note value when viewers learn that actor Brett Dalton had no mind that his character was a HYDRA agent until 15 episodes into the show ( viamarvel.com ) . Therefore , there are no real trace to reckon out for .
8Kaz Brekker First Appears (And Always Knows What Is Going On)
Shadow And Bone (2021-2023)
ground on Leigh Bardugo ’s bestselling Grishaverse novels , Netflix ’s Shadow and Bone watch the story of Alina Starkov , an orphan and soldier who has release a power that could potentially rig her country devoid . Instead , Alina link an elect army of soldier known as the Grisha as the Shadow Fold , an expanse of mysterious darkness that grows each year , threatening to envelop her macrocosm . Alina promptly hear that nothing is as it seems , and it will take more than the mightiness of magic to make it through .
Kaz Brekker’sfirst appearance needed to establish him as a cunning conman . Freddy Walker andtheShadow and Bonewriters achieve this with Kaz interrupt Jesper ’s game at the Crow Club with deadly precision . Kaz also constantly surprises everyone when it is repeatedly revealed he knew exactly what was going to happen all along , while it appears that the plan is going to slice . Book fans should know to always trust Kaz ’s inherent aptitude , but with the show ’s new plotlines , they are surprised all over again when Kaz knows exactly what is going on and has planned for it .
7Neal Is Rumpletstiltskin’s Son
Once Upon A Time (2011-2018)
Once Upon a Time is an dangerous undertaking phantasy - play series create for ABC that features faggot tale character and their Disney incarnations in a modern setting . When Emma Swan and her son Henry unexpectedly ram into the town of Storybrooke , they shortly discover the denizen are those from fairy tales , and they have no knowledge of the modern world inhabited by Emma and Henry . Robbed of their past and given new indistinguishability by the Evil Queen known as Regina , the Bob Hope of the townsfolk ’s house physician lie in entirely in the hand of Emma , who has stronger connections to the town than she do it .
It would later become a running joke thateveryone onOnce Upon a Timeis related , due to the turn of long - lost family member game twist the show includes . However , the first time it was in reality surprising . Seasons 1 and 2 teasethe eventual reunion between Rumplestiltskin / Mr. Gold and his now - grow Logos Baelfire .
Meanwhile , Emma ’s relationship with Henry ’s father Neal is quiet divulge in a flashback in season 2 . This builds up to a shameful reveal : When Emma and Henry accompany Gold to New York to find his Word , they find Neal , because NealisGold ’s boy . This reveal drastically spay the dynamics amongOnce Upon a Time’smain character .

6Henry Gale Is Dead
Lost (2004-2010)
Lost is a whodunit drama series create for TV that follow a group of survivors of a plane clash and secern its news report between the past times , present , and time to come via flashbacks . When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and land on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean , the castaway discover their novel temporary house may have a mind of its own , as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island . From an unknown opprobrious fastball beast to dangerous islanders , the passengers must process together to last the island ’s ostensibly deadly design .
" Henry Gale ’s " story is so wildly specific that the reveal of the smiley fount balloon should have been enough to end the caseand accept his identity as actual . It was possibly enough for the hearing and the other characters — but not for Sayid . After cutting away from the site , Sayid disclose that he still did n’t believe the story and dig up the alleged grave of Henry ’s wife , and found a man ’s body with the I.D. of Henry Gale . It is a horror - corresponding game twist that bring in Sayid look cool for trust his instincts , no matter how confused .
Few show had more mysteries than Lost , and the answers were never what fans expected . We ’ve range the biggest twisting they cast at us .

5Michael Is A Demon (And The Good Place Is The Bad Place)
The Good Place (2016-2020)
Eleanor Shellstrop find in The Good Place , both the name of the fantasy drollery series from creator Michael Schur and a novelise heaven where those who have done good in life will terminate up . However , Eleanor discovers that the life she was believed to have go was a lie , as it seems The Good Place got the wrong " Eleanor Shellstrop . " When it ’s give away that three others are there under the same false pretense , they concoct a design to truly become " Good " to earn their place there - while hiding the trueness .
The machine that The Good Place is actually The Bad Place is still considered one of themost shocking plot twist of a TV show , at least in recent tv set history . This twist has major implication for Michael ’s character , who is pose as a freehearted figureoverseeing the neighborhood throughout season 1 . The straightaway review of the season from his view divulge that he is a maniacal plotter , but also that he will be in trouble if his new version of the Bad Place does n’t work out . All in all , this Revelation of Saint John the Divine whole change the condition of the show .
4Dan Is Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl (2007-2012)
Dan being Gossip Girl does n’t make any senseand is study one of the worst region of the show . However , because it did n’t make any sensory faculty , no one guessed it and it was still disgraceful . The writer also arguably did the good thing by waiting until the very remainder to reveal Gossip Girl ’s identity element . Therefore , the show was able to gain from the mystery for as long as possible and put off ruining it with the truth . However , it goes to show that lurid does not always imply quality storytelling .
3Sylvie First Appears
Loki (2021-2023)
Whether the viewer reckon it or not , the first appearance of " female Loki " is impactful . The show set up the anonymous variant as an unequaled menace , and Sylvie does not disappoint . Her classic " displume back the punk " reveal is striking and well - suited to the character and the show . Sylvie ’s straight reveal and subsequent schemes contribute to her characterisation of being Machiavellian and relentlessly dictated to have her revenge on the TVA . Sylvie keeps Loki , the TVA , and the audience all on their toes with her constant curveballs and refusal to give up .
2The Mother Finally Appears
How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
How I Met Your Mother is a television system serial that follows a founding father telling his children about his past times . Released in 2005 , it explores his experiences and adventure with four closemouthed Quaker , leading up to meeting their female parent , as depict through a series of flashback .
After 8 seasons of teasing the anonymous woman who will become the female parent of Ted ’s children , the hearing sees her cheek for the first timein the season 8 last . This leads up to the plot twist that provoked outrage in thecontroversialHow I Met Your Motherseries finale . While most will fit in that this ending was a error , the shock of seeing the mother for the first meter is amazing . It is a bright and romanticistic moment that promises an epic making love tarradiddle that will start presently .
There have been plentitude of great television receiver moments to meditate on as 2023 comes to an end , but these 15 are doubtlessly the twelvemonth ’s most shocking .

Custom Image by Debanjana Chowdhury
1Moriarty Finally Appears (And Has Master Plan In Motion)
Sherlock (2010-2017)
In this incarnation of Sherlock from creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss , Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman accept the persona of Sherlock and Watson as they establish their partnership and begin work foreign mysteries throughout the U.K. and beyond . dress in a more 2010 ’s innovative setting , Sherlock ’s eccentric and complex nature is accentuate as he solves seemingly supernatural crimes with unparalleled intellectual while struggling to connect with others on a human level . Meanwhile , Watson blogs the history summarise their cases while build a labored but caring friendly relationship with his new partner .
Anyone who cognise anything about Sherlock Holmes cognise that the cracking police detective ’s ultimate nemesis is the criminal brain James Moriarty . Luckily , Andrew Scott make Moriarty ’s first on - filmdom appearing thrilling . His first official instalment is fill with many twists as Sherlock navigates and solves the deadly puzzle Moriarty has laid out . In this character , everyone knew that Moriarty would seem eventually . However , despiteSherlockbeing knock in later season , the writing circumvent Moriarty ’s first show is mettle - scud , stimulate it one of television receiver ’s most shocking fictional character reveals .
root : marvel.com

When Dipper and Mabel Pines are dropped off to spend the summer with their uncle in Gravity Falls, they discover that all is not as it seems in this small town. When Dipper discovers a strange journal in the forest, the twins team up to solve the town’s mysteries.

When Dipper and Mabel Pines are dropped off to spend the summer with their uncle in Gravity Falls, they discover that all is not as it seems in this small town. When Dipper discovers a strange journal in the forest, the twins team up to solve the town’s mysteries.





Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is a television series that follows Agent Phil Coulson as he assembles a team within the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division to investigate mysterious phenomena, safeguarding the world from extraordinary threats. Debuting in 2013, the series expands on the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s exploration of covert operations.





Based on Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling Grishaverse novels, Netflix’s Shadow and Bone follows the story of Alina Starkov, an orphan and soldier who has released a power that could potentially set her country free. Instead, Alina joins an elite army of soldiers known as the Grisha as the Shadow Fold, an area of mysterious darkness that grows each year, threatening to envelop her world. Alina quickly learns that nothing is as it seems, and it will take more than the power of magic to make it through.



Once Upon a Time is an adventure fantasy-drama series created for ABC that features fairy tale characters and their Disney incarnations in a modern setting. When Emma Swan and her son Henry accidentally drive into the town of Storybrooke, they soon discover the inhabitants are those from fairy tales, and they have no knowledge of the modern world inhabited by Emma and Henry. Robbed of their pasts and given new identities by the Evil Queen known as Regina, the hope of the town’s residents lie solely in the hands of Emma, who has stronger connections to the town than she knows.




Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.




Eleanor Shellstrop finds in The Good Place, both the name of the fantasy comedy series from creator Michael Schur and a fictionalized heaven where those who have done good in life will end up. However, Eleanor discovers that the life she was believed to have led was a lie, as it seems The Good Place got the wrong “Eleanor Shellstrop.” When it’s revealed that three others are there under the same false pretenses, they concoct a plan to truly become “Good” to earn their place there - while hiding the truth.





Loki is a series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following the alternate version of the titular character, Loki, after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Taken by the Time Variance Authority, he must confront his identity and choices while aiding in fixing the disrupted timeline to avert a greater threat.




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.




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.

