2024 in Review: The Year’s Biggest Plot Twists, Ranked From ‘Wow!’ to ‘What?!’
Shocking deaths! Scandalous hookups! Human husbands revealing themselves to be horses in disguise! They’re the wild TV moments we live for, and 2024 gave ’em to us in spades.
As part of TVLine’s annual Year in Review — which already includes a look back at 2024’s best shows, worst shows and most surprising cast exits — we’re taking stock of the jaw-dropping moments we needed extra time to process this year. Honestly, we’re still wrapping our brains around some of them.
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Because this is a list of TV twists, it should go without saying (but we’ll say it anyway!) that you’re about to enter a spoiler minefield. You might want to turn back if you’re behind on any of the following 30 shows, presented here in alphabetical order: 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Lone Star, Agatha All Along, Based on a True Story, The Boys, Bridgerton, Chucky, Cobra Kai, Constellation, The Curse, The Diplomat, Hacks, Interview With the Vampire, Grey’s Anatomy, Grotesquerie, Hacks, Industry, Matlock, My Lady Jane, Outlander, Pachinko, Presumed Innocent, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Station 19, Sugar, Superman & Lois, Tyler Perry’s Sistas, The Umbrella Academy, The Way Home, Will Trent or X-Men ’97.
And one more disclaimer: To keep this list somewhat manageable, we limited ourselves to one twist per show. Let’s be real, some of these shows could spawn entire lists of their own.
Still with us? Excellent. Read on for our list of the biggest TV plot twists, ranked from least to most shocking, then drop a comment with your own additions. Which small-screen surprises left the biggest impression on you?
Still to come in TVLine’s Year in Review: Sexiest Scenes, Character Deaths That Nearly Killed Us, Unjust Cancellations and much, much more!
30. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
After flirting up a storm with Amelia, Monica hooked up with… Winston?!?
29. Pachinko (Apple TV+)
Noa disappears on his family!
28. Outlander (Starz)
Roger went back to the wrong time period!
27. X-Men ’97 (Disney+)
The X-Men encounter En Sabah Nur (aka Apocalypse) in the past!
26. Based on a True Story (Peacock)
Drew isn’t a cop… and her real name is actually Olivia… and Olivia isn’t a serial killer… she’s Matt’s ex-wife!
25. Bridgerton (Netflix)
Cressida claims to be Lady Whistledown!
24. Will Trent (ABC)
Susan Kelechi Watson’s Cricket Dawson — aka Will Trent’s new love interest — is killed off in her very first episode!
23. The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)
Five and Lila fall for each other!
22. Chucky (Syfy)
Tiffany goes back inside a doll!
21. Hacks (Max)
Ava blackmails Deborah!
20. Station 19 (ABC)
Jack can’t be a firefighter anymore!
19. Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Miyagi killed a guy at a Sekai Taikai!
18. 9-1-1: Lone Star (Fox)
Grace leaves Judd and their baby to volunteer on a Mercy Ship!
17. The Curse (Paramount+ With Showtime)
Asher wakes up to find he’s stuck to the ceiling!
16. The Boys (Prime Video)
Kessler is a hallucination caused by Butcher’s V-enhanced brain tumor!
15. 9-1-1 (ABC)
Buck and Tommy kiss!
14. Constellation (Apple TV+)
The Jo left behind on the ISS is alive!
13. Tyler Perry’s Sistas (BET)
Karen is pregnant with twins… from two separate fathers!
12. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (Bravo)
Monica Garcia is Reality Von Tease!
11. Industry (HBO)
Rishi’s wife is shot!
10. Interview With the Vampire (AMC)
Louis discovers that Armand directed his trial… and that Lestat was the one who rescued him!
9. The Way Home (Hallmark)
Colton was a time traveler!
8. Matlock (CBS)
Madeline Matlock isn’t Madeline Matlock!
7. The Diplomat (Netflix)
President Rayburn’s sudden death makes Allison Janney the new POTUS!
6. Superman & Lois (The CW)
Superman — or should we say Clark Kent — reveals his secret identity to the world!
5. Agatha All Along (Disney+)
Teen is actually Billy Maximoff/Wiccan!
4. Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+)
Rusty’s daughter, Jaden, killed Carolyn Polhemus… but Rusty tied up Carolyn’s body!
3. Grotesquerie (FX)
Lois, not Marshall, was the one in a coma!
2. My Lady Jane (Prime Video)
Lady Jane Grey’s husband shapeshifts into a horse!
1. Sugar (Apple TV+)
John is an alien!
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