Nothing frustrates audiences greater than a TV present‘s cliffhanger. From surprising reveals, to romantic moments between beloved characters, cliffhangers have a behavior of leaving followers distressed with the necessity for solutions to their theories and overwhelmed with emotion. Among the most gut-punching cliffhangers are even able to shattering viewers’ expectations, and their complete notion of a sequence.

Reveals like Recreation of Thrones have a behavior of leaving followers on the sting of their seats fully distraught as they agonize over the place the sequence will head. The just about insufferable watch for a present’s reveal of the state of each characters and story can’t solely be heartbreaking, but additionally downright exhausting.

10

‘His Darkish Supplies’ (2019–2022)

Season 4

His Darkish Supplies, primarily based on Philip Pullman’s famed e book sequence, follows the willful Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Eager) as she traverses parallel universes and uncovers darkish secrets and techniques. On her journey, she meets a younger English boy often known as William ‘Will’ Parry (Amir Wilson). In Season 3’s finale, Lyra and Can have grown a deep bond, however study that to keep away from disaster, all paths that enable journey between parallel worlds should be closed, leaving Lyra and Will compelled to separate regardless of their profound love.

The second is actually heartbreaking for followers, witnessing Lyra and Will, so younger and newly in love, compelled to sacrifice their happiness for the welfare of all worlds. Whereas the heartbreaking cliffhanger is definitely the conclusion of His Darkish Supplies, there’s nonetheless hope for a by-product. Philip Pullman’s companion trilogy, The Ebook of Mud, explores the occasions following the unique sequence, and there have been talks of variations for the trilogy.

9

‘Buddies’ (1994-2004)

Season 4

This iconic sitcom is a treasured sequence for a lot of. Buddies follows the adventures of six buddies residing in New York Metropolis. Within the two-part Season 4 finale, the group heads to London for Ross Geller’s (David Schwimmer) wedding ceremony to Emily Waltham (Helen Baxendale). Realizing that she nonetheless has emotions for Ross, Rachel Inexperienced (Jennifer Aniston) attends the marriage with the intention of sharing her emotions with Ross, however in the end decides to not intrude. When it is time for I do’s, Ross shocks followers by saying Rachel’s title as a substitute of Emily’s.

Followers world wide gasped at Ross’s mishap, holding conflicting feelings concerning the intense and awkward cliffhanger. Whereas some viewers watched in horror, others have been excited concerning the potential rekindling of Ross and Rachel. The abrupt season’s finish left a mass of followers distraught, but additionally very desperate to study what got here subsequent.

8

‘Alias’ (2001–2006)

Season 2

Alias is a spy-action TV sequence centered across the double CIA agent, Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), as she navigates troublesome missions and private affairs. In Season 2’s finale, “The Telling,” Sydney confronts each her nemesis, Arvin Sloane (Ron Rifkin), and her mom, Irina Derevko (Lena Olin), who’re assembling a mysterious system. After a fierce struggle, Sydney loses consciousness, solely to awaken two years later in Hong Kong.

The scene the place Sydney struggles to know her new actuality of dropping two years of her life—whereas dealing with the profound adjustments that occurred in her absence— is disorienting and upsetting, leaving each character and followers gutted. It’s a really heartbreaking cliffhanger that left the viewers questioning the character of time and the fragility of belief throughout the sequence’ story.

7

‘The 100’ (2014–2020)

Season 5

This drama-packed sci-fi sequence follows a gaggle of once-space-bound survivors’ return to Earth. There, they discover life and different sudden challenges whereas trying to rebuild society of their post-apocalyptic world. Within the Season 5 finale of The 100, “The Damocles: Half 2”, the group of survivors are again in area and have entered cryosleep. After awakening, they uncover that they’ve been asleep for over a century, and at the moment are with out two of their very own—Monty (Christopher Larkin) and Harper (Chelsey Reist).

Followers have been completely torn up as they witnessed how a lot time handed for his or her favourite group of survivors. Viewers acquired one other emotional blow upon discovering out that their beloved characters, Monty and Harper, left a parting message divulging their purpose for his or her absence, and what they left behind. The cliffhanger left followers in tears, but additionally antsy with pleasure to find what’s subsequent for the survivors who’re about to embark on a model new journey.

6

The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)

Season 3

The Vampire Diaries is successful teen supernatural sequence that captivated many viewers. The present follows Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), a teen woman entangled in a single too many supernatural happenings. Throughout Season 3’s finale,“The Departed,” Elena is sadly concerned in a automotive crash the place she drowns. Unexpectedly, Elena had earlier consumed vampire blood, main her to awaken modified.

Audiences of the sequence have been thrown by emotional loops as they witnessed the extreme scene, which held a profound sense of irony—Elena’s dad and mom met the identical destiny, however not like her, lacked the supernatural means to make sure their survival. The Season 3 finale signifies the top of Elena’s human life, which holds an sudden quantity of heartbreaking disappointment.

5

‘Fringe’ (2008–2013)

Season 3

Fringe follows a specialised FBI division that offers with puzzling occurrences, complicated scientific mysteries, and parallel universes. In the course of the Season 3 finale, Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) prompts a tool hoping to forestall the destruction of two universes. Nonetheless, after he succeeds, he vanishes, and the remaining characters haven’t any reminiscence of his existence.

The episode “The Day We Died,” is a bit haunting for some followers. The scene the place Peter disappears is heart-wrenching, as he leaves behind a void that adjustments the sequence’ dynamics. For Fringe’s viewers, it was a cliffhanger that created many questions, with probably the most very important being why Peter disappeared within the first place.

4

‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997–2003)

Season 5

This supernatural drama took over tv with its charming story, gaining an enormous following. Buffy the Vampire Slayer follows Buffy Anne Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), a younger lady chosen to struggle in opposition to supernatural foes, together with vampires and demons. Throughout Season 5’s finale, Buffy, in an effort to avoid wasting her sister and keep away from the apocalypse, confronts the god Glory, sacrificing herself and dying to avoid wasting the world.

Followers have been distraught at Buffy’s sacrifice. Viewers on the time discovered themselves mourning each character and present, for with out Buffy, there might be no vampire slaying. The emotional affect of the second left by the episode “The Reward” highlighted themes of sacrifice, love, obligation, and loss, incomes the heartbreaking finale a spot on this checklist.

3

‘Misplaced’ (2004–2010)

Season 3

The sequence Misplaced is not any stranger to complicated reveals and tantalizing cliffhangers. The present facilities on the survivors of a airplane crash, who’re stranded on a mysterious island stuffed to the brim with secrets and techniques. “By the Trying Glass,” Misplaced’s Season 3 finale, featured scenes of Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) that originally appeared like flashbacks. Nonetheless, it is revealed that the scenes are literally flash-forwards.

Misplaced’s gut-wrenching twist left followers with none hope that leaving the island would resolve any of the character’s struggles. With the proof given by flash-forward scenes, viewers have been compelled to simply accept that the longer term is fraught with troubling obstacles, leaving them each dreading what lies forward for the characters and eagerly awaiting what comes subsequent for the sequence as an entire.

2

‘The Strolling Lifeless’ (2010–2022)

Season 6

The Strolling Lifeless sequence stands as the most effective sci-fi exhibits thus far. The sequence follows a gaggle of survivors as they navigate a world overrun by zombies and face threats from human forces. Throughout Season 6’s finale, the vicious chief, Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), captures the group and decides to make an instance out of them by brutally killing a member. In an intense recreation of “eeny, meeny, miny, moe,” a sufferer is chosen, however followers are left hanging as screens flip black.

It’s a merciless factor to finish a season with such depth. Season 6’s “Final Day on Earth” had a ridiculous quantity of pressure buildup fraught with feelings, earlier than leaving followers fully in the dead of night and stuffed with dread. The worry of whom the sufferer may be made this second some of the heartbreaking types of tortuous cliffhangers in tv historical past.

1

‘Recreation of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

Season 5

Following the facility video games between nobles in a bid for the Iron Throne, Recreation of Thrones had nearly a cult-like fan base. In Season 5’s finale, Jon Snow, a fan favourite and the commander of the Night time’s Watch, faces dissent over his selections relating to the Wildlings. Perceived as a traitor, Jon Snow (Equipment Harington) is brutally stabbed by these he trusted, with the ultimate blow coming from the younger Olly (Brenock O’Connor), who Jon treasured most.

Season 5’s “Mom’s Mercy” is a kick within the abdomen for followers, as they witness the betrayal Jon Snow faces. His surprising loss of life, regardless of his fixed acts of honor, love, and loyalty, left viewers in emotional turmoil, igniting theories concerning the character’s sudden destiny. To be left hanging on to what may come subsequent was downright tortuous for some viewers, main it to rank excessive on the checklist of probably the most heartbreaking cliffhangers in TV historical past.

Hold Studying: 10 Greatest TV Reveals The place Most Episodes Finish on a Cliffhanger, Ranked