Summary
- Emotional stakes and surprise factor are vital elements in executing a perfect TV betrayal, as seen in shows like Friends and Game of Thrones.
- Whether it's physical backstabbing or emotional conflicts, betrayal can have a lasting impact on characters and audiences alike in TV shows.
- From iconic betrayals like Ross cheating on Rachel to the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones, shocking twists can redefine the entire narrative of a series.
Nothing is more compelling about television than the opportunity for a great plot twist betrayal, with the emotional stakes heightened by the long-form medium. Many of the best TV shows of all time, be they award-winning dramas like The Sopranos or Breaking Bad or sitcoms like Friends or The Good Place, have devastated audiences at least once with shocking backstab. However, there are many different ways a perfect betrayal can be executed.
While betrayal can often be associated with physical backstabbing or character death, emotional conflicts are just as significant, with shows like Friends and Succession providing excellent examples. Other betrayals saw a character one might've thought to be a supporting protagonist unmask themself as the villain, like on The Flash or The Good Place. Emotional stakes, surprise factor, and lasting consequences are several elements that can make an excellent TV betrayal.
10 Harrison Wells Is The Reverse Flash
The Flash (2014-2023)
The Flash
*Availability in US
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Not available
- Cast
- Rick Cosnett , jesse l martin , Candice Patton , Tom Cavanagh , Grant Gustin , Danielle Panabaker
- Release Date
- October 7, 2014
- Seasons
- 9
- Franchise(s)
- Arrowverse
- Writers
- Andrew Kreisberg , Greg Berlanti , Geoff Johns
The Flash might've struggled to maintain quality throughout its run, but season 1 was undoubtedly a treat for superhero fans. The series cleverly mixed well-known figures from The Flash's comic book mythos with original characters, causing audiences to constantly second-guess themselves when imagining the identity of a villain. Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash, is posed as the villain from the get-go, but the CW's superhero drama framed it as a compelling mystery.
Harrison Wells was one of the Arrowverse's most popular original characters, introduced in season 1 as a mentor and friend to Barry Allen. In the season 1 midseason finale, it's revealed that Wells is the time-traveling speedster from the future who killed Barry's mother and set off the show's chain of events in order to return to the future. Arrow season 1 followed a similar formula with its main villain, Merlyn, but The Flash was able to pull off a far more intricate superhero narrative with the classic DC villain.
9 Ross Cheats On Rachel
Friends (1994-2004)
Whether Ross actually cheated on Rachel is one of the most prevalent ongoing arguments about Friends, as many would suggest that the will they/won't they couple were technically on a break from their relationship at the time. While some believe Rachel had no right to take issue with Ross sleeping with another woman during this period, other Friends fans think it still qualifies as cheating.
Rachel is such an iconic and beloved character that seeing her hurt can sting on its own
Regardless, the reveal that Ross slept with someone else undoubtedly puts a wedge between their trust, and this was a terrible shock for the millions invested in their romance. Whether he cheated on her or not, he hurt her with his actions, and Rachel is such an iconic and beloved character that seeing her hurt can sting on its own. Friends may be a comedy, but it wouldn't be as popular if it didn't provide such a complex examination of relationships.