10 Most Shocking TV Show Betrayals No One Saw Coming

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)

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The Flash Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available 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)

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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.

8 Jesse Was Spying On New Directions

Glee (2009-2015)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Cast Dianna Agron , Chris Colfer , Jessalyn Gilsig , Jane Lynch , Jayma Mays , Kevin McHale , Lea Michele , Cory Monteith , Matthew Morrison , Amber Riley Release Date May 19, 2009 Seasons 6 Network FOX Streaming Service(s) Hulu

Jesse St. James is easily one of the most revolting characters on Glee, and that's saying something. Jonathan Groff is an incredible actor and performer, which is part of why his betrayal of the McKinley High School glee club hits so hard. When Jesse is playing the charming boyfriend role, he's incredibly charming and has the ambition and talent that Rachel wants, making it even more impactful when he reveals himself to be a conniving menace.

Glee is a bizarre show, in retrospect, leaning heavily into its over-the-top drama. In Jesse's betrayal, he calls Rachel to meet him in the parking lot, leading to a scene where she runs toward him in slow motion as his friendly smile shifts into a monstrous smirk before she's pelted with eggs. Jesse quickly becomes one of Glee's best villains, and his betrayal of Rachel is still one of the show's harshest moments.

7 Jon Snow Assassination

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

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There are several unforgettable betrayals in the eight seasons of Game of Thrones, but few stand out as much as the Night's Watch betraying Jon Snow. Alliser Thorne was a fairly despicable character throughout each season, but it wasn't until the season 5 finale that the true limits of his bitterness and prejudice were shown, going as far as to kill the Lord Commander of the order he claimed to be loyal to. Jon Snow's death even came as a shock to book fans, as it was executed under slightly different circumstances.

Jon Snow's murder became a cultural phenomenon on another level

After Ned Stark and the Red Wedding, Game of Thrones fans might've known to be accustomed to beloved protagonists being betrayed and killed off without a moment's notice. However, Jon Snow's murder became a cultural phenomenon on another level because the HBO series had finally caught up to the material of the books it was adapting. Between seasons 5 & 6 of Game of Thrones, no one knew whether Jon Snow would be returning to the series, leaving audiences worldwide in shock.

6 Walt Poisons Brock

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Cast Dean Norris , Bob Odenkirk , Aaron Paul , RJ Mitte , Anna Gunn , Giancarlo Esposito , Betsy Brandt , Bryan Cranston , Jonathan Banks Release Date January 20, 2008 Seasons 5 Franchise(s) Breaking Bad Writers Peter Gould , Gennifer Hutchison , Vince Gilligan , George Mastras , Moira Walley-Beckett , Sam Catlin , Thomas Schnauz

Much of Breaking Bad's success came from its intense character study of Walter White. A morally complex protagonist is endlessly compelling, and it's particularly fascinating to see how Walt progresses, becoming more ruthless throughout the show's five seasons. In season 4, Jesse develops a relationship with a young mother named Andrea, whose son Brock tragically dies in the penultimate episode.

The betrayal is made more thrilling by the fact that audiences aren't immediately aware of Walt's involvement. It's not until the end of the season 4 finale that audiences see the plant in Walter's garden that audiences can connect the dots that he was involved in poisoning a child. Letting Jane die was one thing, but killing a child is undoubtedly the worst thing Walt does in Breaking Bad. It's pure malice and serves as the perfect segue into his downfall in season 5.

5 Tom Betrays The Roy Siblings

Succession (2018-2023)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Cast Hiam Abbass , Alan Ruck , Sarah Snook , Kieran Culkin , Natalie Gold , Nicholas Braun , J. Smith-Cameron , Matthew Macfadyen , Peter Friedman , Brian Cox , Arian Moayed , Jeremy Strong , Rob Yang , Dagmara Dominczyk Release Date June 3, 2018 Seasons 4 Streaming Service(s) HBO Max Writers Jesse Armstrong

HBO's Succession wasn't like Game of Thrones in its riveting shock value through plot twists. However, the season 3 finale sees one of the most well-orchestrated betrayals in the entire series, and it has drastic implications for the final episodes in season 4. Season 3 wasn't the best Succession season, but the quiet ways it laid the foundation for the show's ending can't go unseen.

Tom is ultimately the winner in Succession, and his betrayal of Kendall, Shiv, and Roman in season 3 shows exactly why. Tom knows his own limits, and he's willing to put his pride and personal well-being aside to be a pawn for the bigger fish. He supports Logan because he knows Logan always wins, even if it means betraying his wife, and later does the same with Lukas Matsson, allowing him to thrive while the Roy siblings struggle.

4 The Good Place Is The Bad Place

The Good Place (2016-2020)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Cast Kristen Bell , William Jackson Harper , Jameela Jamil , D'Arcy Carden , Manny Jacinto , Ted Danson Release Date September 19, 2016 Seasons 4 Network NBC Streaming Service(s) Hulu

Ted Danson's Michael is perceived as a mentor throughout The Good Place season 1, seemingly getting along with everyone around him. That is, until the episode "Michael's Gambit" sees a mind-blowing twist where Michael reveals himself as a demon who's been orchestrating events and tormenting the entire cast. The scene is structured perfectly around Michael's facial expression when Kristen Bell's Eleanor figures out what's going on.

The "Bad Place" plot twist arguably has the most significant impact on its series, with The Good Place undergoing a massive change following this reveal. It's an incredible accomplishment in writing, as The Good Place season 1 finale instantly changes the meaning of every prior episode, giving viewers a reason to go back and re-watch immediately. The scene itself is sold by stellar acting and filmmaking techniques.

3 Michael Shoots Ana Lucia And Libby

Lost (2004-2010)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Cast Evangeline Lilly , Naveen Andrews , Henry Ian Cusick , Daniel Dae Kim , Harold Perrineau , Dominic Monaghan , Emilie de Ravin , Jorge Garcia , Josh Holloway , Michael Emerson , Terry O'Quinn , Matthew Fox , Ken Leung , Elizabeth Mitchell , Yunjin Kim Release Date September 22, 2004 Seasons 6 Showrunner Damon Lindelof , Carlton Cuse Expand

Lost is another series that wasn't afraid to kill off important characters, but few deaths were as surprising as Michael shooting Ana Lucia and Libby in season 2. Ben Linus killing Locke is the only moment that could compare as a betrayal, but audiences already knew Locke was dead at the time. Ana Lucia and Libby's killings are the most impactful due to their raw, animalistic, pure shock value as a character from Oceanic 815 had finally arrived at Lord of the Flies-level lawlessness.

A character from Oceanic 815 had finally arrived at Lord of the Flies-level lawlessness

Despite the sheer, desperate violence of these murders, there are also crucial emotional stakes involved. Michael spent the first two seasons of Lost with the goal of protecting his son in mind, and the scene shows just how far he's willing to go. Ana Lucia and Libby hadn't really earned the admiration audiences had for the other main characters, but their deaths still have an impact, particularly on Hurley.

2 Chris Betrays Adriana

The Sopranos (1999-2007)

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buy Not available Not available Not available Cast James Gandolfini , Lorraine Bracco , Edie Falco , Michael Imperioli , Dominic Chianese , Steven Van Zandt , Tony Sirico , Robert Iler , Jamie-Lynn Sigler Release Date January 10, 1999 Seasons 6 Network HBO Max Streaming Service(s) Max

The moment Adriana agrees to become an FBI informant, her narrative on The Sopranos becomes one of the most intense and nerve-wracking, building toward her death at the end of season 5. The Sopranos is filled with shocking deaths, but what makes Adriana's so powerful is that the audience is momentarily tricked alongside her into believing that everything is going to be okay until she gets out of the car in an abandoned forest with Silvio there to finish her off.

The Sopranos is a series with an enormous cast and plenty of insane deaths, but it's always more harrowing when they go to characters who aren't directly affiliated with the mob. Adriana's immaturity plays into her downfall, but she's also put into a high-pressure circumstance and is betrayed when trusting the person she loves. The moment is also defining for Chris, showing the extent of empathy he could have for a partner.

1 The Red Wedding

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

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Game of Thrones changed the television landscape entirely in its willingness to take risks, and the Red Wedding is still the biggest TV plot twist ever. The term "red wedding" is so well-known that it's even transcended Game of Thrones and is often used to refer to the shock value of a betrayal. The Red Wedding has essentially become the epitome of a perfect television backstab, with multiple main character deaths, enormous emotional stakes, and a drastic impact on the series.

After Ned Stark's death in season 1, Robb Stark becomes one of the show's most promising protagonists for seasons 2 and 3, seeming like the only viable threat to the Lannisters, given that Daenerys is still years away. When he's massacred at his uncle's wedding, which should've resulted in a productive marriage alliance for his side, Game of Thrones audiences are left without much hope. Season 3, episode 9, "The Rains of Castamere," lays hints out for the event, but they're minor enough that most audiences wouldn't notice.