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Summary
Nothing is more compelling abouttelevisionthan the opportunity for a great secret plan braid betrayal , with the worked up stake intensify by the farseeing - form medium . Many of thebest TV show of all clip , be they laurels - bring home the bacon dramas likeThe SopranosorBreaking Bador sitcoms likeFriendsorThe Good Place , have devastated audience at least once with shocking backstab . However , there are many different ways a gross betrayal can be executed .
While betrayal can often be associated with physical backstabbing or eccentric death , emotional conflict are just as significant , with shows likeFriendsandSuccessionproviding excellent examples . Other betrayals saw a quality one might ’ve thought to be a supporting protagonist unmask themself as the villain , like onThe FlashorThe Good Place . Emotional stakes , surprise broker , and lasting consequencesare several elements that can make an excellent TV treachery .
10Harrison Wells Is The Reverse Flash
The Flash (2014-2023)
Cast
The Flashmight’ve struggle to maintain quality throughout its run , but season 1 was doubtless a dainty for superhero devotee . The series cleverly mixed well - known figures from The Flash ’s funny book mythos with original graphic symbol , causing audiences to always secondly - guess themselves when imagine the individuality 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 graphic symbol , introduced in time of year 1 as a mentor and protagonist to Barry Allen . In the time of year 1 midseason finale , it ’s revealed that Wells is the clip - travel speedster from the time to come who killed Barry ’s mother and set off the show ’s chain of eventsin order to bring back to the future . Arrowseason 1 followed a like formula with its main villain , Merlyn , butThe Flashwas able to rend off a far more intricate superhero narrative with the classic DC baddie .
9Ross Cheats On Rachel
Friends (1994-2004)
Whether Ross in reality cheated on Rachel is one of the most prevalentongoing argument aboutFriends , as many would suggest that the will they / won’t they couple were technically on a break from their human relationship at the clock time . While some believe Rachel had no right to take issue with Ross sleeping with another woman during this period , otherFriendsfans think it still qualifies as cheating .
Rachel is such an iconic and beloved fictitious character that seeing her hurt can burn on its own
irrespective , the reveal that Ross sleep with someone else doubtlessly puts a hoagie between their reliance , and this was a atrocious electric shock for the one thousand thousand invested in their Romance language . Whether he cheat on on her or not , he smart her with his military action , and Rachel is such an iconic and beloved fibre that seeing her hurt can twinge on its own . Friendsmay be a comedy , but it would n’t be as popular if it did n’t provide such a complex examination of kinship .
8Jesse Was Spying On New Directions
Glee (2009-2015)
Jesse St. James is well one of the most distasteful characters onGlee , and that ’s saying something . Jonathan Groff is an incredible actor and performing artist , which is part of why his betrayal of the McKinley High School gloating social club hit so hard . When Jesse is playing the charming fellow role , he ’s improbably wizardly and has the ambition and talent that Rachel wants , have it even more impactful when he reveals himself to be a conniving threat .
Gleeis a bizarre show , in retrospect , leaning to a great extent into its over - the - top drama . In Jesse ’s perfidy , he calls Rachel to meet him in the parking batch , leading to a scene where she runs toward him in slow motion as his friendly grin shifts into a grotesque smirk before she ’s pelted with eggs . Jesse rapidly becomes one ofGlee’sbest villains , and his betrayal of Rachel is still one of the show ’s harshest moments .
7Jon Snow Assassination
Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
There are several unforgettable betrayals in the eight seasons ofGame of Thrones , but few tolerate out as much as the Night ’s Watch betraying Jon Snow . Alliser Thorne was a fairly despicable graphic symbol throughout each time of year , but it was n’t until the time of year 5 finale that the true limits of his bitterness and preconception were evidence , going as far as to pour down the Lord Commander of the ordination he claim to be firm to . Jon Snow ’s death even came as a shock to book fans , as it was put to death under slightly dissimilar circumstances .
Jon Snow ’s murder became a cultural phenomenon on another level
After Ned Stark and the Red Wedding , Game of Thronesfans might ’ve known to be accustomed to beloved protagonists being betrayed and killed off without a mo ’s notice . However , Jon Snow ’s slaying became a cultural phenomenon on another horizontal surface because the HBO series had at long last catch up to the textile of the volume it was adapt . Between season 5 & 6 ofGame of Thrones , no one sleep together whether Jon Snow would be returning to the series , leave interview worldwide in cushion .
6Walt Poisons Brock
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
Much ofBreaking Bad’ssuccess came from its intense character work of Walter White . A morally complex protagonist is endlessly compelling , andit ’s in particular fascinating to see how Walt progresses , becoming more ruthlessthroughout the show ’s five seasons . In season 4 , Jesse explicate 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 are n’t immediately aware of Walt ’s participation . It ’s not until the end of the time of year 4 finale that consultation see the plant in Walter ’s garden that audiences can connect the battery-acid that he was necessitate in envenom a child . Letting Jane die was one matter , butkilling a child is doubtless theworst thing Walt does inBreaking Bad . It ’s pure malice and serves as the perfect segue into his downfall in time of year 5 .
5Tom Betrays The Roy Siblings
Succession (2018-2023)
HBO’sSuccessionwasn’t likeGame of Thronesin its riveting electrical shock value through secret plan twist . However , the time of year 3 coda sees one of the most well - organise betrayals in the entire series , and it has drastic implications for the final episodes in season 4 . Season 3 wasn’tthe bestSuccessionseason , but the quiet ways it laid the foundation for the show ’s ending ca n’t go unseen .
Tom is finally the winner inSuccession , and his treason of Kendall , Shiv , and Roman in time of year 3 shows exactly why . Tom know his own limits , andhe ’s unforced 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 , permit him to fly high while the Roy sibling struggle .
4The Good Place Is The Bad Place
The Good Place (2016-2020)
Ted Danson ’s Michael is perceive as a mentor throughoutThe Good Placeseason 1 , apparently getting along with everyone around him . That is , untilthe episode " Michael ’s Gambit " sees a mind - go down on twist where Michael reveals himself as a demonwho ’s been organize event and torture the entire mould . The scene is structure utterly around Michael ’s facial expression when Kristen Bell ’s Eleanor figures out what ’s extend on .
The " Bad Place " plot turn arguably has the most substantial wallop on its serial publication , withThe Good Placeundergoing a massive change keep an eye on this reveal . It ’s an incredible accomplishment in writing , asThe Good Placeseason 1 conclusion instantly exchange the meaning of every prior instalment , giving viewer a reason to go back and re - watch forthwith . The shot itself is sell by stellar acting and filmmaking technique .
3Michael Shoots Ana Lucia And Libby
Lost (2004-2010)
Lostis another serial that was n’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 belt down Locke is the only moment that could liken as a betrayal , but consultation already lie with Locke was all in at the fourth dimension . Ana Lucia and Libby ’s killing are the most impactful due to their in the raw , animalistic , pure jounce valueas a character from Oceanic 815 had at long last arrived atLord of the Flies - level lawlessness .
A grapheme from Oceanic 815 had last go far atLord of the Flies - level lawlessness
Despite the see-through , despairing furiousness of these slaying , there are also crucial emotional stake involved . Michael spend the first two seasons ofLostwith the goal of protecting his boy in judgment , and the scene shows just how far he ’s willing to go . Ana Lucia and Libby had n’t really earned the admiration hearing had for the other main character , but their deaths still have an impingement , particularly on Hurley .
2Chris Betrays Adriana
The Sopranos (1999-2007)
The moment Adriana agree to become an FBI informant , her narrative onThe Sopranosbecomes one of the most acute and nerve - wracking , construct toward her death at the end of season 5.The Sopranosis fill up with disgraceful death , butwhat makes Adriana ’s so powerful is that the audience is momentarily tricked alongside her into trust that everything is going to be okayuntil she have out of the car in an abandoned forest with Silvio there to finish her off .
The Sopranosis a series with an tremendous mould and pile of insane deaths , but it ’s always more torturous when they go to characters who are n’t directly affiliate with the family . Adriana ’s immaturity plays into her fall , but she ’s also put into a high - pressure level setting and is betrayed when trusting the somebody she sleep with . The moment is also defining for Chris , evince the extent of empathy he could have for a better half .
1The Red Wedding
Game of Throneschanged the idiot box landscape entirely in its willingness to take risks , andthe Red Wedding is still thebiggest boob tube plot twist ever . The term " red wedding " is so well - know that it ’s even transcendedGame of Thronesand 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 principal eccentric death , enormous emotional stakes , and a drastic impact on the series .
After Ned Stark ’s last in time of year 1 , Robb Stark becomes one of the show ’s most promising protagonist for time of year 2 and 3 , seeming like the only executable threat to the Lannisters , given that Daenerys is still yr forth . When he ’s massacred at his uncle ’s marriage , which should ’ve lead in a generative wedlock alliance for his side , Game of Thronesaudiences are left without much hope . time of year 3 , installment 9 , " The Rains of Castamere , " lays suggestion out for the event , but they ’re pocket-sized enough that most audiences would n’t notice .
Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury
