It's always exciting when a TV show takes a huge risk that actually pays off, but it can be extremely frustrating when those surprising writing decisions fall flat. While big twists, impulsive character decisions, or unusual storytelling choices can keep things interesting, they also have the potential to alienate audiences and lead to stories that writers choose to quietly discard rather than continue telling an unpopular plot. This has been a problem in comedy, drama, and even fantasy series that have tried something new in their plot, only for viewers to flatly reject the risk.
Many of the best TV shows of all time have taken huge risks, only to have them fall through and have to backtrack on their stories. This has led to deceased characters inexplicably returning to life, established backstories being poorly rewritten, or even final seasons that ruined the legacy of the entire series in retrospect. While TV shows can sometimes bounce back from risks that don't pan outothers end up ending the day on a lackluster final note.
10
Game of Thrones (2011 – 2019)
Going beyond the source material
Game of Thrones was a true television phenomenon, and its intense popularity and committed fan base broke HBO ratings records. Like a wide fantasy set based on George R.R. Martin A Song of Ice and Fire book series, Game of Thrones powerfully adapted the books in a way that pleased both longtime readers and new viewers. However, Martin has not yet finished the two entries in the book series, and Game of Thrones took a huge risk and continued beyond the source material with disappointing results.
Although the first seasons of Game of Thrones Stuck with the book's story, after Jon Snow's death in Season 5, there was no more source material to adapt, and the writers began making it up as they went along. This risk was not worth it and it was made even worse because Martin, who acted as a consultant and even wrote the scripts for some episodes, said he was “out of the loop” for the show’s final seasons (via Deadline.) Game of Thrones ended with a disappointing final season that alienated viewers and retrospectively made the entire show worse.
9
Doctor Who (1963 – present)
Reveal the Doctor was never from Gallifrey
Doctor Who it is a true British institution that is loved by generations and continually reinvents itself in every era. As a science fiction answer to James Bondthe time-traveling Doctor's ability to regenerate means he is continually recast with new actors who help update and modernize his character for new audiences. Although many aspects Doctor Who changed over the years, some fundamental principles remained, and central to this was the idea that the Doctor was from the planet Gallifrey, a fact that was first introduced in The Time Warrior series, which aired in 1973 and 1974.
However, “The Timeless Children”, with Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor, took a huge risk and messed with the Doctor's history. This episode revealed that the Doctor was not Gallifreyan and instead had their DNA used to give Gallifreyans the ability to regenerate, which raised the question of whether there was a limit to their regenerations. This was a divisive risk, and while it was good for the longevity of the Doctor Who as a series, it generated controversy among fans who felt the series was altering a central aspect of its identity.
8
Dallas (1978 – 1991)
Killing Bobby Ewing
The CBS soap opera Dallas was one of the most popular TV shows of its time, with countless viewers tuning in to watch the wealthy, rival Texas family the Ewings and the drama surrounding their oil company. As a flagship piece of aspirational television, Dallas showed the lives of the ultra-rich and gave viewers a glimpse into the dramatic happenings of those in the upper echelons of society. With several iconic stories, such as 'Who shot JR? mystery, Dallas took a big risk when they killed Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) at the end of season 8.
Killing off Bobby was a big risk that didn't pay off, and the writers knew they needed to find a way to reintroduce the character. To do this, Dallas pulled off the biggest coup any television show has dared attempt by revealing at the end of Season 9 that Bobby's death was a dream lived by his wife Pam and that everything that has happened since has occurred in her imagination. This was a ridiculous solution to a huge problem, and while audiences were happy to have Bobby back, the cast was upset about their forgotten storylines (via People.)
7
The Simpsons (1989 – present)
Messing with Skinner's story
Everyone will have a different opinion about when the Golden Age of The Simpsons has come to an end, but no one can deny that the quality of the program has suffered since the first seasons. While the Flanderization of many of its characters contributed to this, there was one big risk the show took that signaled the beginning of the end of the show's glory days. This was the Season 9 episode, “The Warden and the Pauper,” which, despite being filled with hilarious classic moments, also changed Principal Skinner's story in a way that was impossible to recover from.
Part of the appeal of The Simpsons it wasn't just the family, but the entire population of Springfield, who had definitive backstories that viewers knew and understood. With the revelation that Skinner was actually a troubled Vietnam veteran named Armin Tamzarian who had stolen the identity of the real Skinner, The Simpsons it undid years of development that were essential to understanding his character. Skinner's relationship with his mother was a defining trait of his characterand this story meant that aspect of him no longer made sense.
6
Scrub (2001 – 2010)
Scrubs: Faculty of Medicine
Rub followed the lives of employees at Sacred Heart Hospital through the experience of JD (Zach Braff), who also narrated the show. With hilarious slapstick humor and surreal jokes, Rub He also had his own style and the audience connected with his unique mix of humor and heart. Rub ran for eight successful seasons before running the risk of division that didn't pay off in its ninth and final season.
The last season of Rub saw Braff and other cast members exit the show as main characters and be replaced by a new crop of medical students. This last season was subtitled Faculty of Medicine to differentiate it from the rest of the show and was poorly received, earning the lowest ratings of any season of Rub (through TV in numbers.) With Lucy (Kerry Bishé) taking over JD's role as main character and narrator, Rub had lost a central aspect of its identity and viewers rejected the revamped show.
5
The Office (2005 – 2013)
Jim and Pam's marriage problems
The American version of The office was perhaps the most successful American remake of any TV show ever. By creating your own identity and unique sense of humor, The office has remained so popular with viewers and has gained its status as the number one comfort show for countless viewers. An aspect of the original British version that The office maintained was the “won't they” romance subplot of Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly, who finally started dating in Season 4, got engaged in Season 5, got married in Season 6, and then started a family.
Audiences rooted for Jim and Pam from the beginning, and seeing their romance blossom led to many of the show's most impactful and emotional moments. That's why The office took a big risk with the couple's marital problems in the ninth season finale. Jim and Pam's relationship was a narrative anchor within The office, and the public did not react well to the strain that Jim's desire to move to Philadelphia and open a sports marketing company placed on his marriage. Although the pair overcame their issues, this was a subplot viewers would have preferred never to occur.
4
Friends (1994 – 2004)
Rachel and Joey's romance
Friends was one of the biggest comedies of the 1990s and early 2000s, with viewers tuning in every week to watch the misadventures of Chandler, Ross, Joey, Monica, Rachel and Phoebe. Running for an astonishing ten seasons, Ross and Rachel's “won't they” dynamic and the eventual love that Chandler and Monica found together were pivotal to the show's success. However, introducing a romantic relationship between Rachel and Joey felt like a step too farand audiences reacted poorly to this subplot, which seemed more like the writers were out of ideas than anything else.
Even the cast of Friends said they were uncomfortable with Rachel and Joey's storyline (via People) as it seemed like it went against the well-established romance between Rachel and Ross. Joey actor Matt LeBlanc even said he thought the relationship felt “incestuous” as the characters developed a sibling bond throughout the show. Adding to that, the characters simply had no chemistry, and viewers breathed a sigh of relief when they broke up after dating just a few episodes into season 10.
3
Dexter (2006 – 2013)
Deb falling in love with Dexter
Although Dexter was an extremely exciting show in its first few seasons, it clearly lost its way as it progressed, culminating in the disappointing “Lumberjack Dexter” finale. While Dexter made several poor narrative decisions throughout its run, the most egregious risk it took was in season 6, when Debra Morgan went to therapy and concluded that she was in love with her adopted brother. Although the character's actors, Jennifer Carpenter and Michael C. Hall, were married in real life, this narrative felt uncomfortable, incestuous, and all wrong.
The dynamic between Deb and Dexter has always clearly been a strict brother and sister relationshipand introducing romance into the mix just because they weren't related by blood was like a slap in the face to adopted children all over the world. Debra and Dexter grew up together since they were children, and trying to justify this romance seemed strange. Fortunately, the producers realized their mistake and this storyline was dropped, but it was truly one of the worst writing decisions ever. Dexter.
2
House of Cards (2013 – 2018)
Making Claire Underwood the protagonist
House of cards was Netflix's first original drama and a major contributor to the streaming service's early success. Kevin Spacey gave an extraordinary performance as manipulative politician Frank Underwood, and the series fiercely explored themes of betrayal, corruption, power and cruelty. However, behind-the-scenes sexual assault allegations against Spacey put the show's future in jeopardy, and House of cards made the risky decision to continue for the sixth and final season without its main character.
The last season of House of cards shifted the focus to Frank's wife, Claire Underwood (Robin Wright), and her challenges in the White House as the first female president of the United States. Although Wright gave a great performance and aspects of the final season were engaging, House of cards it was all about Frank's story, and the lack of character was deeply felt. Concluding House of cards without Frank in a way that pleased viewers was an impossible challengeand although the writers did the best they could, perhaps it would have been better to leave things unfinished.
1
How I Met Your Mother (2005 – 2014)
Making Ted and Robin Endgame
Viewers have followed the story of Ted Mosby's love life for nine seasons, waiting for him to finally reveal to his children how he met their mother in the aptly titled comedy. how I Met Your Mother. With an incredible cast of close friends, one thing that how I Met Your Mother What was made explicitly clear from the first episode was that Ted's future wife was not Robin Scherbatsky, his on-and-off love interest throughout the show. That's why the death of the titular mother, Tracey McConnell, in the series finale was a risky move that upset many viewers.
After spending years waiting for Ted to finally get his happily ever after with Mom, Tracy's death simply served to pave the way for Ted to confess his love for Robin and for them to end up together. Not only did this go against the premise of the show, but it was also disappointing considering how much the romance between Robin and Ted's best friend Barney Stinson developed over the course of the show. how I Met Your Mother dropped the ball in its final episode with a risk that simply didn't pay off.
Source: Deadline, People, TV in numbers