2020 was nothing if not a year of plot twists, some of which happened to unfold on television.
As TVLine continues to reflect on the year that was — and technically still is for another 27 days, but who’s counting? — we’re now looking back on the biggest small-screen surprises, from pregnancy bombshells and paternity shockers to senseless losses and unexpected returns.
As with all of TVLine’s year-end lists, it’s our duty to offer you the following warning: THIS GALLERY IS A SPOILER MINEFIELD. If you aren’t fully caught up on any of the following shows, you might want to consider revisiting this list once you’ve completed your binges:
The 100, 13 Reasons Why, The Bachelorette, Batwoman, Big Sky, The Boys, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Dead to Me, Filthy Rich, The Good Doctor, Grey’s Anatomy, grown-ish, The Haunting of Bly Manor, How to Get Away With Murder, Insecure, Legacies, The Mandalorian, Manifest, Nancy Drew, Prodigal Son, The Ranch, SEAL Team, Sex Education, Single Parents, Teenage Bounty Hunters, This Is Us, The Umbrella Academy, Vida, The Walking Dead, Wynonna Earp and Yellowstone.
Scroll down to relive 30 moments that blew our minds (for better or worse), then drop a comment with your own additions to the list. Which plot twists are still occupying space in your brain?
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THE 100
Image Credit: CW screenshot Clarke kills Bellamy!
Click here to read showrunner Jason Rothenberg’s thoughts on that “devastating” losss.
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13 REASONS WHY
Image Credit: Netflix screenshot Justin learns he has contracted AIDS, then dies in the hospital.
Click here to read our recap of the series finale.
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THE BACHELORETTE
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC (2) Clare Crawley is out, Tayshia Adams is in!
Click here to read our recap of the big switch.
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BATWOMAN
Image Credit: CW screenshot Alice turns Tommy Elliot into Bruce Wayne!
Click here to read our post mortem with showrunner Caroline Dries.
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BIG SKY
Image Credit: ABC screenshot (2) Officer Rick Legarski kills Cody Hoyt… in Episode 1!
Click here to read our recap of the series premiere.
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THE BOYS
Image Credit: Amazon Prime screenshot (2) Victoria Neuman is a supe!
Click here to read our post mortem with showrunner Eric Kripke.
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BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Officer Debbie Fogle is working for crime boss Silvio Nucci!
Click here to read our recap.
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CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS
Image Credit: CW screenshot Oliver (as Spectre) reboots the multiverse!
Click here to read our recap of the crossover’s final hour.
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DEAD TO ME
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Steve has a twin brother!
Click here to read the story behind the twist.
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FILTHY RICH
Image Credit: Fox screenshot Eugene is the father of Becky’s baby!
Click here for our recap of the series finale.
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THE GOOD DOCTOR
Image Credit: ABC screenshot Dr. Melendez dies!
Click here to read our post mortem with actor Nicholas Gonzalez.
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GREY'S ANATOMY
Image Credit: Courtesy of Disney Media Distribution Alex leaves Jo for Izzie!
Click here to read our thoughts on his exit.
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GROWN-ISH
Image Credit: Courtesy of Freeform Nomi is pregnant!
Click here for the full story.
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THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Mrs. Grose is a ghost!
Click here to read our breakdown of the season.
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HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Frank is Sam’s son!
Click here to read our recap.
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INSECURE
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO Condola is pregnant!
Click here to read our recap of the season finale.
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LEGACIES
Image Credit: CW screenshot Wade is a fairy!
Click here to read our recap.
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THE MANDALORIAN
Image Credit: Disney+ screenshot Boba Fett is alive!
Click here to read our recap.
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MANIFEST
Image Credit: NBC screenshot Saanvi accidentally poisons the Major!
Click here to read our post mortem with showrunner Jeff Rake.
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NANCY DREW
Image Credit: Courtesy of The CW Nancy is Ryan Hudson and Lucy Sable’s daughter!
Click here to read our post mortem with the show’s EPs.
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PRODIGAL SON
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Ainsley is the murderous Whitly sibling!
Click here to read our post mortem with series co-creators Chris Fedak and Sam Sklaver.
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THE RANCH
Image Credit: Netflix screenshot Heather shot and killed Nick!
Click here to read our recap.
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SEAL TEAM
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Clay wrote the Marsden letter! No wait, Ray did!
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SEX EDUCATION
Image Credit: Netflix screenshot (2) Isaac deletes Otis’ voicemail to Maeve!
Click here to read our recap of the season finale.
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SINGLE PARENTS
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC Will tells Angie he’s in love with her!
Click here to read our recap of the series finale.
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TEENAGE BOUNTY HUNTERS
Image Credit: Netflix screenshot Debbie has a twin… and she is Sterling’s mother!
Click here to read our recap of the series finale.
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THIS IS US
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC Teenage Kate was pregnant with Marc’s baby!
Click here to read our recap.
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THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
Image Credit: Netflix screenshot Ben is alive!
Click here for our recap of the season finale.
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VIDA
Image Credit: Courtesy of Starz Emma and Lyn’s father is alive… and living nearby!
Click here to read our recap.
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THE WALKING DEAD
Image Credit: Courtesy of AMC (2) Negan was working for Carol!
Click here for a sneak peek at more to come.
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WYNONNA EARP
Image Credit: Courtesy of Syfy Eighteen months passed while Wynonna, Waverly and Doc were in the Garden of Eden!
Click here to read our post mortem with showrunner Emily Andras.
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YELLOWSTONE
Image Credit: Courtesy of Paramount Network Jamie was adopted!
Click here to read our recap.
