Warning: This list contains spoilers for several TV shows.
Summary
- Cliffhanger moments are a key tool in keeping TV audiences engaged.
- Grey's Anatomy, Cobra Kai, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sherlock, and Lost contain significant cliffhangers.
- Some cliffhangers in TV shows have never been fully resolved or answered.
Cliffhangers are the bread and butter of TV shows that want to keep an audience engaged, which is why there is much debate surrounding the biggest TV cliffhangers of all time. Inherently, TV show cliffhangers annoy fans because it means they have to wait months, if not years, to find out what happens next. Some of the biggest cliffhangers are surrounded in controversy due to what people see as fabricated suspense that doesn't serve the story otherwise.
However, cliffhangers that are well-executed make for a great scene in their own right, in addition to keeping the debate alive. Landmark TV shows can create massive cliffhangers not just because of what the scene is on its own, but by the magnitude of the fan response to it. Finally, some huge cliffhangers stand out in the cultural zeitgeist because they were never given any follow-up.
10 Meredith Meets Addison (Grey's Anatomy)
Season 1, Episode 9: "Who's Zoomin' Who?"
Grey's Anatomy
Cast
Ellen Pompeo
Chandra Wilson
James Pickens Jr.
Justin Chambers
A high-intensity medical drama which follows Meredith Grey and the team of doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial, who are faced with life-or-death decisions on a daily basis. They seek comfort from one another, and, at times, more than just friendship. Together they discover that neither medicine nor relationships can be defined in black and white.
- Seasons
- 21
The Grey’s Anatomy season 1 finale shocked viewers, where the blissful romance between Meredith and Derek is derailed by the arrival of Derek’s wife Addison. It was a key moment for the budding medical soap opera that grew to become one of the longest-running dramatic TV shows ever. Grey’s fans were doubtlessly eager to see what happened next, but in retrospect, the cliffhanger loses some of its impact because the subsequent events are somewhat obvious. Meredith understandably is mad at Derek, but Derek has the predictable explanation that his wife cheated on him first, and more drama ensues.
9 Miguel's Injury (Cobra Kai)
Season 2, Episode 10: "No Mercy"
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
- Showrunner
- Jon Hurwitz
- Seasons
- 6
The surprise success of the first two seasons of Cobra Kai ends with the show’s most docking moment: A fight breaks out at the high school among the karate students of rival dojos, resulting in Miguel being critically injured. This plot point is the culmination of several storylines, including Miguel’s relationship with Johnny and the show’s major themes of rivalry. The tension around Miguel’s temporary paralysis was both deflated and elevated by the Cobra Kai season 3 video sneak peek. However, the cliffhanger falls flat when the injury ultimately only affects Miguel for a few episodes.
8 Buffy Sacrifices Herself (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)
Season 5, Episode 22: "The Gift"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
- Release Date
- March 10, 1997
- Showrunner
- Joss Whedon
- Seasons
- 7
Buffy’s sacrifice has the gravitas of the real thing, and her tombstone is a haunting final shot.
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5 finale was followed by a surprise renewal, prompting the question of how the show would even continue without Buffy. The answer is that it doesn’t, and in a show with magic on hand, the obvious conclusion is that she is going to be resurrected. Buffy even previously, albeit briefly, died midway through season 1 but was promptly revived. Despite all this, the famous “The Gift” episode still structures itself as a dramatic, massive cliffhanger. Buffy’s sacrifice has the gravitas of the real thing, and her tombstone is a haunting final shot.
Most Painful TV Hiatus After Major Cliffhangers (& How Long We Had To Wait)
Most shows while actively airing will be released close to annually, but for some, despite leaving fans on a cliffhanger, the wait can be much longer.
7 Sherlock Appears At The Cemetery (Sherlock)
Season 2, Episode 3: "The Reichenbach Fall"
Sherlock
WHERE TO WATCH
In this incarnation of Sherlock from creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman assume the roles of Sherlock and Watson as they establish their partnership and begin solving strange mysteries throughout the U.K. and beyond. Set in a more 2010's modern setting, Sherlock's eccentric and complex nature is accentuated as he solves seemingly supernatural crimes with unparalleled intellect while struggling to connect with others on a human level. Meanwhile, Watson blogs the stories summarizing their cases while building a strained but caring friendship with his new partner.
- Release Date
- August 8, 2010
- Showrunner
- Steven Moffat
- Seasons
- 4
Sherlock’s interpretation of Sherlock Holmes’ death has lost its impact with time. If the biggest question left by the cliffhanger was how Sherlock survived (because he clearly did), then that question still hasn’t been answered. However, at the time, when Sherlock was still in its heyday, it was certainly a big cliffhanger. The episode is carried by the stellar performances of Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, and Andrew Scott, portraying some of the most maniacal and emotional moments of these iterations of the characters’ lives.
6 Flash-Forwards Of Jack & Kate (Lost)
Season 3, Episode 23: "Through the Looking Glass: Part 2"
Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the engers must work together to survive the island's seemingly deadly intentions.
- Release Date
- September 22, 2004
- Showrunner
- Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse
- Seasons
- 6
The Lost season 3 finale builds the shock value of its cliffhanger on the audience’s familiarity with the show’s formula. It has been nothing but flashbacks up until then, startling everyone when the episode's parallel storyline turns out to be flash-forwards and the season ends with Jack saying something no one ever expected. In the end, this turned out to make as little sense as everything that happened on the island. Yet, between the famous “We have to go back” and Lost's best episodes.
5 Ross Says Rachel (Friends)
Season 4, Episode 24: "The One With Ross's Wedding: Part 2"
Friends
WHERE TO WATCH
Friends is the popular sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, released back in 1994 and ran for ten seasons. The show follows a group of six twentysomethings through their lives in New York City and their time spent between their two apartments and their local coffee shop. The show features the group navigating tricky relationships with one another and comical misadventures.
- Release Date
- September 22, 1994
- Showrunner
- Marta Kauffman
- Seasons
- 10
Friends’ unprecedented popularity means that Ross saying the wrong name at the altar is a bigger cliffhanger than those that are literally matters of life and death. In some other cases of big TV cliffhangers, the audience might have a general sense of what the characters will do going forward. However, Friends season 4 ends with no one having any idea about what will happen next.
The episode also subverts expectations: Rachel spends the episode trying to make it to London on time, supposedly setting up Ross to leave Emily as a continuation of the Ross and Rachel storyline. This doesn’t happen, but then the mistaken name incident takes place. Furthermore, the brilliantly shocked expressions on the faces of all the characters — props to the Friends cast — is the finishing touch on the infamous scene.
4 Negan Kills Someone (The Walking Dead)
Season 6, Episode 16: "Last Day On Earth"
Based on one of the most successful and popular comic books of all time, AMC’s The Walking Dead captures the ongoing human drama following a zombie apocalypse. The series, developed for television by Frank Darabont, follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who are traveling in search of a safe and secure home. However, instead of the zombies, it is the living who remain that truly become the walking dead. The Walking Dead lasted for eleven seasons and spawned several spinoff shows, such as Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond.
- Release Date
- October 31, 2010
- Showrunner
- Frank Darabont, Angela Kang, Scott M. Gimple, Glen Mazzara
- Seasons
- 11
The controversial season 6 finale of The Walking Dead centers its cliffhanger around a very straightforward question: Who did Negan kill in the final moments of the episode? The nerve-racking scene is dragged out for several more months before the audience finds out. Even with the established level of brutality and typical episode endings of characters in mortal danger, this went beyond what had come to be expected from the show. Both for Walking Dead fans and people who haven’t even watched the show, this stands out as one of TV’s most notorious cliffhangers.
3 Hank Finds The Walt Whitman Book (Breaking Bad)
Season 5, Episode 8: "Gliding Over All"
Breaking Bad
WHERE TO WATCH
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
- Release Date
- January 20, 2008
- Showrunner
- Vince Gilligan
- Seasons
- 5
Hank’s discovery of the “W.W.” book is a moment years in the making, where he finally has the satisfying revelation that his brother-in-law is the notorious methamphetamine cook "Heisenberg." The cliffhanger is well-executed in a scene with almost no dialogue; Dean Norris alone conveys Hank’s shock when he reads the note from Gale Boetticher and makes the connection. The episode ends there, sending the show into a year-long mid-season hiatus. Luckily, the cliffhanger holds up when the characters react in a way that heightens the tension but still makes sense in the next episode.
2 Jon Snow's Death (Game Of Thrones)
Season 5, Episode 10: "Mother's Mercy"
Game Of Thrones
Cast
Isaac Hempstead Wright
Iain Glen
Based on George R. R. Martin's ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
- Release Date
- April 17, 2011
- Showrunner
- David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
- Seasons
- 8
- Streaming Service(s)
- MAX
The overwhelming reaction to Jon’s death makes it one of the biggest TV cliffhangers ever.
The cliffhanger of Jon Snow’s death now lives in infamy. It sparked endless months of debate over how Kit Harington would return to the show when many people refused to believe that Jon was dead for good. The scene itself is well shot, using the dark, snowy environment for the maximum chilling effect, as the tensions between certain of the Night’s Watch and Jon come to a head.
The combination of Game of Thrones being the biggest TV show in the world at the time and Jon Snow being one of its most popular characters made the inherently dramatic cliffhanger of his supposed death a massive event in pop culture. Stories about fans trying to get Harington and the writers to clue them in are well-known. The overwhelming reaction to Jon’s death makes it one of the biggest TV cliffhangers ever.
10 TV Cliffhangers We'll Never Get Answers For
Cliffhangers are a great idea when they work and are resolved, but some TV shows get canceled before they can provide answers and closure.
1 The Sopranos Series Finale (The Sopranos)
Season 6, Episode 21: "Made In America"
Considered to be a quintessential drama series to watch, The Sopranos is a crime-drama series that follows Tony Soprano, who tries to manage the expectations of an Italian-American patriarch while acting as the head of a prolific New Jersey crime family. Burdened by the stress of the expectations thrust upon him, Tony regularly visits a therapist throughout the series run. This helps give context to Tony's actions as a ruthless boss with violent tendencies.
- Release Date
- January 10, 1999
- Showrunner
- David Chase
- Seasons
- 6
However, The Sopranos finale’s abrupt ending left audiences forever guessing exactly what happened.
While The Sopranos might not have had the momentum of Game of Thrones because of where social media was at the time, the finale is still the center of much attention and debate. Theories about Tony Soprano’s fate are still circulating 17 years later. The shock of such an influential show ending on such a minimalist note cemented The Sopranos finale as the biggest cliffhanger in TV history.