Entertainment

Famous Cliffhanger Endings in Television

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Updated:3/7/2026
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Cliffhanger
Show
Season / Year
Resolution
Known For
Who Shot J.R.?
Dallas
Season 3 (1980)Kristin Shepard revealed as shooter in S4 premiereMost-watched TV episode in history at the time (83M viewers), sparked global betting pools, cultural phenomenon
The Cut to Black
The Sopranos
Series Finale (2007)Never resolved — screen cuts to black mid-scene, debate rages foreverMost controversial finale ever, millions thought their TV broke, David Chase's masterful ambiguity
Locke in the Hatch
Lost
Season 1 (2005)Season 2 revealed Desmond living inside, pushing a button every 108 minutesCamera peers down the hatch into darkness, 23.5M viewers left screaming, redefined network TV cliffhangers
Red Wedding Aftermath
Game of Thrones
Season 3 (2013)The Starks stayed dead — no take-backsMillions of reaction videos, non-book-readers devastated, George R.R. Martin proved no one was safe
Picard Assimilated by the Borg
Star Trek: TNG
Season 3 (1990)Rescued in S4 premiere 'The Best of Both Worlds Part II'First true TNG cliffhanger, 'Mr. Worf — fire' then credits roll, longest summer ever for Trekkies
Negan's Victim
The Walking Dead
Season 6 (2016)Glenn and Abraham killed in S7 premierePOV death shot, 6-month wait to learn who Lucille hit, fans furious at manipulation, most-discussed cliffhanger of the 2010s
The Countdown
24
Season 1 (2002)Teri Bauer found dead — Jack too lateReal-time format made the clock ticking unbearable, Kiefer Sutherland's anguished scream, killed the hero's wife
Cartman's Father
South Park
Season 1 (1998)Trolled audience with Terrance & Phillip episode, real answer delayed monthsDeliberately pranked fans with a fake episode, Trey Parker's legendary trolling, April Fools on a cliffhanger
The Hospital Shooting
Grey's Anatomy
Season 6 (2010)Several characters killed, Derek survived surgeryTwo-part finale, Gary Clark's rampage, highest-rated Grey's episodes, Shonda Rhimes at her most intense
Sherlock's Fall
Sherlock (BBC)
Season 2 (2012)Elaborate fake death revealed in Season 3 (2014), two-year waitSherlock jumps off a building, John watches, fans spent 2 years theorizing how he survived
Rick's Banishment
The OC
Season 1 (2004)Ryan returned in S2 premiere after Marissa drove to get himTeen drama perfected the summer cliffhanger, 'Mmm Whatcha Say' meme originated from Marissa's later death
The Arrest of Vecna
Stranger Things
Season 4 (2022)Season 5 (final season) to resolve the Upside Down invasion of HawkinsMax clinically dies then revives, gates to Upside Down tear open Hawkins, multi-year wait for finale
Michael's Betrayal
Prison Break
Season 1 (2006)Season 2 became a fugitive chase across the countryThe escape succeeds but nothing goes to plan, eight inmates on the run, reinvented the show's premise
Ross Says Rachel
Friends
Season 4 (1998)Ross and Emily's marriage crumbled, Ross and Rachel didn't reunite until the finaleWedding vow gaffe heard round the world, live studio audience gasped, 31.6M viewers, peak '90s TV
Omar's Death
The Wire
Season 5 (2008)No resolution — Omar was simply gone, killed by a kid in a corner storeMost shocking death in prestige TV, no dramatic buildup, David Simon's anti-Hollywood realism, 'All in the game'

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