10 TV Show Decisions That Made Fans Angry

Many TV shows have upset fans over the years, but the biggest missteps on Roseanne and How I Met Your Mother really stood out and frustrated viewers. Generally, audiences don’t appreciate being misled by shows, though thrillers can sometimes get away with it more easily than other types of programs.

It’s really disappointing when a story you’re enjoying doesn’t go anywhere, or a character you like is suddenly and unexpectedly removed. This can happen because of a bold creative decision, or because of interference from people behind the scenes. Either way, it often leads to upset fans.

As a big TV fan, I’ve seen plenty of shows that almost get it right. They’re not necessarily terrible overall, but one bad move – like a twist that doesn’t land, killing off a character for no good reason, or just a really weird ending – can really ruin things. It’s frustrating because sometimes even shows people still love have these moments that really upset even their most dedicated fans.

Andy’s Entire Character Development Is Undone — The Office

Andy and Erin’s relationship was one of the most charming and gradual romances on The Office, and it consistently stood out as a bright spot in the show’s later seasons. After Michael Scott’s departure, the show definitely lost some energy, but the sweet and hesitant connection between Erin and Andy helped keep things engaging.

It felt like a huge letdown when Andy suddenly left for the Bahamas with his brother during season 10. This was done because the actor who played him, Ed Helms, wasn’t available much, but it didn’t work out well. The storyline with Erin was changed, a really promising romance was cut short, and it ultimately made the show’s ending a little less satisfying.

Dan Was Gossip Girl All Along — Gossip Girl

Let’s be honest, the ending of Gossip Girl was always going to be tricky. The show spent six seasons having the mysterious ‘Gossip Girl’ expose everyone’s secrets, which made it impossible for any of the main characters to realistically be revealed as the one behind it all.

Despite all the buildup, the show’s ending was widely considered a failure. Revealing Dan as Gossip Girl felt illogical, just as unbelievable as if Serena, Blair, Chuck, or Nate had been behind it. It also dismissed some compelling fan theories that offered much more satisfying explanations for who Gossip Girl really was.

The Original Finale Reveals Dan’s Death — Roseanne

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While the revival of Roseanne surprisingly ended with the character Roseanne Conner’s death, that wasn’t the biggest source of frustration for fans. The most disliked change actually happened at the end of season 9, when the show took a bizarre turn after the working-class Conner family suddenly won the lottery and became wealthy.

The show followed a series of silly, cartoon-like storylines, which led to its lowest-rated season. But the finale made things even more shocking. It revealed that Dan had actually died of a heart attack at the beginning of season nine, the family hadn’t won the lottery, and the entire season had been a fantasy Roseanne created in her own mind to cope with life.

Tara Is Killed By A Stray Bullet — Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The way Dan died on Roseanne didn’t work well because the episodes leading up to it were unusually silly. So, when the show delivered such a shocking twist, it felt completely unexpected and out of place. A similar thing happened with a particularly infamous moment on Buffy the Vampire Slayer; the writers aimed for shock value, and they definitely achieved it – perhaps too successfully.

On Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Amber Benson’s character, Tara, was Willow’s first significant female love interest, which was a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ visibility on television. That’s why it was so shocking and upsetting when Tara was unexpectedly killed in season 6, episode 19, “Seeing Red,” by a random bullet fired by a relatively unimportant villain.

Brian Dies (And Returns Almost Immediately) — Family Guy

The new Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot might fix the controversial decision to kill off Tara, but the original showrunners didn’t change their minds despite fan backlash. Tara stayed dead for the rest of the series, even though many other characters were brought back to life over the show’s seven seasons. This is different from Family Guy, where the character Brian was resurrected after initially being killed off.

In 2013, the creators of Family Guy shocked viewers by unexpectedly killing off a major character, Brian, in a shockingly realistic car accident. Many fans were upset when the show brought him back just two episodes later with a contrived and unbelievable plot twist involving the holidays.

Maude Flanders Is Permanently Killed Off — The Simpsons

While many viewers felt it was a disappointing and calculated move to bring Brian back to life on Family Guy, the show’s decision may have been influenced by a similar event in another animated series. The Simpsons has occasionally veered into darker territory, but nothing quite compares to the shocking and arguably pointless death of Maude Flanders, voiced by Maggie Roswell.

In season 11, episode 14, titled “Alone Again, Natura-Diddly,” the character Maude was unexpectedly killed when hit by a T-shirt fired from a cannon. This left her husband, Ned, heartbroken. The death was the result of a disagreement over pay with the show’s producers, and it turned out to be unnecessary when the actress was brought back for another season.

Marissa Dies In A Car Crash — The O.C

While some character deaths on TV are done for shock value or because of issues with actors, the death of Marisa on The O.C. in the episode “The Graduates” stands out. It felt pointless, as the show didn’t offer any real reason or explanation for why it happened.

Marissa, played by Mischa Barton, was the character that really launched The O.C. to popularity, so fans were shocked when her character was suddenly killed off by Kevin Volchok (Cam Gigandet) in a car crash at the end of season three. The show never quite regained its footing after her departure, and it was confusing because neither Barton nor the show’s creators could clearly explain the reason for the dramatic twist.

Penny Reveals Her Pregnancy In The Finale — The Big Bang Theory

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While other sitcoms might be better than The Big Bang Theory, very few have achieved the same level of popularity. When it was most popular, The Big Bang Theory regularly attracted 20 million viewers. However, many fans felt the series finale had a disappointing twist.

As a big fan of The Big Bang Theory, I always appreciated how Penny, played by Kaley Cuoco, consistently said she didn’t want kids. It was a surprisingly refreshing trait for a sitcom lead, and the show really stuck to it for all twelve seasons. So, while it wasn’t totally shocking, I was honestly a little disappointed when the finale revealed she was pregnant. It felt like a bit of a departure from the character they’d built.

Luke Hides His Daughter April From Lorelei — Gilmore Girls

Although Gilmore Girls had its share of weak storylines, the decision to keep Luke’s daughter, April, a secret from Lorelai was particularly damaging. This single plot point caused a major rift between Luke and Lorelai, leading to their breakup, Lorelai’s relationship with Christopher, and ultimately, the problems that plagued the often-criticized seventh season.

The Finale Kills Off The Mother — How I Met Your Mother

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As a huge fan of How I Met Your Mother, I remember everyone being so excited about finally meeting the mother! The whole show built up to revealing who she was, so when Cristin Milioti showed up in season 9, the anticipation was intense. We’d all been waiting so long to find out who Ted had been telling his kids about.

Alyson Hannigan’s performance was surprisingly charming, and she quickly developed great on-screen chemistry with the show’s existing stars, exceeding expectations for her character and becoming a highlight of season nine. That’s why it was so disappointing when the show killed her off in what was arguably the worst sitcom finale since the ending of Roseanne.

2025-11-23 17:03