OK, so it’s true that we often make fun of TV shows, and often deservedly so.
But we also take great delight in talking about those shows that genuinely surprise us with plot twists — whether unexpected or contrived.
So, in that vein, here’s our list of the “Top 10 WTF? Moments” from 2013. Some of them were good and some of them were bad — but all of them had us buzzing.
(Spoiler alert! There are several “reveals” in the following list.)
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1. “Family Guy” kills off Brian the Dog. (And then brings him back.)
Fans of Fox’s popular Sunday-night sitcom were stunned when the beloved Brian was hit by a car and died, the weeping Griffin Family by his side. Many thought the sarcastic talking dog’s demise wasn’t final — and he was brought back to life a couple of weeks later via Stewie’s time machine. As “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane said via Twitter, “I mean, you didn’t really think we’d kill off Brian, did you?”
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2. The Red Wedding episode on “Game of Thrones”
Those who read George RR Martin’s books knew it was coming, but even they were shocked by its savagery and might have been fooled by the episode’s title, “The Rains of Castamere.” And for “Game of Thrones” fans who only knew the show via HBO? Fuggedaboutit.
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3. “The Walking Dead”
It was hard to pick one moment on the AMC zombie drama, which kills off characters with abandon. But even hardcore fans were surprised by the murder of Hershel (Scott Wilson), decapitated by the Governor (David Morrissey) — who was then killed by Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Lilly (Audrey Marie Anderson).
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4. “Person of Interest” kills off Det. Joss Carter
Joss Carter is killed off in "Person of Interest." Taraji P. Henson’s character had been a staple of the CBS procedural — but she was killed in a shootout in a November episode, blindsiding fans of the show.
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5. A beheading on “American Horror Story: Coven”
Kathy Bates as Madame LaLaurie Michele K. Short/FX Voodoo queen Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett) and (Kathy Bates) never got on. When the Madame was alive the first time, she killed Marie’s minotaur boyfriend. After Fiona (Jessica Lange) exhumed the Madame, Marie’s been looking to give her payback ever since — and was mighty satisfied when she decapitated the Madame.
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6. Frank Underwood morphs into a cold-blood killer on “House of Cards”
Kevin Spacey, left, as Frank Underwood and Corey Stoll as Peter Russo AP Kevin Spacey’s morally corrupt, power-hungry congressman murders drug-addled US Rep. Peter Russo (Corey Stoll), then makes it look like a suicide. Nice guy.
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7. First Lady Mellie’s Big Reveal on “Scandal”
Bellamy Young as Mellie ABC/Eric McCandless “Scandal” unexpectedly made Mellie (Bellamy Young) the heroine of the show in an extended flashback that showed how she was raped by her creepy, soused father-in-law (Barry Bostwick). It was a shocker of the first order.
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8. “Breaking Bad” goes out in a blaze of gory glory
The final scene in the series finale of AMC's Breaking Bad AP OK, so it was a bit far-fetched that a cancer-wracked Walter White (Bryan Cranston) could concoct a whirling, remote-controlled machine gun located in the trunk of his car — and hit all his marks. When did he become “MacGyver”? Still, this scene in the series finale was a shocker and wrapped up lots of loose ends, including (finally!) Walter’s demise.
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9. Carrie’s pregnancy on “Homeland”
Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison Jackson Lee Davis/ Showtime As if Carrie Mathison’s (Claire Danes) faked hospitalization wasn’t enough? Now she’s carrying Brody’s (Damian Lewis) love child? Please.
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10. Matthew Crawley’s death on “Downton Abbey”
Dan Stevens as Matthew Crawley Dan Stevens, who played Matthew Crawley, decided rather late in the game he wanted to go at the end his three-year contract. Creator Julian Fellowes didn’t want to have to start Season 4, which premieres next month, with another family death scene and funeral, so he just made poor Matthew the victim of a car crash — on the same day his son and heir, George, was born.