This article contains spoilers for many major fantasy TV shows!For every unforgettable moment in a fantasy TV show, there are just as many controversial moments that push viewers to their breaking point. Even the most popular fantastical TV series in history have included scenes that were so polarizing that audiences stop watching the show altogether. Typically, these plot points revolve around the introduction or exit of characters, as this can dramatically alter the series' dynamic and be devastating to witness. TV deaths often spark outrage when viewers feel that the character didn't deserve to be killed off and still had more to contribute.
There are many fantasy TV scenes that make no sense, but this is more excusable, as the complex magic systems and world-building in speculative fiction shows can become confusing. However, when a series makes a concrete and avoidable choice that alienates audience members, it's much more difficult to accept this. While writers and showrunners can't control when an actor wants to leave a show or if the source material has a specific moment written in, plenty of these scenes were unnecessary. Today, they disrupt the legacies of otherwise brilliant TV series.
10
Dany Murdering Thousands
Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
Emilia Clarke's performance as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones quickly made her a fan-favorite character. Throughout the seasons, Dany proves herself to be a champion of the people, freeing those who have been enslaved across the Narrow Sea. Many viewers assumed that when she finally returned to Westeros to reclaim the Iron Throne, she would bring peace and justice to the land, unlike the people who had held power for so long. Unfortunately, the writers had other plans for Daenerys.
This is an abrupt and shocking change for Daenerys and came out of nowhere, reversing much of the development she had gone through up to this point.
In a total pivot in characterization, Daenerys burns down King's Landing in Game of Thrones season 8, one of the most polarizing seasons of the series. This is an abrupt and shocking change for Daenerys and came out of nowhere, reversing much of the development she had gone through up to this point. Maybe Game of Thrones is a fantasy TV show that deserved more seasons to redeem itself after the mixed response to season 8, but many viewers were done with the show before the finale aired.
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Based on George R.R. Martin's novels, this fantasy series follows the power struggles among noble families as they vie for control of the Iron Throne in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The series is known for its complex characters, political intrigue, and unexpected plot twists.
Release Date
April 17, 2011
CastKit Harington
, Isaac Hempstead Wright
, Iain Glen
, Peter Dinklage
, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
, Emilia Clarke
, Maisie Williams
, Sophie Turner
, John Bradley
, Lena Headey
, Liam Cunningham
, Aidan Gillen
, Alfie Allen
, Conleth Hill
, Rory McCann
, Jerome Flynn
, Jacob Anderson
, Kristofer Hivju
, Gwendoline Christie
, Nathalie Emmanuel
, Carice Van Houten
, Natalie Dormer
, Stephen Dillane
, Charles Dance
, Charlotte Hope
, Michelle Fairley
, Jack Gleeson
, Richard Madden
, Hannah Murray
, Sibel Kekilli
, Julian Glover
, Brenock O'Connor
, Rose Leslie
, Michael McElhatton
Creator(s)
David Benioff
, D.B. Weiss
Seasons
8
Directors
David Nutter
, Alan Taylor
, D.B. Weiss
, David Benioff
Showrunner
David Benioff
, D.B. Weiss
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
89%
85%
9
Quentin Dying
The Magicians (2015–2020)
Quentin was a complex character, but after being the protagonist of The Magicians for four seasons, it came as quite a shock to viewers when he was killed off. Part of this was because Jason Ralph, the actor who portrayed him, was ready to leave the series, but things in The Magicians had been changing a lot since the series expanded past the original books the first three seasons were based on. While there were some interesting choices made in seasons 4 and 5, Quentin's death pushed many audiences to stop watching before the final season.
These fantasy TV shows did almost everything right, but one small issue is holding them back from being the best of all time within the genre.
Though there were plenty of other fantastic characters carrying the plot of The Magicians, Quentin was the heart of the show, and without him, many of the other characters were lost. The aftermath of Quentin's death left The Magicians with a lot of grief to grapple with, which made the show hard to watch at times. Elliot (Hale Appleman) is a TV character who never got a happy ending in The Magicians. This is because his romantic arc with Quentin was cut short when he died.
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Based on the novel of the same name by Lev Grossman, The Magicians follows Quentin Coldwater, a brilliant young man who is given a place at a magical college named Brakebills. There, he learns magic alongside his friends Alice, Eliot, Margo, and Penny, and unlocks magical secrets far beyond his wildest imaginings that see him travel to various fantastical locations, including the world of Fillory.
Release Date
December 16, 2015
Cast
Olivia Taylor Dudley
, Arjun Gupta
, Jade Tailor
, Stella Maeve
, Summer Bishil
, Jason Ralph
, Hale Appleman
Seasons
5
Writers
John McNamara
Directors
Sera Gamble
Showrunner
Sera Gamble
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Magicians (2015–2020)
91%
74%
8
Dawn’s Appearance
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)
Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) was a thoroughly unexpected addition to Buffy The Vampire Slayer, making her first appearance in the season 5 premiere and becoming a central character for the last seasons of the show. Up until that point, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) had been an only child, but suddenly, she had a younger sister that everyone was acting like had been there since the beginning. While the key storyline made no sense in Buffy The Vampire Slayer, this wasn't entirely why viewers and critics disliked Dawn.
Though Dawn did find her place in the ensemble, she didn't help the lukewarm performance of season 5.
As a character, Dawn is a bit annoying and frequently gets in the way of Buffy's attempts to save the world, making the Slayer's life more difficult. The entire dynamic of the series changed, and this was a big disruption for many longtime fans. While there were many elements in Buffy The Vampire Slayer season 5 that made it different from the rest of the show, this stood out as a potential misstep. Though Dawn did find her place in the ensemble, she didn't help the lukewarm performance of season 5.
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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.
Making Frozen one of the fairy tales to adapt in Once Upon A Time was the beginning of the end for the innovative series, as most audiences didn't consider the story classic enough to warrant a storyline. By Once Upon A Time season 4, the series had already touched upon many of the most popular folk tales and legends that Disney had adapted. This meant the show had to turn to more recent additions to the Disney canon, and this wasn't as compelling.
It was clear from this point on that Once Upon A Time had passed its peak, even if there were some exciting storylines to come in the remaining seasons. However, the tone and style that had defined the series in the early seasons was gone, and introducing Anna (Elizabeth Lail) and Elsa (Georgina Haig) made it seem like the show was out of ideas. Compared to the seamless way the other fairy tale characters had fit into the show, Anna and Elsa stood out.
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Once Upon a Time is an adventure fantasy-drama series created for ABC that features fairy tale characters and their Disney incarnations in a modern setting. When Emma Swan and her son Henry accidentally drive into the town of Storybrooke, they soon discover the inhabitants are those from fairy tales, and they have no knowledge of the modern world inhabited by Emma and Henry. Robbed of their pasts and given new identities by the Evil Queen known as Regina, the hope of the town's residents lie solely in the hands of Emma, who has stronger connections to the town than she knows.
Release Date
October 3, 2011
Cast
Ginnifer Goodwin
, josh dallas
, Lana Parrilla
, Robert Carlyle
, Jennifer Morrison
, Jared Gilmore
Seasons
7
Writers
Adam Horowitz
Directors
Christopher Gorham
Showrunner
Adam Horowitz
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Once Upon A Time (2011–2018)
78%
78%
6
Nina Dobrev’s Exit
The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)
For all her flaws, Elena was a vitally important character in The Vampire Diaries, and when Nina Dobrev decided her time on the series had come to an end, it was a tough transition. Since Elena was the character with the most plot armor in The Vampire Diaries, it's not surprising that she didn't die but was put under a sleeping curse so she could one day reunite with Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and her loved ones. However, since Elena had avoided all of these issues in the past, it made it obvious that external circumstances had influenced the show's direction.
It was nice to see Elena return in the series finale, but there were many viewers who didn't stick around to see her come back.
Even for fans who weren't always happy with Elena, it was clear that The Vampire Diaries had to fill a hole when Elena was gone and that the show was never the same. Without Elena, much of the dramatic tension between her, Damon, and Stefan (Paul Wesley) was gone, and the antagonists felt more obscure and unimportant. It was nice to see Elena return in the series finale, but there were many viewers who didn't stick around to see her come back.
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Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another's affection.
Release Date
September 10, 2009
Cast
Nina Dobrev
, Ian Somerhalder
, Steven R. McQueen
, Paul Wesley
, Kat Graham
, Michael Trevino
, Michael Malarkey
, Zach Roerig
, Candice King
, Matthew Davis
Franchise
The Vampire Diaries
Seasons
8
Writers
Julie Plec
, Kevin Williamson
, L.J. Smith
Directors
John Dahl
Showrunner
Julie Plec
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)
86%
72%
5
Glenn’s Death
The Walking Dead (2010–2022)
Steven Yeun's character in The Walking Dead, Glenn, was an amazing part of the show and helped bring emotional realism to the story. His relationship with Maggie (Lauren Cohan) anchored The Walking Dead, and his death was one of the most traumatic moments in the series, not just for Maggie but for all viewers. While The Walking Dead was no stranger to casualties, Glenn's death was made worse by the fact that he had disappeared a few episodes before and was assumed dead, only to be brought back and murdered by Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) onscreen.
Not only was Glenn's death unnecessary, but it was an unfair way to bring his character arc to an end. It was upsetting to see him so brutally removed from the show, and it was a shocking fake-out to bring him back to life, only to ultimately kill him off. This storyline felt like the writers were trying to trick the audience and squeeze the most possible drama and despair out of Glenn's death. These factors were enough for viewers to feel as if The Walking Dead wasn't the same show it once was.
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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
Seasons
11
Story By
Tony Moore, Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard
Showrunner
Frank Darabont
, Angela Kang
, Scott M. Gimple
, Glen Mazzara
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Walking Dead (2010–2022)
79%
78%
4
Jamie & Bree’s First Conflict
Outlander (2014–Present)
It takes a long time for Brianna (Sophie Skelton) to learn the truth about who her biological father is. Claire (Caitríona Balfe) returned to her present and gave birth to Bree, raising her as Frank's (Tobias Menzies) daughter for most of her life. Unfortunately, her first meeting with Jamie (Sam Heughan) isn't the happy reunion that audiences were hoping for, as the pair get off on the wrong foot. Since she traveled to the past, Bree has had many traumatic experiences, and Jamie isn't helpful in supporting her.
This made viewers change their perspective on Jamie, and was one of the toughest parts to watch of the disappointing fourth season.
It's incredibly disappointing to see Jamie hurt his daughter after she's been assaulted, and so soon after they attempted to form a bond after years of not being with each other. Jamie is a fan-favorite character in Outlander, and based on his own experiences, it's shocking that he would ever blame someone for their assault, let alone his own daughter. This made viewers change their perspective on Jamie, and was one of the toughest parts to watch of the disappointing fourth season.
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Outlander follows Claire Randall, a married nurse from 1945, who is transported back to 1743 Scotland. Amidst political intrigue and danger, she navigates life in the past and becomes torn between loyalty to her husband and the love for a dashing young warrior.
Release Date
August 9, 2014
CastCaitríona Balfe
, Sam Heughan
, Sophie Skelton
, Richard Rankin
, John Bell
, Duncan Lacroix
, Tobias Menzies
, César Domboy
, Caitlin O'Ryan
, Lauren Lyle
, Grant O'Rourke
, Graham McTavish
, Paul Gorman
, Charles Vandervaart
, Stephen Walters
, David Berry
, Sarah Collier
Seasons
7
Story By
Ronald D. Moore
Writers
Ronald D. Moore
, Matthew B. Roberts
Directors
Metin Hüseyin
, Jamie Payne
Showrunner
Matthew B. Roberts
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Outlander (2014–Present)
90%
86%
3
Sending The Characters Back In Time
Lost (2004–2010)
Throughout the seasons of Lost, many unexpected and otherworldly plot developments occur, but the time travel element is the most shocking aspect of the series. From the beginning, it was teased that there was more to the island than meets the eye and that the survivors of the crash and the audience would come into contact with the supernatural. However, between the flashbacks, flash-forwards, and the monsters that called the island home, time travel was just too much for Lost to grapple with.
How the island moves through time in Lost is a confusing part of the show, and this is where many viewers felt the series had jumped the shark. There were already multiple timelines and heavy themes of fate and destiny, and the time travel storyline turned out to merely cement the fact that the plane was always going to crash, and there was nothing the characters could do to avoid this. In the following seasons, Lost only veered further into the otherworldly aspects of the story.
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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 passengers must work together to survive the island's seemingly deadly intentions.
There have been many controversial moments throughout The Witcher's three seasons, as Netflix's sweeping fantasy TV show makes significant changes to the source material by Andrzej Sapkowski. However, for dedicated fans of the series, nothing was more upsetting than the announcement that Henry Cavill, who had portrayed Geralt of Rivia since the series premiered, was leaving the show. In his final episode, season 3, episode 8, "The Cost of Chaos," it was tough to see Cavill in his last scene as Geralt.
As 2025 quickly approaches, many fantasy TV shows, old and new, will have season premieres in the new year, and fans can't wait for the results.
Liam Hemsworth will take over as Geralt in The Witcher season 4, and there's a lot of pressure riding on his performance. It wouldn't be surprising if many fans didn't return to watch the next installment of the show since they know that Geralt will be unrecognizable. Hopefully, Freya Allan's work as Ciri and her character's renewed importance will be enough to bring in viewers for the last two seasons of The Witcher.
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Witcher (2019–Present)
80%
54%
1
Lexa’s Death
The 100 (2014–2020)
Clarke (Eliza Taylor) and Lexa (Alycia Debnam-Carey) had an incredible romantic arc in The 100, but it was tragically ended by Lexa's death in season 3. After slowly building trust and forming an unforgettable enemies-to-lovers arc, Clarke and Lexa were making strides to align their two groups. Unfortunately, Lexa's faction never fully trusted Clarke and the Sky People, and in an attempt to assassinate Clarke, Lexa is shot and quickly succumbs to her wounds.
This moment in The 100 is an example of the trope in both fantasy TV shows and series of all genres that sees LGBTQ+ characters quickly killed off after having their relationships made canon. Though Clarke would go on to have other romantic entanglements, her connection with Lexa is one of the best on the show, and neither character deserved to have it end this way. The choice to kill off Lexa could easily make viewers lose faith in The 100 and feel that the series had undercut its strides forward in representation.
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The 100 is a sci-fi post-apocalyptic TV series set ninety-seven years after a nuclear war has destroyed civilization. When a spaceship housing humanity's lone survivors send one hundred juvenile delinquents back to Earth in hopes of possibly re-populating the planet, they discover that Earth is still inhabited. Now constantly in a state of power flux with warring clans, cannibals, and mountain-dwellers, the juveniles must attempt to survive while re-establishing contact with the Ark.
Release Date
March 19, 2014
Cast
Devon Bostick
, Christopher Larkin
, Marie Avgeropoulos
, Sachin Sahel
, Richard Harmon
, Chelsey Reist
, Henry Ian Cusick
, Bob Morley
, Jarod Joseph
, Paige Turco
, Adina Porter
, Ricky Whittle
, Eliza Taylor
, Isaiah Washington
, Lindsey Morgan
, Tasya Teles
Image by Ana Nieves
English (US) ·