Top ten tv cliffhangers
Okay kids, so here it is, my long over-due Top Ten TV Cliffhangers post. It's taken me a long time to complete this list. It was hard to choose. There were some honorable mentions:
1. Gilmore Girls, "I Can't Get Started," where Rory kisses Jess then runs off for Sookie's wedding.
2. The Office, "The Job," where Jim asks Pam out on a date and she accepts.
3. Lost, "Through the Looking Glass," where we get a FLASH FORWARD. WTF!?
Now as you look at this top ten list, I know many of you will say, "Wow, Kaitlin. I think you went a bit overboard on the Battlestar episodes. But you know, I really didn't. That show has had so many WTF moments and cliffhangers I could make an entire list with JUST BSG episodes. So enjoy! Tell me if you guys agree or disagree. Whatever. You know.
WARNING: SPOILERS BEHIND THE CUTS
1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "The Gift"
It was the season 5 finale in which Buffy died. She sacrificed herself to save Dawn, The Key and her "sister," as well as the world by jumping off the huge platform to close a portal to Hell that was opened by the season 5 Big Bad Glory, a God trying to return home. The last moments where you see Buffy lying there, clearly dead, while all of her friends stood over her. And then the final tombstone shot. Yeah, I'd say ending a season with the main character's death? I think it's a cliffhanger.
“Tell Giles... tell Giles I figured it out and... and I’m okay. And give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now. You have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn, the hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me.”
2. Battlestar Galactica, "Crossroads, Part II"
The season 3 finale of BSG was one HELL of a frakking crazy episode. Here's why it's number 2 on this list. (It probably should be number 1, but Buffy dying screwed up my adolescence like no other, so it will always be number 1).
WTF MOMENT #1. Gaius Balter was found not guilty. Not really a HUGE surprise but it surely added to this episodes, OMGWTF factor. Plus, the end with the crazy people worshiping him and all?
WTF MOMENT #2. Tyrol, Tigh, Tori and Anders are all mother frakkin toasters! They are four of the final five cylons. Seriously, who saw any of that coming? I mean honestly? I wanted to CRY when I found out Chief and Anders were cylons. I never really liked Tori but I was still in shock. And then Tigh... HE KILLED HIS WIFE FOR CONSPIRING WITH THE CYLONS )even if it was to protect him) AND IT TURNS OUT HE IS ONE!
WTF MOMENT #3. KARA THRACE IS ALIVE. SHE IS ALIVE AND SHE HAS BEEN TO EARTH AND SHE IS GOING TO TAKE THEM THERE. REPEAT: KARA THRACE IS ALIVE AND KICKING.
Initial reaction: OMG KARA IS ALIVE. OMG IS SHE A CYLON? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Starbuck: Hi, Lee.
Apollo: Kara?
Starbuck: Don't freak out. It really is me. It's gonna be okay. I've been to Earth. I know where it is. And I'm gonna take us there.
3. Alias, "The Telling"
It's the season 2 finale where after Sydney successfully kills Fake!Francie and passes out, she wakes up two years later in the middle of Hong Kong with no recollection of what has happened. The last thing she knows is the fight in her apartment. PLUS: As an added cliffhanger, Vaughn is married! Everyone thought Syd died in the fire that destroyed her apartment two years ago. Damn J.J. and his amazing storytelling.
Sydney: Vaughn?
Vaughn: We thought you were dead. They asked me to come back to... to explain.
Sydney: Come back from what? What are you talking about? Vaughn... why are you wearing that ring?
Vaughn: Syd... since that night... you were missing. You've been missing for almost two years.
4. Battlestar Galactica, "Maelstrom"
Um. KARA THRACE MOTHER FRAKKING DIED. WTF. WTF. WTF. WTF.
That's all I think we need to say about why this belongs as number frakkin 4 on this list.
Starbuck: Lee... I'll see you on the other side.
Apollo: Kara, please, listen to me! Come back.
Starbuck: Just let me go.
Apollo: Godsdamn it, Kara! You come back! Come back!
Starbuck: It's okay. Just let me go. They're waiting for me.
5. Battlestar Galactica, "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part 2"
Some of you might say why? Oh, I dunno. The flash forward 1 year where Baltar is sexing up the Colonial One as the president, while Starbuck is married to Anders. Lee is pudgy and apparently still frakking Dee. He's commanding the Pegasus, while Commander Bill Adama has grown a mustache (ok, so not that big of a deal). Lee is pissed at Kara for unknown reasons. Anders is sick with no medicine to help him. Roslin is a teacher again. Tyrol is head of the worker's union and has apparently impregnated Callie. AND THEN THE CYLONS FIND NEW CAPRICA. AND THE BATTLESTARS JUMP AWAY STRANDING EVERYONE ON THE SURFACE. AND THEN BALTAR SURRENDERS TO THEM. CUT TO BLACK. Really? That isn't a cliffhanger?
"We do the same thing, we always do. Fight them till we can't."
6. Veronica Mars, "Leave It To Beaver"
Why this episode? Well the episode in general was awesome and full of insanity. Veronica finds out Logan wasn't in Mexico when Lilly was murdered and she accuses him of killing her. Veronica finds out that Lilly was having an affair with Logan's dad, Aaron Echolls. Veronica then figured out Aaron Echolls killed Lilly. Aaron Echolls figured out Veronica knew he killed Lilly. Aaron Echolls tried to kill Veronica. And Logan is drunk on the edge of a bridge when he is attacked by the PCHers after Veronica has accused him of killing Lilly.
And then Veronica wakes up at 3 AM to a knock at her door. And she says, "I was hoping it would be you." AND SCENE.
We don't know who is at the door! OMG!WTF? Was it Duncan, Lilly's brother and Veronica's ex-boyfriend who only dumped her because he thought she was his sister (it's revealed in this episode that, *in a Maury Povich voice* She is NOT his sister.) Is is Logan? The bad boy that used to "hate" Veronica only it turns out they are really perfect and in love with each other making them the show's OTP? Or is it Wallace? Her BFF? Most people were voting for Team Logan. But we had to wait all summer to find out who it was.
Veronica: Isn't it better, like this?
Lilly: So much better.
Veronica: This is how it's supposed to be.
Lilly: Totally.
Veronica: This is how it's gonna be. From now on. Right? Lilly?
Lilly: You know how things are gonna be now, don't you? You have to know.
Veronica: Just like this. Just like this.
Lilly: Don't forget about me, Veronica.
Veronica: I could never.
7. Angel, "Not Fade Away"
It's the series finale to end all series finales. This episode was intense. Wesley died trying to take down his member of Circle of the Black Thorn. Lorne kills Lindsay and then walks away forever. And when Gunn, Angel, Spike and Illyria all meet up at the end it seems obvious Gunn won't make it much longer. And then you see and hear the monsters coming for our quartet of good guys (and girls ... er Old One.) Before any fighting starts the screen cuts to black and Joss Whedon gave us the greatest open ended cliffhanger ever. Who lives? Who dies? Why did they kill Wesley?
Spike:In terms of a plan?
Angel: We fight.
Spike: Bit more specific.
Angel: Well, personally, I kind of want to slay the dragon. (pause) Let's go to work.
8. Grey's Anatomy, "Who's Zoomin Who?"
One word: Addison. Yes, this is the season 1 finale where we found out Derek has a wife. They set her up as the perfect bitch in this episode and we were all, "OMG OH NO HE DIDN'T. WTF I'LL KILL THIS ADDISON BITCH." Turns out as the seasons went on Addison became one of my favorite characters and I hate that she got her own spinoff because I preferred her on Grey's. I don't like Private Practice much.
Addison: Hi. I'm Addison Shepherd.
Meredith: Shepherd?
Addison: And you must be the woman who's been screwing my husband.
9. Gilmore Girls, "A House is Not a Home"
This doesn't need much explanation. Rory has dropped out of Yale following her grand theft yachting experience. Lorelai is distraught. And after a huge wonderfully acted emotional rant to Luke, she proposes and the screen cuts to black. Oh Amy Sherman-Palladino, that wasn't fair.
While we all knew Luke would say yes, we were still all OMGZ! SHE PROPOSED AND WE HAVE TO WAIT ALL SUMMER TO SEE LUKE'S RESPONSE? BLASPHEMY. I decided to go with the happier cliff hanger from season 5 rather than the one from season 6 where we see Lorelai waking up in bed at Christopher's. I like happy GG!
Lorelai: Luke, will you marry me?
Luke: What?
10. Battlestar Galactica, "Revelations"
OMG! What's this? ANOTHER BSG episode? Why? The four of the final five cylons are finally outed as being cylons! And they finally reach Earth after all this time only to find out it is completely destroyed/devastated. Was that NY? Why couldn't they have landed in Kansas, or some weird place like the middle of nowhere in Canada? HMM? Anyways so Earth = Kaput. How's that for a bummer? And we have to wait until January 2009 for the last half of the LAST season. Make that a double bummer with a side of craptastic-ness. I chose this quote just for it's creepy factor and I am PRAYING that this isn't foreshadowing.
"For children to reach their full potential, their parents have to die."
Oh and good news: I've finally talked my dad into watching BSG with me! It's only taken a bajillion years.
1. Gilmore Girls, "I Can't Get Started," where Rory kisses Jess then runs off for Sookie's wedding.
2. The Office, "The Job," where Jim asks Pam out on a date and she accepts.
3. Lost, "Through the Looking Glass," where we get a FLASH FORWARD. WTF!?
Now as you look at this top ten list, I know many of you will say, "Wow, Kaitlin. I think you went a bit overboard on the Battlestar episodes. But you know, I really didn't. That show has had so many WTF moments and cliffhangers I could make an entire list with JUST BSG episodes. So enjoy! Tell me if you guys agree or disagree. Whatever. You know.
WARNING: SPOILERS BEHIND THE CUTS
1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "The Gift"
It was the season 5 finale in which Buffy died. She sacrificed herself to save Dawn, The Key and her "sister," as well as the world by jumping off the huge platform to close a portal to Hell that was opened by the season 5 Big Bad Glory, a God trying to return home. The last moments where you see Buffy lying there, clearly dead, while all of her friends stood over her. And then the final tombstone shot. Yeah, I'd say ending a season with the main character's death? I think it's a cliffhanger.
“Tell Giles... tell Giles I figured it out and... and I’m okay. And give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now. You have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn, the hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me.”
2. Battlestar Galactica, "Crossroads, Part II"
The season 3 finale of BSG was one HELL of a frakking crazy episode. Here's why it's number 2 on this list. (It probably should be number 1, but Buffy dying screwed up my adolescence like no other, so it will always be number 1).
WTF MOMENT #1. Gaius Balter was found not guilty. Not really a HUGE surprise but it surely added to this episodes, OMGWTF factor. Plus, the end with the crazy people worshiping him and all?
WTF MOMENT #2. Tyrol, Tigh, Tori and Anders are all mother frakkin toasters! They are four of the final five cylons. Seriously, who saw any of that coming? I mean honestly? I wanted to CRY when I found out Chief and Anders were cylons. I never really liked Tori but I was still in shock. And then Tigh... HE KILLED HIS WIFE FOR CONSPIRING WITH THE CYLONS )even if it was to protect him) AND IT TURNS OUT HE IS ONE!
WTF MOMENT #3. KARA THRACE IS ALIVE. SHE IS ALIVE AND SHE HAS BEEN TO EARTH AND SHE IS GOING TO TAKE THEM THERE. REPEAT: KARA THRACE IS ALIVE AND KICKING.
Initial reaction: OMG KARA IS ALIVE. OMG IS SHE A CYLON? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Starbuck: Hi, Lee.
Apollo: Kara?
Starbuck: Don't freak out. It really is me. It's gonna be okay. I've been to Earth. I know where it is. And I'm gonna take us there.
3. Alias, "The Telling"
It's the season 2 finale where after Sydney successfully kills Fake!Francie and passes out, she wakes up two years later in the middle of Hong Kong with no recollection of what has happened. The last thing she knows is the fight in her apartment. PLUS: As an added cliffhanger, Vaughn is married! Everyone thought Syd died in the fire that destroyed her apartment two years ago. Damn J.J. and his amazing storytelling.
Sydney: Vaughn?
Vaughn: We thought you were dead. They asked me to come back to... to explain.
Sydney: Come back from what? What are you talking about? Vaughn... why are you wearing that ring?
Vaughn: Syd... since that night... you were missing. You've been missing for almost two years.
4. Battlestar Galactica, "Maelstrom"
Um. KARA THRACE MOTHER FRAKKING DIED. WTF. WTF. WTF. WTF.
That's all I think we need to say about why this belongs as number frakkin 4 on this list.
Starbuck: Lee... I'll see you on the other side.
Apollo: Kara, please, listen to me! Come back.
Starbuck: Just let me go.
Apollo: Godsdamn it, Kara! You come back! Come back!
Starbuck: It's okay. Just let me go. They're waiting for me.
5. Battlestar Galactica, "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part 2"
Some of you might say why? Oh, I dunno. The flash forward 1 year where Baltar is sexing up the Colonial One as the president, while Starbuck is married to Anders. Lee is pudgy and apparently still frakking Dee. He's commanding the Pegasus, while Commander Bill Adama has grown a mustache (ok, so not that big of a deal). Lee is pissed at Kara for unknown reasons. Anders is sick with no medicine to help him. Roslin is a teacher again. Tyrol is head of the worker's union and has apparently impregnated Callie. AND THEN THE CYLONS FIND NEW CAPRICA. AND THE BATTLESTARS JUMP AWAY STRANDING EVERYONE ON THE SURFACE. AND THEN BALTAR SURRENDERS TO THEM. CUT TO BLACK. Really? That isn't a cliffhanger?
"We do the same thing, we always do. Fight them till we can't."
6. Veronica Mars, "Leave It To Beaver"
Why this episode? Well the episode in general was awesome and full of insanity. Veronica finds out Logan wasn't in Mexico when Lilly was murdered and she accuses him of killing her. Veronica finds out that Lilly was having an affair with Logan's dad, Aaron Echolls. Veronica then figured out Aaron Echolls killed Lilly. Aaron Echolls figured out Veronica knew he killed Lilly. Aaron Echolls tried to kill Veronica. And Logan is drunk on the edge of a bridge when he is attacked by the PCHers after Veronica has accused him of killing Lilly.
And then Veronica wakes up at 3 AM to a knock at her door. And she says, "I was hoping it would be you." AND SCENE.
We don't know who is at the door! OMG!WTF? Was it Duncan, Lilly's brother and Veronica's ex-boyfriend who only dumped her because he thought she was his sister (it's revealed in this episode that, *in a Maury Povich voice* She is NOT his sister.) Is is Logan? The bad boy that used to "hate" Veronica only it turns out they are really perfect and in love with each other making them the show's OTP? Or is it Wallace? Her BFF? Most people were voting for Team Logan. But we had to wait all summer to find out who it was.
Veronica: Isn't it better, like this?
Lilly: So much better.
Veronica: This is how it's supposed to be.
Lilly: Totally.
Veronica: This is how it's gonna be. From now on. Right? Lilly?
Lilly: You know how things are gonna be now, don't you? You have to know.
Veronica: Just like this. Just like this.
Lilly: Don't forget about me, Veronica.
Veronica: I could never.
7. Angel, "Not Fade Away"
It's the series finale to end all series finales. This episode was intense. Wesley died trying to take down his member of Circle of the Black Thorn. Lorne kills Lindsay and then walks away forever. And when Gunn, Angel, Spike and Illyria all meet up at the end it seems obvious Gunn won't make it much longer. And then you see and hear the monsters coming for our quartet of good guys (and girls ... er Old One.) Before any fighting starts the screen cuts to black and Joss Whedon gave us the greatest open ended cliffhanger ever. Who lives? Who dies? Why did they kill Wesley?
Spike:In terms of a plan?
Angel: We fight.
Spike: Bit more specific.
Angel: Well, personally, I kind of want to slay the dragon. (pause) Let's go to work.
8. Grey's Anatomy, "Who's Zoomin Who?"
One word: Addison. Yes, this is the season 1 finale where we found out Derek has a wife. They set her up as the perfect bitch in this episode and we were all, "OMG OH NO HE DIDN'T. WTF I'LL KILL THIS ADDISON BITCH." Turns out as the seasons went on Addison became one of my favorite characters and I hate that she got her own spinoff because I preferred her on Grey's. I don't like Private Practice much.
Addison: Hi. I'm Addison Shepherd.
Meredith: Shepherd?
Addison: And you must be the woman who's been screwing my husband.
9. Gilmore Girls, "A House is Not a Home"
This doesn't need much explanation. Rory has dropped out of Yale following her grand theft yachting experience. Lorelai is distraught. And after a huge wonderfully acted emotional rant to Luke, she proposes and the screen cuts to black. Oh Amy Sherman-Palladino, that wasn't fair.
While we all knew Luke would say yes, we were still all OMGZ! SHE PROPOSED AND WE HAVE TO WAIT ALL SUMMER TO SEE LUKE'S RESPONSE? BLASPHEMY. I decided to go with the happier cliff hanger from season 5 rather than the one from season 6 where we see Lorelai waking up in bed at Christopher's. I like happy GG!
Lorelai: Luke, will you marry me?
Luke: What?
10. Battlestar Galactica, "Revelations"
OMG! What's this? ANOTHER BSG episode? Why? The four of the final five cylons are finally outed as being cylons! And they finally reach Earth after all this time only to find out it is completely destroyed/devastated. Was that NY? Why couldn't they have landed in Kansas, or some weird place like the middle of nowhere in Canada? HMM? Anyways so Earth = Kaput. How's that for a bummer? And we have to wait until January 2009 for the last half of the LAST season. Make that a double bummer with a side of craptastic-ness. I chose this quote just for it's creepy factor and I am PRAYING that this isn't foreshadowing.
"For children to reach their full potential, their parents have to die."
Oh and good news: I've finally talked my dad into watching BSG with me! It's only taken a bajillion years.