29 Shocking And Heartbreaking Betrayals On TV Shows That No One Saw Coming

    Still not over Sang-woo betraying Ali.

    Hannah Marder
    by Hannah Marder

    BuzzFeed Staff

    If you love drama like I do, you're all for a shocking twist in a TV show. Sometimes, these twists can be devastating.

    Netflix

    In my humble opinion, the most shocking and devastating plot twists come when one character betrays another.

    Disney

    There's truly nothing better than a good, emotional "I TRUSTED YOU!" screamed at a former friend/lover. Which is why a while back, we asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us their fave TV betrayals.

    MTV

    Here are some of the most memorable!

    🚨🚨SPOILERS AHEAD!🚨🚨

    1. On Buffy the Vampire Slayer, when Faith teamed up with the Mayor:

    Faith tells the mayor he sent "his boy" to kill her, but she killed him, saying that must mean he has a job opening
    The WB

    This one hurt. Buffy was trying SO hard to be there for Faith and help her take accountability for her actions. In the scene just before this, she tells Giles she won't give up on her. But then...Faith gives up on Buffy instead. Even though Buffy was the one person trying to be there for her!!! Ugh.

    I can't find the scene online, but it happens at the very end of Season 3, Episode 15. You can watch the show on Amazon or Hulu.

    2. On Loki, when Sylvie pushed Loki through the portal and killed He Who Remains:

    Loki tells Sylvie to stop, saying he's been where she is, and he just wants her to be okay. Sylvie kisses him then says "but I'm not you" then pushes him through a portal
    Marvel / Disney+

    God, I love this scene. Loki is finally doing something good and reaching out to someone who is just like he was — and you think Sylvie's listening to him. But nope, a Loki is a Loki, and Sylvie betrays him by pushing him through a portal and killing He Who Remains.

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    Marvel / Disney+ / Via youtube.com

    3. On Pretty Little Liars, when Ezra revealed he'd been writing a book about Alison and that he'd known who Aria was all along:

    Aria says Ezra knew Ali, and Ezra said he met her in college but didn't know her age and Aria accuses him of killing her — Ezra says he never hurt her and that he's writing a true crime book about her, which is why he applied to teach at Rosewood
    Freeform

    I hated Ezra from the start, but you've truly lost my respect if you still shipped Ezra after this. Ezra literally knew Aria was underage all along and got close to her to research Ali, and he clearly had a pattern of dating younger girls. It was a chilling reveal, and having Aria stuck on a ski lift while she listened made it even more dramatic.

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    Freeform / Via youtube.com

    4. On Ted Lasso, when Nate leaked news of Ted's panic attack to the press, then went to work for Rupert's team:

    title screen: "2 months later" then the coach of rupert's team is seen — he turns and it's nate
    Apple TV

    This one gets me HEATED. It is NEVER okay to disclose someone's mental health struggles to the public, no matter how hurt you are. It was truly unforgivable — and then to go and work for Rupert's team??? Rupert, a piece of human garbage??? Nate, I trusted you!!! 

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    Apple TV / Via youtube.com

    5. On Pretty Little Liars, when Mona was revealed to be A:

    Spencer hears Mona say "I found the gum" behind her and says "you didn't call Hanna, did you? Because you're A" then turns and sees Mona. Mona says "Congratulations, Spencer, you figured it out" then knocks Spencer out
    Freeform

    I'm gonna go ahead and mark this down as the only good A reveal the show ever had, because the Cece and Alex ones were wack. It wasn't a surprise if you'd read the books, but I thought the show did a great job at making it seem like they were going a different route. Plus, Mona becomes such a fun character after this.

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    Freeform / Via youtube.com

    6. On Squid Game, when Sang-woo betrayed Ali:

    Ali looks down to see his pouch was full of rocks
    Netflix

    Oof. Maybe not the most unexpected betrayal, but definitely one of the most brutal. Ali was a sweet, kind soul — and he won fair and square. Shame on you, Sang-woo.

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    Netflix / Via youtube.com

    7. On Sherlock, when Mary shot Sherlock:

    Sherlock confronts who he thinks is Lady Smallwood, but then the woman turns and it's Mary. She asks if John is there and Sherlock says he's downstairs. Sherlock asks her to let him help her and she says she'll kill him if he moves, then shoots him
    BBC

    Suggested by lmgroth1011

    Mary seemed like such a sweet character and a great match for John, and this one truly caught me off guard and was kind of devastating. Luckily, she purposefully didn't kill Sherlock, and we forgive her after we get an explanation — still, this was a chilling betrayal.

    Watch the reveal scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    BBC / Via youtube.com

    8. On Gossip Girl, when Dan revealed himself to be Gossip Girl:

    Dan narrates how he became gossip girl, saying he thought he could write himself into the world of the Upper East Side and that Serena was is muse
    The CW

    Suggested by leaht_2

    I'll never not be mad about this. This is truly one of the most shocking TV twists ever — mostly because it makes no sense unless Dan is literally an evil mastermind. Dan betrayed basically everyone over the course of Season 6, and then there was this final betrayal to prove that he was every bit the entitled creep he seemed to be that season — so I have no idea why the characters decided to keep him in their lives. 

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    The CW / Via youtube.com

    9. On One Tree Hill, when Dan shot Keith:

    The WB

    "I mean, we already knew he sucked, but when he killed his own brother, I couldn't believe it! I'm still pissed about it."

    —chasinglife09

    Watch the scene at 3:34 here (be warned, if you watch from the start, this clip contains a suicide):

    View this video on YouTube
    The WB / Via youtube.com

    10. On Buffy the Vampire Slayer, when Giles injected Buffy with a serum that took away her Slayer powers:

    Buffy looks at the syringe and says "you?" and Giles says it's a test given to each Slayer if they reach their eighteenth birthday
    The WB

    "When Giles betrayed Buffy with the power dampener for the council, that really got me."

    —hksincco

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    The WB / Via youtube.com

    11. On Pretty Little Liars, when Toby was revealed to be working with the A Team (though it was later revealed he was only doing it to protect Spencer):

    Mona says "I'll see you soon" to someone in a hoodie — the person turns and it's Toby
    Freeform

    "When Toby was A. It was so shocking and Spencer's reactions made it so much more emotional."

    —kal63

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    Freeform / Via youtube.com

    12. On The 100, when Clarke killed Bellamy:

    Clarke says, "Don't make me do this," and Bellamy replies that she won't shoot him, but she does and he dies
    The CW

    "I definitely didn’t see that coming."

    —kal63

    "Clarke shooting Bellamy — the guy she previously couldn't shoot to save the human race. He literally brought her back to life a week earlier, and she basically killed him for nothing. It’s still fresh, and it’s so absolutely unbelievable and cruel that I’m refusing to accept any of Season 7 as canon."

    —annahill95

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    The CW / Via youtube.com

    13. On Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., when Grant Ward was revealed to be part of Hydra:

    Grant kills Hand and frees Garrett
    ABC

    "Ward was such a bland, cookie-cutter character who was clearly set up to be part of the traditional main love story with Skye. The writers lulled you into believing that’s what he’d be for the whole show, then they completely pulled the rug out from everybody. Such an unexpected, smart move."

    —francisq

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    ABC / Via youtube.com

    14. On The Good Place, when Eleanor figured out they were actually in The Bad Place and that Michael was actually a demon:

    NBC

    "That laugh and smile that Ted Danson gives is truly one of the best moments of the series. I didn’t see the twist coming, and then when he reveals himself it’s so beautifully evil. Utter perfection."

    —megana459810788

    "That whole thing shook me. It was one twist I did not see coming at all. I kept wondering, 'How will they get out of this?' and was blown away. And rewatching it, there are clues. I love when you can go back and see the twist coming and it isn't some out-of-the-blue non-foreshadowed twist."

    —nels21

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    NBC / Via youtube.com

    15. On Angel, when Wesley betrayed Angel Investigations and took Angel's baby:

    holding baby Connor, Wes says he'll see everyone tomorrow — later Lorne tells Angel that Wes has been to see Holtz behind Angel's back and that he's taking the baby away for good
    The WB

    "When Wesley betrays Angel Investigations and takes Angel's kid away from him. There was build up, and Wes thought he was doing the right thing, but the scene where Angel tries to smother Wes in the hospital will never not be horrifying. It's awful — you love both characters and both of them have valid opinions. But the chilling calmness of Angel making sure Wes knows it's him and not Angelus before all the screaming and pain UGH. It's awful."

    —margolehane44

    The scene doesn't seem to be online, but you can watch the show on Hulu or Amazon — it occurs in Season 3, Episode 16.

    16. On Dollhouse, when Boyd was revealed to be the head of the Rossum Corporation and tried to kill Echo:

    Boyd says he wanted to keep Echo around because he liked her, but he doesn't need her alive — Echo says she loved him and Boyd says "I know"
    Fox

    "Jaw. Was On. THE FLOOR. I DID NOT see that twist coming IN THE SLIGHTEST, and when I say I gasped, I mean I actually audibly gasped so hard I choked on air. Just WOW."

    —williamthebloody

    "I have never felt betrayal like it. I was so angry at him!"

    —nadineh43dcd191c

    The scene isn't online, but you can watch the show on Hulu — the moment comes near the end of Season 2, Episode 12.

    17. On Elementary, when Irene Adler is revealed to be Moriarty:

    Irene says "bet you wish you'd run away with me when you had the chance" and Sherlock says "Moriarty"
    CBS

    "We spent the entire first season being led to believe that Sherlock’s lost love, Irene Adler, was murdered by a serial killer named Moriarty. Then we find out Irene has been alive the whole time and has been held prisoner for years. And just as it seems like all will be okay, it's suddenly revealed that Irene IS Moriarty, and she betrays Sherlock and Joan. The betrayal of someone you mourned for years just hits so hard."

    —carolinelee7185

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    CBS / Via youtube.com

    18. On Lost, when Michael shot Libby and Ana Lucia:

    Michael looks in horror at Ana Lucia's head falling after he shoots her
    ABC

    "When Michael shot Libby and Ana Lucia dead, released Linus, and turned Jack, Sawyer, and Kate over to The Others because he was working with them to get Walt back. He betrayed all his friends. Still not over it."

    —robbys44c525e94

    "I saw Ana Lucia's death coming 'cause it was classic Lost (redeeming or making a character deeper just to kill them), but I was rattled to my core when he shot Libby. So much of her story went untold and it broke my heart."

    —nels21

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    ABC / Via youtube.com

    19. On Game of Thrones, when Roose Bolton worked with the Freys and killed Robb during the Red Wedding:

    Roose tells Robb the Lannisters send their regards
    HBO

    "I was shook the first time. And then I was shook again when I read the books."

    —akylam

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    HBO / Via youtube.com

    20. On Killing Eve, when Eve stabbed Vilanelle right when you thought they might kiss:

    BBC

    "I don't know if this counts as a betrayal, but Eve stabbing Villanelle when they were about to make out was jaw-dropping."

    —bancot

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    BBC / Via youtube.com

    21. On Game of Thrones, when a bunch of the Night's Watch (including Olly) stabbed Jon to death:

    HBO

    "I’m sure a lot of people are going to go with the Red Wedding, but for me honestly it was when Olly took part in the group that killed Jon Snow. Jon had done so much for him and to do him so dirty like that...I honestly cheered when Olly got what he deserved."

    —theiam

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    HBO / Via youtube.com

    22. On 24, when Nina killed Jack's wife:

    Fox

    "Nina Myers from 24 was the OG betrayer. All season long, we think she's the most trusted friend of Jack Bauer and then boom! She's working with terrorists and kills his wife. Iconic."

    —jordanlyon2019

    "When Nina Myers on 24 turned out to be working with Alexis Drazen to kill Senator Palmer, and when she also killed Jack’s wife, Teri. My jaw dropped."

    —skybrooke5

    Watch the scene when he confronts her here:

    View this video on YouTube
    Fox / Via youtube.com

    23. On Jane the Virgin, when Rose killed her husband, then it was revealed that Rose was Sin Rostro:

    Rose pours concrete over her husband then calls Rafael, saying she thinks his father already left the country, as her real name is revealed on the screen
    The CW

    "When we found out that Rose was Sin Rostro!"

    —suitelife08

    "Any Sin Rostro plot twist, like any time she wore a mask and pretended to be someone else."

    —wuntchtimeisover

    "When she posed as Michael’s coworker and shot him on his wedding night!"

    —alittlebitanji

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    The CW / Via youtube.com

    24. On The Flash, when Jay turned out to be Zoom:

    Jay takes off his mask and says "well, this is a complication"
    The CW

    "I thought they would’ve learned their lesson after the whole Wells thing in Season 1. But they didn’t."

    —supermagic101

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    The CW / Via youtube.com

    25. And, of course, when the original Harrison Welles was revealed to be the Reverse Flash:

    Welles looks at the Reverse Flash suit
    The CW

    Welles was such an intriguing character who truly seemed to believe in Barry from the start, acting as a sort of Dumbledore-like guide. And then it turns out he's actually the villain of the season?! Honestly, a great reveal.

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    The CW / Via youtube.com

    26. On Glee, when Jesse revealed he'd been spying on New Directions:

    Fox

    "When Jesse St. James turned out to be spying on New Directions for rival group Vocal Adrenaline, and his entire relationship with Rachel had been a lie. I'll never forget the look on Rachel's face when Jesse betrayed her publicly and cracked an egg on her head. Everybody in the McKinley Glee Club had come to trust Jesse and was absolutely blindsided by his betrayal. Even though it had been foreshadowed throughout the season, it still came as a shock to see him turn on Rachel."

    —mattyc3

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    Fox / Via youtube.com

    27. On The Office, when Dwight went behind Michael's back and tried to get him demoted/fired:

    Michael tells Dwight Jan told him about their meeting and he knows what Dwight did
    NBC

    "When Dwight betrayed Michael and tried to take over as the head of Dunder-Mifflin Scranton. I was both shocked and appalled."

    —chise11

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    NBC / Via youtube.com

    28. On Downton Abbey, when O'Brien planted soap for Lady Cora to slip on, causing her miscarriage:

    O'Brien says the other half of the soap is under the bath, then kicks the soap out from under the bath
    ITV

    "On Downton Abbey, when O’Brien deliberately left the broken piece of soap on the floor for Lady Cora to slip on while getting out of the tub. That to me was a hard take because Cora trusted O’Brien as her Lady’s Maid, and for O’Brien to intentionally harm her after overhearing a conversation not about her was too much."

    —megana459810788

    Watch the scene at 3:17 here:

    View this video on YouTube
    PBS / Via youtube.com

    29. And finally, to end on a positive note...on Game of Thrones, when Sansa betrayed Littlefinger:

    Sansa asks how the accused answers the charges of treason, then turns to Littlefinger, who Arya kills
    HBO

    "I was shook. The way it was done made Baelish think Arya was the accused, and then it got completely turned around on him. 😂😂😂"

    —corinnemcphail97

    "That scene still brings me so much joy to think about...god I hated that man!!!"

    —kathyw410e2d4b7

    Watch the scene here:

    View this video on YouTube
    HBO / Via youtube.com

    Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments!

    Note: Submissions have been edited for length/clarity.