10 Complicated TV Shows That People Pretend To Understand (But Really Don't)

May 11, 2024, 2:50 p.m.

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10 Complicated TV Shows That People Pretend To Understand (But Really Don't)

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Summary Sometimes, confusing TV shows gain popularity due to their complexity, achieving cult status among select audiences.

A series can spiral out of control due to implausible plotlines or intersecting narratives that fail to tie together.

Viewers may lose interest in a show with confusing storytelling, leading to cancellation and missed redemption.

Often, it's the most complicated TV show that people act like they understand when, in reality, few audience members grasp what the show is about. For some television genres, like sci-fi and fantasy, this is expected as magic systems and the creation of new universes can quickly grow layered. However, in other cases, the series becomes impossible to follow for no reason. This could be due to the creators running out of plotlines and inventing implausible ones to keep the show running. Or, because there are so many intersecting narratives there's no clean way to tie them all together.

There are rare occasions when a series gains popularity merely because it's confusing, achieving cult status for the very reason that certain audiences avoid the show at all costs.

A plot isn't necessarily bad just because it's confusing, but if a show challenges the viewer in all the wrong ways, they might get bored with the series and stop watching. Sometimes, TV shows never recover from awful storylines, and they're canceled before they can redeem themselves or prove that the payoff of the complexity was going to be worth it. There are rare occasions when a series gains popularity merely because it's confusing, achieving cult status for the very reason that certain audiences avoid the show at all costs.

Related 10 TV Shows With The Most Complex & Confusing Storylines These 10 TV shows started off with interesting premises but ended up being criticized by audiences over their confusing and complicated storylines.

10 Lost (2004 - 2010)

A show that incorporates too many timelines & open-ended mysteries

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buy Not available Not available Not available 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. Cast Evangeline Lilly , Naveen Andrews , Henry Ian Cusick , Daniel Dae Kim , Harold Perrineau , Dominic Monaghan , Emilie de Ravin , Jorge Garcia , Josh Holloway , Michael Emerson , Terry O'Quinn , Matthew Fox , Ken Leung , Elizabeth Mitchell , Yunjin Kim Release Date September 22, 2004 Seasons 6 Directors Jack Bender , Stephen Williams Expand

Throughout the six-season run, there were several Lost moments that made viewers quit the show. Most of these scenes and storylines didn't serve the greater purpose and themes of the series but were an attempt to create an air of confusion and unreality. The show's first season set up a narrative with interconnecting threads that would slowly be revealed over time. However, it soon turned out that many of these hinted plots went nowhere and were included as misdirects from the biggest mystery, which was the island itself.

There were certain parts of Lost with good payoffs, like Desmond's arc and his knowledge of the future.

One of the biggest moments when Lost went off the rails was when time travel was introduced. This is remembered as the instance when Lost stopped being rooted in reality and made viewers question where the show was going to end up. There were certain parts of Lost with good payoffs, like Desmond's arc and his knowledge of the future. However, the Lost series finale incurs much debate among fans to this day about whether the characters were dead for the entire show, and how much of the story happened versus what occurred in limbo.

9 Twin Peaks (1990 - 2017)

David Lynch's masterpiece of supernatural surrealism

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buy Not available Not available Not available Conceived by Mark Frost and David Lynch in 1990, Twin Peaks is a supernatural mystery-drama series that brings FBI Agent Dale Cooper to the quiet town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of a young woman named Laura Palmer. As Dale continues his investigation of her death, he learns that Laura's life wasn't as she advertised it, and the town itself is hiding far more secrets than they let on. The show received a revival for a third and final season two decades later to resolve the cliffhanger left at the end of the second season. Cast Russ Tamblyn , Sheryl Lee , Kimmy Robertson , Dana Ashbrook , Grace Zabriskie , Everett McGill , Ernie Hudson , Mädchen Amick , Ray Wise , Kyle MacLachlan Release Date May 23, 1990 Seasons 3 Writers David Lynch Directors Mark Frost

Few David Lynch projects can be taken at face value, and though Twin Peaks is full of twists and turns from beginning to end, it's one of Lynch's works that's the easiest to follow. Unlike any murder mystery ever seen on television, Twin Peaks intersperses the investigation with forays into other worlds and seemingly random locations that only make sense in the show’s final moments. Lynch makes the audience wait before any of the plots intersect and the answers start to come together.

Season 3 is set 25 years after the events of season 2, meaning there's an enormous gap in the story that's slowly filled in throughout the episodes. Additionally, watching the companion film, Fire Walk With Me, answers some questions, but ultimately leaves the audience even more confused than the season 2 finale did. Despite the search for Laura Palmer's killer being the thrust of the show, once the killer is found, it's only the beginning.

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8 Westworld (2016 - 2022)

In Westworld androids allow humans to live out their wildest, and darkest, fantasies

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buy Not available Not available Not available HBO’s Westworld is a dystopian science fiction western that is based on the Michael Crichton-directed film, Westworld. The series centers on high-paying guests who visit a western theme park full of human-like androids to live out wild fantasies. Westworld would later introduce a futuristic mid-21st century where the world is run by an artificial intelligence called Rehoboam. The series was incredibly popular during its four-season run but was canceled by HBO in November 2022. Cast Anthony Hopkins , Evan Rachel Wood , Shannon Woodward , Ed Harris , James Marsden , Jimmi Simpson , Jeffrey Wright , Tessa Thompson , Thandie Newton , Rodrigo Santoro Release Date October 2, 2016 Seasons 4 Showrunner Jonathan Nolan , Lisa Joy

However, there was continual confusion about the nature of organic life and when the hosts, androids, in the show crossed the line from being robots to achieving consciousness and full autonomy.

When Westworld season 5 was canceled before the show could reach its epic conclusion, fans of the series were devastated, and for good reason. Westworld went through plenty of ups and downs throughout its run, with an incredible season 1 that was difficult to live up to, but it was only getting stronger as it neared its end. However, there was continual confusion about the nature of organic life and when the hosts, androids, in the show crossed the line from being robots to achieving consciousness and full autonomy.

Westworld is a dystopian reimagining of where technological innovation might be heading, but the essential question of what determines humanity is always relevant to social and political discussions. There are some truly evil characters in the series that make the skin crawl but are essential because they're capable of anything. This means there's no limit to who they will control or what they'll make an android do. Any character might reveal themselves to be something they're not or could have ulterior motives from the moment they step on screen.

7 Mr. Robot (2015 - 2019)

Cybersecurity and questions of morality are grappled with in this reality-bending thriller

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buy Not available Not available Not available Young computer programmer Elliot struggles with drug abuse, an anti-social disorder, and paranoia, and connects to people by hacking them. When he is approached by a mysterious anarchist calling himself Mr. Robot, he joins a team of hacktivists called fsociety determined to take down the world's biggest corporations. Cast Christian Slater , Portia Doubleday , Rami Malek , Jas Anderson , Carly Chaikin , BD Wong , Michael Cristofer Release Date June 24, 2015 Seasons 4 Directors Sam Esmail Showrunner Sam Esmail

Like any good TV show with an unreliable narrator, Mr. Robot blurs the line between reality and delusion so well that it's easy to mistake one for the other. Rami Malek made waves with his performance as Elliot, the young man who works as both an engineer for a terrible megacorporation and a hacker who wants to take them down. Elliot is so torn between his desire to do the right thing and his fear of retribution, that his mind creates a safe place for him to displace these negative feelings.

Throughout season 1, hints are dropped about Elliot’s state of mind and the inconsistencies in his memory and experience in the world. After the shocking reveal at the end of season 1, Mr. Robot didn't rest on its laurels and used this plot twist to drive the story forward. Instead, it only became more complex and involved as Elliot began questioning everything in his life. By incorporating elements of film noir and the thriller genre, Mr. Robot can be a stressful show because it leaves the viewer feeling as if they're always one step behind.

6 The Leftovers (2014 - 2017)

One of HBO's most existential narratives

The Leftovers The Leftovers is a three-season drama that follows a group of people as they deal with the effects of the sudden disappearance of 2% of the word's population. It was created by Lost co-producer Damon Lindelof and Election writer Tom Perrotta, with famous actors such as Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler, Margaret Qualley, and Justin Theroux in the ensemble cast. Cast Justin Theroux , Amy Brenneman , Christopher Eccleston , Liv Tyler , Chris Zylka , Margaret Qualley , Carrie Coon , Emily Meade , Amanda Warren , Ann Dowd , Michael Gaston , Max Carver Release Date June 29, 2014 Seasons 3 Streaming Service(s) HBO Max

The Leftovers begins and ends with a question that's never truly answered, but by the end of the show, the audience and the characters have accepted this fact. The series' inciting incident occurs when two percent of the world's population disappears without a trace and is never seen or heard from again. For some characters, this means their entire family is gone, and for others, their loved ones remain, but their whole world is inescapably altered. There is never a definitive explanation for where the missing people went, but The Leftovers concludes that this doesn't matter.

It's the acceptance of the unknown that heals these wounds, as The Leftovers incorporates plenty of mysteries without providing their answers.

The characters and audience are in desperate search of answers throughout the show's run, and by the final season, it's exhausting beyond belief. It's the acceptance of the unknown that heals these wounds, as The Leftovers incorporates plenty of mysteries without providing their answers. Each season poses a question and expects the viewer to understand that there are occurrences in life that will never make sense. This can be frustrating for audiences, but The Leftovers commits to its theme, refusing to compromise on its principles.

Watch The Leftovers on Max.

5 Heroes (2006 - 2010)

After a strong first season, the show slowly declined in quality

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buy Not available Not available Not available Heroes sees a number of people drawn to each other after a solar eclipse awakens incredible abilities in them. With their destinies seemingly intertwined, these evolved humans use their superpowers to influence the past, present, and future - for better and for worse. When a superpowered killer emerges who is stealing abilities from his victims, they must band together to stop him. Cast Hayden Panettiere , Santiago Cabrera , Jack Coleman , Tawny Cypress , Noah Gray-Cabey , Greg Grunberg , Masi Oka , Adrian Pasdar , Milo Ventimiglia , Zachary Quinto Release Date September 25, 2006 Seasons 4 Showrunner Tim Kring

Many of the issues with Heroes were not the fault of the show or the writers but of circumstance. The creators had a larger overarching plan for the show, but season 2 was cut short because of the 2007-2008 Writer's Guild of America Strike. This profoundly impacted the fate of Heroes and essentially meant the show's final two seasons were doomed. It initially garnered strong reviews because it subverted the superhero genre by giving regular people powers and examining what individuals would do with this responsibility in reality.

The attempted reboot in 2015, Heroes Reborn had many of the same problems that ultimately ended the series in 2010. Heroes started going off the rails when the show tried to explain where the superpowers came from with hidden conspiracies and introduced the concept of trading and losing powers. By season 4, it was almost impossible to keep track of who was the protagonist and who were the villains. As the upcoming Heroes show, Heroes: Eclipsed is confirmed, the new series will have to fix a lot of previous mistakes.

4 Doctor Who (1963 - Present)

The long-running sci-fi series that revolutionized the genre

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buy Not available Not available Not available Originally premiered in 1963, Doctor Who is a sci-fi series that follows a powerful being known as a Time Lord, referred to as the Doctor. Using an interdimensional time-traveling ship known as the TARDIS, the Doctor travels time and space with various companions as they solve multiple problems and help avert catastrophe as much as they almost cause it. Though the Doctor is always the same character, they experience regenerations, allowing them to be recast every few seasons as a unique immortal being with new personality traits. Cast Jenna Coleman , Jodie Whittaker , Alex Kingston , David Tennant , Matt Smith , Peter Capaldi Release Date November 23, 1963 Seasons 26 Franchise Doctor Who

Being on the air for over fifty years means that paradoxes were unavoidable.

Fans of Doctor Who don't watch the show expecting the science and rules of time and space travel to make sense, they watch the show to suspend their disbelief and go along for the ride. Back when the series premiered in 1963, it began as an educational tool for the children watching. However, today it's become a worldwide franchise that has inspired one of the most loyal fanbases of all time, despite some glaring flaws. Being on the air for over fifty years means that paradoxes were unavoidable.

However, over the past few years, some of the confusion didn't have to happen. Particularly during the years when Matt Smith portrayed the Doctor, and his seasons ended with explosive finales that relied on some spotty time travel rules. When the show passes to a new showrunner or head writer, it goes through many changes, as well as when a new actor takes over as the Doctor. In this way, it's easier to perceive Doctor Who as a new show every time a new Doctor appears, to lower expectations for consistent throughlines in the plot.

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3 Fringe (2008 - 2013)

Drawing comparisons to The X Files, Fringe takes its sci-fi concepts one step further

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buy Not available Not available Not available This sci-fi procedural follows the FBI's secretive Fringe Division and its agents Olivia Dunham, Walter Bishop, and Peter Bishop. Together, they investigate cases regarding strange events that threaten society, including cases of parallel universes, human experimentation, and other strange phenomena. Cast Joshua Jackson , Blair Brown , Anna Torv , John Noble , Leonard Nimoy , jasika nicole , Lance Reddick , Mark Valley , Seth Gabel Release Date September 9, 2008 Seasons 5 Directors Jeff Pinkner Showrunner Jeff Pinkner

Fringe is a great example of a show that got stranger and more disconnected from reality over time in a way that strengthened the show instead of making it worse. The series was a TV show that should not have been a crime procedural. When it tried to align with this genre type and formulaic storytelling, it struggled to find its footing and an audience. Fringe season 5 took the unprecedented approach of including a time skip by suspending the main characters in time and reawakening them in an unrecognizable world for their final adventure.

While it drew heavy comparisons to other FBI shows like The X Files, Fringe offered a unique perspective because it didn't wonder if strange phenomena were happening, but where and how. Fringe fully committed itself to a fantasy world where incredible technology and parallel dimensions exist. Of course, there were certain pitfalls with this approach because of the many villains and world-ending plots that were carried out that ended up contradicting each other. However, audiences eventually learned to go with the flow and let Fringe course correct whenever it needed to.

2 Dark (2017 - 2020)

A German surrealist series about violence and time travel

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buy Not available Not available Not available Netflix's Dark is a sci-fi thriller that follows the populace of a German town on the search for a missing child that quickly spins into a time-traveling journey into the heart of a conspiracy. The show's core follows four different families and follows them through different generations after they discover a wormhole near the local nuclear power plant. Cast Tamar Pelzig , Louis Hofmann , Moritz Jahn , Stephan Kampwirth , Christian Hutcherson , Karoline Eichhorn , Andreas Pietschmann , Maja Schöne , Deborah Kaufmann , Oliver Masucci , Jordis Triebel , Peter Benedict Release Date December 1, 2017 Seasons 3 Directors Jantje Friese Showrunner Jantje Friese

There are a plethora of TV shows about missing children and realistic fiction about detectives trying to unravel a mystery. However, Dark distinguishes itself, allowing the disappearance to be part of not a greater criminal conspiracy, but one that transcends the boundaries of time and space. Unlike other sci-fi shows that use fantastical elements as a means to create fun and adventure, Dark lives up to its name with storylines that aren't for those faint of heart.

However, the layered elements of Dark end up providing a well-earned conclusion by the series' end.

After a wormhole is discovered in the small German town Dark is set in, the number of timelines only grows throughout the three seasons. For viewers watching Dark expecting a concise narrative about small-town politics and drama, the plot is a rude awakening. However, the layered elements of Dark end up providing a well-earned conclusion by the series' end. It's not just the story that throws the audience off kilter when viewing the show, but the atmosphere, score, and cinematography. Everything is carefully curated to immerse the watcher and leave them off balance.

Related 20 Best Quotes From Netflix's Dark Dark, the first German series produced by Netflix, brought a lot of complex mysteries and the most profound quotes on time and fate.

1 The OA (2016 - 2019)

Netflix's short-lived sci-fi phenomenon

The OA (2016) Cast Brit Marling , Emory Cohen , Scott Wilson , Phyllis Smith , Alice Krige , Patrick Gibson , Brendan Meyer , Brandon Perea , Ian Alexander. Jason Isaacs Release Date December 16, 2016 Seasons 2 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Directors Zal Batmanglij , Andrew Haigh , Anna Rose Holmer

Brit Marling stars in The OA, which unfortunately was canceled after 2 seasons despite viewers' calls for renewal, meaning the cliffhanger ending will likely never be resolved. This isn't uncommon for Netflix originals, but with The OA, it seemed that season 2 had begun to resolve the most pressing questions from the show's first outing. The OA's story is so intriguing, despite its many threads, because of the presence of Prairie as an unreliable narrator. When she reappears after many years with her eyesight restored, the audience is as in the dark as the characters.

The OA season 2 introduced the concept of multiple dimensions which led to the addition of many new characters that were difficult to juggle at times. Telling the story of two separate dimensions and realities is automatically a dangerous prospect for a TV show because it can easily lose the audience this way. Had The OA continued, it might have continued to find its footing, but for now, the ending remains open to audience interpretation.