29 Storylines From These TV Shows That Were So Frustrating Or Awful That They Should Be Erased From The Show

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which TV storylines were so bad, they would cut them out entirely. Here are some of the best reponses:

Warning: There are obviously BIG spoilers ahead!

1.First, on Stranger Things, when Eleven went to find her sister, and we spent an entire episode with Kali and her friends, only for that group and Kali to not be mentioned again (for now).

Suggested by: katiem4493674a4

Suggested by: katiem4493674a4

Netflix

2.And on Stranger Things, when Jason terrorized Lucas, Eddie, and their friends and blamed the Hellfire Club for Chrissy's murder.

<div><p>"I would erase Jason's entire storyline. Even though it added tension to the season, it felt like the stakes in the main plot were already so high the show didn’t need it. Every time he was on the screen, it felt like time filler, and the episodes were already so long!"</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/buzzybuzz17" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:buzzybuzz17;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">buzzybuzz17</a></p></div><span> Netflix</span>

3.On Criminal Minds, when Spencer Reid was arrested and sent to prison after being accused of drug trafficking and murder.

<div><p>"Like I understand they wanted Spence to have a change and unexpected storyline, but it was so unnecessary and annoying. It was so hard for me to continue the season because we knew he didn’t do anything he went to prison for and to make him doubt himself felt forced. He’s my favorite character and I didn’t like Spencer’s storyline in that season at all!!"</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/peynor" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:peynor;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">peynor</a></p></div><span> CBS</span>

4.On Veronica Mars, when — in the final minutes of the revival season — Logan suddenly died after he finally got a happy ending with Veronica.

<div><p>"It was only done to give something for Veronica to be upset over and to prevent her well-deserved happy ending."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/senpainoticedu" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:senpainoticedu;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">senpainoticedu</a></p></div><span> Hulu</span>

5.On The 100, when Clarke made the decision to kill Bellamy in order to save Madi.

<div><p>"Clarke killing Bellany was bad, but actually, if I could, I would erase the whole last season. It was just trash."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/angelag4e427edbe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:angelag4e427edbe;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">angelag4e427edbe</a></p></div><span> The CW</span>

6.On Scandal, when Olivia was kidnapped and Fitz almost went to war in order to get her back.

<div><p>"It was so out of the storyline in my opinion. It was everything opposite of her character and added nothing to the show. Once it was over, nothing in the show ever references it again. Complete waste of an episode."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/barriv" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:barriv;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">barriv</a></p></div><span> ABC</span>

7.On The Wilds, when an entire group of boys were introduced in Season 2, and it took time away from the girls' storylines.

<div><p>"<i>The Wilds</i> getting canceled is still one of the most heartbreaking things, and I sadly have to place some of the blame on the introduction of the boys in Season 2. Listen, were some of the guys interesting characters? Sure, I guess. But I watched this show for the strong women, so watching their storylines get tossed aside so we could get to know these characters was annoying. I often wonder if the show would've gotten a Season 3 if the boys never showed up."</p><p>—<a href="https://buzzfeed.com/noradominick" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:noradominick;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">noradominick</a></p></div><span> Prime Video</span>

8.On The Walking Dead, when Beth was tragically killed moments after Rick, Daryl, Glenn, Maggie, and the rest of the team finally found her.

<div><p>"I would erase Beth's death altogether."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/repumore" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:repumore;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">repumore</a></p></div><span> AMC</span>

"I would erase Beth's death altogether."

repumore

AMC

9.On Pretty Little Liars, when it was revealed that Spencer had an unknown British twin sister, and she was behind everything.

<div><p>"I wasted seven years of my life for that episode? For that ending? For that crap? They wrapped up seven seasons of suspense in what felt like ten minutes of utter bullsh—!! Spencer’s twin? Are you kidding me!?? That show was so fun and they ruined it all and I have never went back to watch it! Anyone that knew me knew I watched every episode with my detective glasses!! I may have made it to the end but I wish I didn’t and I have never watched the series!"</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/rachway" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:rachway;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">rachway</a></p></div><span> Freeform</span>

10.On Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, when Mouse was chatting online with a grown man, meeting up with him, AND pretended to be his missing daughter.

<div><p>"As someone who stuck it out for the original <i>Pretty Little Liars</i>, I’m definitely all in on the new spinoff. But while there was a lot to love in Season 1, I HATED Mouse’s storyline with Steve. Let’s just forget about the whole thing where she pretends to be missing girls to give their fathers ~closure~ next season, shall we?! PLEASE?"</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/jenniferabidor" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:jenniferabidor;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">jenniferabidor</a></p></div><span> HBO Max</span>

11.On Gilmore Girls, when April showed up, revealed that Luke was her father, and the whole debacle resulted in Luke and Lorelai breaking up.

<div><p>"April could have brought out some good storylines and character development in Luke. Putting him in a situation to better appreciate Lorelai’s skill and experience of being a parent as well as showing how much he’s learned from being the closest thing to a consistent, reliable father figure for Rory. April could have helped Rory’s redemption too, reminding Rory of who she used to be, a teenage girl into science and schoolwork. But, no. It was all awful."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/jbmasta" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:jbmasta;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">jbmasta</a></p></div><span> Warner Bros</span>

12.On Grey's Anatomy, when Cristina repeatedly told Owen that she didn't want to have children, only for there to be an entire storyline about how he was mad she didn't want kids.

<div><p>"I’m currently binge watching <i>Greys Anatomy</i>, and rewatching it has made me realize how many of the storylines seemed forced or just dragged on too long. The relationship between Owen Hunt and Cristina Yang, all of it, being one of them."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/12neenee" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:12neenee;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">12neenee</a></p></div><span> ABC</span>

13.And on Grey's Anatomy, when Alex suddenly picked up and left Grey Sloan and wrote Jo a note about how he's back with Izzie and they have two kids.

<div><p>"I am not blaming the actor or the writers for Alex having to leave the show because I understand the circumstances. I just wish that my favorite character wasn't written as a bad person who would hurt Jo. I just wish he didn't go back to the person who hurt him so badly."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/s4bb472acb" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:s4bb472acb;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">s4bb472acb</a></p></div><span> ABC</span>

14.On Mom, when Jill developed an eating addiction, but the storyline was created just to hide Jaime Pressly's real-life pregnancy.

<div><p>"I understand it’s a sitcom and it doesn’t have much of a plot, but that change in Jill’s character seemed completely unnecessary."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/livypacy" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:livypacy;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">livypacy</a></p></div><span> CBS</span>

"I understand it’s a sitcom and it doesn’t have much of a plot, but that change in Jill’s character seemed completely unnecessary."

livypacy

CBS

15.On Killing Eve, when Villanelle was shot and killed in the last, like, five minutes of the series finale.

<div><p>"Listen, I never expected Villanelle and Eve to ride off into the sunset and for everything to be 100% okay, but killing Villanelle in the last five minutes was awful. I wish I could erase her death and change her ending so much because it really ruined the show."</p><p>—<a href="https://buzzfeed.com/noradominick" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:noradominick;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">noradominick</a></p></div><span> BBC America</span>

16.On Game of Thrones, when Daenerys suddenly went mad, burned down King's Landing, and was then killed.

<div><p>"Daenerys' ending made no sense whatsoever. Her entire character arc since the beginning of the show was that she wanted to help the common people from getting taken advantage of by the rich and powerful. People followed her, not because they were forced to, but because they wanted to and believed in her. She was a strong independent woman when that was not the norm. However in Season 8 they destroyed her character. She was no longer written to be kind or caring about regular people. They made her to be a mad queen who has to resort to begging Jon not to tell anyone his true parentage. She deserved better and we, as the fans, deserved a better and more coherent ending to the show."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/juvebuffon" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:juvebuffon;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">juvebuffon</a></p></div><span> HBO</span>

17.On Supernatural, when the show decided to bring back Mary Winchester, even though a big part of Sam and Dean's character arcs dealt with coming to terms with her death.

<div><p>"Bringing Mary back really ruined the show for me! I didn't love the Men of Letters but it was tolerable, but Mary — no thank you. I'd also like to add that I HATED the way they ended the show."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/rayne388" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:rayne388;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">rayne388</a></p></div><span> The CW</span>

18.On Glee, when Rachel decided to give up her dream of starring in Funny Girl to pursue a role in a TV show.

<div><p>"I'll start with Rachel Berry fulfilling her dream of being a Broadway star only to decide it's boring and she wants to be on TV now."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/deadzy" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:deadzy;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">deadzy</a></p></div><span> Fox</span>

"I'll start with Rachel Berry fulfilling her dream of being a Broadway star only to decide it's boring and she wants to be on TV now."

deadzy

Fox

19.On Friday Night Lights, when Landry murdered Tyra's attacker, but then it was never addressed again after Season 2.

<div><p>"I mean, we have to go with the murder plot from Season 2 of <i>Friday Night Lights</i>. It was just so terrible all around, and then they just acted like it never happened."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/ericar46c6bf954" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:ericar46c6bf954;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">ericar46c6bf954</a></p></div><span> NBC</span>

20.On Chuck, when Sarah lost her memory and didn't remember her life with Chuck.

<div><p>"Anything involving the last part of the series where Sarah loses her memory."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/aleveria" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:aleveria;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">aleveria</a></p></div><span> NBC</span>

"Anything involving the last part of the series where Sarah loses her memory."

aleveria

NBC

21.On Angel, when Cordelia had a brilliant and beautiful character arc, only to get pregnant, become evil, fall into a coma, and be written out of the show.

<div><p>"Cordelia went from a spoiled, self-involved girl to a badass demon fighter. Then she had a totally inappropriate relationship with Angel's teenager, got pregnant, became evil, and was unfairly written out of the show by being put into a coma. Totally out of character for her and an absolute insult to fans of the show."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/facebook_10153089943587029" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:facebook_10153089943587029;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">facebook_10153089943587029</a></p></div><span> Warner Bros</span>

22.On Shameless, when Debbie purposely got pregnant.

<div><p>"It felt like a different character from what they’d developed for her up to that point."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/designer419" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:designer419;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">designer419</a></p></div><span> Showtime</span>

"It felt like a different character from what they’d developed for her up to that point."

designer419

Showtime

23.On Kim's Convenience, when Janet and Gerald suddenly had all of this sexual tension and they kissed.

<div><p>"I loved their platonic friendship, and that ruined it for me."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/amandamills" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:amandamills;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">amandamills</a></p></div><span> CBC Television</span>

"I loved their platonic friendship, and that ruined it for me."

amandamills

CBC Television

24.On House, when House and Cuddy officially got together, and it ended up ruining their dynamic.

<div><p>"The tension they had worked so well! The will they/won’t they really drove the show, and once it was gone, it was not great."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/actuallyno" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:actuallyno;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">actuallyno</a></p></div><span> Fox</span>

25.On Sons of Anarchy, when the show decided to spend several episodes in Belfast searching for Abel, Jax's son, who was kidnapped.

<div><p>"The Ireland season! It was difficult to watch and never really came back up."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/b4b35c2c69" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:b4b35c2c69;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">b4b35c2c69</a></p></div><span> FX</span>

"The Ireland season! It was difficult to watch and never really came back up."

b4b35c2c69

FX

26.On One Tree Hill, when we suddenly found out that Clay had a son with his first wife that he'd forgotten about.

Suggested by: aaronweeks101

Suggested by: aaronweeks101

The CW

27.On True Blood, when people who could transform into panthers, aka "Werepanthers," showed up.

<div><p>"Unnecessary, gross, and I really could have done without that entire storyline."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/klynn214" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:klynn214;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">klynn214</a></p></div><span> HBO</span>

"Unnecessary, gross, and I really could have done without that entire storyline."

klynn214

HBO

28.On How I Met Your Mother, when the entire show was supposed to be leading up to Ted's happy ending with The Mother, only for Tracy to die and for him to end up with Robin, who divorced Barney.

<div><p>"Why did we spend a season of Robin and Barney planning and having a wedding if they were going to divorce?! I would have rather watched Ted and Tracy fall in love and get married. They should have had The Mother walk in to Ted telling the story to the kids and say, 'Is he telling you all the story of how we met again?' And then end."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/hairbymorgen" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:hairbymorgen;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">hairbymorgen</a></p></div><span> CBS</span>

29.And finally, on Riverdale, literally every single random musical number that has happened over the course of the series.

<div><p>"Please make it stop. I have to either mute it or fast-forward because it's unbearably cringe and impossible to listen to. And now I'm realizing how sad it is to be nearly 40 and complaining about a ridiculous show aimed at teenagers, but STILL."</p><p>—<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/circusmouse" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:circusmouse;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">circusmouse</a></p></div><span> The CW</span>

We can't fit everything into one post, so what other TV storylines were so frustrating, you wish you could just delete them entirely?

Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.