“Shocking” is one of those words that tends to be very subjective, often meaning different things to different people. To me, the very idea of something being shocking is that is pushes you back a bit. It acts as a sort of curve ball, throwing you off your game. The worst shocking moments tend to shock just for the reaction and the best shocking moments are the ones that shift a storyline, or show us an evolution (or de-evolution) of a character that we have grown very used to. A shock should never be used just to be used.
The one form of media that perhaps uses shocking moments more so than any other form is television. With the constant need to keep viewers on the edge of their seats and eagerly tuning in every week, the writers have to shake things up every once in a while and they do this by delivering moments that aim to shock. Sometimes, these work out quite well, but sometimes, they don’t.
On that note, I’ve decided to take a look back at several of television’s most shocking moments from the past year. Inevitably, we all watch different shows, so as much as you will feel the urge to leave a comment and ask me why I left off Boardwalk Empire, or tell me how much I suck for leaving off such and such a moment from such and such a show, realize that I probably didn’t see it. Just because I write for a dozen pop culture sites doesn’t mean I have played every game, have seen every show and watched every movie. It never fails to amaze me that some of you still think that.
Anyways, here are 6 shocking television moments from 2013.
