TV

5 Abandoned Plotlines TV Shows Just Left Hanging Without Any Explanation

5 Abandoned Plotlines TV Shows Just Left Hanging Without Any Explanation
Image credit: The CW, HBO, Hulu

They literally left us on read.

TV shows often introduce intriguing storylines, but just as often, they abandon those ideas halfway through, leaving viewers with a terrible aftertaste. Here are 5 TV shows that gave viewers amazing plot ideas and then hoped we would forget about them.

1. The Army in Lost

The second season of Lost introduced a storyline with great potential: Jack and Ana Lucia consider raising an army to confront the Others. However, this idea was quickly abandoned in subsequent episodes, with no real follow-through, only a brief mention that Jack and Ana are trying to raise an army, but no one really wants to join.

2. City of Qarth in Game of Thrones

In the second season, Daenerys spent a considerable amount of time in the trading city of Qarth, dealing with the political complexities of the city and dealing with the threats to her dragons. However, after the dragons were stolen, Daenerys rescued them and then left the city, and Qarth was almost never mentioned again.

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Considering that the Mother of Dragons spent a respectable amount of Season 2 in the city, the fact that Qarth and Quaithe's characters were left unexplored, despite their intriguing potential, is one of the show's biggest omissions.

3. Sam's Powers in Supernatural

In the early days of Supernatural, fans witnessed the evolution of Sam Winchester from a relatively normal young man to a powerful psychic with abilities that defied the laws of nature. By Season 4, Sam was relying on demon blood to make himself immune to demonic abilities and exorcizing powerful demons with Ruby's guidance.

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His addiction to demon blood enhanced his psychic powers, allowing him to defeat formidable demonic foes, but in Season 8, an attempt to purify him apparently stripped him of his psychic abilities, leaving it unclear whether they are just inactive or gone forever.

4. Mabel and Oscar in Only Murders in the Building

In Only Murders in the Building Season 1, Mabel, a directionless young woman, finds purpose in her podcast and develops a close bond with Oscar, a wrongfully convicted and innocent murderer.

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Their friendship seems to turn romantic by the end of the season, but in Season 2, Oscar doesn't return, leaving viewers without an explanation but giving Mabel more opportunities for a new boyfriend/girlfriend plotline with each season.

5. Dark Betty in Riverdale

Riverdale introduced dozens of outrageous storylines, including Season 1's bizarre Dark Betty arc, where mild-mannered Betty Cooper transforms into a dark-wigged, ruthless alter ego.

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At first, it seemed that Dark Betty would be a hindrance to the heroine, but in Season 2, her character takes a different turn and becomes a sexy webcam girl. All in all, the storyline was abruptly abandoned (for good?) in Season 3 without a proper farewell.