Top 10 Times You Missed Foreshadowing Details on TV Shows
#10: A Psychic Predicts Sheldon & Amy’s Nobel Win
“The Big Bang Theory” (2007-19)
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In the emotional final scene, the gang watches Sheldon and Amy achieve their lifelong dream of winning a Nobel Prize. However, it seems that this ending may have been teased back in season seven. When Penny and Sheldon hit a crossroads in life, they end up visiting a psychic. She tells Sheldon that once he fully commits to his relationship, everything else will fall into place. And remind us, where do Shamy come up with their super-asymmetry discovery? Talk about right on the nose. We guess that this whole clairvoyance thing might not be utter “malarkey” after all, eh, Sheldon?
#9: Littlefinger Foresaw a Grim Future
“Game of Thrones” (2011-19)
In season four, we see Petyr Baelish give his stepson, Robin Arryn, a rather bleak pep talk. While urging him to take control of his own life, he reminds him that death is always looming and even provides some rather ominous examples. In hindsight, some avid GoT fans may have noticed that he accurately predicted the circumstances that lead to the demise of several characters later on. His speech already seems to reference King Joffrey’s prior death at the Purple Wedding, but could also foreshadow Walder Frey’s dinner table downfall. It also alludes to how Tyrion strangles Shae in bed and later kills his father while on the toilet. It’s a shame he couldn’t predict what awaited him in season seven though.
#8: A Humerus Foreshadowing
“Arrested Development” (2003-19)
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This sitcom was as sly as it was funny when it came to foreshadowing motifs. In season two, several clues pointed toward Buster’s life-changing accident, where a seal, yes, you heard us correctly, bites off his hand. Some notable examples include his joy at being reunited with his hand-shaped chair, and the bench he sits on, where only “Arm” and “Off” are visible from the words “Army Officers”. Another genius bit of foreshadowing led to the uncovering of the company’s mole in season three. The writing was literally on the banana stand, and Hel-loh "Annyong" Bluth’s t-shirt all along.
#7: The Foretelling of Finn’s Arm
“Adventure Time” (2010-18)
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“Adventure Time” follows Finn the human and his magical bestie Jake the Dog, as they explore the land of Ooo. During their adventures, they’d cross paths with alternate versions of themselves. But strangely, other Finns were usually shown to be missing an arm while our Finn undoubtedly had both. The writers kept this mystery up for six seasons. Then in “Escape from the Citadel” it finally happens and Finn loses his arm to the Grass Sword. It might not have been the most subtle use of foreshadowing, but it certainly kept audiences captivated as they continued to search for answers.
#6: What Did Sam & Dean’s Mom Do?
“Supernatural” (2005-20)
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Sam Winchester didn’t get a chance to know his mother since she was killed six months after he was born. But when he encounters her in ghost form back in season one, she apologizes to him for some unknown reason. It all becomes clear in season four when we learn about her deal with the demon Azazel. To resurrect her new fiancé, John, and live a normal life, Mary grants Azazel entry to her home in ten years. Due to her grief she doesn’t question the full terms and conditions of the agreement. This essentially uncovered the catalyst for the entire series.
#5: Willow’s First Coming Out Story
“Buffy The Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
When Willow came out in season four, some fans felt that it felt forced. But it went on to give us one of the series’ greatest power couples. And it was actually foreshadowed earlier on. In the season three episode, “Doppelgängland”, a spell gone wrong creates a vampire version of the redhead. When Willow first sees her blood-sucking doppelganger, she makes some interesting remarks … Angel then tries to confirm that vampire Willow might share more than just appearances with the OG. Could this have been Willow’s first attempt at coming out and we just missed the signs?
#4: Nibbler’s Shadow
“Futurama” (1999-2013)
“Futurama” creator Matt Groening is known for his complex and intricate storylines, but this one is a true testament to his genius. In the pilot episode, Fry awakens in the 31st century after accidentally falling into a cryogenic tube. Or at least that’s what we thought. But if you return to that life-changing moment from the first episode, you’ll notice a mysterious shadow cast on the wall. It’s not until season four that the shadow’s owner is finally revealed and it’s a huge plot-altering moment. According to Groening, the pilot is filled with plenty of seeds, planted for a greater payoff later.
#3: The Mom’s Fate
“How I Met Your Mother” (2005-14)
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We waited nine seasons for Ted to meet the titular mother, only for her to pass away in one of the most divisive series finales of all time. However, it might have come as less of a shock, had we spotted the clues along the way, and they were plentiful - from Ted’s gut-wrenching monologue at the end of “Time Travelers” or Tracy’s off-hand comment in “Vesuvius”. Some were more subtle though, such as song choices, a neighboring headstone in season six’s “Tailgate”, or even Ted’s favorite book. Perhaps we chose to miss the signs because we simply didn’t want it to be true.
#2: The Significance of Light & Dark
“Lost” (2004-10)
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Some fans think that the writers of “Lost” made it all up as they went, but they actually had a lot of significant plot points mapped out. And by providing small inklings along the way, they kept fans hooked. In season one, while playing backgammon with Walt Lloyd, John Locke has a rather unique way of explaining the rules of the game. But it turns out that he wasn’t just talking about backgammon, as he pretty much encapsulates the central themes of the entire series. It also foreshadowed the rivalry between Jacob and the Man in Black seasons later. According to executive producer, and co-creator Damon Lindelof, this was no coincidence.
#1: The Pre-telling of the Plane Crash
“Breaking Bad” (2008-13)
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Throughout season two, audiences were left to decipher the meaning behind the black and white teaser intros that appeared in several episodes. However, in the season finale, it all became tragically clear. Jane’s father, who’s an air controller, accidentally causes a plane crash due to his grief over his deceased daughter. The show managed to simultaneously keep us in the dark while also spelling out this impending disaster through those cold opens. If you put the episode titles together, the devastating incident is revealed. The emblematic pink teddy bear is also found among the ruins, which becomes a symbol for the consequences of Walt’s actions.
