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The best spoilers, twists, and surprises are different experiences on television than any other medium. Some are payoffs years in the making. Others rely on deft serialized storytelling to deliver maximum impact. Still more count on the intimate relationship between viewers and characters.

And yet some twists barely need any time at all. On the list below, there are moments fans have been waiting for since the first episode, as well as scenes pulled directly from the first episode. Some surprises are good for just the one episode in which they’re unveiled. You never know when something big is going to happen on TV, nor do you know how that twist might affect the future.

Read More:The Top 10 TV Shows of 2017

Twists are a big risk so they should be respected accordingly. Because they can irreparably ruin a show or make it come alive, it takes skill and foresight...

Last weekend, I got a group of friends together to play a few sports games. We hung out, ate some pizza, and played a number of matches throughout the day. As you might have guessed (since you’re reading this review), one of the games we spent a good chunk of time with was NBA 2K18. For hours, we had fun doing nothing but going back and forth, taking turns by passing the controller around. There were blowouts, there were close games (one even went to overtime), and in the end, I walked away feeling like NBA 2K18 was one of the best party games I played this year.

Then the next day, I sat down to fool around in the rest of the modes, and get a full taste of what developer Visual Concepts had to offer. I was completely ready to give NBA 2K18 a great review based...

Ah, the gotcha moments: Some of the most memorable scenes on television are the ones that no one sees coming. They sweep you off your feet and slam you to the floor. You’re appalled, angered, overjoyed, jumping up and down or utterly speechless. These are TV’s most shocking moments, and 2017 has already seen its fair share of stunning twists.

Below, we’ve collected the most shocking scenes of the year so far. Some are dramatic and overpowering. Others are hilarious and exciting. The only mandate is that they happened on TV in the past six months, so sit back, relax, and prepare to be stunned all over again… and again, and again, and again.

[Editor’s Note: We’ve done our best to keep spoilers out of the bolded titles and photos, but read the explanations with caution if you’re worried about being exposed to major secrets.]

“Twin Peaks” – The Arrival

Literally everything about “Twin Peaks” has been surprising — Dougie, talking heads floating through space, its very existence — but when “The Return” revealed a character we’ve never seen before, her arrival changed the game forever.

The Performer | Billie Piper

The Show | Penny Dreadful

The Episode | “Memento Mori” (June 21)

The Performance | Seething with jealousy after spying his betrothed out painting the town with pretty boy Dorian, the Creature intended to demand that his fiancée behave like his fiancée. But when push came to shove, it wasn’t the green-eyed monster who did the shoving but Lily. Careening from fluttery fear to blistering cruelty to righteous outrage, the erstwhile Brona at last exposed her true nature — and her awareness of it — to “Mr. Clare.” And her portrayer? Lord almighty, Piper spat out series creator John Logan’s brutal monologue with such power,...

'The Artist' and George Clooney were among big winners Sunday night.

By Eric Ditzian

George Clooney at the 2012 Golden Globes

Photo: Robyn Beck/Afp/Getty Images

The 2012 Golden Globe Awards took over Hollywood on Sunday evening (January 15) with Ricky Gervais once again at the helm and all of Tinseltown in his joke-slinging sights. A much more staid affair than last year's show - save for some of the host's zingers and Seth Rogen's reference to his penis — the ceremony capped a long week of statuette-accepting and speech-giving ahead of next month's Oscars.

"The Artist" further solidified its spot at the front of the awards-season pack with three wins (including Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical) and "The Descendants" (Best Motion Picture — Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture...

'The Artist' and George Clooney were among big winners Sunday night.

By Eric Ditzian

George Clooney at the 2012 Golden Globes

Photo: Robyn Beck/Afp/Getty Images

The 2012 Golden Globe Awards took over Hollywood on Sunday evening (January 15) with Ricky Gervais once again at the helm and all of Tinseltown in his joke-slinging sights. A much more staid affair than last year's show - save for some of the host's zingers and Seth Rogen's reference to his penis — the ceremony capped a long week of statuette-accepting and speech-giving ahead of next month's Oscars.

"The Artist" further solidified its spot at the front of the awards-season pack with three wins (including Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical) and "The Descendants" (Best Motion Picture — Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture...

Chicago – Last week we covered several of the more notable rookie programs of the just-passed TV year and their inaugural TV-on-dvd season sets. This week, we’re back with a few of the veterans of the field, three shows that have never become critical smashes but have all developed their own devoted followings for good reason.

ABC’s “Brothers and Sisters,” NBC’s “Chuck,” and The CW’s “Supernatural” have all recently had a complete season released on DVD in anticipation of their return to their respective networks in a few weeks. Like the programs themselves, the releases are a bit hit-and-miss but all probably more worthwhile than you think. Let us guide the way.

“Brothers and Sisters: The Complete Fourth Season”

DVD Rating: 3.5/5.0

Since people first started basking in the golden hue of their television, the family soap opera has been a regular part of the overall schedule.