20 Underrated TV Shows You Need to Watch Right Now
TV SHOWS
From mind-blowing plot twists to subtle clues writers may have dropped intentionally (or not), these fan theories are just too convincing to ignore. Whether they rewrite character backstories or completely flip a show's ending on its head, here are 20 TV show fan theories that make way too much sense.
1. Breaking Bad: Walter White Didn’t Die
While the series finale shows Walt collapsing in a pool of blood, fans argue he didn’t actually die. There’s no definitive shot confirming his death—only a fade-out. Some speculate he was arrested and put into witness protection… which ties into another theory that he later becomes Hal, the dad from Malcolm in the Middle. Vince Gilligan even joked about this crossover, fueling the theory further.
2. Friends: Phoebe Was Homeless and Imagined the Whole Show
This dark theory suggests that Friends is a figment of Phoebe’s imagination. The six friends live in impossibly large apartments in New York City, are always available to hang out, and have perfect sitcom lives—except for Phoebe, who has the most traumatic backstory. Some fans believe she watched them from the street and created the entire show in her mind, imagining herself as one of them.
3. Stranger Things: Eleven Will Become the Villain
As Eleven’s powers grow and her emotional trauma deepens, fans believe she may eventually become the ultimate antagonist—possibly even the next version of Vecna. The more she taps into her rage and darkness, the more it mirrors Henry/One’s origin. Her connection to the Upside Down also hints at a destiny that could turn her against her friends in the end.
4. The Office: Toby Is the Scranton Strangler
In a long-running Office subplot, the Scranton Strangler is caught and convicted—but some fans think Toby, the mild-mannered HR rep, is the real killer. He served on the jury and later expressed doubts about the verdict. He’s quiet, lonely, and often dismissed. Could the world’s most boring office worker actually be a secret serial killer?
5. Game of Thrones: Bran Was the Night King All Along
This fan theory suggests Bran warged back in time and became the Night King in an attempt to stop the White Walkers—only to be trapped in that form. It would explain the Night King's fixation on Bran and how he always seemed to know where people would be. The show never confirmed this, but the connections are compelling.
6. SpongeBob SquarePants: Each Character Represents a Deadly Sin
This theory claims that the main characters in SpongeBob SquarePants embody the seven deadly sins: SpongeBob (lust, for life), Patrick (sloth), Squidward (wrath), Mr. Krabs (greed), Plankton (envy), Sandy (pride), and Gary (gluttony). Once you view the show through this lens, their exaggerated personalities make eerie sense.
7. How I Met Your Mother: Barney is the Real Father
In the series finale, some fans believe Ted isn't actually the father of his kids—Barney is. They point out how Ted’s storytelling always centers around Robin, his long-lost love, and that the kids seem more interested in her than their actual mother. The theory posits that Barney is the dad, and Ted is the "fun uncle" telling a story to win Robin back.
8. Rick and Morty: Evil Morty Is the Original Morty
This theory claims that Evil Morty isn’t just any Morty—he’s Rick’s original Morty who was abandoned, causing him to turn evil. The idea of a genius Morty who becomes disillusioned with the Ricks fits with the show’s nihilistic themes. It would also explain why Evil Morty is so much more strategic than others.
9. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Will Is Actually Dead
One of the darkest theories on this list: Will actually died in the fight that brought him to Bel-Air, and the entire show is a fantasy version of heaven where he gets to live the life he never had. The cab driver (played by the show's theme singer) could be a Grim Reaper figure. The theory adds an eerie layer to a lighthearted show.
10. Dexter: Dexter Is Actually Dead the Whole Time
Some fans theorize that Dexter actually died in the first episode, and everything that follows is his own personal purgatory. The show’s surreal tone, his constant inner monologue, and his inability to form real human connections all support the idea that Dexter is stuck in a hell of his own making.
11. The Simpsons: Homer’s Been in a Coma Since 1993
In a Simpsons episode from 1993, Homer falls into a coma. Some fans believe he never woke up—and that’s why the show became increasingly absurd afterward. From celebrity cameos to impossible plotlines, this theory blames everything on Homer’s subconscious imagination while in a coma.
12. WandaVision: Wanda Created the Entire MCU Multiverse
This theory posits that Wanda’s reality-bending breakdown in WandaVision caused the splintering of the multiverse itself. Her power surge lines up with the multiversal chaos in Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. If true, Wanda may be the most powerful—and dangerous—being in the MCU.
13. The Mandalorian: Grogu Is a Clone of Yoda
Given Grogu’s mysterious origins and the Empire’s interest in cloning, fans have theorized he might be a direct clone of Yoda. His immense power and silence mirror Yoda’s demeanor, and the cloning subplot in The Mandalorian hints at something much bigger than just “a foundling.”
14. Stranger Things: The Upside Down Is the Future
Instead of being an alternate dimension, some fans believe the Upside Down is a post-apocalyptic version of Hawkins in the future. Its decayed buildings and frozen state (locked on the day Will disappeared) suggest a timeline rather than a parallel world. If true, the gang might be fighting a version of their own fate.
15. Riverdale: It’s All a Book Written by Jughead
As the show spirals into increasingly bizarre plots, fans speculate that the entire series is actually a fictional story being written by Jughead, who is portrayed as a writer. This would explain the over-the-top drama and strange tonal shifts. It may all be metafiction—a story within a story.
16. Lost: The Island Was Purgatory (Sort of)
Although the creators denied it, the theory that the Island is a kind of purgatory has never died. The strange time warps, supernatural elements, and focus on redemption arc themes strongly support the idea that the survivors are working through unfinished business before moving on to the afterlife.
17. BoJack Horseman: The Show Takes Place in the Afterlife
Fans suggest that BoJack’s surreal world—where animals talk, reality bends, and no one ages quite normally—is actually a form of purgatory or limbo. BoJack is stuck reliving his regrets, trying to come to terms with his failures before he can finally let go. It fits with the show’s deeply existential tone.
18. The Walking Dead: Rick Is Still in a Coma
This theory goes all the way back to episode one, suggesting that Rick never actually woke up from his coma, and everything in the show is his brain’s interpretation of the apocalypse. It would explain why the world escalated so quickly and why some characters and events feel dreamlike or disjointed.
19. Sherlock (BBC): Moriarty Was a Creation of Sherlock’s Mind
Some fans think Moriarty, the infamous villain, is a figment of Sherlock’s imagination—an embodiment of his self-destructive tendencies and genius gone unchecked. The show often plays with reality, and Sherlock’s substance abuse and unstable mental state could mean his greatest enemy is actually himself.
20. The Big Bang Theory: Sheldon Has Undiagnosed PTSD
Rather than simply being quirky or on the autism spectrum, some fans believe Sheldon is a victim of childhood trauma and exhibits signs of PTSD. His extreme need for control, strict routines, and fear of abandonment all point to someone trying to cope with unresolved emotional damage.
🎬 Final Thoughts
These fan theories might sound outlandish, but sometimes the wildest ideas are the ones that make the most sense—especially when you start connecting the dots. Whether you believe them or not, they definitely add a new layer of fun to rewatching your favorite shows.