Top 30 Most Disturbing TV Episodes Because of What We Know Now

#30: “Robot Chicken’s Half-Assed Christmas Special”

“Robot Chicken” (2005-)

Only “Robot Chicken” would think to mix “Misery” with “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” This segment is naturally full of twisted moments, one of which has only become darker with age. Searching for a tied-up Linus, Snoopy dons a Batman costume. Everyone thus mistakes him for Val Kilmer, even if the getup is more Adam West than “Batman Forever.” When Snoopy gets too, well, snoopy, Sally sends him the way of Old Yeller. Hearing Linus say “Val Kilmer’s dead” wasn’t the same after the actor passed away from pneumonia in 2025, following his throat cancer diagnosis a decade earlier. Much like how Snoopy is a nonverbal character, Kilmer struggled to speak out loud during his final years, adding another unexpected parallel to this parody.

#29: “I Do, I Don’t”

“The Steve Harvey Show” (1996-2002)

In 2025, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs stood trial in a major sexual abuse case. While Combs was found guilty on some charges, a not guilty verdict was returned for the more serious ones. Nevertheless, it’s hard to look back at Combs’ media mentions throughout the years without considering certain things. This joke from “Supernatural” is one example. Alleged sex crimes aren’t the only controversy in Diddy’s career. He’s also been embroiled in the rumored East and West Coast rapper rivalry, which he tried to defuse with Snoop Dogg in a 1997 “Steve Harvey Show” appearance. The episode seemed like a response to Tupac’s 1996 murder. With the Notorious B.I.G. being gunned down weeks after this episode aired, though, the rivalry felt realer than ever.

#28: “Jared Has Aides”

“South Park” (1997-)

Jared Fogel’s cameo in “Community” is among the many that didn’t age terribly well. Conversely, this “South Park” episode has only grown more timely since its debut in 2002. While Fogel doesn’t voice himself, “South Park” inadvertently foretold the world turning on the former Subway spokesperson. Here, it’s all one big misunderstanding with the town thinking that Fogel wants to spread AIDS - the virus. In reality, Subway had a legitimate reason for dropping Fogel, who was convicted for his predatory actions in 2015. When “South Park” first aired this episode, part of the joke was that Jared Fogel seemed like the last celebrity who would be deemed controversial. Now it’s funny, not to mention unsettling, for how spot-on it was.

#27: “Chris Langham”

“The Muppet Show” (1976-81)

If you watch “The Muppet Show” on Disney+, you’ll notice that a couple of episodes are missing. The most notable omission is the episode hosted by comedian Chris Langham, who was a writer on the show. He even shared in an Emmy win for his writing contributions in 1981. While Langham wasn’t the biggest name, he filled in as the guest star when Richard Pryor dropped out at the eleventh hour. While Langham got the producers out of a tight spot, his presence ultimately hurt the episode’s legacy. Two years after his 2005 arrest, Langham was convicted of sexual abuse crimes and served several months. Although Disney claims certain episodes were pulled due to music rights, we doubt that Langham’s career-ending scandal wasn’t a factor.

#26: “Statute of Limitations”

“Touched by an Angel” (1994-2003)

The Season 2 finale of this drama series featured a young Paul Walker, who was a few years away from hitting it big with “The Fast and the Furious” franchise. Walker played Johnathan, who takes another character named Morgan to the prom. Although the couple is told to drive safely, Morgan’s sister Claudia gives them a bottle of booze before leaving. Claudia later finds their car has crashed. Morgan, who was behind the wheel, survives, but Johnathan doesn’t. In 2013, Walker lost his life in a car accident with Roger Rodas, who was driving. Unlike the “Touched by an Angel” episode, no alcohol or other substances played a role, but it’s impossible to rewatch without thinking about Walker’s tragic fate.

#25: “Eric’s Burger Job”

“That ‘70s Show” (1998-2006)

“That ‘70s Show” in its entirety doesn’t play the same given what we now know about actor Danny Masterson, who was convicted of sexual assault crimes in 2023. Some viewers may separate the actor from the character, but there are a few moments involving Steven Hyde where fiction blends with reality. The earliest example comes in a Season 1 episode as the gang tries to get jobs at a burger joint. When asked where they see themselves in five years, Hyde has a one-word answer: “prison.” He wasn’t far off. In fact, the assaults that led to Masterson’s conviction occurred in 2003, five years after this episode aired. It’d take another twenty years for Hyde’s premonition to reach the real world.

#24: “The Monstrous Monkee Mash”

“The Monkees” (1966-68)

The Monkees weren’t bigger than the Beatles, but they tried to make it happen with spinoff projects like this surreal show from the '60s. One of the most bizarre episodes involved a monster mash with the boy band disappearing one by one. Davy Jones is the first to go, with Peter Tork vanishing not long after. When Michael Nesmith gets separated from him, Micky Dolenz has to confront his fear of going solo. This sequence aligns with the order in which the band members died in real life. Jones passed away in 2012, followed by Tork in 2019, and then Nesmith in 2021. As of writing, Dolenz is the only living Monkee left. That’s the creepiest thing about this episode.

#23: “Blood Brothers”

“M*A*S*H” (1972-83)

Although “M*A*S*H” was a comedy on the surface, its wartime setting led to numerous dramatic moments that blindsided viewers. If there’s one episode that’s even sadder now, it’s “Blood Brothers,” featuring a then-unknown Patrick Swayze. The future superstar appeared as Private Gary Sturgis, who offers to donate his blood to a friend in the hospital. Inspecting his blood, though, the doctors find that Sturgis has leukemia. Sturgis’ fate is left ambiguous, but he isn’t optimistic about his survival. While Swayze didn’t get leukemia, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008. Like a true soldier, Swayze balanced work while seeking treatment. Unfortunately, it was clear that Swayze had limited time, which ran out after another year.

#22: “The End of the World”

“Trackdown” (1957-59)

Only lasting two seasons, “Trackdown” would likely blend in with this era’s countless other Western shows if it weren’t for one episode that became surprisingly relevant almost 60 years later. In an episode entitled “The End of the World,” a charlatan says that doomsday is on the horizon and he is their savior. The only way to prevent disaster is to build a wall and buy his crappy merch. Although his claims are outrageous, the townsfolk are easily duped. If you call him a fraud, he’ll threaten to sue. Guess what this conman’s name is? “Trump.” There are really only two differences. 1) Walter Trump pays for his crimes, facing arrest in the end. 2) This Trump doesn’t try to hide the fact that he’s balding.

#21: “It’s Only a Test”

“Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990-2000)

Shannen Doherty will be remembered for several roles, but Brenda Walsh put her on the map. In the first season of this decade-defining teen drama, Brenda fears the worst when she notices a lump in her breast. The episode revolves around the test that could change the course of Brenda’s life. Thankfully, the biopsy shows that there’s nothing wrong with Brenda, but the experience leaves her with a new outlook. Almost 25 years later, Doherty found herself in the same situation as Brenda, although her results sadly came back positive. While she was in remission by 2017, the cancer eventually resurfaced and spread, ending Dohety’s life in 2024. Doherty and this episode nonetheless played a significant role in raising breast cancer awareness.

#20: “Norm MacDonald/Theo James”

“Late Show with David Letterman” (1993-2015)

Although comedian Norm MacDonald received a multiple myeloma diagnosis in 2013, few were aware of his health issues until he died in 2021. Examining MacDonald’s career during this period, there were signs that his health was declining. In May 2015, MacDonald performed on “Late Show with David Letterman,” saying it would be his last time. The late-night talk show was ending its run that same month. Knowing that MacDonald was privately facing a health crisis, though, his parting words take on an even more bittersweet sentiment. Although MacDonald was a master of sarcasm, he tearfully parted with sincere words to his friend Dave. MacDonald lived another six years, but his final “Late Show” feels like a goodbye in more ways than one.

#19: “September 13, 1978”

“The Dating Game” (1965-21)

From Steve Martin to John Ritter, this classic game show featured several then-unknowns who would make headlines in the years following their episodes. Easily the most infamous was Rodney Alcala, aka The Dating Game Killer. By the time Alcala appeared as a contestant in 1978, he already had an arrest record with charges including assault and substance possession. Yet, Alcala concealed his secret life as a serial killer, repeatedly slipping through the hands of justice. Alcala not only competed on “The Dating Game,” but won. Despite this, bachelorette Cheryl Bradshaw quickly sensed something off about Alcala, refusing to go on the date. Few could imagine how right Bradshaw was until Alcala was arrested again in 1979, leading to his ultimate downfall.

#18: “Mork Meets Robin Williams” “Mork & Mindy” (1978-82)

Between his standup roots and headlining major motion pictures, Robin Williams’ ascension to superstardom arguably started on the small screen as an alien named Mork. In one of the “Happy Days” spin-off’s more meta episodes, Mork has a close encounter with Williams. It sounds like a silly premise, but audiences got a glimpse of the real Williams that wouldn’t truly hit us until the end of his life over 30 years later. When Mindy asks what it’s like to be famous, Williams opens up about the pressures a life in the spotlight brings. Reporting what he’s learned, Mork says that some celebrities are victims of their own fame, such as Elvis and Marilyn Monroe. Sadly, Williams would one day join this list of legends.

#17: “Finale”“Murder in Small Town X” (2001)

Mixing reality TV with murder mystery, this Fox series aired its final episode on September 4, 2001. The season’s winner was Ángel Juarbe Jr., a New York firefighter. Although Juarbe survived this search for a fictional killer, a tragic twist awaited. One week after “Murder in Small Town X” ended its run, Juarbe was among the first responders called upon during the World Trade Center attacks. He bravely gave his life in the midst of senseless chaos. Although it was initially believed that Juarbe died with the first tower, his body was uncovered at the neighboring Marriott Hotel, which also collapsed. While “Murder in Small Town X” wouldn’t return for a second season, the show’s fisherman statue was dedicated to Juarbe’s memory.

#16: “Don’t Make Me Over”“Family Guy” (1999-2003, 2005-)

“Family Guy” has something of a reputation for calling out celebrities well before they got cancelled. A standout is a 2005 episode when Stewie runs through a mall naked on a dare, claiming that he’s escaped from Kevin Spacey’s basement. When a writer pitched the joke, creator Seth MacFarlane was unfamiliar with the rumors circulating around about the Oscar-winning actor. As far as the public was concerned, that’s all they were at the time: rumors. To get a joke like this past the Standards department, it usually needs to be based on a widely talked about rumor or so outrageous that nobody could construe it as true. Fast-forward twelve years, the rumors might’ve contained more truth than even Stewie realized.

#15: “Sophia’s Choice” “The Golden Girls” (1985-92)

Contemplating their future, the four Golden Girls vow to stick together as they grow old, but Betty White’s Rose questions what’ll happen when only one remains. Sophia says she’ll be fine, although actress Estelle Getty was the first cast member to pass away, despite being younger than two of her co-stars. The seating arrangement in this scene comes off as strangely prophetic. From the audience’s perspective, Getty was seated furthest to the left, followed by Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Betty White. Each actress would pass away in this order. It’s especially unsettling that Rose is the one who brings up the idea of being left alone. For more than a decade, White was the sole living Golden Girl until Rose joined her friends.

#14: “Requiem For a Hairbag” “Hill Street Blues” (1981-87)

Best known for her work in “Poltergeist,” actress Dominique Dunne’s career was tragically cut short following the taping of a “Hill Street Blues” episode. Dunne played a teenage mother named Cindy, who is abused by her own mother. Behind the scenes, Dunne experienced domestic violence at the hands of her boyfriend, John Sweeney. The bruises on Dunne’s face in the episode aren’t purely the product of makeup. Sweeney gave them to her a day earlier, although it didn’t become apparent how much danger Dunne was in until it was too late. On October 30, 1982, weeks before the episode aired, Sweeney fatally attacked her. Dunne’s parents made the devastating decision to take their daughter off life support while the episode was dedicated to her.

#13: “Yes/No”

“Glee” (2009-15)

Cory Monteith is another talent we lost just as he was getting started. A year before Monteith died from an overdose in July 2013, his character on “Glee,” Finn Hudson, made a disheartening discovery. Initially believing his father died in combat, Finn learns his death was actually the product of an overdose following struggles with mental illness. The last time audiences would see Finn Hudson alive was in an April 2013 episode where Monteith sang “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!).” He performed the song with Mark Salling, who also died prematurely under disturbing circumstances. Monteith exited that season a few episodes early to attend rehab. Although Monteith reportedly finished treatment, he wouldn’t get a chance to take a final bow.

#12: “The Strong, Silent Type”“The Sopranos” (1999-2007)

As Christopher’s substance use continues to spiral out of control, his family and friends sit him down for an intervention. Naturally, Tony isn’t afraid to be brutally honest with his protégé. Christopher also has some choice words for Tony, saying he’ll die from a heart attack by age 50. While fans continue to debate whether Tony died in the final episode, Christopher’s prediction would grimly reflect actor James Gandolfini’s fate. It’s not entirely accurate, as Gandolfini would live to turn 50. His life came to an abrupt end at age 51, however. Echoing Christopher’s words to Tony, Gandolfini endured a fatal heart attack while on vacation in Rome. However you interrupt the series finale, “Sopranos” fans agree this was truly the day Tony died.

#11: “Last Barbecue” “The Cosby Show” (1984-92)

Okay, we suppose every episode of “The Cosby Show” is disturbing through a modern lens. Yet, one episode in particular indicated that Bill Cosby’s onscreen persona wasn’t as clean-cut as we thought. Tensions between feuding couples begin to defuse, which Cliff Huxtable takes credit for. Cliff claims there’s a secret ingredient in his BBQ sauce that gets people in the mood. This revelation puts a smile on Clair’s face, although it should be a look of horror. Cliff’s secret sauce doesn’t seem so innocent, knowing the allegations that Cosby drugged and assaulted multiple women throughout his once esteemed career. “Huggy-buggy” is the word that Cliff uses to describe the sauce’s effect, but we think a court of law might have a different definition.

#10: “No Good Deed”“Person of Interest” (2011-16)

This sci-fi drama revolved around a government computer called “the Machine,” which can access information beyond your imagination. In Season One’s penultimate episode, an NSA security analyst named Henry Peck learns about the Machine and plans to inform the press. Almost a year after this episode debuted and sixteen months after it was written, NSA intelligence contractor Edward Snowden leaked classified documents, revealing surveillance programs many deemed unethical. The Machine doesn’t exist in real life, but Snowden’s actions confirmed that the government is keeping a closer eye on citizens than we realized. Reflecting on the episode, actor Michael Emerson said, “I don’t have to be in charge of selling this concept—this ‘fictional’ concept—to anyone anymore… It ain’t fiction, never was, and everyone knows it now.”

#9: “The Midnight Sun”“The Twilight Zone” (1959-64)

“The Twilight Zone” often mirrored real-world issues that remain prevalent. Season 3’s “The Midnight Sun” was ahead of its time, however. The episode sees the Earth slowly but surely heading toward the Sun with temperatures skyrocketing. This turns out to be a dream, although Earth is actually moving away from the Sun, making temperatures drop. When this episode premiered in 1961, climate change wasn’t unheard of, but it was hardly top of mind. The term global warming wouldn’t even be coined until 1975. While the Earth isn’t inching toward the Sun, it’s difficult to watch this episode now without thinking about the record-high temperatures that could mark civilization’s downfall. Some write it off as science fiction, but climate change isn’t restricted… to the Twilight Zone!

#8: “Assignment: Earth” “Star Trek” (1966-69)

In the Season 2 finale of “Star Trek,” the USS Enterprise travels back to 1968, the same year this episode aired. Spock mentions there’s going to be an important assassination on this day. The line doesn’t impact the episode, which was originally conceived as a backdoor pilot that never went anywhere. Less than a week later, though, Martin Luther King Jr. - himself a “Star Trek” fan - was assassinated. Revisiting the episode today, this throwaway line now feels like a haunting omen. It wouldn’t be the last time “Star Trek” proved eerily prognostic. In Season 3 of “Deep Space Nine,” the crew visits San Francisco during the 2020s where homelessness and social unrest are more relevant than ever. Today is where the future and past intertwine.

#7: “Series 22, Episode 3”

“Grange Hill” (1978-2008)

Consisting of more than 600 episodes across 31 seasons, this British teen drama had a revolving door of young talent. Actress Laura Sadler joined the cast in 1997 as Judi Jeffreys, appearing in 30 episodes. Sadler’s time on the show came to an end in 1999 when Judi, attempting to get out of a burning storeroom, fell out a window to her death. Four years later, Sadler fell off the balcony of her boyfriend’s flat. Sadler didn’t survive the accident with experts finding alcohol and drugs in her system. There might be a few differences, but many noticed that Sadler’s death was grimly similar to her character’s. Knowing how Sadler died, Judi’s fate carries an even more tragic sentiment.

#6: “Eat, Drink, Dick, Mary”“3rd Rock from the Sun” (1996-2001)

This sitcom’s third season ends on a cliffhanger with Phil Hartman’s character kidnapping Harry, believing he can profit off him. The episode leaves the door open for Hartman’s character to return. Eight days after the episode aired, though, Hartman was murdered by his wife Brynn before taking her own life. Although Hartman worked on a few other projects that had yet to come out, his “Third Rock” guest spot was the last performance the world would get to see during his lifetime. While the showrunners had plans for Hartman’s character, his absence would be explained in the Season 4 premiere where Harry is sold to a circus run by Larry Miller. Watching these two episodes, we’re reminded that Hartman was taken far too soon.

#5: “The One with Rachel’s Other Sister” “Friends” (1994-2004)

Rewatching any “Friends” episode is bittersweet, knowing that Matthew Perry is no longer with us. This Season 9 Thanksgiving episode is especially rough, however. The storyline revolves around who will get custody of Emma if Ross and Rachel unexpectedly die. They choose Monica as a guardian, but if anything happens to her, Ross and Rachel aren’t convinced that Chandler can handle the responsibility. Chandler proves that he’s up to the task, but after accidentally breaking Monica’s fine china, he isn’t sure if he’ll live much longer. At the time, nobody could’ve imagined that Perry would be the first Friend to leave us. In retrospect, what was once a funny zinger may be the most heartbreaking line in the series.

#4: “Walkout”“In the Heat of the Night” (1988-95)

O. J. Simpson was acquitted of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman’s murders. Even after his passing, though, Simpson remains an infamous figure in the court of public opinion. It’s easy to forget that Simpson was once a beloved figure, showing promise as an actor following his NFL tenure. In this TV adaptation of the Oscar-winning film, Simpson was considered for the role of Virgil Tibbs. The part ultimately went to Howard Rollins, but Simpson did make a Season 2 guest appearance as Councilman Lawson Stiles. Caught in the middle of a tense union strike, the councilman is murdered in his home one night. Wherever you stand on the O.J. debate, there’s no denying that this episode took an ironic turn six years later.

#3: “Chris Farley”“Saturday Night Live” (1975-)

In Season 23, Chris Farley returned to “SNL” as host. It was Farley’s last trip to his old stomping ground and one of the last times we’d see the comedian alive. Barely two months after its airing, Farley tragically died of an overdose. Farley’s behind-the-scenes struggles were evident in this episode as many cast members noticed that he wasn’t in the best health. Producer Marci Klein even worried he might have a heart attack. The opening sketch, in particular, hits too close to home as Tim Meadows and Chevy Chase try to convince Lorne Michaels that Farley is well enough to host following his last trip to a “spa.” For a period following Farley’s death, this sketch and his monologue were cut from syndication.

#2: “Plague” “The Dead Zone” (2002-07)

COVID-19 has changed the way we look back on numerous TV episodes, including one of “Supernatural” that totally called the whole toilet paper thing. The TV adaptation of “The Dead Zone” arguably came the closest to foreshadowing the pandemic, however. In Season 2, Johnny Smith has a vision of a deadly virus that originated from China and involved an animal. The characters discuss whether masks are necessary, look to chloroquine as a possible cure, and the coronavirus is even directly mentioned. While COVID-19 hadn’t been discovered yet, SARS-CoV-1 (a coronavirus strain) had recently led to a serious outbreak. This episode was largely inspired by the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak, although in 20/20 hindsight, it may feel like the writers had prognostic powers like Johnny.

#1: “Pilot”“The Lone Gunmen” (2001)

“The Lone Gunmen” only lasted one season, but it’s remembered for two things: being an “X-Files” spinoff and inadvertently predicting the September 11 attacks. The pilot episode, which debuted on March 4, 2001, sees the Lone Gunmen uncover a plot to hijack a commercial plane and crash it into the World Trade Center. Something like this wasn’t entirely unprecedented, as the World Trade Center bombing had taken place several years earlier. Even so, it’s unnerving just how close this episode came to depicting the reality we would face six months later. Not everything coincides with real life, as the episode exposes government workers as the villains. Of course, even that unintentionally foreshadowed some of the 9/11 conspiracy theories we’ve seen since.

What other episodes play differently in retrospect? Let us know in the comments.