Foreshadowing is an essential component of storytelling . Nearly every one of our favorite TV shows, from The Office to Breaking Bad use elements of foreshadowing in some way.
The tricky part is learning how to spot them before they happen . Have a look below and check out these 15 times TV scenes were foreshadowed — yet somehow, I still missed it .
We should’ve seen Ben’s death coming in ‘Scrubs’.
In Season 3’s “My Screwup”, Ben tells Perry Cox that he’ll be taking pictures until the day he dies. After this happens, and Cox continues to see him in his imagination, Ben no longer has his camera .
‘Breaking Bad’ foreshadows events to come in ‘Better Call Saul’.
The last time that Walt and Saul speak, the slippery lawyer says “If I’m lucky, a month from now, best-case scenario, I’m managing a Cinnabon in Omaha .” This is precisely what happens to Jimmy aka Gene.
‘How I Met Your Mother’ revealed the name of Ted’s wife in Season 1.
Ted meets a stripper at the Lusty Leopard whose stage name is Amber. After she and Ted chat for a bit, she reveals that her actual name is Tracey. To which Ted then says, “And that, kids, is the true story of how I met your mother .”
Dwight foreshadows his relationship with Angela in Episode 1 of ‘The Office’.
The first time we see Dwight, he is setting up his handphone while softly singing “The Little Drummer Boy.” As fans no doubt will recall, “The Little Drummer Boy” is Angela’s favorite song .
Mr. Burns reveals who shot him in ‘The Simpsons’.
In the Season 6 finale, “Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part 1)”, Mr. Burns collapses on the town’s sundial after being shot. Look close and you’ll see his hands are pointed to the letters “M” and “S” or Maggie Simpson.
In Season 2 of ‘Parks And Recreation’, the MRI tech tells Leslie that she could have triplets right away.
Lo and behold, that’s precisely what happens when she and Ben Wyatt get pregnant, exactly four seasons after that episode.
Tyrion Lannister predicts how Prince Oberyn will die in ‘Game Of Thrones’.
Right before Oberyn is due to fight The Mountain, Tyrion turns to him in desperation and says, ” You could at least wear a helmet .” If only Oberyn had listened…
Buster losing his hand was foreshadowed quite a bit in ‘Arrested Development’.
There are a number of throwaway comments made that allude to this. However, right before Buster makes his fateful swim in the ocean, he’s sitting on a bench where the words “ARM OFF” are featured prominently.
Little Finger predicts three major deaths in ‘Game Of Thrones’.
Little Finger tells young Robyn Arryn, “People die at their dinner tables. They die in their beds. They die squatting over their chamber pots.” King Joffrey died at his wedding feast, Tyrion strangles Shae in her bed and then kills his father Tywin while he’s on the toilet.
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The death and destruction of House Baratheon and House Stark are foreshadowed in Episode 1 of ‘Game Of Thrones’.
While out walking in the woods of Winterfell, Ned, Jon, and Bran discover the dead corpses of a Dire Wolf and a Stag — the sigils of the Starks/Baratheons’ respective houses .
It’s foretold that Jax will become president of SAMCRO in Season 1, Episode 1 of ‘Sons Of Anarchy’.
Ok, this one wasn’t too much of a stretch. Still, there’s a scene where Jax turns to Clay and says ” It ain’t easy being king .” To which Clay replies — “You remember that.”
The appearance of Beetlejuice in ‘Community’.
In Season 1, Professor Slater “accidentally” calls Britta, Beetlejuice. In Season 2, Britta makes fun of Jeff for wearing Beetlejuice underwear. Then, in Season 3, Annie says the only music the gang has to listen to is the Beetlejuice soundtrack. At that exact moment, someone dressed as Beetlejuice walks by.
When Locke explains the show’s central theme/plot in ‘Lost’.
While playing a game of Backgammon, Locke says “Two players. Two sides. One is light, one is dark .” If only we knew then how important that seemingly throwaway piece of dialogue was!
The identity of Gossip Girl was revealed in the very first episode of ‘Gossip Girl’.
The very first time that the audience hears “Gossip Girl” say “X-O-X-O Gossip Girl,” Dan is sitting in front of his computer. As Jenny walks by and asks what he’s doing, he quickly slams his computer shut.
Jane’s death is foreshadowed twice in ‘Breaking Bad’.
The first instance happens when Walt is putting Holly to bed, and Marie tells him to put her on her side — in case she spits up. The second occurrence happens after Jesse and Jane shoot up, and she tells him to lay on his side in case he vomits in the night.
