10 Infuriating TV Cliffhangers You Didn't Realise Had Answers

3. Kyle Meets The Leader - V (1984)

Hannibal Mads Mikkelsen
NBC

V was one of the quintessential water cooler shows of the 1980s - a terrific sci-fi series in which Earth is invaded by a race of carnivorous reptilian humanoids known as the Visitors.

Unlike most entries on this list, however, NBC didn't even wait for the 20-episode series to finish production before binning it - they cancelled it while the season's final episode was being filmed.

And so, V ended instead with the season's penultimate intended episode, with a cliffhanger in which Resistance member Kyle Bates (Jeff Yagher) stows away on a shuttle headed towards the Visitors' homeworld.

Creator Kenneth Johnson has spoken extensively about V in the decades since its cancellation, and eventually revealed that the season finale was intended to have Kyle transported to an alternate dimension where he sees The Leader - literally the leader of the Visitors - who, believe it or not, has four arms.

The episode would've also killed off Julie Parrish (Faye Grant) and set up the second season, which was set to focus on the Resistance searching for an all-powerful ancient artefact known as The Anyx, which could be used to defeat the Visitors.

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.