20 Greatest Season Cliffhangers In TV History

20. The West Wing - Season 1 Finale (What Kind Of Day Has It Been)

The first season finale of The West Wing delivered a thrilling cliffhanger as gunmen opened fire on the President's motorcade, leaving the fates of everyone in jeopardy. Jorja Fox's secret service agent had been tracking a threat to the president's daughter for a number of episodes but even she wasn't prepared for the chaos that ensued. In an exercise in building suspense she scans the crowd while Bartlett delivers a roaring speech, all while the real gunmen look on from a high rise window. The audience was on tenterhooks as the President and his party left the event and passed directly into the eye line of the shooters. Given the nature of the show it was only a matter of time before The West Wing tried its hand at a presidential assassination attempt story line, but here Aaron Sorkin does it with aplomb. By the time CJ is thrown to the ground, Josh falls against the railings and Bartlett is bundled into his car by security forces, viewers had no idea who was shot. As the credits rolled, the show had delivered the most nail-biting cliffhanger in its seven year history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWsNzxe0e-k