There's nothing better than a great plot twist employed at the right moment of our favorite TV shows. Something we never saw coming. But when a beloved (or not-so-beloved) character makes a surprising return (sometimes years after their departure), the sense of nostalgia always get the best of us. Sometimes it's to reinforce the decisions or traits of our main character, and oftentimes, it really does bring the show full-circle.
Here are 7 of my favorite epic character returns!
Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments!
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Keith (One Tree Hill)
Reason For Leaving: His douchey brother Dan shot and killed him in cold blood. For no real reason at all.
Reason For Returning: He comes back to forgive Dan while he's on his own deathbed.
Why It Was Epic: NO ONE WAS EXPECTING IT. We all knew Dan was a goner at that point, but to bring back Uncle Keith was something no one saw coming. Cue the tears.
Toby (The Office)
Reason For Leaving: He wanted a new life in Costa Rica. Or something.
Reason For Returning: It was hard to meet people in Costa Rica. Plus, it's hot.
Why It Was Epic: THIS. Even though he wasn't gone for long, Toby Flenderson is still everything wrong with the paper industry.
Elijah (The Vampire Diaries)
Reason For Leaving: Klaus daggered him just to maintain control (even after Elijah saved his life).
Reason For Returning: Damon needs his help to kill Klaus once and for all.
Why It Was Epic: The look on Klaus' face when he realizes his older brother is back from the dead is PRICELESS. "So Niklaus... what'd I miss?"
Sam (Glee)
Reason For Leaving: "He moved to another state." (AKA they didn't renew Chord Overstreet's contract.)
Reason For Returning: It seems the writers were desperate to reel the fans back in. Also, New Directions needed him for sectionals, apparently.
Why It Was Epic: Not only did we get to revisit the Mercedes/Sam relationship, which was dropped pretty quickly, we got to see Chord as a stripper! Win-win.
Brian (Dexter)
Reason For Leaving: Dexter kills his brother after he threatens Deb, and covers it up to make it look like a suicide.
Reason For Returning: To help guide Dexter's Dark Passenger. After letting Brother Sam's killer go, it seems he needed guidance back to the dark side. Though, it doesn't work.
Why It Was Epic: Forgiveness was never something Dexter welcomed and it was interesting to see him let the person deal with their own demons for once.
Jess (Gilmore Girls)
Reason For Leaving: He went to live with his father in California, all of which was supposed to be the premise for a spinoff that never took off.
Reason For Returning: To show Rory his novel and confront her about her recent life choices.
Why It Was Epic: The show was never the same without Jess (for me anyway). I think fans needed the closure between these two before the series ended.
Eric (That 70's Show)
Reason For Leaving: He headed off to Africa to study teaching. Also, Topher Grace had just accepted a role in Spider-Man 3.
Reason For Returning: Donna, duh!
Why It Was Epic: They couldn't finish the show without Eric and Donna ending up together. COME ON.
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