TV heavyweights reveal the secret to pulling off an epic twist

SPOILER ALERT: Notable TV plot twists are revealed in this story and video!

It’s the moment fans will never forget and hate you if you spoil. It’s Carrie Bradshaw having an affair with Mr. Big on Sex and the City. It’s Paige finding out the truth about her parents on The Americans. It’s Jack being dead in the present day on This Is Us.

It’s a really damn good TV twist.

The successful twist is a rare art form, often sought after but seldom achieved. The best twists can shock, bring forth joy, crush your heart, and most importantly, resonate long after an episode has aired. At the ATX Television Festival, Entertainment Weekly assembled creators, writers, and actors responsible for the twistiest turns in TV history.

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Watch the video above for a master class from Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers), Julie Plec (The Vampire Diaries), Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us), Alison Brie (Glow), and more on pulling off a legendary television twist.

(Script by Kristen Harding and Samantha Highfill)