10 Mind-Blowing TV Show Fan Theories That Will Leave You Speechless

Summary

Fan theories about television shows often don't come true or get debunked, leaving viewers disappointed.

The show's creator discredited the popular theory that the Rugrats babies exist solely in Angelica's imagination. Despite fans' belief, the evidence disproves the theory that Toby is the Scranton Strangler in The Office.

Fan theories, despite their logical and creative appeal, often go unrealized or are outright invalidated by the very people who inspired them, leaving viewers disappointed with a collection of theories that they had hoped would never be discredited. Specifically, these are theories devised by fans regarding the past or future events of a television show, but were ultimately debunked by a member of the show's cast or crew. The following are some of the most convincing and well-liked television fan theories that, unfortunately, were proven false.

Although fan theories about television shows are prevalent online, it is uncommon for experts to debunk these ideas. Typically, fan theories remain mere speculations, rarely receiving recognition from the creators of the television shows. However, the theories listed here did receive this kind of attention, causing disappointment among the audience when the unwanted answers were revealed. Thus, in one way or another, these remarkable television fan theories have been proven incorrect, and from now on, their believers will have to maintain the illusion that these theories still carry the same significance as they did before.

6 The Rugrats Kids Are Figments Of Angelica's Imagination

Originating from a Tumblr post long ago, this macabre fan theory suggests that the entire cast of babies in the popular 1990s animated children's show, Rugrats, exists solely in the imagination of Angelica, their older sister. The theory proposes that Angelica's lack of supervision allowed her to conjure up this peculiar group of infants, forming the basis for the show's storyline. Despite its grim nature, this theory gained traction and expanded to include justifications for each character's presence.

As reported by Buzzfeed, one enthusiast theorized that Chuckie likely perished alongside his mother, which would account for his father's tense and anxious demeanor in Rugrats. Furthermore, it suggests that Tommy might have been stillborn, explaining why his father spends an excessive amount of time crafting toys for a non-existent child in the basement. Lastly, the theorist posits that the DeVilles were originally meant to have only one baby, but due to the loss of their first child before learning its gender, Angelica manifested twins of both sexes. Although Rugrats creator Arlene Klasky has officially debunked this theory, proponents of the theory still find these somber explanations compelling.

5 Toby Is The Scranton Strangler In The Office

The Scranton Strangler theory remains a hilarious gag that continues to captivate fans of The Office. Despite the show's conviction of George Howard Skub for the series of murders, doubts linger about whether Skub was truly responsible. Complicating matters further, Toby, a character from The Office, contributed to the suspicion surrounding him by displaying a keen interest in the case and serving as a juror for Skub's indictment. Toby's unwavering dedication to the case fuels the belief among many that he is the real Scranton Strangler, despite evidence to the contrary.

Although The Office never confirms this theory, there are several subtle clues that suggest Toby's involvement as the Scranton Strangler. The timing of the Strangler's crimes aligning with significant moments in Jim and Pam's relationship seems to make sense considering Toby's enduring infatuation with Pam. Additionally, Toby's absence from Dunder Mifflin during a season 7 car chase, where the car involved is one commonly seen in the office parking lot, adds to the suspicion. However, it is important to note that much of the evidence pointing to Toby can also be disproven, and given that The Office has concluded, Toby's true identity as the Strangler will remain forever unknown.

4 Winnie The Pooh's Characters Represent Different Mental Health Conditions

The theory that each character in Winnie the Pooh represents a specific mental health condition has gained popularity in recent years. It suggests that Eeyore symbolizes depression, Piglet embodies anxiety, Rabbit portrays OCD, Tigger represents ADHD, Pooh embodies an eating disorder, and Christopher Robin symbolizes schizophrenia. While these connections seem fitting, it's important to note that the concept was originally meant as a joke rather than a serious analysis. A medical paper from researcher Sarah Shea in 2000 compared the Pooh characters to mental health conditions to highlight that anyone can be affected. Ultimately, this fan theory, while compelling, is not as grounded in reality as it may initially appear.

3 The Falcon And The Winter Soldier's Scrapped COVID Plotline

Despite being denied by the show's creator, this theory surrounding The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is supported by compelling evidence. According to AshleyWilliams78 on Reddit, the initial plan for the show involved a storyline centered around a deadly virus. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the creators decided to change directions. There are remnants of this theory within the series, such as the presence of unseen and unmentioned vaccines, as well as past Captain America movies referencing bioweapons.

Although the showrunner has debunked and consistently denied this theory, fans are still drawn to it, particularly due to the intriguing inclusion of the unnamed vaccines. While the series ultimately did not proceed with the virus plot, the theory provokes curiosity about how the story would have unfolded and what direction the showrunners had initially intended to take.

2 Malcolm In The Middle And Breaking Bad Take Place In The Same Universe

Given that Malcolm in the Middle and Breaking Bad feature the same actor, it is unsurprising that fans have attempted to establish a connection between the two shows. According to this theory, these shows actually exist in the same universe. The theory proposes that Walter White, the protagonist of Breaking Bad, did not die at the conclusion of the series but instead escaped New Mexico and assumed a new identity as Hal Wilkerson in Malcolm in the Middle. If this hypothesis were accurate, Malcolm in the Middle from the early 2000s could be seen as a sort of sequel to Breaking Bad, which is quite amusing.

Despite the dedication of numerous fans to this theory, there are several reasons why it fails to hold up. Firstly, Bryan Cranston's appearance clearly demonstrates aging between his roles in Malcolm in the Middle and Breaking Bad. Moreover, intricate details such as advancements in technology and references to popular culture create inconsistencies in the series' timeline if they were indeed connected. Additionally, during an interview with Jimmy Fallon, Cranston unequivocally refuted the theory and emphasized that Walter White had indeed met his demise.

1 Charlie Day Read Pennsylvania as Pepe Silvia

Despite the show creators clarifying that the character Pepe Silvia was indeed a real person in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 4, fans persistently continue to believe that he is a mispronunciation of the word Pennsylvania. This fan theory remains fervently debated and refuses to fade away.