There’s loving a TV show, and then there’s letting it take over your entire personality. Some series consume viewers in a way that they spark group chats, dominate social media timelines, and turn a casual viewer into an evangelist of sorts. These shows sneak into everyday lives, affect language, inspire fan tattoos, and make you reconsider friendships and relationships based on someone’s take on a finale. And their fanbases? Let’s just say they’re not always playing nice.
Over the past couple of decades, fandom has gone crazy. It was limited to niche forums but has blown into digital empires now, and while most fans are passionate in the best way (they’re creative, loyal, and invested), some corners of the community are chaotic. We’re talking about Reddit rabbit holes, X threads, shipping wars, and comment section crusades. Sometimes it’s about defending a character. Sometimes it’s about demanding rewrites. And sometimes, it’s just about being louder than everyone else.
Here are 10 TV shows with fanbases so intense, so relentless, and occasionally so unhinged, they’ve become legends in their own right.
‘Star Trek’
What kicked off in 1966 as a cerebral space Western about the USS Enterprise and its eccentric crew has now evolved into a multiverse of TV series, books, and fan fiction. Star Trek’s original series, led by Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy), introduced audiences to a version of the future where humanity had transcended its petty squabbles. The franchise expanded with The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, Discovery, Picard, and Strange New Worlds, and each show mirrored our times.
Goes Where No Franchise Has Gone Before
Trekkies are known for their devotion and their divisions. The fanbase is famously split between purists who revere the original series and progressives who embrace the newer, more inclusive versions. Debates over whether Discovery’s tech breaks continuity or if Picard’s tone is “too dark” can spiral into Reddit rants and YouTube messages within minutes. It’s a fanbase that thrives on debate, and sometimes to its own detriment. And yet, the scope of Star Trek’s universe makes it endlessly rewatchable, and its cultural impact is undeniable.
‘Doctor Who’
Doctor Who is the longest-running sci-fi series in television history, and when a show spans decades, it lights up both celebration and outrage. It follows the Doctor, a centuries-old Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey who travels through time and space in the TARDIS. With the ability to regenerate into a new form, the Doctor has been played by a lot of actors, and each has brought their own flavor to the role.
Uniquely British and Endlessly Inventive
Fans of Doctor Who, or the Whovians, as they like to call themselves, are passionate (and passionately divided). Every new Doctor sparks a wave of online discourse, from shout-outs to full-blown meltdowns. The 2025 regeneration of Ncuti Gatwa into Billie Piper (yes, a former companion returning as the Doctor) sent shockwaves through the fanbase. And the shifts in tone have only deepened the rifts. Some fans cling to the golden era of Tennant and Smith, while others champion inclusivity and reinvention.
‘The Blacklist’
NBC’s The Blacklist follows Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader), one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives who mysteriously surrenders and offers to help catch other criminals. But his condition is that he’ll only speak to rookie profiler Elizabeth Keen. The procedural-meets-espionage thriller then reveals Red’s true motives and Liz’s murky past.
Watch It, But Don’t Expect Closure
If you’ve ever wandered into or accidentally stumbled upon a Reddit thread about The Blacklist, you know there’s a complete decoding operation going on there. Fans spent years dissecting every line, wardrobe choice, and sideways glance, building elaborate theories about Red’s identity (is he Liz’s father? Her mother? A clone?). Subreddits are flooded with flowcharts and fan essays. But when the 2023 finale avoided giving definitive answers, the backlash was brutal. The show’s refusal to deliberately stay ambiguous became a dealbreaker for many and imploded the very community that had kept it alive for a decade.
‘Lost’
When Oceanic Flight 815 crashed on a remote island in the 2004 pilot episode of Lost, it marked the beginning of one of the most ambitious and addictive TV shows of the 21st century. Created by J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Jeffrey Lieber, it combined survival drama with sci-fi, time travel, psychological thriller, and metaphysical mystery. Each answer only raised more questions and the lore ballooned into something brilliant yet bewildering.
The Internet’s First Theory Meltdown
Lost won a lot of Emmys and practically redefined what television could deliver, which is why it had disciples. The show’s cryptic storytelling turned viewers into sleuths, with forums like The Fuselage and Lostpedia becoming digital playgrounds of speculation. But when the 2010 finale aired, fans felt duped. The fact that much of the final season took place in a “flash-sideways” purgatory was not received well by viewers and some accused the writers of abandoning logic for sentiment. The backlash was so intense that to this day, you can’t bring up “The Heart of the Island” unless you’re ready for a week-long discussion.
‘Sherlock’
Sherlock, created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss for BBC, reimagined Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective in modern-day London. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes was a high-functioning sociopath with a smartphone, who teamed up with Martin Freeman’s grounded Dr. John Watson to solve crimes. All four seasons (and one Christmas special) were cinematic in scope and boasted a whip-smart script.
Expectations, When Unmet, Turn Into Obsession
From “A Study in Pink” to “The Reichenbach Fall,” Sherlock’s intricate plots and Tumblr-ready aesthetics made the fanbase explode overnight. Tumblr became ground zero for the “Johnlock” movement, a fan theory that Sherlock and John were secretly in love and that the showrunners were building to a romantic arc. When that didn’t happen, especially after the polarizing final season, fans launched campaigns accusing the creators of queerbaiting. Some fans even boycotted future Moffat projects.
‘Supernatural’
Supernatural began in 2005 as a gritty road-trip horror show about Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles), two brothers tracking down supernatural threats across America. But over time, it evolved into a sprawling mythology that involved angels, demons, alternate realities, and literal apocalypses. Its mix of monster-of-the-week episodes and serialized arcs built a loyal following that stuck around for 327 episodes.
Found Family, Folklore, and a Good Salt-and-Burn
Supernatural’s fanbase is epic, but also occasionally infamous. The “Destiel” ship (Dean/Castiel) became a huge thing, with Tumblr and AO3 flooded with fanfics and edits. But then the show did not canonize the pairing, and it led to backlash. Reddit threads detail harassment of writers and even cast members. The fandom’s intensity led to real-world consequences too, with actors stepping back from social media and creators issuing clarifications. Still, Supernatural remains a bingeworthy cult classic.
‘My Hero Academia’
An odd apple in the basket, but worth a mention regardless, My Hero Academia is set in a world where superpowers (called “quirks”) are the norm. It centers on Izuku Midoriya, a quirkless teen who inherits the powers of the legendary All Might and trains to become the greatest hero. With a massive cast (Bakugo, Todoroki, Ochako, and more), the anime blends classic shounen tropes with high-stakes battles and genuinely moving character arcs across its run.
A New Generation of Anime Icons
My Hero Academia is a gateway anime for many, which is why the fanbase is huge. The shipping culture, especially around Deku, Bakugo, and Todoroki, has led to explosive online feuds. Reddit threads and several articles detail how fans harass each other over pairings and some even attack creators for not validating their ships. The manga’s ending, which confirmed Deku and Ochako’s relationship, triggered so many fans. And the toxicity got so real that creators and platforms had to issue statements urging fans to “keep it kind.”
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’
Based on Jenny Han’s novels, The Summer I Turned Pretty centers on Belly (Lola Tung), a teenager caught in a romantic triangle between the Fisher brothers, Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). Set against sun-drenched beach towns and dramatic summers, the show explores first love, heartbreak, growing up, and self-discovery,
Team Wars That Got Personal
With its dreamy aesthetic, gorgeous cast, and TikTok-ready soundtrack (shout-out to Taylor Swift), TSITP became a Gen Z staple almost immediately. The fanbase doesn’t just pick sides, it goes to war. “Team Conrad” vs “Team Jeremiah” debates dominate TikTok and X. Prime Video had to issue a zero-tolerance policy after fans began harassing actors and doxxing each other. Even Tung and Casalengo addressed the toxicity and urged fans to keep fiction and reality separate. It’s wild how a soft romance show triggered such intense reactions, but that’s the perfect example of a modern rabid fanbase for you.
‘Love Island’
The ultimate reality TV show to have ignited messy romances and meme-worthy moments, Love Island originally began in the UK in 2015 and spawned spin-offs in the US, Australia, and beyond. The format is simple: a bunch of attractive singles live together in a villa, coupling up to avoid elimination while navigating challenges and public votes. But under that glossy veneer is a social experiment that tackles loyalty, jealousy, and the performative nature of modern romance.
Thrill of Watching Love Implode in Real-Time
With real-time voting and daily episodes, fans become a part of the drama, influence outcomes, and fuel the show’s momentum. It’s messy, addictive, and tailor-made for binge-watching. But Love Island’s fanbase is hyper-online and emotionally invested to the point of volatility. Season 7 of Love Island USA marked a turning point, with record-breaking viewership and a wave of toxicity that led to over 14,000 complaints about bullying and misogyny. They routinely pick “teams” and flood social media with support or vitriol. But the criticism got so intense that producers issued anti-cyberbullying PSAs mid-season. Even cast members have faced harassment and have had to step away from certain platforms entirely.
‘Game of Thrones’
Adapted from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones was a huge achievement for HBO. It followed nine noble houses vying for control of Westeros, with dragons, undead armies, and political intrigue covering up every inch of every frame. From the Stark family’s tragic arc to Daenerys Targaryen’s rise and fall, it delivered jaw-dropping twists, unexpected deaths, and unforgettable moments.
Maybe Skip Season 8 to Preserve the Magic
Game of Thrones’ fandom is widely regarded as one of the most dedicated in television history. The final season, especially the rushed ending, sparked massive outrage. Nearly two million fans signed a petition demanding a rewrite with “competent writers.” Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss skipped Comic-Con amid the backlash and the finale’s disappointment was so widespread that even Stranger Things creators cited it as a warning for their own finale. But its storytelling in the first six seasons and the impact on memes and trends is unquestionable.
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