High Stakes TV: Shows That Took a Risk and Won Big

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Television producers face considerable pressure to differentiate their shows from the hundreds of others airing on television; yet, taking risks can be both exciting and terrifying… Huge risks can either put an end to a show before it even gets off the ground, or be the one thing that draws viewers in.

Numerous opportunities exist for television shows to take enormous risks. When it comes to risks, the most significant ones are those that people didn't see coming yet identified with when they occurred, whether it's sudden character deaths or unique concepts and viewpoints. Some shows decide to spice things up with a musical number, while others decide to completely revamp the show's location, or, very rarely, completely flip the script. So many exciting risks can be taken by TV shows, and yet the ones we’re about to discuss are the few that paid off in the end.

Money Heist (2017-2021)

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
This enthralling Spanish series about a gang of thieves led by "The Professor" as they attempt a well-planned heist, is all about risks literally and figuratively speaking. As they plan to evade authorities while printing billions of euros, each component must function flawlessly for the well-coordinated scheme to succeed, while the shows producers needed to portray this theme perfectly to compete with the hundreds of similar shows of the past that had already attacked this niche.

Unforeseen obstacles test the protagonists' devotion and ability to make quick decisions as the theft continues. The excitement comes from seeing them do everything it takes to evade the cops. The stakes in each episode are high, just like in real-life situations where planning is essential. Emotional effects of risk-taking are also explored in the series. Additional difficulties arise as a result of trust concerns and interpersonal disputes inside the group, demonstrating that even the most meticulously planned events can fall apart at the last minute. These challenges give the characters additional nuance, heightening the impact of their successes and setbacks, and those aforementioned risks certainly paid off as it’s 8.2 IMDb rating suggests.

Lucky Man (2016-2018)

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Blending two genres together for the first time is always going to be a risk, but the famous comic book writer achieved it effortlessly with Lucky Man. This British crime drama takes the traditional casino theme and gives it a supernatural spin. The story revolves around a bracelet that bestows tremendous good fortune on Detective Harry Clayton, altering the course of his life; yet, there is a price to be paid for every advantage. Fortune can both bless and curse, and the show explores this dichotomy through Clayton's criminal investigations and gambling sprees. As luck plays a significant role in both life and gaming, Lucky Man provides a fresh take on the subject by fusing grittier police drama with casino intrigue. Although it lasted just two seasons, it received rave reviews, including an impressive 7.1/10 rating on IMDb, according to Gambling.com.

Billions (2016-2023)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
A television show centred around finance? Surely, this is a huge risk in itself, but with Billions, they truly epitomised the method of taking a risk and it paying off big!

This gripping story unfolds against the backdrop of the high finance industry, as hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod challenges convention in his quest for wealth and power. The dogged federal attorney Chuck Rhoades is regularly in his crosshairs as a result of his reckless decisions. The excitement of calibrated risk is evident in Bobby's financial market techniques. The stakes are enormous in every move he makes, whether it's a daring investment or trying to manipulate his competitors. His dogged pursuit of greatness captivates audiences and highlights the precarious balance between achievement and catastrophe. The series demonstrates that Bobby's recklessness can have disastrous consequences, despite his confidence often paying off. It offers a riveting glimpse into the ways in which the need to remain dominant in a competitive arena can erode one's principles.

Squid Game (2021-Present)

IMDb Rating: 8/10 The high-stakes situations in this South Korean survival drama drew viewers from all over the world. Playing games with potentially fatal outcomes, participants are enticed by the allure of financial independence. They must weigh the competing demands of morality and self-preservation in every round, which makes the judgments seem insurmountable. Even while the games aren't complicated, the stakes are really high. Alliances form and break under pressure, revealing the psychological toll on contestants. In times of extreme crisis, the complexity of human nature is on full display, as every decision becomes a gamble. Many viewers find themselves reflecting on the dangers they might be willing to take in a similar situation after watching the show's examination of greed and desperation. It emphasises how individuals frequently find themselves in unexpected ethical quandaries when they strive for financial independence. The primary risk however, wasn’t just story driver, it came from Netflix itself, as they acquired a script from the now legendary Hwang Dong-hyuk, who, at the time, was a struggling writer whose Squid Game script had been shelved for over a decade before it was noticed. And as it became one of Netflix’s most popular series of all time, the risk that the streaming giant took was unquestionably worth it!

Sopranos (1999-2007)

IMDb Rating: 9.2/10 The Sopranos, to this day, remains one of the greatest television shows in history. However, and I must stress about the spoiler warning ahead, the show's producers may have taken one of the biggest risks in TV show history when opting to end the show in the method that they did… Viewers were strongly divided over the controversial cut-to-black ending of the critically acclaimed HBO series. No one was given any answers about Tony Soprano's fate; viewers were left to speculate about whether Tony died at that moment or what would have happened to him thereafter. Although it may have disappointed some, fans are still discussing the series' unconventional and daring finale with great fervour nearly twenty years after it aired. The brilliant conclusion left viewers to find their own meaning in it, and nearly two decades following its finale, this moment in television remains on our minds.