9 Jessica Fletcher Was the Real Killer (Murder, She Wrote)

Sweet old Jessica Fletcher wouldn't hurt a fly, right? Well, according to one long-running fan theory, she might be the world's most prolific serial killer, putting characters like Dexter and Hannibal Lecter to shame.

The theory rests on the fact that Jessica's encounters with murderers are just statistically impossible. Even homicide detectives aren't involved in as many murders as this author. It's more likely that death follows wherever Jessica goes, and she's the only common denominator for all the killings.

She has the imagination and storytelling skills to set up believable scenarios, and frame people for the murders that she is in fact orchestrating. Why? Maybe she's just a cold-blooded killer, or maybe she's a vigilante passing judgment on both the victim and the person she's framing. Either way, Cabot Cove seems like a less healthy place to live than an active war zone, and with friends like Jessica, who needs enemies?

8 The Count Is a Vampire Who Feeds on Children (Sesame Street)

The Count from Sesame Street is clearly a vampire, modeled on Bela Lugosi's portrayal of Count Dracula, but his character has never officially been confirmed as being a vampire, and I guess a blood-sucking monster wouldn't be considered too child-friendly.

However, that doesn't stop former children, who are now cynical adults, from coming up with a dark backstory and theory as to the Count's true nature. While we never see him bite the necks of any children, the theory goes that he is in fact draining them of life energy, or actual blood, but just off camera. It's why the same kids don't hang around for long, and the adults can't do much because the Count glamors them into obedience.

I think the whole reason this theory exists is that the spooky Count is a little out of place in the overall milieu of Sesame Street, so the idea that he's a monster that's slipped into the show to feed on kids makes some sort of sense.

7 Every Show Is in One Kid’s Head (St. Elsewhere / The Tommy Westphall Universe)

This is a rather famous one, so perhaps you've heard of it, but there's a theory that almost 400 shows all happen within the mind of a single autistic boy named Tommy Westphal. It starts with the ending of the TV series St Elsewhere, which ends with the reveal that the entire medical drama happened in Tommy's mind. However, if that's true, it must mean that any show that's crossed over with St. Elsewhere, any shows that crossed over with those shows must also be in Tommy's head.

One fan site keeps a massive chart showing every other show that has a connection to St. Elsewhere and thanks to the network effect (no pun intended), the list includes shows like The X Files and Law and Order. Boy that Tommy sure does have an active imagination!

6 Will Smith Died in That Fight (the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air is one of the more impactful sitcoms of the 90s, and if nothing else, the theme song has stuck around long after people have let the show itself fade. But, it's that very theme song that clues us in to this particular theory.

In it, Will describes how he got into "one little fight", which is why his mom sent him to live in Bel Air with his uncle. Now, the fan theory goes that Will actually died in that fight, and that his life in Bel Air is actually the afterlife. While there's some mild conflicts and situations that need to be resolved in the series, he lives a pretty charmed life, much better than where he came from. Also, my personal addition to this theory is that the cabbie who Will tells "smell you later" is actually Charon the ferryman, and the smell in question is actually sulfur. However, the fan theory thinks the cabbie is God himself. Or is it "themselves?"

Other bits and pieces that supposedly support this idea are that Will's parents rarely visit, almost like they're visiting a grave, and that the cheesy life lessons and wholesome outcomes are just too good for real life on Earth.

5 Springfield Is Caught in a Time Loop (The Simpsons)

The Simpsons is now up to season 36, and I don't even think the death of the cast members would be enough to stop this show from airing new episodes. Like a lot of the shows that copy the basic premise of The Simpsons, the characters never seem to age, yet Springfield itself does change with the times. There were no smartphones 35 years ago, but you'll find all the latest technology in Springfield as well as current events.

It also doesn't help that there's a running joke about Springfield's actual location, which is never confirmed in the show. It feeds into the idea that there's some sort of weird spacetime bubble around the town that keeps the residents the same age, but allows other things to progress.

4 Angelica Imagined All the Babies (Rugrats)

This is another theory that's become rather notorious, and it's probably the darkest one on this list. The theory goes that none of the babies are real, and that Angelica imagines them as playmates to cope with the neglect of her parents. The babies are based on real children that did not survive birth, which explains the personality problems and quirks of their parents.

I won't go into the gory details of the "Rugrats Never Happened" theory, because it really is grim, but one of the showrunners actually felt the need to comment on and debunk the idea. So phew, Chucky and the gang are just fine, wherever they are.

3 Game of Thrones Happens in a Westworld Theme Park

In Season 3, Episode 2 of Westworld, we see a host in the form of a dragon that's clearly Drogon from Game of Thrones. This was meant as an Easter Egg for fans of HBO's other major show, but it lead to the theory that Westeros is actually just the Medieval World park run by Delos. On top of this, GoT showrunners Benioff and Weiss also cameo in Westworld, so the idea is that basically they are also the showrunners of the park for Delos. Writing the stories for the hosts.

The most hilarious part of this theory is that Ser Bronn is the only real human, and everyone else is a host. Which explains how Bronn basically has invincible plot armor, is relaxed and having fun the whole time, and always gets what he wants, no matter how ridiculous. He's basically a rich guy with a power fantasy on vacation.

2 Walter White Caused the Zombie Apocalypse (Breaking Bad / The Walking Dead)

This one is just fun, and doesn't really hold up in any real sense. The idea is that several references to Breaking Bad in the first season of The Walking Dead suggest that Walter White's special blue meth might have set off the zombie apocalypse.

There are a lot of Easter eggs in The Walking Dead that support that support this theory, but luckily our friends at Screen Rant have compiled them all in one handy list.

1 The Cul-de-Sac Is Purgatory (Ed, Edd n Eddy)

This last theory is one that I'm personally most convinced is actually true. The theory is that the cul-de-sac in Ed, Edd, n Eddy is actually purgatory and all the kids are dead. I know that sounds as morbid as Angelica and her imaginary dead babies, but it's actually not nearly as dark.

The key reason fans think this is that the different kids all seem to be from very different eras, despite living on the same street at the same time. Rolf from the 1900s, Johnny from the 1920s, Eddy from the Great Depression, and Kevin and Jimmy from the 90s and 2000s.

This explains why the kids have different slang, different period clothing, and why the technology is so mixed up. We never see adults, and so the idea is that this is limbo for children in particular. Only the Kanker Sisters aren't human. Instead, they're demons set to torment the children in limbo.

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Fan theories can be fun, but unless the creators confirm them, it's best not to take them too seriously, or else you might end up with your very own conspiracy board "proving" that Phoebe from friends hallucinated the whole thing.