What was the biggest shock for viewers who watched in real time?

I’m 24 so I didn’t really start watching until they were already up to season 12 or so, so all the major things that had happened I’d kind of heard about in media or friends.

I’ve always wondered for people who watched in real time as it was coming out, did the promos heavily hint at big moments (007, Derek, plane crash etc) / were those things eluded to so you kind of knew someone was leaving? or was most of it a shock?

I’ve always wished I could go back and watch blindly to get the full effect of the twists/plots! I’ve never seen past season 18 (kind of slowed down for me with the covid stuff) and I’m currently pushing on, I’m hoping there’s some sort of huge plot I can feel the shock of in there 😂