The Best Finales (12):
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1. Six Feet Under – Everyone Dies, and It’s Beautiful
No other show dared to end like this. “Six Feet Under” took its theme, death, and showed us every character’s final moment in a raw, honest montage. It was tragic, peaceful, and strangely uplifting. Instead of a cliffhanger, we got closure, life cycle and all. Critics called it “a masterclass in storytelling.” The haunting use of Sia’s “Breathe Me” added weight that still lingers in pop culture memory. It’s the kind of ending that doesn’t fade with time. It deepens. Even years later, fans call it the greatest finale they’ve ever watched, and many still tear up.
2. Breaking Bad – Walt’s Last Act
Walter White’s story had to end badly, but the way “Breaking Bad” pulled it off still feels like poetry. He saves Jesse, dies in his lab, and finally admits the truth. “I did it for me.” The writing didn’t try to twist or out-clever itself. It simply followed the arc to its natural conclusion. Fans called it perfect because it was honest. Flawed hero, earned redemption, and a clean goodbye. Vince Gilligan wrapped it all up like a ticking time bomb defusing itself. No loose ends, no confusion. Just peace after chaos. It didn’t disappoint. It delivered.
3. Newhart – A Dream Within a Dream
Bob Newhart’s sitcom wrapped up with one of the greatest TV curveballs ever thrown. Just as viewers thought they were watching a quirky Vermont inn story wrap up, Bob wakes up in bed next to his old sitcom wife from “The Bob Newhart Show.” Turns out the whole show was a dream. It was absurd in the best way and instantly legendary. Fans still laugh about it today. Even Bob joked later, “It was my wife’s idea!” In a world of overly dramatic endings, this one reminded everyone that comedy can go out brilliantly with a wink.
4. MAS*H – The Goodbye That Broke Records
With over 100 million viewers, the “MAS*H” finale wasn’t just popular. It was monumental. It handled the trauma of war, mental health, and farewells with heart and weight. Hawkeye’s breakdown, B.J.’s final “goodbye” spelled in stones, and that helicopter lift-off made for TV history. People cried together that night across the U.S. The episode wasn’t just a finale. It was an event. It holds up because it dared to be emotional without losing humor. Fans didn’t just watch the characters go home. They felt like they were leaving the 4077th too.
5. The Americans – Quiet Devastation
Not every great finale needs fireworks. “The Americans” ended on silence, tension, and deep regret. As Philip and Elizabeth return to Russia, they leave behind their American son, their years of pretending, and a life they almost made real. No death scenes, no hero speeches. Just soft heartbreak and consequence. Critics praised its “restraint and emotional intelligence.” It didn’t need to tell viewers what to feel. It let the cold Moscow skyline do the talking. As far as spy shows go, this one snuck out the back door and left the door open just enough to haunt us.
6. The Good Place – Going When It’s Time
“The Good Place” asked big questions about morality, purpose, and what happens after we die. But it ended with a soft, lovely truth. Everything, eventually, must end. Each character chose when to move on from the afterlife, dissolving into stardust with grace. There were no huge reveals. Just acceptance and peace. Fans were surprised by how emotional it felt. Creator Mike Schur said, “We wanted to give people an ending that felt earned.” It did just that. Somehow, a sitcom about the afterlife gave us a finale that felt more human than most shows ever do.
7. Cheers – The Bar Stays Open
When “Cheers” ended, it didn’t burn down the bar or kill off beloved characters. Instead, it dimmed the lights and let Sam stay where he belonged. He straightened a picture and muttered, “We’re closed.” That was it. And it worked. The show, which spent years celebrating found family and casual conversation, didn’t need fireworks. It just needed Sam and an empty room. It reminded viewers that life goes on even after the final credits. A quiet, classy goodbye for a show that made us feel like regulars in a bar we never physically entered.
8. Frasier – A Gentle Exit
“Frasier” always had a touch of elegance, and its finale followed suit. The story closes with Frasier leaving Seattle for love, but with enough ambiguity to keep things open-ended. We’re left with his classic line, “Wish me luck.” The show didn’t tie every thread, but that wasn’t the point. It gave the characters dignity and growth, especially for someone as comically neurotic as Frasier. Fans felt it was true to the tone. Smart, warm, and understated. It wasn’t flashy, but it lingered. Like the best conversations, it ended just before you wanted it to.
9. The Office – Every Line Mattered
For a show built on awkward silences and slow-burn relationships, “The Office” ended on a surprisingly emotional high. Dwight got married. Michael returned, whispering “That’s what she said.” Pam and Jim moved forward. But the real finale moment was the documentary crew wrapping up, reminding everyone this was always about people growing up in an ordinary place. Andy’s line stuck with fans. “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” That sentiment made the farewell feel like a family reunion. We were all invited.
10. Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Strength Shared
Buffy didn’t ride off into the sunset. She cracked the mythology open and shared her power with every potential slayer. That decision, bold and defiant, flipped the script on chosen ones and gave closure with purpose. The final battle was chaotic, but the message was clear. Strength doesn’t belong to one girl. It belongs to many. “I’m cookie dough,” Buffy says in her odd way, still figuring things out. Fans loved that. It wasn’t a fairy tale ending. It was a beginning for others. That’s why the finale remains a favorite. It handed off the torch with grace.
11. Deadwood: The Movie – Peace, at Last
Years after its abrupt cancellation, “Deadwood” returned for a finale movie that felt more like a funeral and a reunion rolled into one. The characters aged, their grudges softened, and time itself had weathered the town. Al Swearengen’s final moments were fitting. Subtle, weary, and reflective. There wasn’t a grand showdown, just quiet reckonings. Critics praised its “melancholic sense of closure.” It didn’t try to reboot the magic. It simply gave fans the final chapter they never got. It wasn’t flashy, but it was faithful. Sometimes, just getting the goodbye is all that’s needed.
12. El Camino – Jesse’s Freedom
“El Camino” wasn’t a grand finale, but a soft landing for Jesse Pinkman. Someone fans weren’t ready to leave behind. After years of trauma and running, Jesse finally drives toward something that isn’t pain. The story didn’t try to reinvent “Breaking Bad.” Instead, it focused on healing. Aaron Paul called it “Jesse’s chance at closure.” That’s exactly what it gave us. No explosions, no unexpected twists. Just a man finally breathing free air. In a world of chaotic endings, this quiet character piece stood out. It reminded viewers that not every escape has to be loud to feel earned.
The Worst Finales (13):
13. Game of Thrones – A Rush to the End
No show had more hype than “Game of Thrones,” and no finale crashed harder. What started as slow-burning political intrigue ended in a confusing sprint. Daenerys burned a city, Bran became king, and beloved arcs felt tossed aside. Fans were frustrated by how quickly it all wrapped up. “We wanted more time,” said Emilia Clarke. Even actors admitted the pacing felt off. It wasn’t just the choices that hurt. It was how little time we got to feel them. Thrones had earned its place in history, but its ending left a scorched hole in pop culture memory.
14. How I Met Your Mother – She Was Barely There
Fans spent nine seasons waiting to meet “The Mother,” only to have her die moments after the big reveal. Ted ending up with Robin felt like regression, not growth. What should have been a warm love story became a bait-and-switch. The finale felt rushed and disjointed, with character arcs undone in the final scenes. Even loyal viewers were left saying, “That’s it?” It tried to be clever but ended up feeling cold. What could’ve been a beautiful full-circle moment ended up reminding fans that sometimes, the payoff doesn’t match the buildup. It just missed the moment.
15. Seinfeld – A Joke Without Punch
A courtroom. A jail sentence. A bunch of recycled gags. That’s how “Seinfeld,” one of the most iconic sitcoms ever, ended. For a show about nothing, the finale doubled down on being nothing meaningful. Instead of growth, we got flashbacks and callbacks with no heart. Critics called it smug and detached. “They just didn’t care,” one fan said online. While some appreciated the meta-irony, most viewers were left feeling empty. The characters didn’t evolve. They circled back into their worst selves. After nine seasons, fans wanted more than just a punchline. This time, the joke didn’t land.
16. Dexter – He Chopped Wood
Dexter Morgan faked his death, abandoned his son, and became a lumberjack. That’s how this beloved anti-hero’s story ended. Fans were furious. No confrontation, no justice, just flannel and trees. Even showrunner Clyde Phillips admitted, “We know we disappointed people.” The finale missed every emotional beat it aimed for. Rather than reckoning with Dexter’s crimes or redemption, the series gave us vague isolation. It felt like running away from story, from stakes, and from closure. While “New Blood” tried to clean things up, the original finale remains infamous. A gripping series deserved a sharper, more honest final cut.
17. Lost – Found, But Confused
“Lost” promised answers to big mysteries like smoke monsters, polar bears, and timelines. But the finale traded answers for emotion. The island was real. The church scene was purgatory-like. The result was a lot of tears and even more question marks. Fans were divided. Some found it spiritual and touching. Others felt misled. “We weren’t dead the whole time,” the creators insisted, but clarity never quite came. It was beautiful, yes, but also baffling. For a series built on mystery, its biggest one was why it didn’t try harder to make sense. Viewers were moved and confused all at once.
18. St. Elsewhere – The Snow Globe Twist
For six seasons, “St. Elsewhere” was a gritty hospital drama. But in the finale, the camera pans out to reveal a boy with autism staring into a snow globe. The implication was that the entire show may have taken place in his imagination. Some praised the boldness. Others felt betrayed. It turned years of grounded storytelling into a philosophical puzzle that fans never asked for. One critic called it “TV’s most divisive ending.” Whether genius or gimmick, the twist broke reality too harshly for many. A finale should elevate the show’s journey, not make you question if it ever happened.
19. Two and a Half Men – Piano Drop
No Charlie Sheen. No heart. Just a cartoonish ending with a piano falling from the sky. That’s how “Two and a Half Men” chose to go out. Bitter, bizarre, and completely unfulfilling. The finale mocked itself, mocked its audience, and ended with Chuck Lorre looking into the camera. Fans didn’t laugh. They groaned. It felt like a personal feud aired on network TV. Without Sheen or a real story to close, the show leaned on gags instead of resolution. What could have been a zany but sincere goodbye became a messy breakup broadcast for everyone to see.
20. Quantum Leap – No Way Home
“Quantum Leap” was about fixing the past, making things right, and one day returning home. But in its final moment, the screen fades to black and a title card says, “Sam never returned home.” That’s it. No goodbye, no closure. It felt unfair, even cruel. Fans hoped for a reunion or peace for the character they followed through history. Instead, they got a sentence that still haunts forums today. The showrunner later admitted they had no plan to end it that way since it was canceled too soon. But even knowing that doesn’t make it sting any less.
21. The Fugitive – Blink and It’s Over
Back in 1967, “The Fugitive” broke ground with its finale, finally ending the manhunt that kept viewers hooked. But rewatch it today and it feels underwhelming. The killer is caught quickly. There’s little emotional weight. Everything’s tied up too neatly. At the time, it was big news. Now, it feels rushed. Viewers today want more introspection and character development. This finale had neither. It’s a rare case where history was made, but hasn’t aged well. For all its trailblazing, “The Fugitive” ended more like a footnote than a final chapter. It just didn’t hold up.
22. Heroes – Lost Its Power
“Heroes” was once hailed as a superhero drama for grownups. But by the end, the writing faltered and the plot collapsed. Its finale didn’t answer questions, didn’t resolve arcs, and failed to set up a clear future. Viewers were left confused and unfulfilled. Even the actors seemed to know something was off. “We ran out of juice,” one cast member joked. The show that began with “Save the cheerleader, save the world” ended with no clear stakes and no climax. A wasted opportunity for a series that once carried real potential. The finale felt more like a shrug.
23. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life – Four Words, No Clarity
Fans waited years for closure and got cryptic final words instead. “Mom?” “Yeah?” “I’m pregnant.” That was the big finish. Instead of tying up Rory’s career or love life, “A Year in the Life” chose ambiguity. Some loved it. Others felt cheated. The revival had its cozy charm, but the ending left fans with more questions than warm fuzzies. Creator Amy Sherman-Palladino always planned those words, but context matters. Without a clear direction or follow-up, the final note felt like a cliffhanger disguised as resolution. For a show built on quick wit, the silence afterward was a letdown.
24. Arrested Development (Netflix) – The Magic Was Gone
“Arrested Development” had a near-perfect original finale, but Netflix’s revival seasons tried to do too much with too little. The storytelling became disjointed. The jokes lost their snap. And the final episodes, especially Season 5’s awkward conclusion, left fans confused, not laughing. What once felt tight and clever now felt tired. Even the actors seemed misaligned. Ron Howard’s narration couldn’t save it. “The Bluths deserved better,” one critic wrote, and fans agreed. Reboots are risky, and in this case, the finale didn’t stick the landing. It stumbled over its own cleverness and left us missing the simpler days.
25. House of Cards – Hollow at the Core
After Kevin Spacey’s departure, “House of Cards” lost its anchor. Robin Wright stepped up, but the story unraveled quickly. The finale was chaotic and lacked emotional weight. Claire Underwood’s final act didn’t feel earned, and characters felt lost in a fog of rewrites. Viewers wanted justice or catharsis. Instead, they got a cryptic ending. One critic called it “a fitting finale for a show that forgot what made it great.” What began as a powerful political thriller ended with confusion and disappointment. When the cards finally fell, no one was really playing anymore.
This story 25 Classic TV Finales That Fans Still Argue About, The Best and Worst of All Time was first published on Daily FETCH
