As a longtime fan of these brilliant series, I must say it’s always bittersweet when we bid farewell to our beloved characters. But let me tell you something, folks, these finales were nothing short of spectacular!
Certain television series struggle towards their conclusion, often overstaying their welcome, such as these prolonged series. However, some shows cross the finish line triumphantly, wrapping up their characters’ journeys beautifully in final seasons and series finales. Here is a list of 32 TV shows that masterfully concluded their stories, from timeless comedies like “Cheers” to critically acclaimed dramas like “The Americans” and iconic sci-fi series like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” (Note: There are spoilers ahead!)
Succession
Jesse Armstrong, the mind behind Succession, had the opportunity to stretch out the Shakespearean family saga for a few more seasons but wisely chose to conclude the critically acclaimed HBO series after four seasons. As he explained to Vulture, “this was the natural course this tale should take.” The finale was nothing short of masterful, as underdog Tom Wambsgans (portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen) surprisingly ascended to the pinnacle of Waystar Royco, outmaneuvering siblings Connor (Alan Ruck), Kendall (Jeremy Armstrong), Roman (Kieran Culkin), and Shiv (Sarah Snook).
Breaking Bad
It was bound to happen: after a five-year span filled with greed, ruthlessness, and his transformation from a chemistry teacher into a meth cooker (portrayed brilliantly by Bryan Cranston as Walter White), it was only a matter of time before he met his end. However, what a fitting demise it was! The show’s final season, which boasted two halves that each won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2013 and 2014, delivered some unforgettable episodes, including the iconic “Ozymandias.” Moreover, this explosive conclusion solidified Breaking Bad’s place among television’s greatest series.
Newhart
Today, the “it turned out to be a dream” plot twist is often seen as overused, but when the sitcom “Newhart” employed this exact strategy in 1990, it left an indelible mark on popular culture. Towards the end of the show’s final episode, main character Dick Loudon (played by Bob Newhart), who had been unconscious following a golf ball incident in Vermont, suddenly found himself awakening in a Chicago bedroom instead. The shock was that he had morphed into his old “The Bob Newhart Show” character, Bob Hartley, with Emily, his TV wife (portrayed by special guest Suzanne Pleshette), by his side.
Mad Men
In simpler terms, the TV series Mad Men, which starred Jon Hamm as Don Draper, concluded in 2015 after seven seasons. The ending was open to interpretation, leaving viewers wondering if Don was genuinely seeking inner peace at a meditation retreat or if he was simply finding inspiration for the iconic Coca-Cola advertisement. Regardless, Jon Hamm received an Emmy for Best Actor, which many felt was well-deserved.
The Leftovers
In a poignant and thought-provoking manner, HBO’s The Leftovers wrapped up its run with an ambiguous yet emotional finale, providing a satisfying conclusion to its intricate narrative. Carrie Coon’s outstanding portrayal of Nora Durst led her to step into a radioactive device in search of her family who disappeared during the “Sudden Departure.” The series finale didn’t provide definitive answers regarding the quantum mechanics behind the disappearances, but it did offer solace to those left behind by suggesting that hope may yet exist.
30 Rock
In the seventh and concluding season of the beloved NBC sitcom, 30 Rock, characters Liz (portrayed by Tina Fey), Jack (Alec Baldwin), Tracy (Tracy Morgan), Kenneth (Jack McBrayer), and Jenna (Jane Krakowski) bid their farewell in a mix of laughter and emotion, filled with familiar callbacks, clever quips, and whimsical absurdity that fans have grown accustomed to. The series finale also paid a touching tribute to the real-life crew behind the scenes by having them portray the TGS team.
Parks And Recreation
Written partially by Amy Poehler, the final episode of “Parks and Recreation” affectionately bid farewell to both its cherished characters and the town of Pawnee. The heartwarming two-part series predominantly unfolded in the future, offering joyful conclusions for everyone: Garry (Jim O’Heir) being elected mayor, marrying Christie Brinkley; Andy (Chris Pratt) and April (Aubrey Plaza) becoming parents; Ron (Nick Offerman) assuming control of the Pawnee National Park; and Leslie (Poehler) continuing her career in politics…perhaps even reaching the White House?
Fringe
In the last episode of the Fox sci-fi series “Fringe,” it was a mix of joy and sorrow for characters Olivia (Anna Torv), Peter (Joshua Jackson), and Walter (John Noble). The fifth season leaped ahead to a bleak future controlled by the Observers. In a selfless act, Walter sent Michael (Rowan Longworth) through a wormhole deep into an even more distant future to prevent the initial Observer invasion. This action caused the timeline to revert back to 2015, where sadly, Walter no longer existed. However, due to time-travel mysteries, he was still able to send his son a sketch of a white tulip.
Justified
In a new sequel series titled “Justified: City Primeval“, Raylan Givens’ (Timothy Olyphant) story continues from where it left off. However, the ending of its predecessor, “Justified“, served as a very fulfilling finale, particularly in wrapping up Raylan’s conflict with his former ally turned adversary, Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins). Over the course of six seasons on FX, Boyd was a character who always had memorable quotes. But it was his last line, “We mined coal together”, that showed he saved his best for the end.
The Shield
In the 2000s, one of the most captivating crime dramas, “The Shield“, met expectations with its daring conclusion. Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), struggling to avoid prison, instead received a punishment more severe than imprisonment: he was left with blood on his hands, his family fleeing from him, and relegated to a desk job. As police sirens wailed in the distance, Vic reached for his gun from his desk drawer and exited the ICE building. His destination remains unknown, but it’s safe to assume it can’t be a positive outcome.
Cheers
Leaving those unique spots where everyone recognizes you might be challenging, especially when they serve a drink known as “One for the Road.” This title was given to Cheers’ memorable series finale, which paid tribute to our dearest patrons: Woody (played by Woody Harrelson) became a Boston councilman, Norm (George Wendt) secured his long-desired city job, Cliff (John Ratzenberger) advanced at the Post Office, and Sam (Ted Danson) had to decide between reuniting with Diane (Shelley Long), the one who got away, or staying loyal to the bar that truly mattered to him.
MASH
For an unforgettable reason, the 1983 finale of MASH, watched by a staggering 121.6 million viewers, is considered the greatest ever: it gracefully wrapped up the tumultuous lives of the staff at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. As the Korean War ended, these characters had to say their goodbyes and move on. However, none struck a deeper chord than the farewell between Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell). The poignant scene culminated with Hawkeye departing by helicopter, glimpsing a message from B.J. below – a heart-wrenching goodbye spelled out in rocks on the ground.
The Sopranos
Among the most divisive TV finale endings ever, also one of the most potent, was the surprising conclusion to “The Sopranos.” This ending, which left viewers baffled, showcased a genius use of ambiguity and suspense. Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) appeared to be casually dining with his wife (Edie Falco) and son (Robert Iler) at a diner, all the while watching each new patron enter. The diner door would swing open, the bell would ring, and Tony would glance up, but the scene abruptly ended with the screen fading to black. Was it Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler), who had finally found a parking spot, or someone much more sinister? Intriguingly and intriguingly, we’ll never have the answer to that question.
Six Feet Under
Reflecting on it now, it appears quite fitting for a series centered around a funeral home to conclude by depicting each character’s demise in the future. However, when HBO’s “Six Feet Under” originally aired in 2005, the final episode filled with death scenes was both clever and emotional. Though an hour of television focused on death may not sound uplifting, watching the Fisher family progress through time, especially Claire (played by Lauren Ambrose) living to the ripe age of 102, felt as natural and cyclical as life itself.
Friday Night Lights
“With unclouded vision and hearts brimming with determination, football coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and the creators of Friday Night Lights adhered to their motto. Even as the East Dillon Lions triumphed in their hard-fought game against the Dillon Panthers, Coach Taylor’s perspective remained clear. It was only fitting that he should depart Texas by the series’ end, relocating to Philadelphia to stand by his wife Tami (Connie Britton), who had secured a position as dean of admissions at Braemore College. Seems like their shared aspirations!”
The Wire
One of the best episodes of The Wire is its last, which managed to wrap everything up while also leaving things intriguingly open. It showed that Baltimore and all of its complexities would continue long after the credits roll. Things could change — Carcetti (Aidan Gillen) could become governor, Templeton (Tom McCarthy) could win a Pulitzer, Michael (Tristan Wilds) could become the new Omar, McNulty (Dominic West) could leave the police department — but, devastatingly, many things would always stay the same.
The West Wing
The final season of “The West Wing” marked the conclusion of an epoch, symbolically wrapping up President Jed Bartlet’s (Martin Sheen) tenure as depicted in the series. The series finale served as a tender goodbye to the former POTUS, his staff like C.J. (Allison Janney), Leo (John Spencer), Josh (Bradley Whitford), and Donna (Janel Moloney). Yet, it steered clear of excessive nostalgia; in fact, Abbey (Stockard Channing) questioned Jed about his thoughts at the end, to which he responded, “Tomorrow.”
ER
The medical drama came full circle for its grand finale, which echoed its premiere episode 15 years prior by taking place over the course of 24 hours in the emergency room of Cook County General Hospital. The cases are dramatic and dizzyingly varied, from emergency cesarean sections to terminal cancer diagnoses to triage patients from an industrial explosion. As the theme music played, the camera pulled out for ER‘s final, effective shot: the entire exterior of the hospital, seen for the first and only time in the show’s history, with all of that curative frenzy happening within.
Battlestar Galactica
Over many years, the crew aboard Battlestar Galactica navigated through star systems and narrowly escaped numerous Cylon attacks. Eventually, they reached an ancient version of Earth at the conclusion of the Sci-Fi Channel series. This primitive world eventually developed into present-day civilization, and the final episode fast-forwards 150,000 years to reveal that Hera, a being with both human and Cylon heritage, is considered the ancestor of our current species. As Jimi Hendrix’s song “All Along the Watchtower” echoed in the background, the finale left us wondering if humans are destined to repeat their past mistakes.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
The role of “The Chosen One,” as portrayed by Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) over seven seasons in the famous series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,”, is undeniably burdensome. However, after battling vampires single-handedly for 140+ episodes and enduring numerous hardships, Buffy realizes she doesn’t have to shoulder the responsibility alone. In the final episode, the Hellmouth collapses, Sunnydale is demolished, but Buffy is not alone. She has her Scooby Gang, a new generation of Slayers, and an endless future ahead of her for companionship.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
In 1977, executive producer Allan Burns admitted that they had been delaying writing the final episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show while accepting its Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. He believed it conveyed their intended message effectively, adding that it was both moving and humorous. With characters like Mary (played by Mary Tyler Moore), Lou (Edward Asner), Murray (Gavin MacLeod), and Sue Ann (Betty White) being let go from WJM-TV, the show combined laughter and tears, from the group’s farewell shuffle to the emotional cue of a tissue box and the poignant farewell song “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.”
The Americans
In the intense series “The Americans”, it was bound to happen that undercover Russian spies, Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip Jennings (Matthew Rhys), would eventually be unmasked and forced to return to Russia from the U.S. However, even with this foreseeable outcome, the FX drama concluded with a suspenseful, shocking, and heart-wrenching twist: their American-born daughter, Paige (Holly Taylor), chose to stay behind in the States. The image of Paige on the platform as Elizabeth and Philip’s train departed will linger in our minds for many years.
Parenthood
For six consecutive seasons, viewers of the show Parenthood grew deeply attached to the Braverman family, treating them almost like their own kin. Thus, when the series concluded in 2015, it was a bittersweet farewell. Despite the emotionally charged finale that saw the passing of patriarch Zeek (Craig T. Nelson), a heartwarming time-skip provided comfort, hinting at joyous occasions such as weddings, pregnancies, graduations, vacations, and even puppies at Christmas in the Braverman family’s future.
Better Call Saul
Creating an exceptional spin-off from a fantastic original series is challenging enough, but to wrap up that spin-off with equal praise is a completely different story. The hit series ‘Better Call Saul’, set within the ‘Breaking Bad’ universe, accomplished this feat in its sixth season. This season saw the transformation of Jimmy McGill into Saul Goodman and then Gene Takavic (played by Bob Odenkirk) ultimately facing the repercussions of his actions. Yet, as co-creator Peter Gould explained to AMC, Saul’s ending carries a hint of optimism: “Despite being in prison, which is awful, Jimmy has returned to being Jimmy. He’s regained his spirit.”
The Good Place
Despite devoted fans of “The Good Place” longing to continue their journey alongside favorite characters, the NBC afterlife sitcom indeed concluded in 2020 following four seasons and 53 episodes. Yet, it wrapped up in its distinctive witty and healing manner. The storyline culminated with Eleanor (Kristen Bell), Chidi (William Jackson Harper), and Jason (Manny Jacinto) prepared to pass through the door and embark on new adventures, while Michael (Ted Danson), now human, was granted a chance to enjoy an ordinary life on Earth.
Angel
The task of combating malevolent powers to save the world may seem virtually unattainable, yet it remains an honorable endeavor, as vividly demonstrated in the series finale of “Angel,” titled “Not Fade Away.” Following a season filled with sorrow, marked by the deaths of Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Fred (Amy Acker), one could easily imagine Angel and his team, Angel Investigations, succumbing to their grief and giving up. However, despite foreseeing their probable downfall, Angel, Spike (James Marsters), Gunn (J August Richards), and Illyria (Acker) decided to stand firm against the sinister entities, choosing to fight for righteousness instead.
Friends
In my opinion, Friends nailed it during its tenth and concluding season by portraying the transient nature of New York City, especially as we progress from our vibrant twenties into our settled thirties. The finale, titled “The Last One,” had Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) adopt twins and depart from their iconic purple-walled West Village apartment for the suburbs. After Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), and Ross (David Schwimmer) returned their keys, Chandler delivered a final, side-splitting quip before they all – where else? – headed to Central Perk one last time.
The Office
It could be argued that The Office should have concluded when Steve Carell’s character, Michael Scott, departed from Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in Scranton at the end of season seven. However, although the show struggled somewhat after this point, ending it earlier would have denied fans the emotional resolution they experienced when Michael orchestrated a beautiful surprise at Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) and Angela Martin’s (Angela Kinsey) wedding to serve as best man and utter his signature line, “That’s what she said.”
Star Trek: The Next Generation
As a devoted Star Trek: The Next Generation fan, I must bid farewell to the thrilling voyages of the Starfleet crew aboard the Enterprise-D. In this poignant send-off, Captain Jean-Luc Picard navigates through time, hopping from the current moment, then to our maiden voyage seven years past, and leaping 25 years into the future. In each epoch, Picard ensures the Enterprise averts a temporal disturbance that ultimately spares humanity, but at a cost of our beloved ship. This entire ordeal turns out to be a test from Q, yet Picard manages to prove his mettle, and in the here and now, I find myself finally invited to join their coveted poker game.
Fleabag
Following the exceptional first season of Fleabag, many doubted that Phoebe Waller-Bridge and her team could replicate the sharp humor and emotional intensity with Season 2 of the BBC One dramedy. However, they managed to silence all doubters with their poignant romance and hilarious wit in the second – and, based on the fourth-wall-breaking finale, concluding – season. This season notably featured our unnamed protagonist encountering and falling for an attractive priest, portrayed by Andrew Scott.
Veep
As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but reflect on the final episode of the unendingly funny show, Veep. Selina Meyer, portrayed brilliantly by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, finally achieved her lifelong dream in the series finale – she claimed the Oval Office. Yes, the Vice President who seemed destined to stay in that role forever, ultimately ascended to the presidency through a ruthless political climb that left many of her closest allies, particularly her devoted aide Gary (Tony Hale), feeling betrayed.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
The climactic four-part conclusion of Avatar: The Last Airbender provided each significant character with their moment in the spotlight, solidifying it as one of the outstanding animated series of the 21st century. In an awe-inspiring final confrontation against Ozai, Aang remains steadfast in his pacifism, opting not to take Ozai’s life but rather employing energy bending to disarm him as retribution for his misdeeds. This series finale presents a thought-provoking intellectual challenge that surpasses the expectations of a “kids” program.
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2024-08-08 20:38