There’s nothing like a good ending to an incredible television series. It’s sadly far too common that TV shows cannot stick the landing.
It makes us appreciate a good finale even more. Every storyline ties together neatly, and we’re given an excellent resolution to the characters we fell in love with over the years.
Let’s talk about some of the best series finales in television history. Warning: there may be spoilers!
Newhart
The finale of Newhart has become iconic for its callback to Bob Newhart’s previous sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show.
It reveals that all of the events of Newhart were a dream of Dr. Bob Hartley, but it’s done in such a good way that it doesn’t feel cheap or gimmicky.
MASH
“Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” remains the most-watched episode in television history with over 105 million viewers.
The finale of MASH was always going to be an event, given the status of the series. Few finales, if any, surpass this one.
The Shield
FX established itself as a premiere cable network thanks partly to dramas like The Shield.
The fate of Vic Mackey is satisfying and true to his character, serving as a worthy conclusion to a legendary television series.
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30 Rock
Few sitcoms can maintain quality throughout their entire run like 30 Rock. The show starts on fire with its cleverness and jokes and doesn’t stop.
The finale, “Last Lunch,” works as an excellent way to send off its characters in a surprisingly emotional way.
Parks and Recreation
You can argue that Parks and Recreation was becoming a little too surreal and over-the-top for its own good, especially as it moved into the future.
Thankfully, its finale, “One Last Ride,” does an excellent job of returning the series to its roots and giving every character the ending they deserve.
I enjoyed how it left things open-ended between who became President between Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt.
Breaking Bad
Hearing Walter White say that he didn’t just do it for the family but to gratify himself is such a cathartic moment. It’s so good to see Walter finally admit how selfish he was during the series.
There was no other way for him to go. He gets his final moments of humanity before succumbing to his wounds, bleeding out alone on the floor.
Better Call Saul
The concept of a Breaking Bad prequel centered on the Saul Goodman character was initially scoffed at, but arguably, it ended up being the better series.
Watching Jimmy McGill turn into Saul Goodman before reverting to Jimmy McGill and the final meeting with Kim Wexler in jail is the perfect way to end this decade-plus journey in the Breaking Bad Universe.
Bojack Horseman
Far too many shows have their problematic protagonist stumble into a redemption arc. Thankfully, Bojack Horseman isn’t that show.
The final shot of Bojack and Diane staring at the night sky after Diane tells Bojack she’s cutting him out of his life reminds us that life doesn’t always have a happy ending, but the ending you deserve.
Futurama
Here’s a show that has the neat distinction of having several finales over the course of its multiple runs. Truth be told, all of them have been excellent.
Futurama has always done such a good job with Fry and Leela’s romance, and seeing them grow old together before dedicing to relive their lives, is the absolute perfect finale. I’m not sure how the show will top it, as it’s returned yet again, but I’ll be eager to find out.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Sometimes, a show can go out on its own terms. The Mary Tyler Moore Show is one of those shows.
It’s an excellent example of the power of not letting storylines drag on too long. One of the themes of “The Last Show” is that it’s okay to say goodbye to television characters, helping to resonate better with viewers.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Sometimes, all good things must indeed come to an end. The Next Generation‘s finale is a perfect bookend to its pilot and an excellent way to say goodbye to one of the most popular Enterprise crews.
The only way to end the series was to watch Picard sit down for a game of poker and hear him regret not doing so before.
Mr. Robot
That first season of Mr. Robot was truly something else. It felt like the series came out of nowhere, bouyed by strong performances by Rami Malek and Christian Slater.
Thankfully, its finale does an excellent job of tying everything togehter. It may not have had the same amount of hype, but the quality was certainly still there.
The Americans
It’s important for a good season finale to answer the most important questions that have been presented over the years.
That’s exactly what The Americans does. Its filled with so many twists and turns that come together exceptionally well. It’s the gold standard of television finales for a reason. The show’s entire run was building up to its final moments and watching them play out was incredibly cathartic.
Twin Peaks
Sometimes, you don’t get all the answers you want. That’s okay; to be fair, if you were expecting answers from the late great David Lynch, then you were looking in the wrong place.
What makes the show’s finale in Twin Peaks: The Return so iconic is that right when the show feels like its finally giving everyone that happy ending, it snatches it away and adds more confusion and mystery at the very last second. Is it frustrating? Yes, but that’s Twin Peaks for you, and to be honest, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Scrubs
The finale of Scrubs’ eighth and final season (there was no season nine, what are you talking about) is one of the most emotional I’ve ever seen in a comedy.
Scrubs has always been good at toeing the line between comedic jokes and dramatic twists, with “My Finale” being the best example.
Of course, now there’s the Scrubs reboot, but hey, no matter how that eventually turns out in the end, we’ll always have “My Finale.”
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