Ending On A Good Note
Sometimes a series can be well done and beloved, but if it ends with a poor finale, it can go from famous to infamous in the span of an episode. Fortunately, many finales only raise the show’s quality—or are seen as “perfect” endings that wrap up storylines, do the characters justice, and create iconic moments. Warning: There will be spoilers ahead.
Arrested Development, “Development Arrested”
New viewers of this series may need clarification, but for seven years, this was the only series finale fans knew. Before the final two seasons were added, this episode was seen as the perfect ending to the Bluth family’s story. However, this isn’t the only show to release more seasons after its finale.
Imagine Entertainment, Arrested Development (2013-2019)
Star Trek: The Next Generation, “All Good Things…”
Despite not being the last Star Trek series, The Next Generation is arguably the most beloved. Captain Picard became such an iconic character, that he needed a proper sendoff. The finale succeeded, placing Picard in a story that delved into his past, present, and future before giving him a truly earned happy ending.
Paramount, Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)
Scrubs, “My Finale”
Creator Bill Lawrence asserts that the final season is more of a spin-off while the true series finale is at the end of season eight. This two-parter dials the emotions up to 11 and shows each character completing their journey before offering a glimpse ahead. At least Zach Braff met a better end in Scrubs than the next show on this list.
BoJack Horseman, “Nice While It Lasted”
For a show of contradictions—being both hilarious and heart-wrenching—BoJack Horseman’s finale was appropriately left in a realistic middle area. Rather than a happy or tragic ending, it had the characters reach an ironically very human point of simply living life. This isn’t the only animated show with an amazing finale, though
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Tornante Company, BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
Attack On Titan, “The Final Chapters”
The whole of Attack on Titan is such a complex, wild, and emotional ride that it almost felt impossible to imagine how it would end. However, the series presented audiences with a two-part finale that not only came full circle but served as a reflection of the show’s themes of both humanity’s brutality and hope.
Wit Studio, Attack on Titan (2013-2023)
Gravity Falls, “Weirdmageddon”
Gravity Falls grew quite an audience during its run with its surprisingly dark and in-depth story. Split between four parts, the series finale was a fittingly epic and heartfelt culmination that made viewers want to watch the show all over again. Still, this wouldn’t be the last fantastic animated finale from Disney.
Walt Disney, Gravity Falls (2012-2016)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, “Victory And Death”
Before Disney had purchased Star Wars, The Clone Wars consisted of only six seasons. Six years later, however, a new final season was created with a phenomenal finale. Everything from the writing to the animation was elevated and made a somber companion to Revenge of the Sith. Still, it’s not the only show to come back for a finale.
Cartoon Network, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)
New Girl, “Engram Pattersky”
When New Girl’s sixth season ended, the future of the show wasn’t clear but, thankfully, it was renewed with a seventh and final season. After a three-year time skip, the shorter season saw each character starting the rest of their lives by the end and moving on from the place fans first found them in.
Elizabeth Meriwether Pictures, New Girl (2011-2018)
The IT Crowd, “The Internet Is Coming”
While a fifth season was planned, many complications arose, leading to it being shelved. However, creator Graham Linehan created a single farewell special three years after the fourth season aired. The result was a perfect ending, where viewers said one last goodbye to the characters they loved.
FremantleMedia, The IT Crowd (2016-2013)
Parks And Recreation, “One Last Ride”
The opposite of an ambiguous ending, Parks and Recreation’s finale looked to the future to see where everyone would be. It gave a sense of closure and allowed fans to see beloved characters get their happy endings. Of course, showrunner Michael Schur has been involved with more than just one standout finale.
Deedle-Dee Productions, Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
The Office, “Finale”
While not the first mockumentary, The Office certainly popularized the medium. That said, it’s one of the few to actually show the release of the in-universe documentary. Even though it's at the end, it makes it easy for the audience and characters to look back over the series, adding to an already amazing finale where each character gets their spotlight.
Reveille Productions, The Office (2005-2013)
The Good Place, “Whenever You’re Ready”
For a sitcom, The Good Place provided audiences with shockingly poignant philosophical questions. As the finale had to find a way to end an eternal afterlife, it knocked it out of the park and delivered a truly satisfying ending that stuck with many viewers. This proves that some of the most memorable finales can come from comedies.
Fremulon, The Good Place (2016-2020)
Curb Your Enthusiasm, “No Lessons Learned”
After a whopping 24 years, the iconic Curb Your Enthusiasm ended. Although creator and star Larry David had tried to end the series a few times prior, the hilarious meta nature of this finale is so perfect, it would be a shame to backpedal. This isn’t the only long-running series to nail its finale, though.
HBO, Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)
Cheers, “One For The Road”
Another beloved long-standing series is, of course, Cheers. As characters found themselves outgrowing the bar in the finale, fans felt like they were saying goodbye to their actual friends. Of course, not every character needed a goodbye.
Frasier, “Goodnight, Seattle”
It isn’t rare for spin-offs to reach the same heights as their source show, but with Frasier, it became its own giant—matching Cheers with 11 seasons. The series finale showed each character’s arc coming to a satisfying end, leaving viewers with a sense of closure.
Shiny Brass Lamp Productions, Frasier 2023-
Friends, “The Last One”
Like Cheers, few other sitcoms had such a grip on pop culture as Friends did. So when the series ended, it hit audiences hard—in a good way—as viewers saw almost all the characters get their happy endings. However, some of the more modern sitcoms also have amazing finales.
Warner Bros., Friends (1994-2004)
30 Rock, “Hogcock!/Last Lunch”
For a show that is 90% zany comedy, this two-part finale was surprisingly emotional as both the series and the in-universe show ended. Because it was about writing for TV, 30 Rock could portray a very meta look at how a finale feels for everyone involved, from the cast to the crew to the audience.
Broadway Video, 30 Rock (2006-2013)
Schitt’s Creek, “Happy Ending”
As we’ve seen, some of the best finales come full circle. With Schitt’s Creek, the finale is a parallel to the series’ pilot. However, this time, the Rose family is able to leave on a better note due to how each of them has grown, allowing the audience to bid a tearful, yet proud farewell.
CBC, Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)
Veep, “Veep”
How do you take a villainous character and make them a fan favorite? Lean into it! The finale of Veep saw the main character get everything she wanted, at least until the end. The political comedy ends on a note that makes all the seasons of her ruthlessness worth it. On the other hand, many of the most iconic finales come from dramas.
Friday Night Lights, “Always”
While not an epic four-part conclusion or a mysteriously ambiguous ending, the finale of Friday Night Lights remains a truly beloved one. It’s filled with last chances and big decisions, focusing on what made the show special in the first place–its portrayal of real people with real lives.
Imagine Television, Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)
The Americans, “START”
Although The Americans was filled with thrilling action scenes and tense spy dynamics, it ultimately was a show about family. The finale proved to be so perfect because it highlighted that theme more than anything as it inspired each character’s decisions.
Amblin Television, The Americans (2013-2018)
Mr. Robot, “Hello, Elliot”
For a series like Mr. Robot, where there’s always something going on behind the scenes, it was natural for the finale to deliver one final twist. This reveal may have seemed like a bit much initially, but it became earned as the series doubled down on characters facing their identities and moralities.
Anonymous Content, Mr. Robot (2015-2019)
Six Feet Under, “Everyone’s Waiting”
Even if storylines end, most finales allow audiences to imagine where the characters end up. Six Feet Under is uncommon in that it gives viewers a true essence of finality, as the true ending to each character’s story is displayed with a melancholic montage.
HBO, Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
The Leftovers, “The Book Of Nora”
Despite the controversial reception of his previous series—Lost—Damon Lindelof’s The Leftovers is considered to have ended on a perfect note. Rather than provide the audience with all the answers, it finished with the show’s bittersweet message of people learning to make do with what they have.
Film 44, The Leftovers (2014-2017)
Mad Men, “Person To Person”
Widely regarded as one of the best TV dramas in history, Mad Men easily took the world by storm. Fortunately, it ended with that legacy intact, as the finale wrapped up many of the narratives—including Don Draper’s, as he became enlightened in more ways than one.
Lionsgate, Mad Men (2007-2015)
Dark, “The Paradise”
This German series may have flown under the radar, but it remains one of the most compelling sci-fi stories of the last decade. With time travel, alternate universes, and a plethora of characters, a satisfying finale was no easy feat, but one that this drama succeeded in pulling off. However, what happens when you combine drama and comedy?
Sex And The City, “An American Girl In Paris”
It’s common for casual viewers to write off this series as shallow. However, many fail to see the heart that went into this story about life and friendship. Before all the movies, this finale was considered the best ending as it saw each woman conclude their specific arc in unexpected but satisfying ways.
HBO, Sex and the City (1998-2004)
Atlanta, “It Was All A Dream”
Atlanta’s ending was perfect with a meta, surreal, and hilarious finale because that’s exactly what the show was. It found a way to reach out to the audience to say goodbye and posited an interpretation that certainly isn’t new, but that works with this show more than most.
FX Productions, Atlanta (2016-2022)
Fleabag, “Episode 6”
The bittersweet finale of Fleabag has stuck with fans all this time due to the truly amazing writing of its titular character. Her journey as she learns to accept and forgive herself makes viewers feel anger, joy, sorrow, and hope all at once when it comes to the end, all feeling completely earned.
Two Brothers Pictures, Fleabag (2016-2019)
Succession, “With Open Eyes”
Succession took so many twists and turns that nobody could predict exactly how it would end. Anything seemed possible, and even the finale kept viewers on their toes until the last scene. The question of who would end up on top was answered and made the audience realize it couldn’t have gone any other way.
Gary Sanchez Productions, Succession (2018-2023)
Sex Education, “Episode 8”
Although the last season of this series saw polarizing reviews, the finale was a fitting end to the unique dramedy. Each of the major characters’ narratives came to natural resolutions and the overall story found a hopeful conclusion, albeit an open-ended one. This isn’t the only controversial finale on this list, though.
Eleven, Sex Education (2019-2023)
Lost, “The End”
It may be surprising to see Lost’s finale here since it was widely regarded as one of the worst endings in history. However, in recent years, appreciation for its character-driven conclusion has grown as more people realize that the backlash it received was not completely deserved.
The Sopranos, “Made In America”
If someone asked for the opposite of closure, the easiest answer would be the finale of The Sopranos. The episode cutting to black left the audience with shock and confusion, having to imagine their own endings and keeping them debating to this day. However, it wouldn’t be the last successful series about those living on the other side of the law.
The Wire, “-30-”
As this finale is the series’ longest episode, it feels like the creators tried their best to respect their audience with their final goodbye. The Wire’s finale is certainly not the only one to end with a montage. However, as it goes through each character’s ending, it reflects the range of morality seen in the series and doesn’t feel cheap.
The Fall Of The House Of Usher, “The Raven”
Mike Flanagan’s masterful love letter to Edgar Allen Poe took Netflix by storm and became a fan-favorite series. The Fall of the House of Usher told a story that viewers knew wouldn’t end well, but it managed to keep them glued to the screen and deliver a finale that was anything but boring or expected.
Intrepid Pictures, The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)
Hannibal, “The Wrath Of The Lamb”
At the end of an imperfect final season, Hannibal’s finale exceeded fans' expectations. While this season’s villain wasn’t as present as previous ones, it feels like he wasn’t meant to be. The series ended focusing on what it was always about: the relationship between its two protagonists.
Dino De Laurentiis, Hannibal (2013-2015)
Breaking Bad, “Felina”
With an entire series playing out like a Greek tragedy, it was easy for viewers to catch on that there wouldn’t be a happy ending. Nevertheless, this finale delivers a satisfyingly karmic end to its main character and his sidekick. Like Cheers, though, Breaking Bad’s spin-off has an equally loved finale.
High Bridge Productions, Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
Better Call Saul, “Saul Gone”
With a look through his past, present, and future, Better Call Saul’s finale beautifully explores the entire journey of the titular character. It kept fans engaged right down to his final decision about who he wanted to be: a con man or a good man. However, there’s arguably a better lawyer—at least morally.
High Bridge Productions, Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
Daredevil, “A New Napkin”
Regarded as one of the best superhero shows in history, Daredevil’s finale undeniably honored the legacy of its chief character. His principles were tested like never before, making it all the more earned when he held to them. What’s more impressive is that this wasn’t even supposed to be the finale, much like this next show.
ABC Signature, Daredevil (2015-2018)
Freaks And Geeks, “Discos And Dragons”
Freaks and Geeks was, unfortunately, one of many one-season series to be canceled right as it was getting started. At the same time, despite not intending to be, the finale is a perfect ending to the show. While it’s somewhat abrupt, each character ends up where their future is easy to picture, or at least, where they’ll be okay.
