Ending On A Good Note
A great TV show can spend years winning our hearts—only to lose it all in one disastrous finale. Nothing turns “beloved” into “betrayed” faster than a bad goodbye. Luckily, some series stick the landing so well they turn good TV into legend, tying up storylines, honoring their characters, and leaving us with scenes that live rent-free in our heads. Consider this your spoiler alert—we’re diving into the finales that actually got it right.
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”
Few shows have taken fans on a rollercoaster quite like Attack on Titan. With its tangled politics, gut-punch twists, and emotional chaos, imagining how it could possibly end felt impossible. But the two-part finale pulled off the unthinkable—bringing the story full circle while delivering a powerful meditation on humanity’s capacity for both brutality and hope. It wasn’t just an ending—it was a reckoning.
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”
Unlike those maddening, open-to-interpretation endings, Parks and Recreation went full optimist—fast-forwarding into the future to show exactly where everyone ended up. It was heartfelt, hilarious, and the perfect bow on one of TV’s most lovable ensembles. And naturally, showrunner Michael Schur knows a thing or two about great goodbyes—this wasn’t his only finale that left fans grinning through their tears.
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”
Spin-offs rarely outshine their originals, but Frasier didn’t just keep up with Cheers—it went toe-to-toe for 11 seasons and became a classic in its own right. Its finale wrapped things up with sophistication and heart, giving every character the ending they deserved. By the time the final credits rolled, fans weren’t just saying goodbye—they were raising a glass of sherry to perfection.
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”
It wasn’t a sprawling four-part sendoff or a cryptic “figure-it-out-yourself” finale, but Friday Night Lights didn’t need to be. The show’s goodbye was all heart—quiet, grounded, and deeply human. Centered on last chances and life-changing decisions, it reminded fans exactly why they fell in love with Dillon, Texas in the first place: because it always felt real.
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”
Mad Men didn’t just define prestige TV—it was prestige TV. And thankfully, its finale lived up to that legacy. In true Draper fashion, the ending was stylish, bittersweet, and just ambiguous enough to keep fans talking. Don’s journey came full circle—finding a flash of enlightenment that was equal parts personal growth and perfect ad pitch.
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”
With Succession, guessing the ending was a fool’s game. Every episode twisted the knife in a new direction, and even the finale refused to play it straight. By the time the credits rolled, the question of who’d come out on top was finally answered—and it felt both shocking and inevitable. In true Roy family fashion, the throne was won, lost, and burned all at once.
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 gothic love letter to Edgar Allan Poe hit Netflix like a dark thunderclap. The Fall of the House of Usher was doomed from the start—in the best way possible. Everyone knew things wouldn’t end well, yet Flanagan made the descent so gripping that viewers couldn’t look away. The finale didn’t just stick the landing—it shattered it, delivering an ending as haunting as it was unexpected.
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 one of those rare shows that burned bright and fast—gone before it ever had a chance to hit its stride. Yet, for a series that never planned an ending, its finale feels surprisingly perfect. It’s bittersweet and a little abrupt, but it leaves every character right where they should be—on the edge of something new, and, for once, maybe okay.
Apatow Productions, Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)
