10 TV show characters that deserved a better ending

TV shows possess a remarkable ability to influence our feelings, spark dialogue, and create characters that linger with us even after the last credits are shown. As time goes by, we build strong relationships with the lives and journeys developed by these television series. We root for characters' triumphs, lament their defeats, and trace their lives through all the turns and twists. But what happens when a TV show lets us down at the end? When the finale fails to do justice to a beloved character, it doesn’t just fall flat; it feels like betrayal.

Regrettably, numerous television programs have faltered in their last moments with hurried conclusions or disappointing goodbyes. Either because of sudden cancellations, plot-shocking choices, or poor plot decisions, some characters did not receive the sendoff they deserved. Their arcs, developed over the course of seasons, were sabotaged by conclusions that disregarded development, depth, or audience anticipation.

This article explores ten characters from iconic TV shows whose endings were a disservice to the legacies they built. These examples show that even great TV shows can falter when it matters most. Still, their flawed conclusions and all remain unforgettable parts of the TV show we’ve loved and debated for years.

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10 TV show characters that deserved a better ending

1. Dexter Morgan – Dexter

Following eight seasons of moral gray areas and shadowy justice, Dexter's original series finale left viewers cold literally. He left behind his son, staged his own death, and started a lumberjack life. Even Dexter: New Blood attempted to rectify this by affording him a conclusive ending, but the hurried pace and morally ambiguous choices triggered renewed outrage. TV show Dexter's depth was due for a more introspective conclusion, one that grappled with his inner demons instead of avoiding them. His journey, constructed over several years, was left hanging, particularly for fans who had watched his fall with interest. Someone like Dexter deserved consequences and catharsis, not a bullet and fade-out in a flash.

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2. Daenerys Targaryen – Game of Thrones

For close to a decade, Daenerys was the breaker of chains, a fire-breathing ray of justice. But the last season squashed years of buildup with a sudden shift towards tyranny. Her fall into madness did not feel earned, hurried within two episodes instead of incrementally constructed. Fans wanted a ruler who broke the rotten wheel, not become the same firestorm she took an oath to put out. Emilia Clarke herself has expressed her grief at the path of Dany. A more sophisticated fall or even redemption might have made her finale significant rather than infuriating. Her legacy now blazes as much from poorly handled writing as it does from dragonfire.

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3. Barney Stinson – How I Met Your Mother

Barney's character development throughout the HIMYM TV show was vast, from serial womanizer to willing recipient of long-term love from Robin. The finale destroyed it all, placing him at square one after their speedy divorce. His redemptive arc through paternity was poignant but undercooked, leaving viewers wondering about the emotional investment of years. Neil Patrick Harris brought charisma and vulnerability to Barney, so his conclusion was all the more infuriating. A spinoff or an extended epilogue would have provided him with a better reflective ending, one that revealed genuine change, not a "playbook" rehash. What we were given was a series finale that folded in his development like a bad suit.

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4. Dean Winchester – Supernatural

Dean went out swinging, but fans weren’t ready to let go that easily. After 15 seasons of monster-hunting and brotherly sacrifice, Dean's death felt underwhelming. A simple nail in a barn ended a legend? Many felt cheated, especially with heaven's afterlife reveal feeling more like a vague montage than a celestial reunion. Even Jensen Ackles has expressed mixed feelings about Dean’s exit. With all the cosmic restarts and apocalypses the Winchesters overcame, fans wished that Dean could finally settle down in peace. Instead, the show's swan song became a mournful whisper, not the thunderous farewell this warrior deserved.

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5. Andrea Harrison – The Walking Dead

Andrea's failure is still one of The Walking Dead's greatest TV show disappointments. A capable fighter and key comic book character, Andrea was marginalized on the show, reduced to a love story and an unjustified death. Her possibilities as Rick's second-in-command were wasted, and her storyline strayed so far from the source material that even Robert Kirkman expressed remorse. Actress Laurie Holden subsequently disclosed that she had been promised more prominence, so her death was even more confusing. Fans couldn't help but ask why Andrea, such an integral survivor in the comic books, had been wasted on-screen so thoroughly. She should have had a war cry, not a whimper, behind a locked door.

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6. Rory Gilmore – Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

Rory Gilmore returned as a 30-something struggling journalist, but the revival undid much of what fans admired in her earlier years. Instead of showcasing her navigating adulthood with intelligence and drive, the show presented a floundering version of Rory, directionless, detached, and involved in an affair. Her infamous “I’m pregnant” ending echoed her mother's past, but without the emotional build-up. Critics said the revival was a step backward, not a full circle. Viewers had hoped Rory would forge her own trail reel in cycles. Her finale wasn't divisive because it was surprising, but because it was narratively lazy for such a well-loved character.

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7. Michael Scott – The Office (U.S.)

Michael Scott's Season 7 goodbye was touching and deserving. For a man who was the heart of Dunder Mifflin, his fleeting moment at Dwight's wedding felt like an afterthought. Steve Carell took the noble way out, but many were hoping the finale would deliver more substance, maybe a glimpse into his life after the office or a final talking-head response. Even a brief scene of Michael succeeding beyond Scranton would've had an emotional impact. What we were given instead was "That's what she said," and although iconic, it was a whisper when we wanted a mic drop.

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8. Nick Andopolis – Freaks and Geeks

Nick Andopolis, the lovably awkward drummer with disco dreams in his heart, never received the closure he deserved. Portrayed wonderfully by Jason Segel, Nick's tale came to an end when the series was canceled in its first season, too early. We caught glimpses of his vulnerability, ambition, and emerging romantic tension with Lindsay, but the show did not get to pursue his development or adversity further. A cult classic, the Freaks and Geeks TV show has become a staple in pop culture, and Nick still symbolizes unrealized potential. With the current desire for reboots, fans continue to wish for Nick to come back this time with a genuine encore, not a fade-out.

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9. Logan Echolls – Veronica Mars (Season 4 Revival)

Logan Echolls' murder during the Veronica Mars Hulu revival was a gut-punch that few people saw coming and even fewer enjoyed. Only after years of poisonous dynamics had Logan become a grounded, emotionally mature partner. His abrupt and pyrotechnic murder literally just moments after marrying Veronica, seemed like a cheap shock move. Showrunner Rob Thomas justified the twist as the only way to do noir storytelling, but fans were vehemently opposed. Logan's development was earned hard, and killing him off short-circuited that. Rather than creating a new stage for Veronica, it destroyed the book as a whole. What was intended to be risky storytelling felt more like betrayal on the page.

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10. Walter White – Breaking Bad

Walter White's conclusion was explosive, but did it do justice to his character arc? "Felina" offered closure but perhaps a little too neatly. He saved Jesse, took his revenge, and died on his own terms. For a man who caused chaos, his series finale was a bit like a redemption tour. Critics say it was missing the emotional reckoning that viewers wanted, where was the anguish of his family's destruction, or the years of torment for Jesse? Whereas the Breaking Bad TV show was diligent in its storytelling, Walter's last hour tipped more toward myth than moral ambiguity. In life, one's actions have repercussions; Walter's demise seemed more the bow of a legend, rather than the climax of a cautionary tale.

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Finale is essential, long after it's over, you remember endings. Even though most TV shows manage to provide good conclusions, some do it terribly wrong, and it makes viewers unhappy.

These characters make you realize even the best television shows can falter at the last act. Terrible finales don't undo years of excellence, but they create an aftertaste. But it's the sign of a great TV show that these finales elicited such intense reactions. We, as viewers, keep coming back to these TV shows, argue about them fervently, and wish future TV shows a lesson or two from history and get it right.