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A television show may go from good to awful and back again during its run. Occasionally, people stop following a show if they find the story dull or moves too slowly. However, everything can be changed and made memorable with a strong series finale. Sometimes, the finale episodes of the TV shows address and fix several of the problems presented in earlier episodes. The ending helps to finish the story, respects the characters, and resolves all the loose ends.
The TV Finales might alter how people feel about the series. A strong conclusion serves to remind viewers of the series' positive aspects by employing poignant narratives, introducing unexpected turns, or concluding with compelling character development. The list suggests that sometimes a strong series finale can make up for what came before. The variety of endings, ranging from dramatic to comedic, pleased fans. They showed that it is the ending of a television show, not just the beginning, that makes the biggest difference in its history.
Disclaimer: This article is solely the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.
Here is the list of the 8 times a finale redeemed an entire TV show:
8. The Handmaid's Tale (2025)
The TV finale of The Handmaid's Tale focused on June Osborne's new life in Boston following her liberation. The episode allowed time for character development instead of a major fight. June visited historic locations, including the ruins of the Waterford House, which symbolized her horrific past. Emily’s (Alexis Bledel) sudden appearance at the end helped both the main characters find emotional completion. June began documenting her journey, which helped her shift from a victim to an empowered individual through sharing.
According to the Daily Beast, the show remained on course and established the upcoming adaptation of Margaret Atwood's sequel, The Testaments, despite June's failure to meet her daughter Hannah. Elisabeth Moss commented on Vanity Fair that she believes the last scene of the TV finale is "Honestly Perfection" since the authors decided to have June share her experience at the end, demonstrating empowerment through the text.
7. Parks and Recreation (2015)
Parks and Recreation ended in the "One Last Ride" episode with a warm and complete sendoff for the characters. As mentioned in Vanity Fair, the TV finale of this series showed us what happens to the popular characters as they move forward in life. Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt did well in politics, but Ron Swanson preferred to be in charge of a national park. Andy and April decided to become parents, and Tom turned to entrepreneurship.
There were numerous allusions to the show throughout the episode, paying homage to its past accomplishments. Many critics appreciated how the finale showed warmth and hope. This TV finale garnered a perfect score from IGN, which lauded it as a "masterpiece" and an "A" from The A.V. Club for its strong emotional impact. The audience was impacted by the show's conclusion, which embodied its main themes of friendship, community, and tenacity.
6. Newhart (1990)
The TV finale of Newhart, called “The Last Newhart,” aired on May 21, 1990, and is very popular for having one of the most surprising endings ever. This time, a famous Japanese businessman buys the entire town to build a golf complex and only Dick and Joanna are left. After five years, the residents of the town return, wreaking havoc. After being hit by a golf ball, Dick falls unconscious.
Dr. Bob Hartley, a character from Newhart’s past show, is shown next, waking up in bed with his wife Emily. He figures out that everything seen in Newhart happened only in a dream. According to People.com, this unexpected ending was inspired by Bob's wife, Ginnie Newhart, and the majority of the team was kept in the dark to ensure that everyone enjoyed it. Newhart's TV Finale was viewed by 29.5 million people. Experts consider it one of the best television endings ever.
5. Community (2015)
Community's TV Finale "Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television” aired on June 2, 2015. It was a touching farewell to the whole group at Greendale. This episode sees the characters dream up a hypothetical seventh season, looking back at their development and what lies ahead. This TV Finale includes many jokes and references about the show, a trademark quirk of Community.
The finale's poignant emotional moments and character development won it high marks from critics. The TV show received accolades from the A.V. Club for emphasizing how each character's destiny demonstrated their own growth as individuals. IGN gave the series a perfect score of ten, praising its climax. An advertisement for the board game Community, which provides even more comments, is aired after this TV finale. This poignant episode gave the series finality, despite fans' expectations for another film.
4. Succession (2023)
The TV Finale of Succession, "With Open Eyes," aired on May 28, 2023. This finale wrapped up the show by focusing on the complicated relationships in the family and competition at the company. Following Logan Roy's death, his kids, Kendall, Shiv, and Roman, all try to take over Waystar Royco. Executive relationships shift as the vote to approve GoJo's acquisition of the business approaches.
Shiv ultimately backs her husband, Tom, after Lukas Matsson appoints him CEO of GoJo. Kendall is upset by this choice, demonstrating that the siblings are unable to escape their father's authority. This TV Finale received tremendous reviews for its writing, directing, and acting, and many people think it's one of the best series finales ever.
3. Better Call Saul (2022)
The TV Finale of Better Call Saul, “Saul Gone,” was aired on August 15, 2022, and wrapped up the changes in Jimmy McGill. In the episode, Jimmy is arrested by the police and sentenced to a lengthy prison term. He initially demanded a lesser punishment, but after confessing, he received an 86-year sentence. This changes how Jimmy is seen, since he’s trying to forgive himself and others for his mistakes.
The episode uses scenes from the past with Walter White and Chuck McGill to highlight sorrow and reflection. The final scene in the show, where Jimmy and Kim have a cigarette while incarcerated, is supposed to demonstrate how they have achieved serenity. Many people thought the finale was the perfect climax for Breaking Bad, and it received accolades for the powerful emotions it evoked and its well-written denouement.
2. The Americans (2018)
On May 30, 2018, the TV Finale of The Americans, “START,” ended the show with moving scenes and complex moral issues. They decide in the episode to leave the United States, abandoning their children, Paige and Henry. Henry never discovers his parents' true identities, and Paige chooses to remain in the United States.
An important point reaches its height when Stan Beeman, their neighbor and an FBI agent, finds them in the parking garage. After a brief argument, Stan lets them go, demonstrating the strong relationship they have developed over the years. Its carefully written plot and strong emotions won over the critics, giving it a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. According to The New Yorker, the way the show concluded without detracting from the typically tense mood was well received by viewers.
1. Six Feet Under (2005)
Six Feet Under aired its final episode, “Everyone’s Waiting,” on August 21, 2005, and is commended for the way it finishes the story. In this TV Finale, the Fisher family is portrayed struggling with change and the reality that death is inevitable. As time passes, Claire Fisher relocates to fresh York, signifying both fresh possibilities and her aspirations as an artist.
The most memorable moment in the finale is a final montage showing the leading characters die, accompanied by Sia's track "Breathe Me". The montage creates a sense of closure and emphasizes the fundamental themes of mortality and the passage of time. Due to its emotional impact and bold storytelling, both fans and critics rank the ending as one of the greatest TV endings ever produced.
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We can conclude that these eight finales demonstrated how a strong conclusion can alter a show's reputation. The TV Finales brought the plot to a natural end and evoked strong emotions in viewers, especially in seasons that were uneven or contentious. Each series concluded with a reflection on the development, losses, and metamorphoses of the major characters. In addition to allowing fans to bid farewell in a manner consistent with the narrative, the final scenes offered the characters dignified farewells.
Audiences remembered why they followed the series from the start. Ultimately, these shows changed television forever. In keeping with the spirit of both stories, June became stronger, and the Fisher family faced humans in the end. The closing chapters did more than end the show—they announced something important. They showed viewers that even when things go wrong, stories can help people grow, feel encouraged, and tie things together.
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