I can’t say I am one of those people who got all worked up over the “Lost” series finale. I tuned in out of curiosity, but actually stopped watching the show three years ago at least. It is always difficult for the fans when a beloved show ends, but I don’t really see where the “Lost” finale was one of the best or one of the worst finales of a long-running series. In face, because this week is absolutely chock-full of season finales as well as series finales, I began thinking about some of the best, worst, and most controversial series finales that I can remember, the finales where years – or even decades – later they are still discussed with passion and even awe.
So here are my picks for some of the most talked about, memorable series finales ever. What would you add to the list? Would you “Buffy” fans care to speak up? How about you “X Files” experts? Let’s hear from all of you on what finales you remember the most!!!
The Shield : Some viewers wanted bad cop Vic to get what he deserved – a brutal death like the ones he inflicted on so many others. Instead he was forced off the streets and into a desk job leaving viewers to debate if that wasn’t a punishment worse than death for adrenaline junkie Vic.
M*A*S*H* : Until this year’s Super Bowl, the highest rated moment in T.V. history was this show’s finale. It was controversial partly because the ending moment was leaked in the press, ruining the moment for many fans and partially because some thought it was too sappy for a show that had maintained an edge for eleven seasons.
Seinfield: One of the greatest sitcoms ever had one of the worst finales ever with the series regulars landing in jail after being on trial and having characters from episodes past testify against them. Still a few die hard critics and fans swear it was comedic genius to have Elaine, George, and Jerry suffer such a well-deserved fate.
The Sopranos: Though some longtime fans were outraged at the cut to black ending of the series, I think this is probably the greatest of any series finale ever-even if I did not watch the show regularly. Did Tony get whacked? Did Meadow live? We can analyze the clues, but we will never know for sure.
Newhart: Only a few naysayers thought that Bob Newhart’s “it was only a dream” conceit was a cheap way to end things on his second hit series “Newhart.” Parodying “Dallas”, Bob Newhart woke up back in his old world of “The Bob Newhart Show” with his T.V. wife, Suzanne Pleshette claiming he had a nightmare about running an inn in Vermont. In a show that mixed straightlaced sensibility with sheer goofiness, it was a truly surprise ending that also made perfect sense.
posted May 26, 2010 at 3:17 pm
My vote would go to Newhart. It was also spoof all the bad plot devices that excuse ill thoughtout plotting such as on a Dallas episode where an entire bad season was written off as “it was only a dream.” Not only was Newhart’s finale a surprise, it was a deadpan joke so typical of Bob Newhart himself.
Most finales draw it out to beyond the sappiest endings with tears and farewells. This one ended on a suprise and high note of comic laughter. That’s situation comedy!
posted May 28, 2010 at 10:06 am
How about St. Elsewhere, all in the imagination of a minor character? Remember the first great final episode: The Fugitive. I also liked the end of the British show Blackadder Goes Forth, a World War I comedy where they all apparently were killed going over the top.
posted May 28, 2010 at 10:34 am
MTM. I had heard when they closed down the K-*** TV Station after they all were fired the “group hug/cry” over to Mary’s desk at the Kleenex box was impromtu. And then she turned off the lights forever…
posted May 28, 2010 at 11:39 am
LOL, UHM. . .I still dont think he mentioned his “top 5″ finalies this year. All i heard was some BS, half insulted critique on Lost & a slight mention on 24 & Dancing with the Stars. Personally, in terms of this year. . .Top 5 finalies include – Lost, Greys Anatomy, Vampire Diaries, 90210 and Spartacus. Whomever wrote this BS article, has no clue as per what great television is.
Oh & PS: I too am a TRUE Buffy fan! ~
posted May 28, 2010 at 12:34 pm
To have a show like Buffy, and end it they way that they did; was a complete and total rip-off. Then to no suprise, the next year when they ended the spin off show Angle; they too ended it in a bad way. I am not a big fan of cliff hangers. There was this show called the Pretender. They ended it with a big cliff hanger. At least, they came out with to made for TV movies to explain the cliff hanger. Although, both movies also ended in cliff hangers.
posted May 28, 2010 at 1:49 pm
What about the ending to “St. Elsewhere” where the entire series turns out to have been the fantasy of a severely autistic boy? Worst. Ending. Ever.
posted May 28, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Based on what has been written, including the posts so far, Beliefnet needs a different blogger on this subject. Readers seem let down by the lack of TV awarenes (Ex: the DALLAS “dream” season was Bobby’s death, not “Who shot J.R.?”). The choices for Top 5 were reasonable, it was the presentation that was lacking. OK, blogs tend to be “off the cuff,” but a little research doesn’t hurt.
posted May 28, 2010 at 2:54 pm
I more or less agree with Thomas about St. Elsewhere. Maybe not the worst ending ever — but certainly the weirdest. As for the main story here, I like the writer gave up on Lost yesrs ago and found the ending so-so. But I agree that Newhart deserves to be rated as one of the best endings ever. I remamber watching it at the time and when Bob woke up and told Suzanne Pleschette (his wife in the original “Bob Newhart Show”) of his dream, I literally fell to the floor rolling in laughter.
posted May 30, 2010 at 9:14 pm
One of the all time controversial finales has to be the last episode of Star Trek: Enterprise which for all intents and purposes was a Next Generation “spin off” episode. Where Riker is using the events of the final voyage of the NX-01 Enterprise and Archer’s speech to help him make his decision whether to tell Picard about the cloaking device that was aboard the Pegasus. Also the totally unnecessary killing off of Commander Trip Tucker in this episode made no sense as well.
posted May 31, 2010 at 1:38 pm
doo i did not walcht the show, but i think that it’s good to have some show most of all the show that has good fun and inspiretion.
posted June 8, 2010 at 12:33 pm
What about the best movie endings? I don’t watch much network TV.
posted June 12, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Keith relax man ever read yahoo blogs try it then you’ll appreciate beliefnet. Also I didn’t notice that he said which episode Bobby woke up in on Dallas. Another controversial ending Roseanne.
posted July 10, 2010 at 8:09 am
very useful information and i have found it for a long time,thanks so much.
posted July 11, 2010 at 7:49 am
Good article Thank you so much