Let’s be honest—nothing divides fans quite like a TV series finale. One moment you’re praising a show for nailing it, the next you’re rage-posting memes about how the writers ruined everything. Endings are the final handshake between a show and its audience, and they can make or break a legacy. Some go out with grace, others crash spectacularly. Here are 10 finales we’ll never stop talking about—for better and worse.
10. How I Met Your Mother – The Finale That Exploded the Internet
Nine years of slap bets, blue French horns, and yellow umbrellas all leading up to… killing the Mother and reinstating Ted with Robin. Viewers didn’t just hate it—they felt betrayed. All that character development was tossed aside in favor of, and the underlying premise went out the window in the last few minutes. Even BuzzFeed scolded it for turning the entire idea on its head. It’s a perfect example of a finale rewriting its history for the worse.
9. Game of Thrones – From Cultural Peak to Punchline
At its peak, this series was the world’s fixation. But the finale? A desperate, incoherent dash to the end credits. Bran as ruler, Daenerys’ unexplained madness, loose ends everywhere—audiences were left reeling for all the wrong reasons. BuzzFeed best captured it: the finale “basically destroyed the legacy” forged over eight years. Few finales have engendered this much incredulity.
8. The Good Place – Goodbyes with Brains and Heart
Some series endings tie up loose ends so poignantly that you’d like to begin watching the entire show all over again. The Good Place did so with its blend of humor, philosophy, and real sentiment. NPR’s Stephen Thompson called it out for making conclusions meaningful themselves. The wave analogy of Chidi and those last bittersweet moments provided closure for fans who hadn’t even realized they needed it.
7. Lost – Answers, Questions, and Confusion
After teasing mysteries for years involving polar bears, smoke monsters, and time travel, the payoff had to be huge. Lost’s finale? Not really. The “they were dead the whole time” twist didn’t work for many, and a lot of questions hung in the air. BuzzFeed called it a classic case of overpromising and underdelivering—yet people still argue it today.
6. Newhart – The Twist That Made TV History
Before meta finales being cool, Newhart perpetrated one of the all-time greatest surprises: the whole series was a dream. Bob Newhart wakes up beside his wife from The Bob Newhart Show, and the audience went from being confused to being thrilled in an instant. NPR’s Glen Weldon described the audience response as “confusion, recognition, realization and then… self-congratulation.” It’s still a stroke of sitcom genius.
5. The Americans – Quiet Devastation Done Right
Not all great finales require fireworks. The Americans ended their Cold War spy narrative with tight, close-up heartbreak. The train sequence, U2’s “With or Without You” blaring as Paige makes her decision—indelible. NPR’s Aisha Harris called it one of the greatest scenes ever, a testament that subtlety can be every bit as stomach-dropping as bombast.
4. Superstore – A Gentle Goodbye
Workplace comedies don’t often have epic finales, but Superstore opted for warmth instead of spectacle. Its series finale was about the most lovable Cloud 9 gang, embracing their friendships and small triumphs. As Nerdy Girl Notes said, the episode was “a love letter” to fans and characters alike. Sometimes, the simplest send-offs are the most satisfying.
3. Breaking Bad – The Perfect Landing
Start to finish, Breaking Bad had its nerve—and the finale gave exactly what people needed. Walt’s final stand released Jesse, wrapped up loose threads, and provided everybody the closure they had earned. BuzzFeed called it “parfait”—layered, whole, and fulfilling. Still the gold standard for ending a prestige drama.
2. Veep – Remaining Faithful to Horrible People
If you needed redemption arcs, you’re in the wrong show. Veep’s last episode doubled down on Selina Meyer’s cold-bloodedness—she even threw her most devoted aide, Gary, under the bus. NPR’s Linda Holmes complimented its “ice-cold bravery” for refusing to soften a single character. The flash-forward to Selina’s funeral was funny, heartbreaking, and ideal for a series about the worst politicians.
1. Friends – The Plane That Still Provokes Arguments
For some, Rachel stepping off the plane was the big romantic gesture they’d been waiting for. To others, it negated her development and made no sense. Either way, the Friends finale is deeply ingrained in TV history. BuzzFeed dubbed it one of those conclusions that makes no sense—but if you adored these characters, then sense probably wasn’t the thing.
If there’s one thing these finales prove, it’s that the last episode can define—or redefine—a series forever. Whether they soared or stumbled, these 10 shows made sure we’d still be talking about them years later.