Alright, fellow couch potatoes! If you’ve ever felt like throwing the remote at the screen after a series finale, you’re not alone. Let’s venture into the TV realm and dissect the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly conclusions of our favorite shows.
Twin Peaks
This David Lynch creation was bizarre from the get-go. Set in a small town, FBI agent Dale Cooper investigates a teen’s murder while being embroiled in a complex web of secrets. The final season, however, took “weird” to another level. With obscure narratives, unanswered questions, and the haunting “How’s Annie?”, it left fans more dazed than Cooper’s encounters with the supernatural.
The 100
It began as a gripping tale of 100 juvenile delinquents sent back to Earth after a nuclear apocalypse. Wars, relationships, and moral dilemmas unfolded. But the finale? It hurled them into an ethereal transcendence, uniting species in cosmic consciousness. Many fans felt it abandoned its raw, character-driven roots for an abstract end.
The Sopranos
Tony Soprano was not just another mob boss. He was a family man, attending therapy and dealing with regular life issues alongside “mafia problems.” As viewers, we were all in – waiting for some grand conclusion. But, it gave us… a blackout. The sudden cut to black in the diner was either artistic brilliance or a cruel joke, and fans are still debating which.
Lost
Survivors of a plane crash find themselves on a mystical island with polar bears, ancient statues, and a smoke monster. Sounds captivating? It was, until the culmination. The end attempted to tie the knots but left viewers with a convoluted mix of afterlife explanations, deus ex machinas, and an unfulfilling finale.
How I Met Your Mother
Over nine seasons, Ted entertained his kids with stories of friends, love, and life in NYC. The end twist? The mother had died, and Ted still carried a torch for Robin. It seemed to undo seasons of character growth and arcs, leaving viewers feeling betrayed.
Battlestar Galactica
In a universe where humans are on the run from robotic Cylons, twists and turns are expected. But the finale took things to an overly mystical plane. From Kara “Starbuck” Thrace’s sudden disappearance to the revelation that the survivors were our ancient ancestors, it left a lot of dedicated fans scratching their heads.
Dexter
Dexter Morgan was our favorite blood-spatter analyst by day and vigilante killer by night. We watched him navigate morality, love, and his “Dark Passenger.” Yet, after eight seasons of evading capture, he disappears into a self-imposed exile as a lumberjack? It felt like a rushed attempt at redemption, overshadowing the series’ complex moral questions.
ALF
This was an endearing sitcom about a furry alien named ALF who crash-lands into a suburban family’s life. As he adjusted to Earthly ways, ALF got into some hilarious situations. However, the cliffhanger finale – with ALF about to be captured by government agents – felt abrupt, unresolved, and frankly, unfair to fans and our lovable extraterrestrial.
Dinosaurs
A comedic slice of prehistoric life, this family sitcom showcased the Sinclairs – talking dinosaurs living everyday dilemmas. Yet, the final episode swerved to a dark, grim ending where they faced extinction by an ice age. It was an environmental message, sure, but a stark shift in tone that left fans cold.
Game of Thrones
Westeros’ fight for the Iron Throne had dragons, battles, and betrayals galore. But the final season? Bran, a previously passive character, becomes king, while other characters’ arcs took questionable turns. Fans felt some choices betrayed earlier development, making the ending seem unearned.
Quantum Leap
Following Dr. Sam Beckett as he “leaps” through time into different bodies was both entertaining and heartwarming. As he tried to “put things right,” fans hoped for a happy ending. Instead, mere text on the screen informed us that he never returned home. An anticlimactic and lazy end to a journey of hope.
Seinfeld
This iconic “show about nothing” chronicled the quirky lives of Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer in NYC. Expecting a light, comedic conclusion? Think again. The finale saw our main characters imprisoned for violating a “Good Samaritan” law. It felt off-brand, ending the series on a bizarrely moralistic note.
True Blood
Sookie Stackhouse’s world of vampires, werewolves, and faeries kept fans thirsty for more. From sultry romances to societal parallels, it was a wild ride. But the finale tried to wrap up too neatly, sidelining major characters and culminating in Sookie’s anonymous happily-ever-after, which felt like a narrative blood drain.
Roseanne
The Conners represented the perfect American working-class family, making us laugh and sometimes cry. But the revelation that the show’s events were just a book penned by Roseanne and that key plot points (like Dan’s death) were fictional? It felt like a narrative copout.
Two and a Half Men
Charlie’s antics, Alan’s misfortunes, and Jake’s growth kept viewers laughing. Post-Charlie Sheen, the show changed its tune. The finale tried to be self-aware with meta-jokes, culminating in a Charlie lookalike’s demise by piano. It played the wrong note for many.
Gilmore Girls (Revival)
Stars Hollow’s charm was back with Rory and Lorelai’s witty banter. But those final four words revealing Rory’s unexpected pregnancy? Instead of closure, it felt like a setup for more stories. Unfortunately, there’s been no word on another season, leaving fans longing.
Scrubs (Season 9)
Scrubs’ heartwarming tales from Sacred Heart Hospital captivated fans. After a touching Season 8 farewell, Season 9’s shift to med school felt out of place. While not a “finale,” this season felt like an unwarranted appendix to a complete story.
