Best Series Finales of All Time?

[Gunnyman]

Ok I watched the Gilmore Girls Finale tonight and I thought back on all the series finales I have seen over the years. If I had to pick the "best" of all I have seen, I have to go with
M*A*S*H

What are your favorites?
use spoiler tags where needed please.

[uncdrew]

Six Feet Under

[rhuntington3]

St. Elsewhere, M*A*S*H

[spikedavis]

Six Feet Under.

Period. End of discussion.

[bidger]

Mystery Science Theater 3000 and Arrested Development.

[vikingguy]

Babylon 5 had a great finale.

[Gunnyman]

I guess I need to get a hold of the SFU Finale. I didn't have HBO the final season it was on.

[uncdrew]

I guess I need to get a hold of the SFU Finale. I didn't have HBO the final season it was on.


It really was quite amazing. A really well-themed ending that was true to the huge amount of character development of the main crew.

I might just have to watch it again.

[Sirius Black]

This is hard as most series finales that I have seen have been very disappointing (Seinfeld) or too strange with not enough closure (Quantum Leap). Those I haven't seen, M*A*S*H for example, are considered some of the best show endings ever.

There are actually more shows I wish would have finales than shows that I've seen that had good finales.

So as not to completely bring things down, I though the ST: DS9 and ST: TNG were very good considering what they were trying to convey.

Unfortunately, I've yet to see season 5 of B5. I've always heard that it wasn't nearly as good as seasons 1-4 and therefore stayed away from it.

[hefe]

Newhart was pretty classic.

[mwhip]

I guess I need to get a hold of the SFU Finale. I didn't have HBO the final season it was on.


I still have it on my DVR. I watch it about once a year.

[Gunnyman]

No luck on the torrent search engines so far

[hefe]

I still have it on my DVR. I watch it about once a year.
That would mean you've seen it twice. :p

[alpacaboy]

The only one that immediately jumped into my head is "Newhart."

After some thought, I thought "Fame's" was fitting, and I liked seeing the first season cast again. But even I wouldn't say "best of all time."

[Einselen]

Drive, oh wait...

[Alfer]

Newhart was pretty classic.

Yep..that was a fun way to end the show IMO.

[Alfer]

Three's Company

:)

[mwhip]

That would mean you've seen it twice. :p

3 times actually. :D

[astrohip]

My Mother The Car

[cherry ghost]

Cheers

[claire_d]

Newhart was awesome! Plus, I remember watching the Mary Tyler Moore show on reruns and getting into it. That finale was amazing!

[Sparty99]

Cheers
+1.

On the shorter run series, Sports Night had a phenomenal ending line ("If you can't make money on Sports Night you shouldn't be in the money-making business), and Action had a phenomenal series finale on its network run (Peter Action died unexpectedly, although that changed as the unaired episodes were run).

I didn't watch M*A*S*H on a regular basis, but I almost teared up during the finale.

And I cried like a baby during the Friends finale. Watching every episode for 10 years will do that to you...that doesn't mean it was all that good though.

[DaveBogart]

The Mary Tyler Moore Show's ending was the first of the best series enders. I don't really recall any shows ending with much, if any, fanfare before that. But this one tonight will probably be my favorite for some time to come.

[DLL66]

M*A*S*H and Cheers.

[vogon13]

Six Feet Under.

Honorable mention for Seinfeld.

[mattack]

Blake's 7

[Sparty99]

Honorable mention for Seinfeld.
+1

Thank you! I thought I was the only person on earth who didn't have a problem with the Seinfeld finale.

[danterner]

My wife and I missed Six Feet Under when it was on HBO, but we caught its recent run on Bravo. Three episodes a week over a six month (or so) period. Fantastic show. We heard so much about the series finale and how wonderful it was, that when it came to actually watching it I was disappointed - thought it was good, not great. Right up until the dinner scene. Then, it kicked into overdrive and HOLY COW. Best finale ever, for one of the finest shows I've ever seen. Still missing it, and I have "Breathe me" (the final song, playing while Claire was driving) on my iPod and play it occasionally.

[MasterOfPuppets]

I admit to not remembering it very well at this point, but The Wonder Years had a great ending.

I thought Seinfeld's ending was pretty lame.

[Sparty99]

I admit to not remembering it very well at this point, but The Wonder Years had a great ending.
+1 (although I have a fair recollection about what happened).

[Drewster]

Barney Miller

[cyke93]

All of the Star Treks had a good end, maybe except for enterprise cuz i never watched it.

honorable mentions go to the shows that were good but sadly were canceled before their time, i.e. Roswell, American Dreams,

i thought the OC had a good end, too bad the rest of the last season was blah.

[atrac]

To echo what other people have said:

M*A*S*H
St. Elsewhere
Newhart
The Mary Tyler Moore Show

I don't think I could put one over another; they were all fantastic and wrapped up each show in a way that exceeds brilliance.

I have not seen Six Feet Under at all, but I'll trust the consensus of people's opinions that if I had, it would be on my list. ;)

[hefe]

+1

Thank you! I thought I was the only person on earth who didn't have a problem with the Seinfeld finale.
You know, I wasn't all that crazy about it at the time, but it kind of grew on me in retrospect, and I actually like it now. The lameness was kind of the point. It's not the best of the finales by any stretch, but it was an effective satire of itself.

[tlrowley]

No luck on the torrent search engines so far

Not the entire final episode, but the final 9-10 minutes of SFU are on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el4eUKmLujg) This is the closing that is so very moving.

HTH,
Tracey

[LoadStar]

All of the Star Treks had a good end, maybe except for enterprise cuz i never watched it.

TOS never really had a series finale - it just ended.

Voyager's was pretty bad, in my opinion. We never got to see the moment everyone really WANTED to see, what happens after they get back. Instead, we got to see the final wimpification of one of the more kick butt enemies Trek had, the Borg.

And as for Enterprise... it wasn't bad... ...for a Next Gen episode. Totally pissed all over what Enterprise really was though. Plus, seeing a rapidly aging Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis try and portray themselves 11 years younger was rather sad and pathetic, IMHO.

DS9 and Next Gen were OK though. It's been a long time since I saw the DS9 finale, but I remember liking it quite a bit.

I really liked the series finale for Angel... yes, even including the way they left it at the very end. In fact, BECAUSE of the way they left it at the end.

[kjnorman]

Six Feet Under.

I have never been moved by a episode of TV so much and may never be moved again like that again.

Now when ever I here the song Breathe Me by Sia I will always think of the last 5 minutes of SFU and then my incessant bawling afterwards....

[Kamakzie]

Voyager should have gotten assimilated a long time ago.

[milliepuppy]

SFU in recent times ... i don't think i've watched a TV show or movie that really messed me up as much as that did .... i think i felt a genuine sense of grief and loss !!


Blake 7's ending was a classic .... and should be a storyline that's used over and over again for shows that have gone passed there best .... i.e. everyone just shoots each other ... that really has to be the ultimate finale !!! :D

[LoadStar]

Voyager should have gotten assimilated a long time ago.
I get that this was a joke, but I'm not sure what you mean by it.

[FilmCritic3000]

Mystery Science Theater 3000 and Arrested Development.

:up: :up: :up:

[bicker]

Babylon 5 had a great finale.Which one? Personally, feel The Deconstruction of Falling Stars was better than Sleeping in Light.

[Zrealm]

Unfortunately, I've yet to see season 5 of B5. I've always heard that it wasn't nearly as good as seasons 1-4 and therefore stayed away from it.

The series finale of B5, even though it was shown in season 5 doesn't really require having watched the rest of it - it was originally taped as a series 4 episode and pushed back a year when they got another surprise renewal. Definitely worth watching.

[Sirius Black]

Which one? Personally, feel The Deconstruction of Falling Stars was better than Sleeping in Light.

Babylon 5 (season 1-4) was great because it had a distinct beginning, middle, and end.

I think that's what made Decontruction of Falling Stars so satisfying. It wasn't just the end of a series, it was the end of a four year long story. Some of the best televised science fiction to date, IMO.

I can remember when B5 first started I thought it looked really cheesy with those computer animated effects. Then it had other things that brought me out of the future. I guess Roddenberry is responsible for my expectations. Anyway, it was starting while DS9 was still going strong (or had just started, I'm not sure exact dates though I think it had started already for at least a year). In all honest, I don't think that at the time I would have had the patience for B5. It was telling a story and DS9 really wasn't doing that as obviously (some would argue it was Sisko's story from beginning to end). Anyway, it was all of what B5 stood for that made the ending so rewarding, not just the ending itself.

[bqmeister]

I'm probably in the minority but I really liked the finale of Roseanne. They got back to their roots and threw away the last season (which was crap).

Another vote for Newhart & MASH.

[coolpenguin]

Six Feet Under.

I have never been moved by a episode of TV so much and may never be moved again like that again.

Now when ever I here the song Breathe Me by Sia I will always think of the last 5 minutes of SFU and then my incessant bawling afterwards....

yeah, emotions get in the way like that for me as well! greatest finale I've ever seen. Ever.

[jeff125va]

Newhart was great; made up for the last season or 2 after it had jumped the shark.

Six Feet Under, particularly the last few minutes.

[jlb]

FYI, the MASH finale has just be released as a separate DVD release....

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hG7Ro-+1L._SS500_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OT6V1E/ref=amb_link_4694202_/002-7664906-8772857?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-4&pf_rd_r=1VZYNRJ6VZTGVVX5V8J3&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=288590901&pf_rd_i=130

All the season sets are now 50% off at amazon for $19.99 each.

[jradosh]

Am I the only person that thought M*A*S*H's final episode was a Big Bag of Suck (tm) ?

[jr461]

I have to go with Newhart. Totally clever ending in every respect and a total surprise.

As far as Seinfeld, for a show about nothing, what did the critics of the finale expect? And the court scene with all of the past guests was very good.

[fmowry]

I recall Third Watch as being a good finale, but can't remember all of it.

Frank

[Sparty99]

I have to go with Newhart. Totally clever ending in every respect and a total surprise.

As far as Seinfeld, for a show about nothing, what did the critics of the finale expect? And the court scene with all of the past guests was very good.
I loved the part where Geraldo was reporting on the case and talking about Jerry and Elaine, he said something like, "Who knows, maybe when this is all over they'll get married," which was one of the theories in the media that would happen in the finale. Loved that line.

[Langree]

Am I the only person that thought M*A*S*H's final episode was a Big Bag of Suck (tm) ?

Yes :p

[jamesbobo]

Six Feet Under, Newhart and MASH all had good endings.
But I guess the grandaddy of all season finales goes to The Fugitive. Before that, shows really didn't make much of last episodes.

[kaszeta]

My favorites were probably MASH, Newhart, and ST:TNG. SFU was pretty good, however.

[unicorngoddess]

In general, I don't like series finales because I hate saying good-bye to my favorite shows. But the only one I can think of off the top of my head is the series finale of Charmed. It gave really good closure to the show and left me with a warm happy feeling inside.

[BeanMeScot]

I'll go with Newhart. I've never laughed harder. It was very clever.

I didn't like the first half of the MASH finale although the 2nd half was great.

[Kamakzie]

I get that this was a joke, but I'm not sure what you mean by it.

As many times as the Borg attacked Voyager you would've thought they would get lucky.

[kcarl75]

Six Feet Under

(keeping fingers crossed for Lost and Sopranos)

[danplaysbass]

I'd have to go with Arrested Development and Alias (explanation below)

After a sucky season 4 and 5 they finally got back to Sloane's obsession with Rambaldi. The way Jack trapped Sloane in the cave for eternity was great!!

[IJustLikeTivo]

Newhart was pretty classic.

Best Ever..... Not really in doubt. When he woke up with Emily, it was perfect.

[NJChris]

Another vote for Newhart. That last few seconds had enough impact to make it the best for me. :)

[jeff125va]

Another vote for Newhart. That last few seconds had enough impact to make it the best for me. :)
I've always wondered how long they'd planned that. There were at least one or two appearances by characters from The Bob Newhart Show during the course of the series - not just the same actors, but obvious references to the original show. Considering how the writing had gone downhill in the last season or two, I'd be surprised if they hadn't thought of it long before.

[TonyTheTiger]

Am I the only person that thought M*A*S*H's final episode was a Big Bag of Suck (tm) ?

Yup, looks that way.

I grew up watching M*A*S*H without the laugh track on BBC2 in the UK and it was soooooooo much better. When Sky One showed it and also when I came over here, I just couldn't get used to the canned laughter. The finale never had a laugh track, making it that much better.

[dianebrat]

Still one more post for Newhart, that was simply brilliant, and we did not see it coming, yet it made perfect sense.

And a sentimental vote for the Wonder Years finale.

[timr_42]

Blake 7's ending was a classic .... and should be a storyline that's used over and over again for shows that have gone passed there best .... i.e. everyone just shoots each other ... that really has to be the ultimate finale !!! :D

B7 was great. They did come out with a novel a while later continuing the story. I think it was a test to see if they could contiune with the series. It was a good novel, to bad they didn't keep doing them instead.

[stargazer21]

MASH and Newhart were the first to pop in my mind. And I'll add one that hasn't been mentioned (probably a good reason, but still....) Will and Grace. Yeah, it was kinda jumpy and tried too hard. But Old Jack and Old Karen singing "Unforgettable" was awesome. Makes me cry every time. :o

[vman]

While several of the above rank higher, I'll also throw out Mad About You and Ed as two finales I enjoyed.

[catcard]

Drive, oh wait...

:up: That is what I was going to say!!! :p

[Royster]

I distinctly remember MASH, Newhart and MTM finales. I guess that means they were good.

Another vote for SFU and AD. Also, a first mention for Due South.

[Mr_Bester]

I have to go with Six Feet Under then Babylon5.

[Ruth]

SFU as many have posted.

Frasier was good too.

[Havana Brown]

Six Feet Under.

[OldFantom]

How about a little love for Josh?

Angel, Buffy and Serenity

[Gunnyman]

Serenity wasn't a Series Finale it was a sudden cancellation :(

[Langree]

Serenity wasn't a Series Finale it was a sudden cancellation :(

I consider the movie the finale, the way they wrapped it up.

[MrLatte]

Conviction (2006)

Even though it was on for only one season they ended the season (and the series) very well.

[Marco]

Six Feet Under, and it's not really very close.

[That Don Guy]

I hate making lists like this, as there's always one or two shows that should be obvious but I manage to leave out.
My "current" five best:
Mary Tyler Moore
M*A*S*H
Moonlighting
Newhart
Star Trek: The Next Generation (not including the movies)

My "second five":
Blackadder Goes Forth
The Bob Newhart Show (which had a reunion special that involves Bob after "this strange dream I had about running an inn in Vermont")
Fame (at least they finally got to sing the theme song, but they could have used a few more persons from the NBC cast)
Home Improvement (mainly for the last scene)
Quantum Leap (especially without the "happy ending" that may or may not exist on bootleg tapes)

On the other hand, my least favorite five (not counting shows where the "finale" was "just another episode"):
Seinfeld ("Hey, you know all of those people over the years that acted as if they were better than you? They are - they're not in prison!")
Soap (not just one cliffhanger, but three)
Roseanne ("The last season was all a book I'm writing")
St. Elsewhere (had it ended the previous season as originally intended (with the hospital being torn down), it would have a chance at the best five, although I didn't like how Stephen Furst's character would have ended up selling cars)
Red Dwarf ("instead of the original ending where they repair the ship (and take off with it after the reproduced crew all abandoned it), let's make the ending a cliffhanger where it looks like everybody but Rimmer is gone; it's not as if this is going to be the last episode")

-- Don

[TonyTheTiger]

...

Lots of other stuff

...Red Dwarf ("instead of the original ending where they repair the ship (and take off with it after the reproduced crew all abandoned it), let's make the ending a cliffhanger where it looks like everybody but Rimmer is gone; it's not as if this is going to be the last episode")

-- Don


Red Dwarf never ended. They just stopped making shows. There was an intention of continuing the series, but it never happened - rather like the movie - so this can't be counted.

[Billyh1026]

I'd have to go with
1. B5 (The best SCI-FI series so far)
2. Newhart
3. M*A*S*H
4. Cheers
5. Wonder Years
6. ST: TNG
7. St. Elsewhere (c'mon...the MTM cat flatlining was hilarious)

[Ruth]

How about a little love for Josh?

Angel, Buffy and Serenity

I'm guessing Joss will feel more love if you get his name right. :p

[keirgrey]

Am I the only person that thought M*A*S*H's final episode was a Big Bag of Suck (tm) ?I thought I was the only one. :) Solidarity, Brother, Solidarity. :D

[LacyinTX]

My picks are MASH and Third Watch (even though I didn't want it to end).

[unicorngoddess]

How about a little love for Josh?

Angel, Buffy and Serenity

Buffy - Not so much liking it at all. Besides, with the new comics can we really call it a series finale anymore?

Angel - *sigh* I would have liked to see that go for one more season. They had the carpet ripped from underneath them halfway through the last season, so I suppose they did the best they could with what little time they had to rewrite the season into a series finale.

[Btrman]

Am I the only person that thought M*A*S*H's final episode was a Big Bag of Suck (tm) ?

No you are not. I think the last 2 seasons of M*A*S*H were many Big Bags of Suck.

I agree with Newhart and St. ELsewhere.

As for Six Feet Under, I never liked the show after the first season. The first season was great but after that I never could get into it.

[drew2k]

I didn't get past the fourth post, but ... the correct answer is "Six Feet Under".

I have never been so amazed, awed, and moved by a finale. This episode is still sitting on one of my TiVos, marked "Keep until I delete", and every now and then I will re-watch the final 15 minutes.

The writers, actors, and makeup artists showed their talent with this finale, and IMO, there has never been an equal to it.

[thedudeabides]

I'd list Buffy, Cheers, and ST:TNG in the top five.

Also, let's throw a little love Rome's way. That was a great finale.

But my number one?

The Larry Sanders Show. One of the best. finales. ever.

I remember it aired around the same time as Seinfeld's finale, and I was so pumped for Larry Sanders, and so disappointed in Seinfeld.

[Knives of Ice]

Twin Peaks

considering the circumstances this was a brilliant finale even if it didn't provide all the answers viewers wanted. Lynch did a marvelous job with the finale.

The Office UK - brilliant 2 part finale or "special" as it was called i believe.

[scoblitz]

Like many others I go with Six Feet Under - the most amazing couple of minutes of television I have ever seen. Still on my TiVo - always will be - I just can't let myself delete it and let it go.

Mary Tyler Moore was outstanding as well. I enjoyed MASH at the time but having seen it again just recently I thought it wrapped up just a bit too "tritely" for everyone.

I don't envy new shows that have to write a series finale - the expectations are so high that I don't think you can do it and please everyone.

SB

[Gunnyman]

I'd list Buffy, Cheers, and ST:TNG in the top five.

Also, let's throw a little love Rome's way. That was a great finale.

But my number one?

The Larry Sanders Show. One of the best. finales. ever.

I remember it aired around the same time as Seinfeld's finale, and I was so pumped for Larry Sanders, and so disappointed in Seinfeld.

I used to love the Larry Sanders Show. I only vaguely remember the finale though. :(

[Sparty99]

Roseanne ("The last season was all a book I'm writing")
Actually the last episode basically said that about the last 5 seasons of the show were all a book she was writing.

[Rosincrans]

All my favorites have been said:
Angel
ST:TNG
Friends
M*A*S*H
Cheers

I would add Buffy if you could count the WB finale and ignore the UPN crapfest that followed.

[LoadStar]

I would add Buffy if you could count the WB finale and ignore the UPN crapfest that followed.

I don't know if I'd consider all of the UPN episodes a crapfest... season 7, yeah. Still, I'd agree, the season 5 finale was an excellent series finale.

[Faro]

Season 5 of Babylon 5 is worth it to see the rest of the threads from the previous 4 seasons come together as well as seeing the final episode, Sleeping in Light.

[vikingguy]

Season 5 of Babylon 5 is worth it to see the rest of the threads from the previous 4 seasons come together as well as seeing the final episode, Sleeping in Light.

I thought the first half of season 5 was pretty weak understandable as the orginal season 5 was the second half of season 4. They thought it was going to be cancelled after season 4 and had to wrap itup. I liked the second half of season 5 especially the series finally sleeping in light.

[mattack]

B7 was great. They did come out with a novel a while later continuing the story. I think it was a test to see if they could contiune with the series. It was a good novel, to bad they didn't keep doing them instead.

At least according to the Blake's 7 Programme Guide book (IIRC), the finale wasn't *intended* as a finale.. they just got cancelled.

The continuation is called Afterlife IIRC.

[harrinpj]

The Office UK - brilliant 2 part finale or "special" as it was called i believe.


I agree with this. I will also cast another vote for Six Feet Under.

[Gregor]

Drive ;)

[MacThor]

I'm going to predict the future and say that "The Shield" will be my all time favorite. When everyone on the show is an antihero, how can it end well for anyone?

[jstack]

Six Feet Under without a doubt.

[brianp6621]

Ok I watched the Gilmore Girls Finale tonight and I thought back on all the series finales I have seen over the years. If I had to pick the "best" of all I have seen, I have to go with
M*A*S*H

What are your favorites?
use spoiler tags where needed please.

My immediate thought went to M*A*S*H as well.

[OldFantom]

I'm guessing Joss will feel more love if you get his name right. :p


I knew after I logged off that I had done it. I was shocked it took so long for someone to say something. That being said, what do I care, he and I are not speaking right now. :rolleyes:

[MasterOfPuppets]

I'll toss Michael J. Fox's last appearance on Spin City.
Sure, it wasn't a series finale, but it might as well have been. The Charlie Sheen era wasn't anywhere near as entertaining.

[RunnerFL]

How about a little love for Josh?

Angel, Buffy and Serenity

Don't you mean Firefly?

Serenity was the movie.

[dagojr]

Six Feet Under

without a doubt. i still listen to breathe me every chance i get.

[AstroDad]

I have to throw some ove to Mad About You. The last couple of seasons sucked, but I thought the idea of actually showing what happens over the next 20-25 years was great.

[JTAnderson]

Survivor: Fiji.

OK, I got tired of answering Six Feet Under / Newhart / St. Elsewhere every time this subject came up.