The Best and Worst Series Finales in Television History

Over the years, there have been so many undeniably great shows that were ruined by one very important thing—the ending. Is it because amazing shows raise the stakes so high that they can no longer meet the mark? Possibly. Or perhaps showrunners panic at the last moment. Whatever the reason, too many great shows seem to stumble at the finish line, and it honestly kills me. 

There are, however, a few worthy exceptions that deserve credit where credit is due, and they give me hope that not all great shows are destined to end badly. So, if you’re looking to start a new series and would like to avoid investing in one with a disappointing ending—I’ve got you.

Here’s my list of the best and most disappointing series finales in TV history.

The Worst

Lost

This was a series built entirely on mystery. Why was there a polar bear on this tropical island? What was the Smoke Monster? There were so many questions presented throughout the six seasons, and one would expect the show to culminate by giving us answers. The showrunners, however, decided to let the mystery remain a mystery and instead gave us a finale focused more on the emotional conclusion of the characters.

Some appreciated this emotional ending, and many critics praised it, saying the characters all received the payoff they deserved. The majority, though, probably watched it and spent a few days thinking, “What did I just watch?”

I think a big part of the disappointment wasn’t just the unanswered questions; it was the misunderstanding surrounding the final season. Season six appears to veer off into an alternate timeline, and although the ending explains why, many viewers misinterpreted it. Now that I truly understand the ending, I’m less mad—but I’m still convinced most of us would’ve been happier with a different conclusion.

Dexter

This is one of those shows where, at first, I really didn’t think it was for me—I much prefer fantasy and fairy tales to stories of serial killers. Eventually, though, I gave it a shot and realized it was surprisingly likable, with funny characters and a pretty great plot. Unfortunately, the last season of the show took a turn for the worse with an unimpressive villain and a finale that just…lacked.

With it being a series about a serial killer and antihero, one would assume the finale would involve something like his redemption—or maybe even him finally being caught by the police force he had worked alongside since the show began—but no. Instead, they decided to kill off one of our favorite characters for seemingly no reason and then have Dexter just ride off into the sunset, so to speak.

The showrunners must have realized the error of their ways because, years after the finale, they released a continuation. This allowed Dexter to have a different ending, but honestly, the damage had already been done—and even that finale was somewhat lackluster.

Game of Thrones

The first six seasons of this series changed the game for fantasy television. It combined amazing visuals, an epic plot, and let’s not forget about the dragons. Pretty much everyone with a television fell in love with the story, and even though the ending was heartbreakingly disappointing, I’m almost certain none of us regret the years we spent watching it.

Unlike some of the others on this list, the final season received an overwhelmingly negative reaction, building up to an even more overwhelmingly negative finale. I think a big reason for this is because it only had six episodes. Six episodes to conclude one of the most intricate, carefully crafted stories on television just honestly wasn’t enough time. Hence why everything felt rushed: a war that had been building for six seasons ended in one episode, a ruler was decided in less than five minutes, and one of the show’s most beloved characters had her reputation destroyed in just two episodes.

The latter is probably the most unforgivable. Daenerys Targaryen embodied what it meant to be a strong female character, and in the end…well…they didn’t give her the ending she deserved. Perhaps HBO should take a page out of Dexter’s book and give us another season with a Dany redemption—I mean, they know we’d watch.

The Best

The Vampire Diaries

After eight seasons of vampires, werewolves, sirens, and completely unbelievable supernatural events, the finale somehow felt…real. Not only did pretty much every character get the ending they deserved, but the series also gave fans a heartbreaking yet hopeful conclusion.

One of the best parts was that they brought back some of our favorite characters for a full-circle goodbye. The most noteworthy return was, of course, Elena, who had been under a sleeping curse for the last two seasons. Sure, her wig was a little bit of an eyesore, but the ending was so good that it can be forgiven.

Personally, this was my favorite series finale of all time because it was more than just a goodbye to characters we loved—it was a reminder that even though life is filled with loss, there is hope for something more in the end.

Breaking Bad

Despite its unconventional plot surrounding a science teacher, cancer patient, and secret drug kingpin, this show was massively popular. So popular, in fact, that every episode received high ratings, and several are among IMDb’s highest-rated television episodes of all time. The finale was no different, earning a 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Unlike The Vampire Diaries, the final episode wasn’t great because it was a happy ending—it was quite the opposite. Walter White spent several seasons building his empire while claiming it was all for the benefit of his family so they’d be taken care of after cancer took him from them. The final episode was the moment he finally admitted the truth: it wasn’t as noble as he had always claimed. And even though he lost everything in the end…he still accomplished everything he set out to do.

The ending was great because it was rooted in realism. Walter faced the true consequences of his actions, and although his ending wasn’t happy, it was deserved.

The Good Place

This was one of those shows that was just so genuinely heartfelt, and the ending was no different. Unlike many series that feel the final episode must include an epic battle or a supervillain who is finally defeated, The Good Place simply answered the questions it had been asking all along.

The ending wasn’t meant to shock fans—it was meant to comfort them in a way that very few shows have attempted before, exploring deep questions about life and death, and good and evil. The final episode was so impactful because it delivered a powerful reminder that life has meaning because it’s finite, and the good we do will carry on even after we’re gone.

This show and its ending are what I truly believe television and film are meant to do—to inspire us, give us hope, and help us see life in a better light.

At the end of the day, a great series finale isn’t about giving us a happy ending—it’s about giving us the right ending. As much as I wanted Walter White’s family to forgive him and his cancer to disappear, it wouldn’t have been the right ending. And just because Daenerys becoming the Mad Queen was shocking doesn’t necessarily mean it was the right call.

With several epic series on the horizon, let’s hope showrunners understand the difference.