"Best TV series finale" Topic

I mean the episode(s) that wrap up a long running series.
Once upon a time, networks just cancelled a series & we never had 'closure' but more often than not they shoot conclusions for beloved TV series.

I've just seen the two parter of 'The Office' (the great US version not that pallid British one) & it did a very satisfactory job in tying up loose ends. Clearly a lot of love from past cast members, many of whom turned up to feature in it (including Michael Scott).

Nothing beats the two parter for 'Scrubs' which must have been planned almost as the first series was shot.

Your favourites?

M*a*s*h

I wouldn't say it was the best finale, but it certainly finished the series – "Blake's 7"

The finales of "The Secret Army", "I Claudius" and "Colditz"

Dallas?

"Newhart"…….when he woke up and said he had quite a dream and he was in bed with Suzanne Pleshette….his wife from the first series….

Have to agree with Dave Jackson; as soon as I saw the question, that was the episode that came to mind: when Bob Newhart's Character from "Newhart" woke up, and discovered the entire show had been a dream his character had on his old "The Bob Newhart Show".

youtu.be/ZgdUWXf8jJk

Runner-up goes to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" for their great finale.

Er…Stargate SG-1?

The worst – st elsewhere

M*A*S*H

Small Wonder – granted, it did not have a finale but the mere fact it ended puts it right at the top!

Babylon 5 deserves a mention, although the network possibly cancelling the show messed up the last 1.25 seasons (4th and 5th season were condensed to finish it up in four seasons rather than five) it was one of the first shows on US TV to deliberately have a five season arc and for the most part it delivered.

The office (British).

Another for Newhart.

Frasier

MASH

and Newhart as second

The Terminator/Sarah Connor series – only ran for 2 seasons but the final neatly tied back into itself and the rest of the franchise. Even then, if the networks had thought it worthwhile it was also possible to restart the series for season 3 quite easily.

What I do hate is the last episode of a season being part 1 of a 2 parter, where you can be left hanging for a year or so, then have to get back into the groove for the new season, or get severely disappointed if the next season is never released.

Hill Street Blues

MASH.
Futurama
Angel

Breaking Bad.

Oh didn't see this additional thread there in the main boards too.

Definitely Newhart.

Newhart.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Angel
Babylon 5
Star Trek Next Generation

Jon Stewart's last show on the Daily Show. It didn't end the show, but it did end his involvement with it.

Since Newhart is burned in my mind and I can barely remember others, it wins.

The Prisoner

Two and a Half Men.

Wherein it is revealed that Rover is Number One…

link

Lost? Oh wait, what am I thinking of!

Justified

Babylon 5 and Breaking Bad spring to mind.

John T

Breaking Bad and Burn Notice were two of my favorites.

The worst waste of my time Lost and St. Elsewhere are hours of my life I will never get back.

Newhart and Angel

The Sopranos

Black Adder IV without a doubt.

Newhart

M A S H

Psych

Last show, 2nd season of Deadwood…that would have a great way to end it.

Yep, I'm going with Newhart.

I'm going to give an honourable mention to The Sopranos. A lot of people hate it but it makes perfect sense if you believe Tony…well, I won't ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it. Let's just say it makes sense if you assume something happened which people still debate whether it did or not.

Yeah, Breaking Bad was pretty good, especially with the optional ending.

I loved that one.

MASH
Breaking Bad
Fringe
The Office (UK)

+1 for The Prisoner (assuming we mean the original series with Pat McGoohan)

"Blackadder Goes Forth"

While not a finale, I really liked the last episode of "Firefly"

In the event one could say 'Serenity' was the finale for 'Firefly.'

Pity.

Walt Disney: Davy Crockett – King of the Wild Frontier

Newhart. If you did not see it you should not vote for anything else until you watch it, IMHO.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek
Bunker Talk blog

Best:

M*a*s*h
Newhart
Mary Tyler Moore
The Fugitive
Breaking Bad
Hill Street Blues
Star Trek, The Next Generation

Worst:

Saint Elsewhere (otherwise loved the show)
Seinfeld (Best sitcom ever, but worst ending)

Bob Newhart
MASH
Rockford Files

May I mention the opposite? My wife and I were quite disappointed with the finale of Mad Men; in fact, the whole last season felt a little weak, as though they'd run out of ideas.

Have to agree with that. It was a bit disappointing. Same could be said of Boardwalk Empire.

Black Adder IV without a doubt.

Oooh – I'd forgotten that Mike Bravo Miniature: good call!

John T

The Young Ones, didn't they all go over a cliff in a double decker bus?

Not a total series finale, but the end to David Tennants era of Doctor Who was fantastic.

Otherwise, sure, MASH and Black Adder Goes Forth.