Spoilers TV Shows with Great Endings

[Lidgar]

I know there will be a second season, but I really enjoyed the way Season 1 of Severance ended.

 

[Alby87]

I have never experienced a greater disparity between my interest in watching a show the first time and interest in rewatching it than HIMYM. I was definitely invested in that show for a long time. The last season didn't just ruin the ending for me, it really tainted the rest of the show.

Same, and I add also Game of Thrones on this. I'm not watching House of Dragons until some one tells me "This is good, and the ending is a blast". So I'll wait a lot of time, seems...

 

[trappedslider]

The counterpoint to this is that overplanning can stifle the ability to adapt to what is successful with a show and what isn't. Lots of shows need more time for everyone (from the writers, to the actors, to even the suits) to understand how things should go together. Can you imagine a finale season of ST:TNG, BtVS, or Supernatural that was planned when season 1 was written? Not to mention what happens when actors lead, budgets change, etc.

Balance is hard.

I'm 90% sure that the only show that I have watched and heard of that had had excellent planning was B5 and that even includes the fact that JMS had his season 5 notes stolen.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The Good Place

Parks & Rec (twice)

The Shield

 

[payn]

I'm 90% sure that the only show that I have watched and heard of that had had excellent planning was B5 and that even includes the fact that JMS had his season 5 notes stolen.

Its pretty rare indeed. I think most series, at least now, plan for a single well rounded first season. Then, its anybody's guess how long they get until its cancelled, so they dont plan much further than that.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

2. The Shield. The last few episodes, and the last episode, haunt me to this day.

My wife was stunned by the last episode: "Wait, that's it?"

I had to explain why he was truly in hell and what was about to happen, 30 seconds after we faded to black.

Wonderfully karmic ending for Vic Mackey.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

My wife was stunned by the last episode: "Wait, that's it?"

I had to explain why he was truly in hell and what was about to happen, 30 seconds after we faded to black.

Wonderfully karmic ending for Vic Mackey.

I know. So amazing. The perfect ending for him. He got away with it, but he's in the worst possible hell. Unless ... he can't help himself, in which case he doesn't get away with it. That smile ... maybe his punishment is that he can't change, and he is destined to act out and feel the consequences.

Not just that, but the last few episodes as well. I will always be haunted by the final arc of Walton Goggins.

 

[delericho]

"The Bad Batch" has the best ending I remember seeing recently.

"Heroes" of course has a perfect final episode, and then ruined it by doing a second (and subsequent) season.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Not just that, but the last few episodes as well. I will always be haunted by the final arc of Walton Goggins.

Every time someone says that Justified "made" Walton Goggins, I want to throw a boxed set of The Shield at them. (Obviously, he was great in Justified, but what an amazing character and amazing arc in The Shield.)

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Every time someone says that Justified "made" Walton Goggins, I want to throw a boxed set of The Shield at them. (Obviously, he was great in Justified, but what an amazing character and amazing arc in The Shield.)

Walton Goggins is a national treasure.

But yes, The Shield is his breakout role. If you have ever listened to him talk about his roles, he also talks about how playing that character over time was one of his most rewarding experiences.

(He also has an amazing story of his role as Venus Van Dam in Sons of Anarchy. You can find a version of that here.)