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There’s nothing like a good TV series finale. Whether it’s a gripping sci-fi, a crime drama, a sitcom, or something completely different, TV shows’ legacies are often determined by their final episode. While the best TV show pilots are worth talking about, especially as these are typically the episodes that convince viewers to watch in the first place, the conclusions to these stories are just as important.
Plenty of TV shows have perfect endings, at least in their audiences’ eyes. For a TV finale to truly resonate with viewers, it ideally needs to wrap up its ongoing storylines neatly, give its main character(s) a notable moment in which they grow or meet their fate, and finish on a generally satisfying note. Throughout the 21st century, the world of TV has seen good, bad, or simply okay finales, but these are the best.
“The Agreement” – ‘Derry Girls’ (2018-2022)
Derry Girls is one of the funniest TV shows of the last 10 years, but its finale is rather profound. “The Agreement” sees Northern Ireland in the lead-up to the Good Friday Agreement vote, with hope for an end to the ongoing political situation on the horizon. Derry Girls is a coming-of-age comedy and technically a historical drama, too, and the looming tension over the Troubles is prominent throughout the show.
The finale, though, ensures it focuses on both the end of the Troubles and the titular group of friends, with Erin and Orla’s 18th birthday party playing on their minds just as much as the vote. “The Agreement” is comical and moving, all at the same time, and one of the best TV finales in recent years, especially in the comedy genre.
“The Last One” – ‘Friends’ (1994-2004)
The final season of Friends is short, at least compared to its other installments, but “The Last One” is a great ending for the hit sitcom. Everyone prepares to move on to a different stage in their lives: Joey accepts it’s time to stop relying on his friends, and he’s incredibly supportive as Monica and Chandler become parents and Phoebe settles into her marriage to Mike.
Although Ross and Rachel’s relationship is one of the biggest frustrations throughout Friends, the pair’s reunion in the finale is the only thing that really makes sense for the show’s ending. Throughout the sitcom’s 10-season run, we watch these characters grow and change, and they’re very different people in “The Last One” from the group of 20-somethings we meet in the pilot, which is one of the reasons why Friends‘ finale is so iconic.
“Whenever You’re Ready” – ‘The Good Place’ (2016-2020)
For a show that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, The Good Place’s finale could’ve gone in either direction, but it decided to do both. “Whenever You’re Ready” offers audiences closure, giving each of the characters their own profound goodbye as they decide to move on from the Good Place. These moments are emotional, but they also feel well-deserved.
The Good Place’s incredible plot twists are why the show is still so popular. Although it feels a little odd that the finale has somewhat of a slower pace than the rest of the show, it’s also the perfect way to say goodbye to the characters after everything they’ve been through together. “Whenever You’re Ready” might not be dramatic or shocking, but it serves as a eulogy for the show and its characters, which is quite a fitting ending.
“With Open Eyes” – ‘Succession’ (2018-2023)
While Logan Roy’s death seemed like the natural stopping point for Succession, the finale instead focuses on the moment we’ve known was coming since the beginning: the fight for control of Waystar Royco. With the patriarch out of the picture long before “With Open Eyes,” the Roy children and those closest to them are caught up in chaos as they turn on one another.
The voting scene is one of the tensest TV moments in recent years. The finale, but this scene in particular, brings things full circle and reminds us exactly what Succession is: a TV show about a dysfunctional family. It’s difficult to root for these characters at times, which makes the shocking choice to make Tom CEO even more interesting, and the plot twist that leads to the Roys’ downfall oddly satisfying.
“Episode 6” (Season 2) – ‘Fleabag’ (2016-2019)
Fleabag isn’t your average TV show anyway, and even though the last episode doesn’t feel like a stereotypical finale, it still weirdly works. Throughout the show, the titular character has varied relationships with everyone in her life. The show is mostly about her bonds with these people, but the finale cements what Fleabag is truly about: her relationship with her sister, Claire.
Things like Boo’s death, Fleabag’s romance with the Priest, and Claire’s insufferable husband are important parts of these characters’ stories, but ultimately, everything always comes back to their bond. The finale ends on an ambiguous note, but it’s still satisfying, as the Priest’s rejection forces Fleabag to acknowledge her demons surrounding relationships (both romantic and platonic), and Claire leaves Martin for true love. While an odd ending, Fleabag’s last episode is still a fantastic finale.
“The Book of Nora” – ‘The Leftovers’ (2014-2017)
The Leftovers‘ finale is one of those rare examples of a TV show ending that isn’t tainted by its unanswered questions. “The Book of Nora” doesn’t answer the overarching mystery of the 2%, but that’s not really what the show is about; it’s about those who are left behind as they try to figure out how to navigate life going forward. “The Book of Nora” is an emotional ride, but it leaves a lot up to interpretation.
Many agree that it doesn’t matter whether Nora’s claims about what happened after she went through the machine are true or not. Ultimately, the show makes the right decision by shifting its attention back to the survivors by reuniting Nora and Kevin years later, rather than pondering over the otherworldly elements that contributed to the Sudden Departure, the focus of The Leftovers‘ opening scene.
“Person to Person” – ‘Mad Men’ (2007-2015)
Mad Men is another show with a somewhat ambiguous TV finale, but it also makes sense thematically. “Person to Person” sees all of Don Draper’s poor decisions catch up to him, with the advertising mogul checking into a retreat. While every character gets a satisfying ending, Don’s is the most interesting. His phone call with Peggy is a notable moment, during which Don acknowledges several of his regretful actions.
The final scene is particularly memorable. Don is going through a breakthrough, but it’s unclear whether the famous 1971 Coca-Cola “Hilltop” ad is a figment of his imagination or an indirect confirmation of his return to work later. Don is always somewhat of a mystery throughout Mad Men, and the finale remains true to his character by keeping him an enigma even in his final moments.
“Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” – ‘M*A*S*H’ (1972-1983)
M*A*S*H‘s finale held the record for the most-watched TV broadcast from 1983 to 2010, and all these years later, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” is still a highly appreciated piece of TV. The episode follows the emotional final days of the Korean War as the 4077th MASH members say their goodbyes before going their separate ways, providing a well-deserved conclusion to the long-running show.
M*A*S*H‘s nonsensical timeline is irrelevant by this point, too. The characters have been in Korea longer than makes sense, but seeing them finally get to leave is more important. “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” includes some of the most poignant moments in TV history, from Hawkeye’s PTSD treatment to the “GOODBYE” written in rocks. While an incredible finale, it’s not quite the best.
“Felina” – ‘Breaking Bad’ (2008-2013)
Walter White’s fate is pretty set in stone long before Breaking Bad‘s finale, but it doesn’t make “Felina” any less impactful. Across the show’s 5-season run, Walt goes from a down-on-his-luck teacher to a full-blown drug kingpin, and by the end, saying he’s burned all his bridges is an understatement. Despite this, Walt goes out on his own terms, manipulating his family one last time before leaving to face his fate.
Walt helps Skylar locate Hank’s body and offers Jesse the opportunity to kill him, but these aren’t redeemable actions; they just remind us that the damage is done, and he knows this. “Felina” is a wild, action-packed ride, right up until the very end. The final scene in which Walt dies on the floor, almost silently, is incredibly gripping. While an astounding TV finale, though, there is one that is better.
“whoami” & “Hello, Elliot” (2-Part) – ‘Mr. Robot’ (2015-2019)
Mr. Robot features some of the craziest TV plot twists ever anyway, but “whoami” and “Hello, Elliot” might be the most shocking TV finale episodes of all time. The gripping climax is trippy and a little confusing, but the revelation that the real Elliot has been living in a world in his own mind and that the Mastermind is another persona of his still astounds viewers to this day. As plot twists go, this is one that very few are able to predict.
The topic of mental health is an integral part of Mr. Robot. The way the show tackles Elliot’s mental state is always fascinating, but it takes some big risks in the finale, which thankfully pay off. While Mr. Robot begins as a sci-fi show with a sprinkling of psychological drama, the finale reminds audiences what the show has always been about: Elliot’s fractured psyche. There have been some amazing TV show finales over the years, but Mr. Robot‘s stands proudly as the best of the 21st century.