Sometimes, the best shows don’t quite get the ending they deserve. I remember watching The Blacklist and being totally enthralled until the final seasons when Megan Boone left the series. However, that show’s ending was one of the worst I have ever seen. It not only leaves the big, overarching mystery unsolved, but also features a rushed conclusion after a slow-burning 10-season run. Then there’s my all-time favorite show, Dexter, which has thankfully come back with a vengeance to more than correct the wrongs of its abysmal original series finale. Interesting, the first sequel, Dexter: New Blood, had a divisive finale. While some appreciate the more fitting closure, others want more (and thankfully, more of this story is on the way).
Some of these divisive TV finales would be better off forgotten altogether, allowing us fans to rewrite their endings in our heads so the story ends more satisfyingly. I included these shows because even if the final season was lackluster, the finales were really disappointing. In each case, whether dramatic or comedic, these stories had the potential to amount to something fantastic. After these finales, I wished that I hadn’t watched the episode at all.
Why You Should Trust Me: I have been writing about TV for more than a decade and watching it for even longer. I’m obsessed with shows of all kinds, from dramas and thrillers to comedies, sitcoms, and everything in between. Usually, when I start watching a show, I make a point to finish it, even if I feel like it’s falling off. Once I have invested my time, I need to see it through. This, along with the countless hours I spend watching, put me in a unique position to speak on shows that are both fantastic from start to finish and ones that miss the mark by the end.
Honorable Mentions
‘Dexter: New Blood’ (2021) – As mentioned, Dexter: New Blood was able to right the wrongs of the original’s ending. But then it ended in a partially satisfying way, at least in comparison to the original. But since Dexter: Resurrection arrived and explained away the New Blood ending, rendering it a non-issue, I didn’t include this show on the list.
‘And Just Like That…’ (2021–2025) – The Sex and the City revival was off to a rough start from the beginning and never quite captured the magic of the original. Its abrupt cancellation was no surprise, which meant a rushed ending that didn’t focus on the essence of the show. The finale needed to be about not just Carrie Bradshaw’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) journey, but the four main characters’ journeys. However, I don’t want to erase it from memory as it ended a worthwhile lesson that fits the franchise’s overall theme of independence and strength.
‘Fear the Walking Dead’ (2015–2023) – Fear the Walking Dead was the first and most successful spin-off series of The Walking Dead, and it was a pretty strong show for a long time. But once cast members began leaving, most notably the exit of Frank Dillane, the storylines became repetitive and tired. The ending was too unrealistic, even for this show. I didn’t include this in the main list because frankly, I’d like to forget the entire final season, maybe even the last few seasons, not just the finale.
‘Dexter’ (2006–2013)
A Twisted Tale About a Likable Vigilante Killer
Dexter had a strong run as a hugely popular series through the mid-2000s and into the 2010s. The show dipped slightly in the eyes of die-hard fans after Season 4. But on a recent re-watch, I realized that Seasons 5-8 are actually better than I remembered. However, the ending? That episode is still universally despised. It did allow the series to return eight years later with a limited sequel series, Dexter: New Blood. That led to the incredible resurrection of the character in, well, Dexter: Resurrection. Roseanne
The story of vigilante serial killer Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), who channels his dark impulses to kill only “bad” people, draws you in as you watch him live his double life. You can’t help but have complicated feelings about whether he’s really so bad after all. The ending gives no closure or accountability, features the death of a major character, and feels abrupt and cheap. It would have been better off left out of the entire plan.
Watch This: If you’ve invested in the series up to this point and plan to watch the sequel shows (which are totally worth your time).
Skip This: if you have no plans to watch Dexter: New Blood and Dexter: Resurrection. You might be better off ending the show halfway through Season 8 before any of the worst things happen.
‘The Blacklist’ (2013–2023)
A Career Criminal Helps the FBI Catch Others
The Blacklist started so strong. The story follows Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader), a career criminal nicknamed the “Concierge of Crime,” who willingly turns himself into the FBI. But he has an offer. He will help them track down the worst of the worst, hard-core criminals they don’t even know exist if they leave him to do his thing (within reason, of course). It’s too tempting an offer to pass up, especially when Red’s intel consistently checks out. But it appears Red is also slowly enhancing his own criminal business in the process. Plus, there’s his strange connection to special agent Liz Keen (Boone), and it’s clear that he’s hiding more secrets. This mystery is the big secret of the entire series.
But by the time we get to the finale, the question hasn’t really been answered, at least not clearly enough. This is likely because the show had to pivot after Boone left after Season 8. The series could have wrapped things up there, but instead, featured a lackluster series finale that left me screaming at the screen. The final prophetic moment would have been lovely if the show had delivered what it had been teasing. Not only did the crime thriller end abruptly, but Red’s true identity is still confusing. Whether you believe his identity was confirmed or not (yes, there was a subtle clue that some people think all but confirms it), the fact that people still talk about it proves that the finale served no purpose. But in my eyes, the finale would have been better off not existing at all.
Watch This: if you’re simply curious to see how it ends and want to vent to others who have watched.
Skip It: If you’re looking for closure.
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)
The Epic Battle for the Iron Throne of Westeros
After eight fantastic seasons, and a really dark (literally) final one, Game of Thrones seemed to rush its final story. I could have done without the finale and arguably even the entire eighth season. The show built up an epic fight among different houses in Westeros for the Iron Throne. Admittedly, it delivered as various characters fought, betrayed, and backstabbed each other to get one step closer. There are also storylines focused on The Night King and Bran’s (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) mysterious powers.
Sure, Game of Thrones wrapped up all its storylines, but not necessarily in a satisfying way. By the end of Season 8, many pleaded with George R. R. Martin to write a proper finale and for the final season to get a redo. Unfortunately, after so much build-up, the series ended with pivotal characters being killed off in anticlimactic ways. One actor is still livid about her character’s storyline. The finale also has simplistic resolutions and very little payoff overall.
Watch This: It’s worth watching Game of Thrones from start to finish, despite the unfortunate finale.
Skip It: Don’t skip it, as the finale has become an important part of pop culture.
‘Lost’ (2004–2010)
A Cerebral, Sci-fi Tale of Survival
Lost built toward something, went in several different directions, and ended in a way that left fans scratching their heads. The ending might have impacted me differently since I binged all six seasons of Lost a few years after it ended, devouring it all over a few months. Some who watched week to week feel it’s a sci-fi masterpiece everyone got wrong. But rather than stick with the sci-fi angle in the end, the show tells a spiritual story instead.
A lot of questions remain unanswered, and the shot of the wrecked plane in the end confused fans about what those final moments actually meant. Were the characters dead? Were they always dead? Was everything a dream? (It wasn’t, and they do all eventually die). When a finale evokes more questions than answers and leaves so much unresolved, it’s best to forget it happened. I prefer to remember the best moments from the show instead.
Watch This: If you want to analyze everything and feel a sense of closure.
Skip This: If you found Lost too confusing, the finale won’t do you any favors.
‘Seinfeld’ (1989–1998)
A Show Famously About Nothing
Since Seinfeld was a show about nothing, it would make sense that the sitcom would end in the same vein: another monotonous day in the life of this group of friends in New York. Admittedly, it was a tough show to wrap up because how can you have a proper conclusion when there’s no narrative arc? The clever solution was to finally hold these characters accountable for all the awful things they have done. That meant they were arrested, tried in court, and forced to face people they had wronged through the years.
Some fans thought the ending was perfect, a cute way to call back to pivotal episodes, moments, and guest characters from the show’s nine seasons. But since it’s a light-hearted show, I wanted them to get away with their antics. I wanted to feel that even though the show was finished, they would continue doing ridiculous, selfish things. Yes, the finale was a wonderful highlight reel episode. But it didn’t fit with the typical tone of the show. So, I would rather leave that episode out of my memories.
Watch This: The Seinfeld series finale offers a fun, nostalgic look back at the show.
Skip it: If you would rather remember Seinfeld as a show with masterpiece episodes that don’t require closure.
‘Ozark’ (2017–2022)
When a Talented Accountant Breaks Bad
Once you follow Ozark‘s main characters, Marty (Jason Bateman) and Wendy (Laura Linney) Byrde, down the rabbit hole of criminal activity, you need to see the series to the end and find out what happens to them. But some aspects of the ending didn’t sit well with me, including the tragic death of a major character just when they were finally hitting their stride and gaining confidence.
Unlike Seinfeld, the Byrde family needs to suffer consequences, the same way characters like Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) need to in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. However, they didn’t. The implication that the family is forever changed and maybe, in some way, is suffering consequences, was fitting. But Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) making such a massive shift in the final moments didn’t fit and felt rushed. If this were another episode and not the series finale, I would be happy to remember it. It missed a real resolution and took a page out of The Sopranos book and cut to black.
Watch This: To see how it ends, if you’ve watched up to this point.
Skip It: If you don’t want to see the best characters take wrong turns.
‘How I Met Your Mother’ (2005–2014)
The Antics of Five Friends in New York
Where do I start with that How I Met Your Mother finale? Fans invested nine seasons in the show that teased the identity of the mother of Ted’s (Josh Radnor) teenage kids for the entirety of the show, only for the ending to be a letdown. It wasn’t so much who the mother was, but what happened to her and what Ted did next. It cheapened everything up to that point, and it’s a great TV show nearly ruined by a single episode.
That being said, some appreciated the realness of the ending and the idea that life doesn’t always work out how you want it to. But most would have been happier with another known character revealed as Ted’s eventual wife and a cute, playful ending. Sure, it would have been predictable. But at least it wouldn’t have made you look at Ted’s stories, especially as they relate to Robin (Cobie Smulders), in a different and uncomfortable light.
Watch This: To see the full arc, and only if you need to find out who the mom is.
Skip It: The finale will only sully the reveal.
‘Roseanne’ (1988–1997)
A Lower-Middle-Class Family Sarcastically Charming Their Way Through Life
Roseanne didn’t quite go the “it was all a dream” route in its series finale, but the direction was almost as bad. In the end, we learn that Roseanne (Roseanne Barr) has been writing a book about her life all along. Everything we saw up to that point was a fictional version of her family. In reality, things are different. Dan (John Goodman) dies from a heart attack at Darlene’s (Sara Gilbert) wedding. The family never wins the lottery. David (Johnny Galecki) is actually Becky’s (Lecy Goranson/Sarah Chalke) boyfriend.
The bad ending gets a pass since Roseanne was such a groundbreaking sitcom. It helped shape what the genre could be and opened the door for depictions of more realistic, lower-middle-class American families on the small screen, dealing with real-life challenges. Plus, the revival of The Conners completely changed that final episode. If The Conners pretended it never happened, I feel like it’s okay if I do the same.
Watch This: If you want to see Roseanne talk about how she changed her life, and you plan to check out The Conners, which pokes fun at the horrible series finale in its pilot episode.
Skip It: if you want to remember the show and characters for who they always were.
Do you agree with these TV series finales? Is there one that you think we shoudl have included on our list? Let us know in the comments!
