Many TV series finales receive a lot of criticism, but often they’re better than people remember. As the fifth and final season of Stranger Things approaches, it’s a good time to remember how crucial a show’s last episode can be.
Even popular and well-made shows like Lost – known for its detailed world, compelling characters, and emotional flashbacks – still faced strong criticism when the final episode was broadcast.
Although the ending of Lost is debated by fans, many other TV series finales continue to spark conversation years and even decades after they aired. These episodes—whether they wrapped up a grand fantasy saga or a popular sitcom—are often more deserving of recognition than they receive.
Castle
Even after all this time, ‘Castle’ remains a cozy show to watch. However, the series finale, ‘Crossfire,’ left many viewers disappointed. The episode sees Kate Beckett and Richard Castle survive a shooting, and a glimpse into the future reveals them happily raising three children together at the breakfast table.
Yes, the ending is a bit over-the-top, but that fits with the show’s overall style, and it’s hard to imagine a more perfect conclusion for Castle. Given that the series centers around the two main characters solving mysteries together, it makes sense the writers created a dangerous situation for the final episode – they needed to make things really matter.
It’s understandable why Kate and Castle finally end up together. After watching them playfully argue and then fall in love over many episodes, viewers naturally hoped they’d stay together. While the episode might not be the most thrilling of the series, it’s not nearly as bad as some people claim.
Dexter
The ending of Dexter played with expectations. While it initially appeared Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) had died, a final surprise revealed he was actually still alive, living as a lumberjack in Oregon.
A lot of viewers were upset with the Dexter finale, especially because of Debra Morgan’s (Jennifer Carpenter) death, which was a truly sad moment. But looking back, the episode might not be as terrible as many people claim.
Look, as a longtime TV watcher, when I invest eight seasons in a show, I expect the finale to deliver some real shocks, right? And honestly, we all know how it goes – even if a character seems totally gone, like with “Remember the Morgans,” they always find a way back. Just look at Dexter! He ‘died’ but then got his own spin-offs, Dexter: New Blood and Dexter: Resurrection. It’s just how TV works these days!
Weeds
Viewers were disappointed with the final episode of Weeds because of the bleak situation Nancy Botwin (Mary Louise-Parker) found herself in and the heartbreaking end of her relationship with Andy (Justin Kirk). Many also found it difficult to watch Shane (Alexander Gould) facing so many challenges.
It’s upsetting to learn Andy and Nancy have been estranged for so long, but ultimately, it feels like the right outcome. Throughout the eight seasons of Weeds, Nancy consistently used Andy’s feelings for her. She enjoyed his unwavering support, and he became a reliable source of comfort in her often chaotic life.
It wouldn’t have felt right for things to end happily for those two, and it’s good that Andy chose to move on from Nancy. Shane’s story is also effective – while it’s sad to see his struggles with alcohol, it feels like a believable outcome for someone with his difficult upbringing.
In the final episode, Nancy finally matures and realizes she needs to move on from Andy, which was a healthy decision. It’s heartwarming to watch her accept responsibility for her past actions.
One of my favorite moments was the final scene with Nancy, Shane, Andy, Doug, and Silas. It really felt like they weren’t saying goodbye forever, just acknowledging they all needed some time and space to heal and figure things out, but they’d still be a part of each other’s lives. It was a really nice, hopeful ending.
Game Of Thrones
The final episode of Game of Thrones was certainly dramatic. A lot of viewers felt the story rushed to a conclusion, wondering why so many important events were crammed into just a few episodes and wishing the plot had been developed more thoroughly.
As a huge fan, I was honestly disappointed by how short the final season was – only six episodes felt way too little for a show that meant so much to so many people! I really think eight or ten episodes would have given the ending the time it deserved and made the final season live up to the incredible quality of everything that came before. It just didn’t feel fully satisfying as it was.
Even though many fans disliked the major plot points, like Jon Snow killing Daenerys, the final episode of Game of Thrones isn’t actually that bad. In fact, considering how surprisingly it ended, it wasn’t even a terrible finale.
Roseanne
The series finale of Roseanne, titled “Into That Good Night,” originally aired in May 1997 and was widely disliked by viewers – it’s still considered one of the worst series endings ever. Many fans were surprised to discover that the lottery winnings which seemingly made Roseanne and her family wealthy were never actually real within the show’s storyline.
Sadly, Dan Goodman’s heart attack resulted in his death, and Roseanne is now writing a book based on what happened. While it wasn’t the best way to reveal that the previous season’s events were fictional, it ultimately explains the situation.
The show Roseanne was always known for its realistic and honest portrayal of working-class families and their struggles with money. Looking back at the ninth season, it feels unbelievable that the Conner family’s fortunes would turn around so fast. The series finale is effective because it deals with difficult emotions like grief and loss, and it’s compelling to see the main character think about her life.
Squid Game
Everyone expected strong reactions to the finale of Squid Game season 3 when it premiered on Netflix in June 2025, given how gripping and disturbing the show is. And the reaction was overwhelmingly negative.
It’s understandable why many viewers were shocked by Gi-hun’s (Lee Jung-jae) decision to end his life. After seeing him overcome so many life-or-death challenges and rooting for his resilience, it was difficult to accept his fate.
It makes sense within the story that he’s focused on making sure Jun-hee’s (Jo Yu-ri) baby is okay. We were worried about the child’s well-being as soon as we found out she was pregnant, and it would have been much more upsetting if something had happened to the baby.
As a huge fan, I was really satisfied with how everything tied up in the finale. Seeing Jun-hee’s baby unexpectedly win that heartbreaking competition, and then getting a little tease that this whole deadly game might come to the U.S. – it all felt very intentional. Knowing Netflix is potentially planning a U.S. version, and remembering Cate Blanchett’s cameo, those final moments really stuck with me and felt like they were setting things up for something bigger.
How I Met Your Mother
The final episode of How I Met Your Mother is famously controversial. After nine seasons of watching Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) tell the story of finding love, many viewers were shocked when the show killed off the woman he ultimately ended up with.
It felt like we’d just met Tracy McConnell (Cristin Milioti) when she was suddenly gone. The show consistently hinted at a joyful future for Ted and The Mother, making the revelation of her illness and passing incredibly shocking and upsetting.
Actually, the How I Met Your Mother finale isn’t terrible. It’s a thoughtful look at life’s unpredictability, and it shows Ted had a wonderful relationship with Tracy. They were happy together, shared amazing moments, and loved raising their children.
If you were rooting for Ted and Robin (Cobie Smulders) to end up together, you likely found their reunion in the finale to be a touching and romantic moment.
The biggest issue with the How I Met Your Mother finale isn’t just the last episode, but the entire final season. It doesn’t live up to the show’s usual quality. Because the whole season takes place during a single weekend – Barney and Robin’s wedding – it loses the show’s familiar feel and comes across as strange.
Season 9 doesn’t have any standout storylines, and the initial plot involving Barney and Robin questioning if they’re related feels strange and uncomfortable. However, if you skip those episodes and go straight to the finale, it provides a good conclusion, fully resolving Ted’s story and revealing what happens to him in the future.
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2025-11-11 21:18