Finale FinalityList about TV season finales, series finales, cancelations, remakes, revivals, adaptations, and everything else you need to know for tomorrow morning's discussions at the water cooler.
It's more common to find TV show fans complaining about how a series ended rather than praising a perfect sendoff. However, there are shows that have accomplished just that and have gone on to be rated as some of the highest-rated series finales of all time amongst critics. Even more impressive is how these finales have managed to stand the test of time, as well as satisfy fans' expectations. With so many last episodes out there, fans have taken to singling out a few that continue to garner praise.
The Sopranos and I love that it still gets people worked up. Maybe some people will say it was cheap and lazy, but they knew exactly what they were doing and if you watched the whole show you know exactly what happened.
Six Feet Under. This is the only answer to this question. No other show has come close to the bar that finale established.
Bear in mind, this is coming from someone who does not think the show was superb over the entire run. But there is just no denying the power of the finale and specifically that montage at the end. If you can watch that and not get choked up even a little you have no soul.....
[I cried and then immediately rewatched it to cry all over again.]
Newhart finale was at a time before social media ruined things for people. No one saw that twist ending until it premiered on TV and it went off perfectly.
I believe it's been a sitcom finale measuring stick for years.
