Wrapping up a TV show is one of the most challenging endeavors for a creator or producer. This is primarily because a good series finale must bring closure to the series without dishonoring the journey it took to get there. It must, among other things, achieve this balance. Do it right, and years of storytelling turn into a payoff that feels complete and something fans can remember.
These are the best TV show finales that prove endings matter as much as beginnings. Although most of the selections come from recent years, there are two classic additions. Friends and Breaking Bad — that remain ageless standards by which every finale is measured.
10. Dead to Me (2022)
At its core, Dead To Me spotlights the unlikely bond between show protagonists Jen (Christina Applegate) and Judy (Linda Cardellini). Consequently, the show’s conclusion closes the curtain on their story in the most tender and emotional way. It’s so simple, it could be mistaken for an easy out but it’s not. Jen wakes to find Judy gone. In the distance, a boat sails away — a symbol of her peaceful departure.
What makes Dead To Me’s ending one of the best TV show finales lies in how it balances grief with acceptance. There’s no doubt that it closes out an important chapter in both women’s lives, but it’s bittersweet to say the very least. It’s also memorable because it focuses on love, forgiveness, and resilience. All in all, the show proved that small emotional endings can be just as powerful as iconic ones.
9. Friends (2004)
Friends ends with the group saying their farewells in their iconic New York City apartment, each character preparing for a new page in their story. It’s safe to say that the finale spotlighted each character’s growth without spoofing the unique bonds that made Friends a classic. However, that signature Friends‘ humor wasn’t lost in the mix.
All in all, the creators of the show kept things sentimental. They acknowledged the sadness of change while still celebrating the joys gained through their lasting friendship. Sure, it’s a simple but effective take, but it practically had one of the most memorable series finales of all time.
8. BoJack Horseman (2020)
Titled “Nice While It Lasted”, the final episode of Bojack Horseman begins with the prison granting Bojack a day-long furlough from his 14-year prison sentence to attend the wedding of ex-girlfriend/agent Princess Carolyn. It’s a welcome opportunity for him to say his goodbyes to his friends. Ruefully, he notices that life didn’t stand still, and everyone has moved on without him at the center of their universe. The series ends with a rooftop scene that has Bojack and Diane deep in quiet conversation, an echo of the show’s first season.
Bojack Horseman‘s finale is ranked among the best TV finales in recent years because of how honest, haunting, and melodramatic it was. It stayed true to its themes of consequence and change by refusing to let Bojack down easy. The finale avoided providing easy answers about Bojack’s journey, but it also never leaned into dramatics. Instead, it was nuanced and truthful, allowing for fan interpretation of Bojack’s future.
7. Succession (2023)
Season 4, Episode 10, “With Open Eyes” — the title of HBO’s Succession‘s swan song — perfectly sets the stage for the events that follow. This episode focuses on family patriarch Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) three youngest children, Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Shiv (Sarah Snook), and Roman (Kieran Culkin). Viewers get a front row seat to their struggle for ultimate control of their father’s legacy. What follows is a shocking and inevitable cascade of betrayal, heartbreak, and shattered illusions.
Several critics described this finale as one of the most satisfying TV series endings of the modern era. Unsurprisingly, viewers are immediately drawn to the reason behind those reviews. At the core of it all is the brutal realization that no one wins in the power struggle between the Roy siblings.
6. Fleabag (2019)
In the final episode of Fleabag, the titular character and the “Hot Priest” admit their love for each other at a bus stop. However, “Hot Priest” chooses his love for God over the prospect of a romantic future with Fleabag. The series ends with her walking away from the audience for the very first time since the show kicked off.
Many critics consider Fleabag’s finale one of the best in recent times because of its stubborn refusal to fit in the typical romantic comedy mould. Instead, it tells a story of growth, healing, and independence. For most of the show, Fleabag leaned on the audience as a crutch, however, the iconic final scene changed that. With a knowing glance and wave to the camera as she walked away, she made one last acknowledgment of the audience’s constant presence. It’s clear she’s finally ready to be on her own.
5. The Americans (2018)
The Americans wraps up with Philip (Matthew Rhys)and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) being exposed as KGB operatives. To evade capture, they escape to the Soviet Union and begin entirely new lives. However, the price for their freedom forces them to start on a fresh page — it’s without their two children, Paige (Holly Taylor) and Henry (Keidrich Sellati).
In a nutshell, this ending abandons the conventional trope of a rousing escape, which is probably why many consider it one of the most memorable TV show finales. Instead, it depicts the tragic human cost that Elizabeth and Philip have to pay as a result of their double lives. No doubt the ending was devastatingly emotional, but it reminds audiences that endings do not have to be loud or filled with action sequences to be effective.
4. The Good Place (2020)
After four seasons of ethical ping pong, The Good Place creators close out the show with a 2-part finale. However, the ending was soulful (pun intended), haunting and satisfying all in one. Characters, Jason (Manny Jacinto), Tahani (Jameela Jamil), Chidi (William Jackson Harper), and Eleanor (Kristen Bell), all find peace after getting the full afterlife experience and achieving personal growth in the process.
What makes this one of the best TV show finales of the modern era lies in the way it expertly combines philosophical depth with emotional satisfaction. It achieves this by exploring the meaning of life and death through various lenses. Nevertheless, at the end of it all, the show allowed viewers to tap into the fulfillment the characters felt as they found their own version of peace.
3. Barry (2023)
The Barry series finale is abrupt and somewhat dark, which is what the show had always been going for. At the end of the day, hitman-turned-actor Barry Berkman (Bill Hader) meets his end, probably in the same way he’d led tons of others to their end. The scene cuts to years later, where Barry’s ex-girlfriend, Sally (Sarah Goldberg), is now a high school teacher. Meanwhile, their teenage son John (Jaeden Martell) watches a post-mortem biopic of Barry titled “The Mask Collector.”
One of the main reasons Barry‘s ending resonates is that it didn’t shy away from the dark tone fans came to expect from the series. It also garnered immense praise from critics for achieving what few finales can. A fine balance between comedy and tragedy.
2. Better Call Saul (2022)
Better Call Saul‘s finale sees Jimmy “Saul” McGill (Ben Odenkirk) own up to the consequences of his crimes — this includes helping Walter White (Bryan Cranston) build his drug empire, among other things. While it was clear that he was looking for redemption in his own way, he also sought to regain Kim’s (Rhea Seehorn) respect. Regardless of his motivations, that was a big step for the morally conflicted character.
This series makes the cut mostly because it’s hard proof that true change comes from accepting responsibility rather than escaping it. Jimmy’s deplorable acts often came from a place of meaning well, but the show did well to spotlight the fact that he wasn’t above accountability. The cherry on top was the way it seamlessly tied into the world of Breaking Bad, proving that a spinoff can sometimes go toe to toe with its predecessor and win.
1. Breaking Bad (2013)
When Breaking Bad‘s final season aired, it was practically the end of an era for the many fans who’d connected with on so many levels. Season 5, Episode 16 “Felina” sees the destruction of Walter White’s drug empire, and ultimately his death in the place he “felt alive” the most — his meth lab. There’s also the whole issue of Jesse and the white supremacist gang that wronged him.
The Breaking Bad finale is widely regarded as the gold standard for TV series finales because it expertly combined several elements of storytelling. From its masterful filmmaking, which captures the show’s themes of consequence and regret, to the deeply emotional, satisfying end for Walt, the Breaking Bad finale still retains its allure to viewers of any generation.
