Apologies if this has been done to death.
My vote…
Battlestar Galactica (the newest version)
I well up every time I see it. I have watched key parts of it many many times just to experience the emotion again.
I was sure the spoiler was going to be
Blackadder
Gotta go with Duke, but I’ve long been impressed and depressed by the waste of WWI.
Do you mean
The bit where they went over the top? i.e. left the trenches?
It was certainly an emotional ending, but it didn’t inspire in me the same feelings than the one I mentioned did.
I enjoyed the endings to both TNG and VOY.
Newhart and Suzanne Pleshette.
The Shield.
So much karma in Vic’s “punishment.” And the final days of Shane. Tense, moving and all perfect in character and fitting themes of the show.
I watched the show from Ep. 1 and was so happy with how they brought it to an end.
Another vote for
Blackadder
I’ll give an honourable mention to the end of
Yes, Minister (‘Party Games’) because it then changed to Yes, Prime Minister
We did just do this, a month or so ago. My quick search didn’t turn it up, though.
This is what I was going to say. In interviews, Shawn Ryan has said something like he didn’t have the ending mapped out in advance, and nobody, including himself, knew what was going to happen until at least halfway through the last season.
For my money, the second-to-last episode contains one of the most powerful segments I’ve ever seen on a TV show:Vic’s confession.
The correct answer has already been given
blackadder
Though honourable mention to
The Office (UK version) the second Christmas special where Tim and Dawn get together and Brent has a moment of clarity
Just did it here, and a few times before that.
Newhart. Game over.
I don’t understand why people are putting the names of the shows in spoiler tags. How are we supposed to know what you are spoiling? You are supposed to name the show then put the ending in spoiler tags.
I think we should retire that episode of Newhart into the Last Episode Hall Of Fame.
Excellent choices all. Although I don’t think this was the best of all time, it’s the best I could come up with that hasn’t already been mentioned.
Six Feet Under. I’ve never seen a series wrap up so eloquently.
All I can say is, six months from now I hope the winner of this thread is “Lost”, otherwise I will be sorely disappointed.
How about Life on Mars
The fact the main character actually chose to commit suicide to return to his fantasy was very unexpected (at least by me).
I didn’t see it at the time, but the end of Only Fools & Horses is awesome.
One of their bits of junk turns out to be worth a very large amount of money indeed.
If only that had been the end. The episodes following that one I could have done without.