# Favorite, Worst Final Episodes Ever. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488 "2005-01-30T22:43:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/61 "2005-02-01T02:02:44Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > In a not-dissimilar vein, **Mystery Science Theater 3000** ended with Mike and the Bots back on Earth, settling in to watch “The Crawling Eye” on local-access. Crow swears it looks familiar, as it should: it’s the first movie ever spoofed on MST3K\*. That’s great! I saw the final episode and loved it, but I had no idea that was the first movie they’d ever done. I often remember Crow talking about how much he loves their new apartment: “…and _on the bus line!!!_” ---
**Author:** ![Princess\_Clara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@Princess\_Clara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princess_Clara)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/62 "2005-02-01T02:20:14Z")
Someone mentioned the last episodes of Sailormoon though they were really explaining the last episodes from the first season. The real last episode of Sailormoon had her flying around naked for a great portion of the time. Honestly I don’t know which one is better. On the one hand the first season ended so tragically and romantic. But on the other hand the fifth season ended with her flying around naked. 🙂 Count me in with those that loved the Angel finale. ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/63 "2005-02-01T02:33:31Z")
Best: Angel, DS9 Worst: X-Files, Quantum Leap ---
**Author:** ![Othersider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cab0a1/32.png) [@Othersider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Othersider)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/64 "2005-02-01T03:53:03Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Yep, they treated the audience as if we had a brain and could think for ourselves rather than pounding us over the head with what happens How nice of them. 😃 > [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Yes, we love Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine, but we also have our favorite secondary character, whether it be Neuman, J. Peterson, Puddy, Jackie Childs, Frank Costanza, etc, etc. Mine’s Bob Sacramento. He can get you a deal on anything. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/65 "2005-02-01T05:28:33Z")
Best: Star Trek TNG Worst: Star Trek Voyager…WTF? Most Dissapointing: Earth 2…I loved that show! Why did it have to end so soon (i know the answer). It ended with a cliffhanger that will never be resolved…argh! ---
**Author:** ![WilhelmGefallen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@WilhelmGefallen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WilhelmGefallen)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/66 "2005-02-01T06:32:17Z")
> [@Darkhold](#): > > Best > > Worst > **Quantum Leap** as mentioned it’s just a big WTF? episode. Time traveling ghosts? His leaps were a vacation up to this point? Huh? I heard once the producer was actually trying to sell the show to other networks and that’s why they made that ending. Could someone who is complaining about the QL ending please explain why they find it so bad? I mean I for one loved the fact that there was no higher being purposly guiding his travelling around, and that its his choice not to go home and rather selflessly help the population. As to the new movie I believe that it is based around his daughter (maybe they couldnt get Bakula back with Enterprise still running?). Best: Angel Firefly Buffy B5 ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/67 "2005-02-01T09:46:48Z")
**Blake’s Seven** has already been mentioned, but I’ll second it: I love it because all the good guys get killed messily and the bad guys _win_. They did it that way because **Hitchhiker’s Guide** was starting, and with **Doctor Who** still running the BBC couldn’t budget for _three_ SF shows: on being told that the show was being cancelled with no chance of renewal, the writers got vengeful and decided that there really would be _no_ chance of renewal. Brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Ghost\_of\_Marlowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Ghost\_of\_Marlowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghost_of_Marlowe)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/68 "2005-02-01T09:54:36Z")
Best: Magnum PI, penultimate season (walking off into the clouds) Worst: Magnum PI, last season (joining the Navy) ---
**Author:** ![manx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@manx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manx)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/69 "2005-02-01T10:06:41Z")
> [@](#): > > …on being told that the show was being cancelled with no chance of renewal, the writers got vengeful and decided that there really would be no chance of renewal. Brilliant. A similar thing happened with Space: Above and Beyond - some resolution, but mostly just my favourite characters going down in flames. The Office Christmas Special made me teary, as does the final of Blackadder. I hated the Friends final - wound up yelling at the screen ‘go to france to silly woman. Go to FRANCE!’ Bah. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/70 "2005-02-01T10:33:34Z")
Best: The short-lives series _Dinosaurs_, when: They all went EXTINCT! Worst: _Married…With Children, Duckman,_ and _Futurama_, which were all cancelled before they could make a proper final episode. Oh, and _The Simpsons_, for not having one yet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/71 "2005-02-01T11:48:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Could someone who is complaining about the QL ending please explain why they find it so bad? > > I mean I for one loved the fact that there was no higher being purposly guiding his travelling around, and that its his choice not to go home and rather selflessly help the population. Well, I have to agree with you on that point, and I’m all for the not-so-happy endings, but it was a huge letdown. For one, it seemed like it was suggesting that there _was_ a higher purpose sending him around. It was a good episode, and it seemed like it was building up to something really interesting for the next one, then…BAM! He never gets home. Oooo, how did I forget _Dinosaurs_? I especially like (though I was too young to appreciate it at the time) how they took the old format of ‘Earl does something stupid, things go wrong, but everything turns out alright in the end’ and had it not turn out alright in the end. Basically, what would happen if sitcoms took place in reality. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/72 "2005-02-01T12:01:03Z")
> [@WilhelmGefallen](#): > > Could someone who is complaining about the QL ending please explain why they find it so bad? > > I mean I for one loved the fact that there was no higher being purposly guiding his travelling around, and that its his choice not to go home and rather selflessly help the population. Well first off I was mad because everywhere they were promising a great episode tying up the loose ends when it didn’t. It didn’t explain anything really. It was poorly written. It made little to no sense. The bartender kept hinting at a big reveal and never paid off and did I mention…TIME TRAVELING GHOSTS? Really it was easily the opposite of everything they promised with a bunch of unnecessary weirdness thrown in for no reason. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/73 "2005-02-01T13:34:59Z")
> [@Domokun](#): > > **Prisoner Cell Block H** NEW FISH! NEW FISH! ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/74 "2005-02-01T15:00:55Z")
Don’t know if it’s worst, but the most disappointing to me was the Deep Space Nine finale. Simply because this was a show that, unlike standard TV dogma, had dared to have change – plot lines would stretch out over nearly a whole season, characters died, married, or went through other changes. It was tremendous to have a show that wasn’t always the same situation endlessly repeated. So I had high hopes for the finale, with a chance to make even bigger changes and interesting things. So when the finale ended with, basically, the station still there and everything back to normal, just as it was, that was quite a letdown. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/75 "2005-02-01T15:15:03Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > So I had high hopes for the finale, with a chance to make even bigger changes and interesting things. So when the finale ended with, basically, the station still there and everything back to normal, just as it was, that was quite a letdown. Well Sisko and Gul-Dukat probably don’t think things went back to normal. I sort of agree though, I liked the DS9 final, but was a little disappointed in that, other then Sisko’s character arc, everything got wrapped up more or less the way one would’ve expected it to. There weren’t a lot of suprises. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/76 "2005-02-01T15:30:15Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Worst: The X-Files _Clip Show_, er, _The Truth_, in which, after seeing this special two-parter just last week, my original observation still holds up: Chris Carter had nowhere to go but to pull something out of his ass, and what resulted was a clip show. Given the shows potential and high points, this was possibly the most insulting final episode in the history of TV, a slap at the fans. :mad: My take on it is that Chris Carter kept painting himself into a corner and cutting a hole in the wall through which to escape, and eventually took out too many load-bearing elements. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/77 "2005-02-01T15:37:49Z")
Good: “Sleeping In Light” (Babylon 5), “All Good Things…” (Star Trek TNG), “Goodbyeee” (Blackadder IV) Bad: X-Files Finale, Twin Peaks Finale WTF?: “Fall Out” (The Prisoner) – I put this in a separate category from “Bad” because it’s interesting even when I can’t figure out WTF McGoohan is trying to say. ---
**Author:** ![Othersider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cab0a1/32.png) [@Othersider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Othersider)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/78 "2005-02-01T17:30:06Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > Oh, and _The Simpsons_, for not having one yet. 🙂 In defense of the behemoth that is _The Simpsons_, they seem to be doing a better job of late (as some of us observed the other day) and come back up from the nadir of sheer randomness and minimal, rather predictable humor that it seemed to have sunk into since achieving nigh-immortal status several years ago. Perhaps the staff has gotten a second wind. Maybe it doesn’t need to end just yet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/79 "2005-02-01T17:50:04Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > Well, I have to agree with you on that point, and I’m all for the not-so-happy endings, but it was a huge letdown. For one, it seemed like it was suggesting that there _was_ a higher purpose sending him around. It was a good episode, and it seemed like it was building up to something really interesting for the next one, then…BAM! He never gets home. > [@Darkhold](#): > > Well first off I was mad because everywhere they were promising a great episode tying up the loose ends when it didn’t. It didn’t explain anything really. It was poorly written. It made little to no sense. The bartender kept hinting at a big reveal and never paid off and did I mention…TIME TRAVELING GHOSTS? Oh, it paid off, just in the wrong way. Sam had been ending up where he was because his subconscious kept interfering! Oh my! I didn’t get that the ghost was time travelling at all, it just looked to Sam that way. Y’all are missing the real problems…not only did they change the premise (Sam no longer leaping into other people’s bodies) but the end itself was vague. Did he not get home because Al’s being reunited with his wife invalidate the entire project, or what? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488/80 "2005-02-01T17:56:11Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > Well, I have to agree with you on that point, and I’m all for the not-so-happy endings, but it was a huge letdown. For one, it seemed like it was suggesting that there _was_ a higher purpose sending him around. It was a good episode, and it seemed like it was building up to something really interesting for the next one, then…BAM! He never gets home. Ugh. Joe brain hurt. Admittedly, I only saw it once, but I thought the final QL episode basically stuck Sam in a bar talking to who I assumed was God (ie. the bartender). The bartender (ie. God) gave Sam the choice of continuing to do good things forever or going home. Feeling that the world needed lots of fixing, Sam chose to continue fixing things. Did I make all this up in my head somewhere? -Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-worst-final-episodes-ever/287488.md?page=5)