# More TV shows with finite endings, please **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 10, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797 "2013-01-10T21:13:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/1 "2013-01-10T21:13:16Z")
I do not enjoy watching shows for forever. I like story arcs, even if they take a while. So for example I watched, and enjoyed the first five seasons of Supernatural but won’t watch anymore. Why would I? The story was done, it had a neat ending, and I just can’t watch anymore. I love (or liked): X-Files (though deeply disappointed with the lack of an ending) Babylon 5 Doctor Who Sherlock Firefly Cowboy Bebop Hated: Battlestar Galactica Buffy Torchwood Won’t watch sitcoms of any stripe drug shows (no moralizing; just totally, totally not interested) Lost Terminator I tried to watch The Next Generation but got bored, and then sickened by Westley. Is there a point where I can jump ahead and really enjoy it? I thought about watching DS9 but am afraid it will be bad in retrospect, and it also goes on forever and ever. What about The Prisoner, is it worth it? I also tried Stargate SG-1 but that ended when I found myself yelling at the TV “QUARANTINE! QUARANTINE YOU FUCKS!” Yeah. Quantum Leap? Is that good? Alien Nation? Farscape? I don’t want to watch Red Dwarf; it was entirely too weird and not serious enough for me. Fringe? I’ve watched most of TOS. Prefer sci-fi but am willing to watch a very few non sci-fi shows. Prefer brainy leads to brawny ones. Would love shows with lots of guys and not too many women. (Supernatural was great in this respect). And I vastly prefer British telly to almost any American telly, though I will watch American programs if they are good. I admit to not being crazy about anime. I prefer live actors. If there is an amazing show on anime, by all means mention it, but I may not put it on the top of my list. Whew! Even with those comments/restrictions there’s got to be a million shows out there I’ve never touched. PLEASE HELP! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/2 "2013-01-10T21:14:51Z")
The last Newhart is a classic. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/3 "2013-01-10T21:17:36Z")
The ending of **The Prisoner** is interesting, though hardly satisfying. Same for **Quantum Leap** , which really didn’t have an arc, but rather a wrap-up episode. **Homicide: Life on the Street** was a story arc, with a great ending, though the arc was somewhat tenuous (there was also a wrap-up movie that resolved a few other issues). ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/4 "2013-01-10T21:22:12Z")
For ST:TNG, the eps where Riker has a beard are better than those where he doesn’t. Pulaski eps suck. Seasons 5, 6, & 7 have some of the best eps of the series. The final TNG ep is quite good. It both wraps things up and keeps things open. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/5 "2013-01-10T21:25:06Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I thought about watching DS9 but am afraid it will be bad in retrospect, and it also goes on forever and ever. I’d recommend DS9. It strikes a good balance between being episodic while advancing story-arcs in each episode, and despite its length, doesn’t drag. Most of the character arcs come to fairly satisfying conclusions. And unlike ST:TNG its aged pretty well. Plus I think I noticed its on Netflix streaming. ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/6 "2013-01-10T21:35:12Z")
The season 5 finale of Lost is actually much more satisfying than the actual series finale and leaves a lot fewer loose ends. Six Feet Under has one of the most satisfying endings ever (as often cited on this board) although there is a fair amount of dreck to get there IMHO. You probably made the right call on Supernatural, although the current season has had some good episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/7 "2013-01-10T21:36:47Z")
Ok, I will definitely try DS9 and the Prisoner. I’ll give the others a shot. What’s Newhart? Isn’t that a sitcom? ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/8 "2013-01-10T21:40:17Z")
The first season of **Rome** is complete in and of itself. I enjoyed it very much but felt absolutely no need or desire to watch season two. All the character arcs I was interested in wrapped up. Same thing with season one of **Once Upon A Time**. I know season two is running, and I may watch it later, but I enjoyed season one a lot and liked how they wrapped up the season, leaving me leery of watching season two in case it spoils season one for me. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/9 "2013-01-10T21:43:15Z")
> [@Mrs.Cake](#): > > The first season of **Rome** is complete in and of itself. I enjoyed it very much but felt absolutely no need or desire to watch season two. All the character arcs I was interested in wrapped up. Season 2 does the same thing. They found out they weren’t being renewed half-way through the second season, and so it gets a little rushed midway through while they get through a bunch of stuff they thought they’d have another season to develop. But they manage to get there in the end, and things wrap up pretty satisfactory. in any case, I’d recommend that show (both seasons) to the OP as well ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/10 "2013-01-10T21:43:24Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The last Newhart is a classic. Here is the last 9 or 10 minutes. They parody the whole idea of having a final episode. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OwYw2i2icNg/hqdefault.jpg ""Newhart" - Series Finale") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwYw2i2icNg) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/11 "2013-01-10T21:45:10Z")
Oh, I guess I’ll watch Rome - I was interested in that show, too. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/12 "2013-01-10T21:53:06Z")
DS9 may be the best show in your list. However, watching a lot of TNG episodes first will add to your enjoyment. Basically any Klingon, Cardassian, or Bajoran episode that took place before DS9 actually started. It really takes off at the end of season 2, so don’t let it drag you down before then. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/13 "2013-01-10T22:02:49Z")
What are “drug shows”? 😕 Yes, _Newhart_ was a sitcom, so was _Red Dwarf_, which I guess explains why you didn’t like it. I must say that your blanket rejection of sitcoms, a very broad and varied genre that undoubtedly includes some of the best TV ever made (although perhaps also even more utter dreck than most other genres) rather narrow minded, but _chacun à son_ [or _sa_] _goût_, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/14 "2013-01-10T22:13:29Z")
_The Wire_, of course (five seasons). And while _Deadwood_ could have used a fourth season, the ending could have been worse. There was just one season of _Kidnapped_ (with Jeremy Sisto as a go-to guy to retrieve kidnap victims). Satisfactory ending, since they knew there wouldn’t be a second season. You say no _Buffy_ but how about _Angel_? ETA: _The Wire_ isn’t a “drug show”, even though it features drug dealers and users. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/15 "2013-01-10T22:41:22Z")
I’d say _Fringe_ is worth your time. The four seasons previously aired do actually come to a conclusion, and even though it meandered a bit at the beginning of the fourth season, the showrunners did wrap it up nicely (the final episode of the fourth season was filmed before they knew if they were going to be renewed). I haven’t (yet) seen the currently-airing fifth season, but my understanding is it is for all intents and purposes a spin-off series featuring most of the same characters in a completely different timeline. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/16 "2013-01-10T23:10:42Z")
They just ended _Leverage_ after the 5th season. Pretty good show, pretty good run. It’s not really SF or fantasy, but the characters are fun. > [@Mrs.Cake](#): > > Same thing with season one of **Once Upon A Time**. I know season two is running, and I may watch it later, but I enjoyed season one a lot and liked how they wrapped up the season, leaving me leery of watching season two in case it spoils season one for me. I felt the same way, but eventually gave it a try, and it’s working. It’s worth it. More characters, new interactions of old characters, still good writing. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/17 "2013-01-10T23:30:14Z")
Blackadder had an ending… of sorts… Quite a bit of arcs in Doctor Who, both OldWho and NewWho. Fan sites will help you find what may interest you. ST:ENT actually had a wrap up arc, in a way. Esp if you can stomach the actual final ep. Ever see the BBC version of Life On Mars? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/18 "2013-01-10T23:33:48Z")
Season 1 of Veronica Mars was pretty good. And it neatly wrapped up a couple of major story lines, and at least made the continuation of other minor ones tolerable. Seasons 2 & 3 each were a step below the fabulousity of Season 1. Teenage girl private detective mystery show with some soap-y elements ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/19 "2013-01-11T01:24:57Z")
> [@Just\_Ed](#): > > I’d say _Fringe_ is worth your time. The four seasons previously aired do actually come to a conclusion, and even though it meandered a bit at the beginning of the fourth season, the showrunners did wrap it up nicely (the final episode of the fourth season was filmed before they knew if they were going to be renewed). I haven’t (yet) seen the currently-airing fifth season, but my understanding is it is for all intents and purposes a spin-off series featuring most of the same characters in a completely different timeline. You are basically right and I have seen S5. It’s really good and I’m quite optimistic about the final couple episodes. Watch this. > [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Season 1 of Veronica Mars was pretty good. And it neatly wrapped up a couple of major story lines, and at least made the continuation of other minor ones tolerable. Seasons 2 & 3 each were a step below the fabulousity of Season 1. > > Teenage girl private detective mystery show with some soap-y elements It’s a great show, but if the OP wants an ending, it does not have one. Just great resolutions to individual storylines. The ending of the show is just a season finale, with no ending or resolution to overall themes and characters. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797/20 "2013-01-11T01:38:41Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > It’s a great show, but if the OP wants an ending, it does not have one. Just great resolutions to individual storylines. On rereading what I wrote, that’s what I said. 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-tv-shows-with-finite-endings-please/646797.md?page=2)