# Patheticly bad story ending **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 24, 2000, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609 "2000-07-24T04:00:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mustapha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mustapha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mustapha)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/21 "2000-07-24T13:34:26Z")
Coldfire, What exactly is the point of a storyline for a grand finale if it doesn’t **finish the show**? It’s the same problem that afflicted the Seinfeld finale. In both cases, whether sitting around playing poker or locked up in a cell, how can any viewer be convinced that this is truly **the end**? No more. Game over. This is usually done by breaking up the _old gang_, some leave, some stay, some die. It is no longer the same as it was, and it never will be again. In other words, no possible way for another episode in the series to ever be made. The final episode of a series (especially for a long running series) should also have a Final Moment, a point of no return where the viewer realises the journey can no longer continue. One single poignant scene where the viewer knows “It’s Over”. In _Cheers_, the Final Moment comes when Sam’s locking up the bar, a would-be patron comes to the door, and Sam tells him (us) “I’m sorry, we’re closed.” In _MASH_, BJ who can’t bring himself to say goodbye to his friend (and us), ends up spelling it out for everybody in big white-washed stones. In my favourite series finale, and officially voted¹ one of the finest televisual moments _ever_, _Blackadder Goes Forth_, Captain Blackadder, who spent the whole season trying to escape the madness of WWI, finally has no choice but to “go over the top”. The cannons fall silent, the troops in the trenches wait for an eternity for the signal to advance into No-Man’s Land where death is almost certain. The show ends with the main characters disappearing in explosions and sounds of gunfire. One of the most anxious & tense moments I’ve ever seen anywhere, let alone in a comedy. The only way you knew ST:TNG was over, was when the end credits started to roll. This was why I felt cheated by ST:TNG’s (and Seinfeld’s) weak ending. The way they left it, they could start cranking new episodes out anytime they wanted (which ST has done, with the films). I was a loyal viewer, and the makers didn’t have the guts to say “Goodbye”, let alone wrap the story up into a nice, neat, **complete** package. _That_ is why the “who am I/why am I here” storyline was pointless for a final episode. It may well have been fine for a regular episode, but for a Grand Finale, it fizzled. If the writers had had any balls, they would’ve let Picard’s condition be terminal, and _finally_ allow Riker to assume the throne, as it were. That would’ve been a much more emotional, intriguing end to the series, and a better starting point for the movies, a new Captain, a new journey, a new direction. As they stand now, the films are just more of the same-old-same-old (and if you don’t believe _me_, read some of the interviews with the creators and stars, even they’re bored with churning out this stuff over and over). > [@](#): > > I don’t think it makes sense at all to regard the TNG Movies as logical sequals to the series, in terms of a normal time line. They’re just separate stories with a familiar crew. They could have taken place at any time. Of course, how silly of me. Apparently, after moving into a new model starship (E, as I recall, comes _after_ D), numerous uniform changes and the occasional promotion,² some form of time warp opens up, returning all the crew members to a default state of existence. Or maybe the films all take place in some alternate universe, that the audience hasn’t been told about? Must’ve missed the fine print on those promotional posters. At least Seinfeld isn’t going to be turned into a movie… yet. * * * ¹ In a BBC Online poll. ² All of which can, in no way, be counted as major changes or a new direction. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/22 "2000-07-24T13:49:34Z")
Sheesh, Mustapha, it’s just _television_. Relax. I meant no harm. What I was trying to say is, that no matter how you look at it, the TNG movies can very well stand on their own, just like any TNG episode can stand on its own. Sure, there is some continuity, and people change over the years. Stardates? Anyhow. The promotions and the evolution of the Enterprise are merely gimmicks to, indeed, give some continuity to the story (for those that need/like that sort of thing). I do not see them as vital to the movies per se. “Generations” was utter crap, and “First Contact” is one of the best Action-SF films I’ve ever seen. Regardless of the series, regardless of the END of the series. “All Good Things…” ended that way to indicate that the journey will go on. The viewer just won’t be a part of it anymore. Anyway, that is how it comes across to _me_. Apparently, you see this as some sort of weakness, which is fine, of course. I can see why endings that ARE final have their appeal as well: “Cheers” being a good example. I also agree with you on Blackadder: IV. A sublime ending. But: this is, in a way, an open ending as well. We don’t know whether BA made it or not… ---
**Author:** ![Rosebud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rosebud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rosebud)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/23 "2000-07-24T13:50:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Talkinsquirrel \* > **How did Quantam Leap end anyways?** I believe the last line spoken in the series was a voice over saying “… Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home.” Or words to that effect. I think I threw something at the TV at that point… ---
**Author:** ![Mustapha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mustapha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mustapha)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/24 "2000-07-24T14:47:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Sheesh, Mustapha, it’s just television. Relax. Sheesh, it’s just my opinion you’re challenging. Forgive me for attempting to defend it in a rational and civil tongue. TV, as much as any medium, deserves serious analysis and contemplation, even it comes to arguments about what is great or what is crap. Even if I’m not always able to get my facts straight, I like to think I’m capable of fully and completely justifying my opinions. No hard feelings either, mate! Have a pint of Grolsch on me. 🙂 I think I’ll go and grab one myself. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/25 "2000-07-24T14:48:35Z")
Reading about the ending of ST:TNG made me think of its opposite number, Babylon 5. Both shows had their merits, and I _really_ don’t want to start a TNG/B5 fight, but I think that when it comes to wrapping up a series, Star Trek suffers in comparison. B5 had, in fact, two endings - the end of season 4 and the end of the inferior season 5, filmed consecutively - and they were both mind-blowing. It takes a lot of guts to kill the main character, destroy the main location of action, show the ultimate fate of mankind and destroy Earth - while still leaving the story open! Of course, by tha point B5 was watched by only the hard-core fans, and there were no movies in sight. I guess they had a lot more freedom of action. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/26 "2000-07-24T14:59:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mustapha \* > **Even if I’m not always able to get my facts straight, I like to think I’m capable of fully and completely justifying my opinions.** Opinions don’t need justification. ::raises flip-top bottle of Grolsch:: Cheers 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mustapha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mustapha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mustapha)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/27 "2000-07-24T15:11:22Z")
You should try being a fine arts student. 😉 Where self-justification is a method of psychological torture. - pours out beer into a C|\_| \* Down the hatch… ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/28 "2000-07-24T15:32:48Z")
“The Stand”'s ending really pissed me off. The whole plot of the book is rendered meaningless with a ridiculous “deus ex machina” ending. King might as well ended the book, …“and then everyone was run over by a truck. The End” ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/29 "2000-07-24T19:09:47Z")
I always thought the ending to _It’s a Wonderful Life_ sucked ass. I mean, that evil banker guy gets away with the entire town’s money, and they don’t even care?!?! LAME!!! I loved the SNL “missing ending” where they all hunted him down and beat the crap out of him. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/30 "2000-07-24T19:41:39Z")
I’ve always thought _The Wizard of Oz_ had a cop-out ending. It was only a _dream?_ In the book she was gone for months! (Of course, we see Dorothy getting beaned by the screen door, so it’s not completely out of left field, but…) I wonder if they really liked that ending better or if they thought they had to soften the idea of a little girl being missing for such a long time. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/31 "2000-07-24T19:51:39Z")
> [@](#): > > “The Stand”'s ending really pissed me off. The whole plot of the book is rendered meaningless > with a ridiculous “deus ex machina” ending. King might as well ended the book, …“and then > everyone was run over by a truck. The End” There was foreshadowing and allusion to the nuclear bomb throughout the whole book. I mean, what do you think Trashcan Man was there for? Just to have an interesting crazy guy running around? You didn’t see it coming all the times they talked about the “treasures in the desert” You didn’t see it coming when he blew up the airplanes? The whole character was one giant foreshadow. He was running around blowing up the remains of civilization all over the place. When civilization got wiped out by a government engineered virus, that should have been your first clue actually. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/32 "2000-07-24T21:33:46Z")
The movie version of _The Relic_. Cheesy explosion. The .45-in-the-eye in the book was better. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/33 "2000-07-24T23:23:12Z")
I don’t know about the worst ending “ever” – there have been some bad ones, and I’d have to think about it. The wrapup to Dean Koontz’s _Strangers_, for example, was pretty weak. The movie ending that pissed me off the most in the last few years was Albert Brooks’s _Mother._ After a hilarious and perceptive look at how an adult relates to his mom, everything gets tidily zipped up in like two minutes and everybody’s happy. I actually jumped off the couch, shouting angrily, and scared my wife for a moment. But then Brooks has never been any good at endings. _Defending Your Life_, _The Muse_… All great movies that fall apart in the final five minutes. Sigh… P.S. Oh, and the end of _Titanic_? They should have done something other than sink the boat. **So** predictable. [/sarcasm] ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/34 "2000-07-24T23:42:04Z")
I really hated the ending for _Alien: Resurrection_. But then, I hated the beginning, too. And all the crap in between. But I really hated the ending. ---
**Author:** ![highlycaffeinated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3d9bf3/32.png) [@highlycaffeinated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/highlycaffeinated)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2000, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/35 "2000-07-25T00:06:26Z")
Add another vote for the book Hannibal. I nominate Michael Crichton’s Sphere as well. I’m not sure they could have made the endings worse if they had tried. Of course, now that I say that they’ll probably prove me wrong. ---
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2000, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/36 "2000-07-25T00:18:35Z")
Not quite the same I know but a sequel can become the ‘ending’ of the series so I nominate Highlander II. Yes, the entire movie. Because it sucked so badly. Why hasn’t anyone mentioned it before this? Oh that’s right we’re denying its existence. There can be only one (movie). (he said as the 4th one is about to come out… _sigh_) ---
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2000, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/37 "2000-07-25T00:22:48Z")
And comment on \*\* All Good Things… \*\* (TNG): I thoroughly enjoyed the final episode. I thought it worked on so many different levels. It looked at the various incarnations, bringing together the past, present and future, paying homage to the series as a whole. It had to be a puzzle. It had to have Q. More importantly, Star Trek has always been about exploration and going where no-one has gone before. The idea of having that put in perspective by a near omipotent race is a good premise without closing any other avenues down. We’re constantly under trial - though I’d suggest more from ourselves and environment than a race of superbeings. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2000, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/38 "2000-07-25T00:29:54Z")
I suppose no one read Grisham’s latest, “The Brethren”. Ugh, not only a book that features not one character worth caring about buy the ending was as lame as any I can think of. As for movies, I thought with “Contact” they just ran out of ideas and said, “O.K., I think we’ve got enough for a wrap. No one will notice the fact that we didn’t bring closure to any of these loose ends.” A good movie up until the final 30 minutes, but that stinker-oo ending just ruined it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2000, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/39 "2000-07-25T00:35:01Z")
But the ending to the two-parter of “The Practice” last night was such a letdown. It was like an episode of _Murder, She Wrote_–you see the character’s eyes light up with sudden realization. You watch her then confront the killer with her story of How It Was Done. Bah. ---
**Author:** ![greatsatan666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e480ec/32.png) [@greatsatan666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greatsatan666)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2000, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609/40 "2000-07-25T00:45:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rosebud \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Talkinsquirrel \* > > **How did Quantam Leap end anyways?** > > I believe the last line spoken in the series was a voice over saying “… Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home.” Or words to that effect. > > I think I threw something at the TV at that point… \*\* Yes. Basically, the ending of Quantum Leap sez that because of all of Sam’s leaping, the space time continuum is altered in such a way so that Al, the dorky sidekick with buggy ghetto-style pre-Palm Pilot, stays married and has a great family life instead of his miserable 4+ divorces that he refers to during the series. What a crock of s@#$. But Quantum Leap had the _coolest_ theme song. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/patheticly-bad-story-ending/26609.md?page=3)