# Specific events in series finales that surprised you (PLEASE HIDE SPOILERS) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [June 5, 2023, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051 "2023-06-05T18:33:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/1 "2023-06-05T18:33:34Z")
I was very surprised that both Brienne and Podrick survived the Game of Thrones finale. I was sure one would die saving the life of the other. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/2 "2023-06-05T18:56:37Z")
Are you sure you want to do open spoilers in a thread like this? I typically stay away from these kinds of threads because there’s no way of knowing if I might accidentally get something spoiled for me that I’m currently watching. I only clicked because it was at 0 replies. I likely won’t revisit when there are more posts. For instance, I’m currently watching “The Last of Us”. Got 3 eps to go. I’d be bummed if I read a post saying “I sure didn’t see it coming when Joel became king of the mushroom zombies!”\* I think open spoilers is fine if it’s about a single specific movie or show-- then one can make an informed choice when they click. \*Not a real spoiler ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/3 "2023-06-05T19:02:48Z")
May I suggest a different format? Responses can have the title of the series unspoiled, but the contents spoiled. Like this: I was frankly astonished that in the finale of _Justified,_ Both Raylen and Boyd survived. Traditional tragedy requires both their deaths, and traditional hero stories require Boyd to die. The decision to have Raylen show mercy was brilliantly handled. That way, folks can choose whether to read the post, based on whether they’re willing to read spoilers about the finale. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/4 "2023-06-05T19:24:34Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > May I suggest a different format? Responses can have the title of the series unspoiled, but the contents spoiled. Like this: Yes, I just tiptoed in here to suggest something similar, having seen few responses so far… ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/5 "2023-06-05T21:17:08Z")
Okay, that’s a good idea. Is there any way I can change the title to HIDE SPOILERS? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/6 "2023-06-05T22:18:26Z")
Yes, that 's a great choice. Coincidentally I only found out yesterday that [Justified: City Primeval exists](https://www.vulture.com/2023/05/justified-spinoff-city-primeval-timothy-olyphant-details.html) and begins airing next month. What a treat. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/7 "2023-06-05T22:23:00Z")
I mean, I don’t even feel like I have to describe it, but I was definitely surprised by the end of Newhart. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/8 "2023-06-05T22:55:26Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I was frankly astonished that in the finale of _Justified,_ “We dug coal together” (line appears in the pilot and is the last line of the finale) And one of the ultimate WTF endings; from The Sopranos Sudden cut to black ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/9 "2023-06-05T23:23:08Z")
Mentioning it yet again: _I Married Dora_ was a short-lived '80s series (starring the adorable Elizabeth Peña) that not only announced – at the end of the show – they were being cancelled, but knocked down the entire fourth wall by waving goodbye to the audience as the camera pulled back to reveal the set. [YouTube clip:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvVR99yafr8&ab_channel=deputay) ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/10 "2023-06-05T23:23:51Z")
@Chronos/@What_Exit/@puzzlegal - can one of you change the thread title for @Dendarii_Dame? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/11 "2023-06-05T23:59:11Z")
I flagged the OP Blakes Seven All the main characters die (probably) Brian ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/12 "2023-06-06T01:37:12Z")
Done thanks to the flag. Best way to get a change made. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/13 "2023-06-06T01:44:06Z")
_Moonlighting_ did it better. [Moonlighting Bruce Willis Final Scene of Moonlighting - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXjDMNB4iMM) ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/14 "2023-06-06T02:09:10Z")
Understood. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/15 "2023-06-06T15:23:45Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > And one of the ultimate WTF endings; from The Sopranos > > Sudden cut to black I thought it was a great ending. Sure, you thought “WTF” at first, but the ending had been perfectly foreshadowed earlier that season when Tony and one of his henchmen were discussing what it was like getting whacked, and the henchman said “I don’t think you even know when it happens-- everything just goes black”. Or something to that effect; it’s been awhile. My vote is for the show that my username is based on, which I joined the SDMB in order to discuss the last season-- _Lost_. And what a godawful last season and finale it was. I don’t even want to get into it too much-- so much has already been said here on the SDMB and elsewhere. And I know there are people who think the finale was fantastic. But the writers / creators had repeatedly said “no, they’re not in purgatory; there won’t be some supernatural explanation to the mysteries”. Then in the last season they came up with some hand-waving claptrap allegorical BS about two mystical brothers and “the heart of the island”. And in the finale "everybody died happliy ever after and are partying in Heaven now! The end!! 🙄 🙄 🙄 Turned me off of “mystery box” type shows for years. Even now, if I do start watching one, I go in with _ **very** _ low expectations, and they are often cancelled mid-mystery anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/16 "2023-06-06T15:36:24Z")
_Dynasty_ spinoff _The Colbys_ ended with the bizarre alien abduction of one of the main characters. I don’t think this was intended to be the series finale; they just got cancelled. But it was weird, and the character involved was back on _Dynasty_ the next season. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-events-in-series-finales-that-surprised-you-please-hide-spoilers/985051/17 "2023-06-06T17:28:14Z")
Sheldon getting slapped. I jumped up and cheered. 😄