# TV series where the penultimate episode is better than the finale **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708 "2015-12-17T17:05:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/21 "2015-12-17T21:16:48Z")
The penultimate Season 4 episode of Buffy (“Primeval”) was waaaay better than the season finale (“Restless”). “I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/22 "2015-12-17T21:44:18Z")
For years I thought the final episode of **The Dick Van Dyke Show** was the one where he’s under anaesthesia and dreams he’s a sheriff in the Old West, and it was pretty good (we were quoting it in my family for years). But I learned on this Board that they actually followed it with a “clip show” that didn’t even know about. I haven’t seen it (AFAIK it wasn’t syndicated), but I can’t imagine it being as good as the one I watched. So I’d have to nominate _The Dick Van Dyke Show_ for this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/23 "2015-12-17T21:57:50Z")
_Teen Titans_: “Titans Together” is a much better episode than “Things Change.” I realize that I’m fighting the OP a little here, but can I nominate _Chuck_? Not because of the penultimate episode, but because there were no fewer than three episodes that, when they were shot, were believed would likely be the series finale, all of which ended up being way better than the actual series finale. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/24 "2015-12-18T02:57:30Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > They could have had mid-20s Alyson Hannigan shoot all her scenes for the season years ahead of time while entirely naked and it wouldn’t have helped. Oh, I wouldn’t go _ **that** _ far. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/25 "2015-12-18T05:27:23Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Oh, I wouldn’t go _ **that** _ far. While I’m sure we’d all have appreciated Hannigan pulchritude, that wouldn’t have helped the unfunniness or the jerkedaroundedness. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/26 "2015-12-18T05:30:46Z")
If I could see Alyson naked, I’d be glued to my TV 24/7. :o ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/27 "2015-12-18T05:33:10Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > While I’m sure we’d all have appreciated Hannigan pulchritude, that wouldn’t have helped the unfunniness or the jerkedaroundedness. You must be using some new definition of “pulchritude,” that I was previously unfamiliar with. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/28 "2015-12-18T05:39:03Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > “antepenultimate”. 😉 [Have some Madeira, m’dear.](https://youtu.be/vrbAyHVVYgI) ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/29 "2015-12-18T05:39:29Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > If I could see Alyson naked, I’d be glued to my TV 24/7. :o Only until it dried and crusted over. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/30 "2015-12-18T07:46:38Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Only until it dried and crusted over. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/31 "2015-12-18T08:39:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > (and bonus points for the correct usage of “penultimate”, by the way) Huh? How else would you use it? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/32 "2015-12-18T08:51:47Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > Huh? How else would you use it? Incorrectly? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/33 "2015-12-18T08:54:11Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Incorrectly? Which I’ve never seen anyone do, ever. It’s just not one of those words that routinely gets abused, and Chronos’ special congratulations for using it correctly just seems bizzare. ---
**Author:** ![HowSoonIsThen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@HowSoonIsThen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HowSoonIsThen)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/34 "2015-12-18T10:10:42Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > The penultimate Season 4 episode of Buffy (“Primeval”) was waaaay better than the season finale (“Restless”). > “I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.” Primeval is the weakest finale of any Buffy season. Restless felt more like an epilogue, but it’s one of my favourite episodes of season 4 (probably 2nd behind Hush). Sticking to the Buffyverse, the second last episode “Power Play” made it feel like the final episode was going to be epic. And while I’ve come to appreciate “Not Fade Away” as the ending Angel needed, I still think Power Play is superior. And I’m late to that whole convo, but don’t try to tell me that naked Alyson Hannigan wouldn’t have made the HIMYM finale the greatest episode of TV ever. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/35 "2015-12-18T14:34:28Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > Which I’ve never seen anyone do, ever. It’s just not one of those words that routinely gets abused, and Chronos’ special congratulations for using it correctly just seems bizzare. I’ve seen more than one place use it to me “ultimate”, though less these days than in the past. Maybe the state of American education is improving\> ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/36 "2015-12-18T16:44:12Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > You must be using some new definition of “pulchritude,” that I was previously unfamiliar with. 😛 De gustibus no disputandum. Which I’m sure I just misspelled. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/37 "2015-12-18T17:50:57Z")
Just winding you up, hoss. Taking the piss, as it were. I will stipulate that Alyson Hannigan is, objectively, an attractive woman indeed. She doesn’t do anything for me, but that’s hardly your problem, is it? ---
**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:** [December 18, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/38 "2015-12-18T18:14:57Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > The penultimate episode of this season of _Doctor Who_, “Heaven Sent,” was a masterpiece that many fans consider to be one of the best of the series (all of it, not just NuWho). > > The last episode, “Hell Bent,” was good, but not nearly that good. Really? I thought “Heaven Sent” was tedious and ultimately silly, and could have been disposed of completely. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/39 "2015-12-18T18:16:20Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Really? I thought “Heaven Sent” was tedious and ultimately silly, and could have been disposed of completely. You’re one of the few, then. Nearly every review I’ve seen of it thought it was one of the best episodes ever (and I agree). ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708/40 "2015-12-18T18:30:36Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > Just winding you up, hoss. Taking the piss, as it were. I will stipulate that Alyson Hannigan is, objectively, an attractive woman indeed. She doesn’t do anything for me, but that’s hardly your problem, is it? That’s what I just said, only in bad Latin. And I feel similarly about Cobie Smulders, except that I think the phrase “objectively attractive” is meaningless. Attraction is inherently subjective, and anyone who says differently is :: flips through list of ethnic grups to see whom I am prejudiced against this week :: :: tosses “Welsh” card into fireplace : Anybody who says different is Swedish. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708.md?page=3)