# TV shows that have satisfying final episodes, and shows that didn't. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440 "2013-09-22T13:06:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/41 "2013-09-23T01:37:07Z")
To answer some of the ones that have already been listed : Star Trek: TNG - it was a good episode, but not really a last episode. There weren’t any long running plot points to resolve. They just stopped making episodes after that, Cheers, however, did do so. At least the last two or three episodes. We saw Norm get a job, Cliff promoted, Rebecca stopped chasing millionaires and marry a good man, Frasier & Lilith reconciled, Sam resolve his issues with Dianne, and Woody’s careers as an actor and in local politics beginning to take off. Life On Mars sucked. I didn’t even bother with the sequel. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/42 "2013-09-23T02:12:30Z")
Futurama, the original final episode was fantastic, and the new one was pretty damn good as well. Seinfeld, I liked it. It’s not as bad as people think it was. It’s not that great either. Babylon 5 - Nearly perfect. Absolutely emotional and wonderful, the last 2 episodes really. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/43 "2013-09-23T04:17:28Z")
> [@Flywheel](#): > > As did **30 Rock** , whose ending was also a sly tribute to **St. Elsewhere** ’s. How was it? I’ve never seen St. Elsewhere but I remember hearing about the finale, so I’m just curious. I liked the Scrubs finale (the first one, not that extra season). The movie thing JD was watching at the end was just supposed to be his imagination but I decided to take it as that was what was really going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Breen11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@Breen11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Breen11)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/44 "2013-09-23T05:23:13Z")
Just off the top of my head. Satisfying: Star Trek: DS9 Rescue Me The Office (U.S) (IMO this show ended when Steve Carell left) ER Entourage 24 King of Queens Home Improvement Fresh Prince of Bel Air Everybody Loves Raymond Roseanne Boy Meets World Friday Night Lights Third Watch Not satisfying: Sopranos Lost Star Trek: Voyager (This series I dint really care for) Star Trek: TNG King of The Hill OZ Full House ---
**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:** [September 23, 2013, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/45 "2013-09-23T09:18:30Z")
_ **Danger: UXB** _. ---
**Author:** ![Jadzia\_Dax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/977dab/32.png) [@Jadzia\_Dax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jadzia_Dax)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/46 "2013-09-23T09:26:19Z")
I may be dating myself here, but Dinosaurs had a particularly poor ending IMHO. Hated how they ended a comedy on such a dark note. Never liked how Mary and Dick’s relationship ended on the finale of 3rd Rock from the Sun, either. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/47 "2013-09-23T10:16:29Z")
> [@Orr\_G](#): > > There’s a sequel of some kind for the UK version that isn’t available on Netflix yet. I may revise my opinion once I get to see that. It’s called **Ashes to Ashes**. Stick with it - the main character isn’t as instantly likable as the John Simm character, but it’s a great series with a very satisfying final episode. I also think the last episode of **Firefly** was very good. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/48 "2013-09-23T11:43:50Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > As I recall, there’s still a lot of loose ends and we’re waiting for a comic book (or a movie! or a mini-series! or a musical!) to clean it up. I think a few panels of the comic were released a few years ago but I’d be surprised if anything else ever happens. Recent cast and creator comments suggest that they’re getting things together to do a Veronica Mars style Kickstarter to fund a feature movie. Kristin Chenoweth and Lee Pace have already said that if it happens, they’re in. As someone who slogged through all eleventydozen seasons, I’d say that the _ER_ finale was pretty unsatisfying. Having really wrapped the season in the six preceding shows, the first 2/3 of the finale episode unfolded with a lackluster storyline like a midseason regular episode, then clobbered us with emotional “hey, it’s all the folks who’ve left except the ones who died or said no” in the last 1/3. I still don’t understand that ending at all. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/49 "2013-09-23T12:01:09Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > Recent cast and creator comments suggest that they’re getting things together to do a Veronica Mars style Kickstarter to fund a feature movie. Kristin Chenoweth and Lee Pace have already said that if it happens, they’re in. He’s basically says “YES!!! we’re going to do that” every time anyone asks him if he’s going to do something. If you went up to him right now and said “Bryan, is it true that you’re going to make It’s A Small World type ride that will take care of all the loose ends from Pushing Daises?” I’d swear, he’d say “umm, yeah! I’m working on that right now with someone, I just have to get a few more permits signed” > **[Pushing Daisies | Series continuation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushing_Daisies#Series_continuation)** > > The show's official website included a comic book that was distributed at the 2007 San Diego Comic-Con, with new mysteries and background information not seen on the televised episodes. The book also contained recaps of aired episodes. > When the show struggled in the ratings during its second season, Bryan Fuller said that, should ABC not pick up additional episodes, he would release comic books and maybe a movie based on the show to wrap up outstanding stories for fans. Warner Bros. gave Fuller ... I know, that was a little extreme, I’m just saying I keep hearing this stuff but it’s been three years and I haven’t see jack. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/50 "2013-09-23T12:11:56Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Star Trek: TNG - it was a good episode, but not really a last episode. There weren’t any long running plot points to resolve. They just stopped making episodes after that, What? This was very much intended as a concluding note for the series as series (though the first movie was already in preproduction), and it draws on a plot point from the very first episode! You can’t get any longer-running. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/51 "2013-09-23T12:23:35Z")
I thought the ending to **Star Trek: DS9** was pretty good. They had a climatic battle that the whole last season was building towards and then a number of bittersweet (and sometimes maudlin) moments where they wrapped up most of the threads. Some conclusions were a little abrupt, but nothing was unnatural. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/52 "2013-09-23T13:12:12Z")
Good “The Fugitive” where the one armed man is caught and Kimball & Gerard shake hands “Sgt Bilko” Colonel Halls looks at a tv monitor of Bilko and his gang in jail and says “This is one tv show I hope never gets cancelled.” “Upstairs, Downstairs” Rose wanders through an empty 165 Eaton Place, hearing voices, ending with Major Bellamy consoling her about her fiance killed in action. “Newhart” sheer perfection Bad “Sopranos” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/53 "2013-09-23T13:49:05Z")
Here’s where we start returning to an old thread, because I thought the ending to _The Sopranos_ was perfect. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/54 "2013-09-23T13:50:05Z")
I was just reading an article about NYPD Blue and realize I don’t know how it ended. Was there something? Nothing, life-goes-on? ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/55 "2013-09-23T13:50:11Z")
I liked The Sopranos ending too. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/56 "2013-09-23T14:14:17Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I was just reading an article about NYPD Blue and realize I don’t know how it ended. Was there something? Nothing, life-goes-on? Sipowicz made sergeant during that season and was bumped off detective duty because of the promotion. In the final episode, he gets command of the detective squad and has a moment at his desk. I thought it was a pretty decent ending. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/57 "2013-09-23T15:43:40Z")
Let me add ‘To the Manor Born’ and ‘The West Wing’ to the good category. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/58 "2013-09-23T15:50:59Z")
I know I’ll never convince anybody, but I thought the ending of BSG was great. It’s established that events have been manipulated by a Superior Being of some sort, which appears to show as much consideration for individual humans as a scientist does for the worms she’s studying. This phase of the experiment is over, so the SB nudges a few worms, including a potentially interesting hybrid, into a new environment. Having done that, attention can be turned to other matters for a while. I think it’s an elegant ending. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/59 "2013-09-23T17:04:40Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > BTW, tonight is the series finale of Dexter - so even if you are not a huge fan, you might want to tune into Showtime tonight to see how it wraps up. UPDATE: You can now add Dexter to the list of shows that had a truly crappy series finale. Maybe not the worst in history, but will rank high on the list of wretched, poorly written series finales for many years. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/60 "2013-09-23T19:33:34Z")
I liked the finale of “Barney Miller.” The precinct building had been designated by the city as an historical monument and the officers of the 12th precinct were being dispersed to other precincts. Inspector Luger was handing out the detectives’ new assignments. As he came to Levitt he called him “Levine” as he always did. Levitt said, “For probably the last time, it’s Levitt, Sir. Officer Carl Levitt.” Luger replied, “Correction. It’s _Sergeant_ Carl Levitt. Congratulations.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440.md?page=4)