# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/81 "2013-09-26T21:39:12Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I liked the finale of Fringe. Satisfying. I felt complete. That show is over?? What happened with the whole parallel universe? How did what’s her name get out of being trapped in the other universe? ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/82 "2013-09-27T01:28:12Z")
Okay, here’s the turd in the swimming pool response: BEST: Full House!!! No wait, come back, really. It was great. I know that show generates more vitriol than your average pile-o-crap. But my daughter is the same age as the Mary Kate and Ashley. It was her favorite show. So I watched it. (Saw all of their movies later, too. 🆒) But in the last episode, as they are wrapping everything up, the twins appeared on screen for the the only time ever (in that show). It was sort of a through the looking glass thing, with them looking at each other with a - are you me or am I you Kafka-esque nightmare thing. Touching and absolutely creepy at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/83 "2013-09-27T02:55:59Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > How many cartoons had a “final episode”? Most just seem to just end. Futurama had a few. The last one was the best final episode of the series ever. Self described. Did Family Guy have a final episode the first time it was cancelled? I don’t recall one. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/84 "2013-09-27T03:50:32Z")
I disagree with the Newhart final and am glad to this day that I never watched the show. That would have just pissed me off. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/85 "2013-09-27T12:47:53Z")
Along the lines of Deadwood, the last episode of Carnivale pretty much wrapped it up IF you ignore the very last scene. House and Wilson got on their motorcycles and drove off into the sunset on House. I can’t think of a better ending. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/86 "2013-09-27T13:34:45Z")
> [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](#): > > But my daughter is the same age as the Mary Kate and Ashley. It was her favorite show. So I watched it. (Saw all of their movies later, too. 🆒) > But in the last episode, as they are wrapping everything up, the twins appeared on screen for the the only time ever (in that show). Sorry, but the Olsen twins appeared together in the fourth season premiere, where their Greek relatives – the John Stamos side of the family – come to visit; Michelle promptly hangs out with her cousin, complete with a Parent Trap/Patty Duke Show makeover, in hopes of fooling Dad. They also appeared together in the fifth season, when they did a twist on the _angel-and-devil-on-the-shoulders_ schtick, with the twins physically interacting before Michelle opts to be a bad girl. Heck, they even appeared side-by-side in Uncle Jesse’s nightmare, way back in the first season. > [@](#): > > “Change me! Feed me! Change me! Feed me! Feed me! Change me! Feed me! Change me! Feed me! Change me! Feed me!” > > “Oh my god, there’s two Michelles! They’re multiplying!” ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/87 "2013-09-27T14:00:14Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Along the lines of Deadwood, the last episode of Carnivale pretty much wrapped it up IF you ignore the very last scene. The last scene was freaking brilliant (as well as, you know, horrifying), and depicts an essential theme of the show. It’s not _supposed_ to be “wrapped up.” Yes, this could have been a pivot for the continuing story in the next season, had there been one, but it works as it is, too. This is a story that _will not_ end, neatly resolved, in the lifetimes of these characters. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/88 "2013-10-03T14:59:32Z")
So where does Breaking Bad finale fall? Satisfying final episode, or not? I say satisfying, though it’s not my favorite episode, and was pretty predictable. It still tied up everything I wanted it to. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/89 "2013-10-03T15:44:33Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > The first show I can remember with a finale that actually and officially wrapped up a story arc was _The Fugitive_. I remember that episode being a huge disappointment. Lt Girard hears that, hey, a one-armed man really _has_ been spotted in town, and suddenly thinking, wow, maybe Kimball _is_ innocent after all! After five years of chasing the good Doctor, he then decides to snipe the bad guy on top of the water tower, forever hushing him up and preventing the whole truth from ever coming out: judge, jury, and executioner! To me, it was simply unbelieveable (but then, so were all those ordinary Joes every week who believed Kimball when he confessed who he was but maintained he was innocent). The first final episode of _ **Due South** _ (at the end of its second season) was a reasonably good clip show, so far as clip shows go. The second final episode (at the end of the fourth season) was just plain silly (but then, the show had been going downhill ever since it was picked up for season three). ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/90 "2013-10-03T23:11:35Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > So where does Breaking Bad finale fall? Satisfying final episode, or not? Definitely satisfying for me, loved it. I’ve also really enjoyed the series finales to **Rome** and **Spartacus** , as well. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/91 "2013-10-04T00:30:11Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I disagree with the Newhart final and am glad to this day that I never watched the show. That would have just pissed me off. I remember being confused and disappointed by it, because I was too young to remember _The Bob Newhart Show_. My mother explained the big joke at the end, but it doesn’t really work if it has to be explained. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/92 "2013-10-04T15:28:34Z")
**Lamia** -I’m too young to remember the _Bob Newhart Show_ (the _Newhart_ finale is the 1st one I ever watched), but I got the joke. (loved it too) ---
**Author:** ![TheSeaOtter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed655f/32.png) [@TheSeaOtter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSeaOtter)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/93 "2013-10-04T22:01:00Z")
I’d add **Stargate SG-1** to the ‘good final episode’ list, though I imagine there are those who would disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440/94 "2013-10-04T22:15:53Z")
Few people remember _[I Married Dora](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKQncKpxmIs)_, and justifiably so. But it did have a memorable [final scene](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvVR99yafr8). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-have-satisfying-final-episodes-and-shows-that-didnt/669440.md?page=4)