# What movies/tv shows/books presented lots of mysteries and actually wrapped them up in the end? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 19, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070 "2014-11-19T15:04:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/21 "2014-11-19T22:29:41Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > This was a issue for years. > > Kyle XY. The Pretender. John Doe. Dollhouse. > > I am never going to watch another series like that unless the Producers show proof that the series “reveals” are sealed in a mayonnaise jar on Funk & Wagnalls porch. > > To a lesser extent: > > Sliders. Pushing Daisys. Wonderfalls. Wonderfalls wrapped a lot of things up in the unaired episodes on the DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/22 "2014-11-19T22:44:08Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > Wonderfalls wrapped a lot of things up in the unaired episodes on the DVD. Can you spoilerpost the resolution? ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/23 "2014-11-19T23:04:21Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Can you spoilerpost the resolution? It’s been a while, but I believe they came up with some mystical hokum regarding the talking knick-knacks, but the real resolution was regarding the relationships. Not sure spoilers are needed but the main character and the bartender guy finally get together and she finally gets an idea that all the good deeds she did weren’t just to help other people but to straighten out her shitty life too. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/24 "2014-11-20T00:59:16Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > The Serenity movie pretty well wrapped up most of the issues from the Firefly series, with only two exceptions: (1) Shepherd Book’s past, and (2) Inara’s health. Neither is critical to achieve closure on the main stories. Inara’s health was never a mystery on the show. It was something Joss Whedon said he planned to explore if the show had never been canceled, but aside from a mysterious syringe during a Reaver attack, the mystery of Inara’s health was one of the casualties of the show’s cancellation. Though Book’s past was explained in a comic. As was the fate of the Hands of Blue, which was another exception you forgot. > [@DrDeth](#): > > This was a issue for years. > > Kyle XY. The Pretender. John Doe. Dollhouse. > > To a lesser extent: Sliders. Pushing Daisys. Wonderfalls. Dollhouse ran its course and every mystery was solved. Wonderfalls never had a central mystery. The reason the animals talk was explained in one of the last episodes of the season: [“Because you listen.”](http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/wonderfalls-cocktail-bunny-101443) ---
**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/25 "2014-11-20T02:50:03Z")
The first example that came to my mind was the extremely underrated TV series, Murder One. A major murder mystery a season with a lot of twists and turns. Ended completely, and was surprising. Great for reviewing. Similarly, Veronica Mars. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/26 "2014-11-20T03:31:25Z")
Most movies and books wrap up all their the mysteries by their end. TV shows are different because they can create more of them over the course of the series, and they are often cancelled before the end is reached. For instance, Jasper fforde’s **Shades of Grey** seems absolutely nonsensical at first, with many things that seem to come out of nowhere, but it’s all wrapped up by the end (and damn E.L. James – who came later – for making things so confusing that there hasn’t been a sequel). ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/27 "2014-11-20T04:43:23Z")
**Key: The Metal Idol** ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/28 "2014-11-20T04:54:53Z")
Not sure if this is what you are looking for, but the series “Monk” wrapped up, as we expected, with a final answer to “who killed Trudy (Monk’s wife)?” However, although the mystery was kind of part of the plot arc for a while (in season 2 or 3 IIRC), it wasn’t essential to the story and it wasn’t like viewers were breathless with anticipation waiting to find out the answer. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/29 "2014-11-21T01:46:23Z")
I thought Stieg Larsson’s “The Girl…” series did a really good job. To me though the second and third books didn’t really feel like conventional mysteries. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/30 "2014-11-21T02:04:58Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > For instance, Jasper fforde’s **Shades of Grey** seems absolutely nonsensical at first, with many things that seem to come out of nowhere, but it’s all wrapped up by the end (and damn E.L. James – who came later – for making things so confusing that there hasn’t been a sequel). I don’t think the “Thing That Happened” was ever explained, although I see on Fforde’s website that there’s supposed to be a prequel out in 2016. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/31 "2014-11-21T09:58:35Z")
Leverage only really had one conspiracy/mystery, but that was concluded completely by the final episode. We also knew all we’d need to know about the characters’ backstories and had a very good idea of what they’d be doing in the future. Definitely one of the most satisfying conclusions to a fairly long-running series. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/32 "2014-11-21T15:24:02Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Leverage only really had one conspiracy/mystery, but that was concluded completely by the final episode. We also knew all we’d need to know about the characters’ backstories and had a very good idea of what they’d be doing in the future. Definitely one of the most satisfying conclusions to a fairly long-running series. It’s funny - _Leverage, Monk and L&O: Criminal Intent_ all ended with a final scene of the leads continuing on with their work, as if the show continues, but we don’t get to see it. Somewhere out there, they are still solving crimes or righting wrongs. _Burn Notice_, on the other hand…blaagck! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/33 "2014-11-21T16:19:17Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I Wonderfalls never had a central mystery. The reason the animals talk was explained in one of the last episodes of the season: > > [“Because you listen.”](http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/wonderfalls-cocktail-bunny-101443) That actually answers nothing since generally plastic lions cant talk. No matter how hard you listen. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/34 "2014-11-21T17:26:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That actually answers nothing since generally plastic lions cant talk. No matter how hard you listen. It answers everything. Jaye hears the animals because she does what they ask, so she can hear them. It’s circular, but it’s also the perfect answer. It doesn’t matter whether it’s god, the devil, or Bob… these little guys are talking to her and she listens. The End. And the final episode lets us know that she’s going to keep listening and Eric is going to be by her side. ---
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/35 "2014-11-21T18:59:37Z")
The manga/anime _Fullmetal Alchemist_ (the anime version is Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood). I don’t generally read manga/watch anime, but enough people told me how amazing FMA was for me to look it up. Holy crap, that was a well-plotted series. ---
**Author:** ![Recusant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@Recusant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recusant)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/36 "2014-11-21T20:25:56Z")
I’d note (as you did, Mahaloth) Babylon 5, which didn’t\* quite\* pull this off, but came close. One of the difficulties with TV having long-running plot elements like this is that you never know whether you’re going to get another season- if you resolve everything, you’re left with nothing for the next one; if you leave things dangling, you anger fans if you don’t get another one. If you establish a self-contained, limited framework (like B5’s creator did), even if you account for actors leaving/dying/etc. (like B5’s creator did) and maintain enough fluidity in the story to account for network executives butting in (like- shut up! Maybe I _will_ marry him!), then you wind up having tremendous difficulty selling the idea to a studio, and even if you succeed, a hideous amount of stress trying to keep your vision intact. It’s probably somewhat easier with books and movies, but every new media getting franchised into the ground, it won’t stay that way much longer. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/37 "2014-11-21T20:47:24Z")
Spielberg’s **War of the Worlds** with Tom Cruise The son went over the hill to see the aliens fighting. Will he die? How will the sister and Tom deal with the guilt? How does he explain the mother in Boston? To everyone’s great relief, he shows up in Boston. WHEW! I could just hear the audience happily sighing in relief. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070/38 "2014-11-21T21:24:16Z")
It’s only a single season, not an entire show, but I think the way the various mysteries are wrapped up at the end of season 1 of **Veronica Mars** is exemplary and totally satisfying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movies-tv-shows-books-presented-lots-of-mysteries-and-actually-wrapped-them-up-in-the-end/705070.md?page=1)