8 Series Finales That Are Masterpieces

The history of television is practically littered with shows that started great but faltered before the finish line. Even generally acclaimed shows like Lost and Game of Thrones have suffered the pain of a last-minute defeat due to a divisive finale that ruined an otherwise stellar record. But every once in a while, a series comes along that manages to deliver a truly spectacular experience from beginning to end… and we do mean the very end.

Some of the greatest TV episodes of all time have been series finales, often the conclusions of beloved, long-running shows. For these shows, whether they’re dramas, comedies, or something in between, the final episode is the cherry on top of a delectable, carefully constructed masterpiece, delivering emotional and thematic closure to a perfect story. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the greatest series finales of all time that deserve to be called masterpieces.

1

‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

Image via HBO

Based on Tom Perrotta’s 2011 novel, The Leftovers is a supernatural drama series created by Perrotta and Damon Lindelof that explores the aftermath of the “Sudden Departure,” a mysterious global event that resulted in 2% of the world’s population inexplicably disappearing. The show follows a varied group of characters, all affected by the event in one way or another, as they struggle to adjust to their strange new lives. The series stars an ensemble cast led by Justin Theroux, Carrie Coon, and Christopher Eccleston, with Amy Brenneman, Liv Tyler, Chris Zylka, Margaret Qualley, Ann Dowd, Regina King, and more in lead roles.

Often hailed as one of the greatest TV shows of all time, The Leftovers boasts some truly amazing performances, music, direction, and writing, along with a thematically rich plot and engaging characters. Its finale, “The Book of Nora,” is where it all comes together, an emotionally devastating and utterly beautiful final chapter focused on Carrie Coon’s Nora Durst. Exploring the aftermath of Nora’s decision to take part in an experiment that could reunite her with her lost family. It’s the perfect ending to one of the most perfect shows ever made, and it has been widely hailed by critics as one of the greatest series finales of all time.

2

‘Better Call Saul’ (2015–2022)

Image via AMC

Created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, Better Call Saul is a prequel to their hit crime drama show Breaking Bad. The prequel stars Bob Odenkirk as small-time attorney Jimmy McGill, charting his journey to becoming the morally challenged criminal lawyer Saul Goodman. Besides Odenkirk, the series also stars Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Michael McKean, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tony Dalton in lead roles.

Breaking Bad is almost universally hailed as one of the greatest shows ever released on TV, but Better Call Saul is just as good (if not better). A thrilling, darkly funny, and thematically rich drama, the show earned several accolades during its original run, and we’re not exaggerating when we say it doesn’t have a single bad episode. The series finale, “Saul Gone,” shows Jimmy facing the consequences for all his sins and attempting one last gambit, leading to his first meeting with his former wife Kim (Seehorn) in six years. It’s a powerful ending that delivers a final piece of poetic justice and beautifully closes the book on the massively successful franchise. And as a bonus, the finale also includes a guest appearance by Bryan Cranston as Walter White, the franchise’s central character and the catalyst for the whole story.

3

‘Fleabag’ (2016–2019)

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A semi-autobiographical tragicomedy, Fleabag was created and written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who also stars as the central character. Based on Waller-Bridge’s eponymous one-woman show, the series follows the title character’s life as a young woman living in London, running a café, sleeping around, fighting with her sister, and trying to ignore the overwhelming grief caused by the death of a close friend. Sian Clifford, Bill Paterson, Olivia Colman, and more star in key supporting roles, with Andrew Scott joining the main cast in the second season.

A raunchy, dry-witted, and playful comedy that explores some genuinely traumatic emotions, Fleabag is easily one of the most acclaimed shows of the 21st century so far. The fourth-wall-breaking comedy’s second and final season became a cultural phenomenon, with audiences around the world falling in love with the doomed romance between Fleabag and Andrew Scott’s Hot Priest. And it all comes together in the final episode, a bittersweet ending that sees Fleabag find some measure of growth and closure, just as the Hot Priest makes the final choice between his feelings for her and his dedication to God.

4

‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)

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Created by David Chase, The Sopranos is an epic gangster drama series starring James Gandolfini as New Jersey Mafia boss Tony Soprano. After unexpectedly suffering panic attacks, Tony is forced to see a psychiatrist (Lorraine Bracco), who encourages him to open up about his life, especially his struggle to balance family and crime. Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Dominic Chianese, Steven Van Zandt, Tony Sirico, Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and more star in key roles.

Easily one of the most legendary TV shows ever made, The Sopranos is an acclaimed evergreen favorite that enjoyed consistently high ratings throughout its six-season run and is still beloved by fans. Striking a balance between gangster drama and family drama, the series presents a thoroughly engrossing and thematically rich story that has had a profound impact on the crime drama genre. The show’s final episode, “Made in America,” was quite controversial when it was first released because even though it does provide satisfying conclusions to all the show’s last plotlines, its final moment leaves Tony Soprano’s ultimate fate unrevealed. Though this vague and abrupt end infuriated some fans at the time, the show’s ending has since been re-evaluated as a masterpiece in keeping with the series’ themes, and the finale is regularly ranked among the greatest of all time.

5

‘Veep’ (2012–2019)

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A political satire series created by Armando Iannucci, Veep stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, the fictional Vice President of the United States of America (VPOTUS). Loosely adapted from the 2005 British sitcom The Thick of It, the show follows the ups and downs of Selina’s life and career, as well as those of her dysfunctional team. Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Matt Walsh, Kevin Dunn, Sufe Bradshaw, and Gary Cole star as her core staff members.

A celebrated satirical show that aired for seven seasons and earned 60 awards, Veep is a stellar piece of political comedy that explores contemporary topics in politics, media, and public service with a biting sense of humor. The final episode, also titled “Veep,” brings all of Selina’s destructive, narcissistic tendencies to a crescendo with a final scheme to become President, sacrificing every last bit of her principles for power. The story then jumps to her funeral 24 years later, which ties up all the remaining plotlines and concludes her staff’s stories before delivering a final twist that underscores the fleeting nature of political importance.

6

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

A satirical black comedy-drama series created by Jesse Armstrong, Succession follows a destructive succession struggle within the uber-wealthy Roy family, owners of the global media corporation Waystar RoyCo. The story kicks off when the family patriarch, Logan Roy (Brian Cox), announces his plan to retire, which sets off four seasons of no-holds-barred war between his children (Alan Ruck, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, and Sarah Snook) as they vie for control of the company. The show also features Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Braun, Hiam Abbass, Peter Friedman, and more in key roles.

One of the biggest TV hits of recent years, Succession has been widely hailed as one of the best TV shows of the 21st century so far, earning praise and accolades for its sharp writing, dark humor, compelling performances, and high production values. The series finale, “With Open Eyes,” brings the show’s hilarious and epic struggle to a close, with an acquisition plan on the table that could make or break the Roy siblings’ plans. The episode has been universally acclaimed as one of the most well-written, masterfully performed, and thematically resonant series finales of the 2020s, and possibly of all time.

7

‘Friends’ (1994–2004)

Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, Friends is an iconic TV sitcom that follows the various misadventures of six longtime friends in their 20s and 30s who all live in Manhattan. The series explores their attempts to navigate love, life, and work in the big city, meeting all sorts of eccentric characters and getting into hilarious situations, with their friends providing both help and harm in equal measure. The show stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer as the lead characters.

Easily one of the most acclaimed shows ever to air on television and one of the most popular, Friends was an international cultural phenomenon during its original broadcast and remains a beloved favorite of audiences everywhere today. The finale, titled “The Last One,” is a two-part episode that wraps up all the show’s long-running storylines, primarily Monica and Chandler’s adoption process and Ross and Rachel’s off-again-on-again relationship. A highly satisfying and emotionally charged conclusion, the finale was the most-watched television episode of the 2000s — that’s right, the whole decade.

8

‘M*A*S*H’ (1972–1983)

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Developed by Larry Gelbart, M*A*S*H is a war comedy drama series set during the Korean War that was adapted from the 1970 film, which was in turn based on Richard Hooker‘s 1968 novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors. The show follows the team of doctors and support staff who work at the “4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital” in Uijeongbu, South Korea. The series’ ensemble cast features Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, Larry Linville, Loretta Swit, McLean Stevenson, Gary Burghoff, Jamie Farr, William Christopher, and more.

One of the most defining TV shows of the 1970s, M*A*S*H covered a broad range of styles, genres, and tones over the course of its 11-season run, earning critical acclaim and high ratings throughout that time. Its two-and-a-half-hour finale, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” is easily the show’s most famous episode, a touching conclusion to the story that chronicles the final days of the war. The finale was the most-watched TV broadcast in US history until 2010, when the record was broken by Super Bowl XLIV, and it’s still the most-watched series finale and most-watched scripted episode of all time.

Release Date

1972 – 1983-00-00

Showrunner

Larry Gelbart

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  Loretta Swit

  Margaret Houlihan