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The following article contains spoilers.There’s nothing quite like a good sitcom to make you laugh, cry, and enjoy on your own or with the whole family. The best ones ran for multiple seasons and ended just as much on a high as they began. When you feel sad the series has ended but satisfied with how, that’s the mark of a great show.
From the 1980s to the 21st century, there have been some great sitcoms that ended exactly as they should, with impeccable writing, acting, and closure to leave fans clapping and sighing in appreciation. That’s not an easy feat, but some shows wrapped up beautifully.
10
‘Boy Meets World’ (1993–2000)
The coming-of-age sitcom Boy Meets World defined a generation of ’90s kids, and is still remembered fondly to this day. One of the most impactful scenes, however, is at the end when Mr. Feeny (William Daniels), the strict but father-figure-like teacher and eventually principal, walks quietly through the empty classroom. He’s reminiscing about all the moments he shared with these students, bringing viewers along with him. When he utters the final words, “class dismissed,” it will give you chills.
It’s emotionally satisfying, showing both the growth of all the characters who have now become adults as well as honoring their journeys to get there. It signifies Mr. Feeny’s integral part in their lives, reminding viewers how important educators are in shaping children. But it also depicts that important transition from childhood to adulthood. It’s the perfect way to end a show about the challenges of coming of age.
9
‘New Girl’ (2011–2018)
New Girl could have taken the traditional sappy goodbye route as all the roommates moved on, and it did. But the show also made sure to remind fans of how funny and quirky the characters were through one final, elaborate prank. Winston (Lamorne Morris) pretends Nick (Jake Johnson) and Jess (Zooey Deschanel) are being evicted from the apartment by a company called Engram Pattersky, which is reportedly evicting all tenants. But once the truck is loaded with all their belongings, Winston reveals it was all a prank; Engram Pattersky is an anagram for My Greatest Prank. It’s the catalyst, however, for convincing Nick and Jess to move out and on anyway.
Before that, Jess walks her friends through memorable moments they shared together, thus also helping provide closure for fans who were with them on the journey through the show’s seven seasons. Of course, they also had to play one final game of True American to bring back the recurring segment for closure and later are seen playing it again in a flash forward. This solidifies that their bond is unbreakable and helps fans feel like even though the show is ending, in their minds, the group is still together. The sitcom ending was a genuine masterpiece.
8
‘Young Sheldon’ (2017–2024)
Young Sheldon is a prequel series to The Big Bang Theory, but it became a juggernaut of a show on its own with plenty of fantastic episodes. Fans knew where the story was headed, including the tragic death of George Sr. (Lance Barber), which was dealt with in the final episodes of the last season. But what was most poignant about the finale is that it set up Sheldon’s (Iain Armitage) story to come.
While walking outside Caltech with a smile, Sheldon is stopped by a professor who asks if he’s lost. “No,” he says. “I’m exactly where I need to be.” Knowing this school becomes Sheldon’s future, where he studies and eventually works, makes this ending brilliant. But it’s also the knowledge that Sheldon will meet his lifelong friends there that brings so much satisfaction to the subtle smile on Sheldon’s face.
7
‘The Office’ (2005–2013)
After nine seasons of The Office, a mockumentary sitcom about boring everyday office life, the show needed to end in a way that really helped bring everything to a close. It did, with the whole group reuniting for Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Angela’s (Angela Kinsey) wedding, including eccentric regional manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell, who left the series in Season 7).
The goodbyes the staff share with one another in this sitcom that’s a banger from start to finish are fictional for the show, of course. But you can tell that there are also some real goodbyes from the actors behind them, too. There’s growth for characters, with Jim (John Krasinski) finally quitting to pursue his dream, Pam (Jenna Fischer) supporting him, and Oscar (Oscar Nuñez) running for state senate. But it was Carell’s surprise return that brought it all together, including his final line. When Dwight says, “I can’t believe you came,” he replies, “that’s what she said.”
6
‘The Good Place’ (2016–2020)
The Good Place is one of the best shows about the afterlife, following Eleanor (Kristen Bell), who thinks she has been sent to the “good” place, essentially heaven, when she was supposed to be sent to the bad one (effectively hell). She tries to change her ways while there, hoping to earn her spot in before anyone realizes the mistake while ironically lying about who she really is. But there’s a lot more behind the plot.
There’s true closure when the show reveals that even an eternal paradise isn’t all it’s cracked up to be after a while, and souls can eventually pass on to end their existences for good. Once good deeds are accomplished, the door is officially open. The Good Place reminds us that all good things really must come to an end, and that isn’t a bad thing. It’s just reality. In the end is where we find peace, meaning, and closure.
5
‘Friends’ (1994–2004)
For a decade, Friends was in every living room every week when it aired. Even after it ended and to this day, the show remains the benchmark series about a single group of adult friends navigating life. The show and all of the best Friends episodes took viewers on a journey with its six main characters, each one marking a milestone by the end. From finally solidifying a long-term on-and-off-again relationship to getting married, having kids, and pursuing dreams, they were all ready to move on.
But the pivotal moment is when they are preparing to move out of Monica’s (Courteney Cox) oversized apartment, which is where a lot of the show takes place. As they stand together there one last time, ready to move on to their new places and lives, they decide to get one last coffee. “Sure,” says Chandler (Matthew Perry), “where?” It’s one last joke that perfectly fits his comedic style, because of course they’d be going to Central Perk. Giving Chandler the last line and making it a roll-your-eyes corny one is exactly what was needed for the tone of the show.
4
‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ (1990–1996)
It makes sense that a show about a young Will (Will Smith) in high school moving to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in Bel-Air would end with him finally moving out on his own. But throwing things for a loop, the family decides to move out of their lavish mansion as well, opting to be closer to their kids. Hilary (Karyn Parsons) and Ashley (Tatyana Ali) move to New York, and Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) is prepping for Princeton while Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell) decides to go back to London. What’s interesting is that Will is the one who decides to stay in California to complete his college degree, a future he probably never could have imagined when he first moved in, nor could anyone else.
The ending of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is perfect as they say their final goodbyes and Will is left in the living room alone to reflect on his time there. It’s all in fondness, and in his simple smile and subtle sigh, you can feel the weight of the moment, both for the character and the actor. As he turns off the light and leaves, Carlton’s voice bellowing from upstairs, indicating everyone forgot he was still there, icing on top to bring one last laugh.
3
‘Cheers’ (1982–1993)
Cheers started as a welcoming bar where everyone knows your name and is glad you came, and Sam (Ted Danson) is tending. And it ended the same way, coming full circle. But it’s the satisfaction in the end that Sam realizes he’s exactly where he needs to be that makes it so great. After surprisingly deciding not to run off and get married to Diane (Shelley Long), Sam coming to terms with the fact that the bar is his one true love is a testament to the importance of every interaction he had there up to that point.
In a way, it tells viewers that the welcoming promise of the bar wasn’t just a song and a sign on the wall: it was a calling; it had meaning to Sam. There’s no place he’d rather be. When he tells a patron who comes in as he’s washing up that they’re closed, it’s also a goodbye to fans. Cheers and its fan-favorite characters won’t return to our TVs, but in our minds, the bar will re-open in the morning and welcome its regulars and others once again.
2
‘Newhart’ (1982–1990)
For eight seasons, Newhart walked viewers through the story of Dick (Bob Newhart) and Joanna (Mary Frann), a couple who move from the city to a small rural Vermont town to run an inn. While there, they interact with the eccentric townsfolk and the eclectic mix of guests who come to stay. The sitcom is witty, dry, sarcastic, and entertaining with memorable characters and satisfying episodes.
Newhart pulled a fast one on fans, however, using the finale to deliver one huge, final punchline that completely changed the show. Through a meta crossover with The Bob Newhart Show, Newhart’s sitcom that aired prior to Newhart, the ending suggested that his character on that show, Bob Hartley, was simply having one, long dream that characterized the entire show. In most cases, the “it was all a dream” storyline doesn’t work. But Newhart made it shocking, nostalgic, and rewarding, showing that this angle can be done well.
1
‘M*A*S*H’ (1972–1983)
One of the best shows to ever grace the small screen, M*A*S*H had meaning, heart, humor, and was telling of its time and the complexities of war. The war comedy drama set in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War follows the mix of personalities as they handle the tough jobs in a complicated and often depressing situation while doing their best to be there for one another and deal with the trauma in a healthy way.
The end of the show marks the end of the war, and the 2.5-hour episode, which broke viewership records, sees each character processing what they went through and getting ready to return to civilian life. The final scene with Hawkeye (Alan Alda) looking down from his helicopter to see stones spelling out “Goodbye” is as emotional as a show can possibly get.
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https://collider.com/sitcoms-perfect-endings-ranked/
Christine Persaud
Almontather Rassoul
