25 Best TV Show Finales Of All Time, Ranked
25. The Big Bang Theory – “The Stockholm Syndrome”
‘The Big Bang Theory’ offered a finale full of heart. As Sheldon wins the Nobel Prize, he finally does the unthinkable: thanks his friends, calls them his family, and delivers a speech that’s genuinely moving. And yes, Leonard and Penny are having a baby. A cozy, crowd-pleasing farewell that made nerds everywhere shed a nostalgic tear.
24. Buffy the Vampire Slayer – “Chosen”
Buffy was never just a vampire-slaying cheerleader. She was a symbol. A girl with trauma who fought for every inch of her identity. So when the series ends with Buffy sharing her powers…you know, passing the torch to thousands of potential Slayers, it’s not just a plot point. It’s a revolution. The Hellmouth collapses, and Buffy smiles, finally free. She started alone; she ended leading an army. Totally iconic!
22. Derry Girls – “The Agreement”
In a show where irreverent hijinks are punctuated by the constant hum of political unrest, ‘Derry Girls’ pulled off a miracle. The finale ended with a vote. A real one. The Good Friday Agreement is celebrated, and our rowdy teenage heroines (and one “wee English fella”) suddenly find themselves stepping into adulthood, and peace. It's political, it's personal, and it's profoundly human. What better way to end a coming-of-age sitcom than with a country coming of age, too?
20. Parks and Recreation – “One Last Ride”
In a world brimming with cynicism, ‘Parks and Recreation’ chose hope. Flash-forwards show us Leslie Knope and her gang thriving in politics, marriage, and waffle consumption. It’s an earned optimism—sweet without saccharine, silly yet profound. Nice people doing nice things can change the world. We believe it because Leslie believes it.
17. Better Call Saul – “Saul Gone”
Jimmy McGill finally drops the mask. In a courtroom confession that stuns, he owns his sins and sacrifices his freedom. ‘Better Call Saul’ dared to give us a quieter, more human ending than ‘Breaking Bad,’ and in doing so, it might have outshone its predecessor in some fans' eyes. A tragedy, sure, but also a triumph.
16. Hannibal – “The Wrath of the Lamb”
Blood, love, madness! ‘Hannibal’ ended with a dance of death. Will and Hannibal embrace—both literally and emotionally—before plunging off a cliff into the unknown. It’s twisted, intimate and tragic. A finale that’s both horrifying and beautiful, like the show itself. A cannibalistic love story ending in crimson ecstasy. Don’t you think it’s delicious?
14. The Good Place – “Whenever You’re Ready”
What comes after the afterlife? Peace. ‘The Good Place’ ended not with heaven or hell, but a philosophical meditation on when it's time to say goodbye. Each character walks through the door, content. It’s a quiet finale, deeply moving. Life ends. Love remains. And that's okay.
13. Veep – “Veep”
Selina Meyer gets everything she wanted, at the cost of everything she had. The ‘Veep’ finale is bitter, brutal satire. Selina betrays allies, discards loved ones, and dies alone. A state funeral fades into a news cycle consumed by Tom Hanks' death. It’s hilarious. It’s horrifying. And it’s perfect.
12. The Wire – “–30–”
Nothing changes, yet everything changes. ‘The Wire’ finale is as honest as the show itself. Baltimore keeps spinning, corruption thrives, and new players take old roles. There’s no justice…just cycles. But there’s beauty in the small wins and tragedy in the truths. It doesn’t tie a bow. It drops the mic.
11. Succession – “With Open Eyes”
The knives are out. The crown is passed. ‘Succession’ could never have ended with a victory, there had to be a betrayal so intimate it bleeds through the screen. Shiv chooses the devil she knows. Kendall is broken. Roman smiles through tears. Power wins. Family loses. This is Greek tragedy in boardroom suits.
10. Fleabag – “Episode 6”
Fleabag lets him go. She smiles, we break. Then she leaves. That’s it. A bus stop, a fox, a priest, and a heart shattered in silence. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s masterpiece didn’t need a grand gesture at the end, but the quiet strength of a woman choosing herself. It still hurts. That’s how you know it worked.
9. The Leftovers – “The Book of Nora”
Maybe she lied, maybe she didn’t. ‘The Leftovers’ leaves us with one final mystery just like ‘Lost,’ but more importantly, it leaves us with love. Kevin and Nora, old and fragile, reconnect. The world doesn’t need answers, it needs each other. And sometimes, that’s enough.
8. Friends – “The Last One”
‘Friends’ was never just a sitcom—it was family, our safe haven, the ultimate comfort TV. So, as the gang turns in their keys and heads to Central Perk one last time, there’s laughter, tears, and one more “I got off the plane.” A generation grew up with them, and this was the goodbye we deserved, even if we weren’t ready.
7. Breaking Bad – “Felina”
After creating TV history, Heisenberg exits the stage with a bang. Walter White goes on a final tour of redemption (or revenge if you are inclined that way), freeing Jesse, killing Nazis, and dying with his meth empire intact. It’s poetic, explosive, operatic. A definite masterclass in tension and release. The king is dead. But for ‘Breaking Bad’ fans, the emotion remains: long live the king.
6. The Americans – “START”
There’s no gunfire in this espionage drama towards the end. Just goodbyes—cold, precise, and devastating. Elizabeth and Philip Jennings flee, leaving behind their American children. In a garage, Stan confronts them. On a train, Paige stays behind. In Moscow, they look out at a homeland that never felt like home. A spy story that ends with heartbreak.
5. Six Feet Under – “Everyone’s Waiting”
If death is the theme for a TV show, then a death montage is the only fitting end. Every main character’s fate is laid out in heartbreaking beauty. ‘Six Feet Under' forces us to confront our own mortality and, somehow, find peace in it. It’s not just a finale, it’s a eulogy.
4. The Sopranos – “Made in America”
Silence. Cut to black. In one audacious moment, ‘The Sopranos’ redefined what a finale could be. Did Tony die? Doesn’t matter. The real genius lies in the unease. Life doesn’t always offer closure. Sometimes it just... stops. And we’re left to fill in the dark.
3. Schitt’s Creek – “Happy Ending”
This finale will always be remembered for its soulful wedding, over-the-top wig, and for a town that became a chosen family. 'Schitt’s Creek' charted the growth of the once-obnoxious Rose family into people full of grace, compassion, and authenticity. But perhaps most importantly, it gave us a rare and beautiful portrayal of queer love—unapologetic, untraumatized, and thriving. In the world of television, that alone is revolutionary.
2. M*A*S*H – “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
The war ends. The camp disbands. Hawkeye flies away. One last message, spelled out in stones: “GOODBYE.” It remains the most-watched television episode of all time, and for good reason. It was the end of an era, and everyone was watching.
1. Mad Men – “Person to Person”
Don Draper disappears into California... and finds enlightenment. Or maybe, he finds his greatest ad. That Coca-Cola commercial—full of hope, diversity, love—may not be the end of the charmer’s journey. But it’s the perfect end for ‘Mad Men.’ An ad man’s dream, a cynic’s masterpiece, a finale that sells us peace... in a bottle.
