Yesterday, completely by chance, I finally managed to catch the last episode of 'Due South' (does anyone else remember that show?), which I had never managed to see the first time around. I was really impressed by the way it managed to include all the most important elements of the show and resolve most of the major plot lines.
So I got to thinking about the shows that ended in a way that seemed to me to be perfect, and how this was achieved. It seemed to me that often the endings I have found most satisfying have been those which totally dismantle the set-up of the show - endings like those on Buffy and Deep Space 9, where you get the impression that whatever happens to the characters next will be completely different from anything that you've seen before. Somehow, it seems to make it more bearable that the show's ending, because you know that now nothing could ever be the same anyway...
Thoughts? Examples?
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
I didn't like either of those finales as much as I would have if they hadn't destroyed the premis of the show.
I like seeing the moments of transition AND the way the characters react to them. Nothing is the same anymore, yet life goes on.. to have more moments of transition.
I'm thinking mostly of Buffy here. I won't spoil it, though I'm sure most of you have seen it... so I guess I should end my post here...
Pix
Posted by Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged (Member # 7476) on :
My favorite endings are sitcoms because nearly everyone one ends with the people on the show moving away....
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
...or not going to live in Paris after all. That seems to be a favourite.
Posted by Heffaji (Member # 3669) on :
The ending to the Mighty Max cartoon. I remember being so amazed that a cartoon would go out in that sort of fashion back then.
Posted by Baron Samedi (Member # 9175) on :
Freaks and Geeks has probably my favorite series ending of all time. Gives me chills just thinking about it. Firefly and The Black Adder are close runners-up.
Posted by Baron Samedi (Member # 9175) on :
Oh, and I can't forget Seinfeld. Wait... did you say best? Never mind.
Posted by katdog42 (Member # 4773) on :
I love the final episode of MASH and I have to agree that I really liked the ending of DS9 as well. It was byfar my favorite Star Trek series and though it had weak moments in the middle, I think it began and ended better than any of the others (though TNG ended quite well, also).
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
If we're giving out the award for the cheesiest series finale, I'd give it to Friends.
Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
Six Feet Under had perhaps the best, and most appropriate Final Episode Ever.
Carnivale's second season finale was nearly equally amazing, even though it's a tragedy that it ended up being what it wasn't intended to be: the Series Finale.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I liked the SEASON finale for the second season of Arrested Development.
Posted by Mabus (Member # 6320) on :
I can't say I liked the ending of DS9. Well...I liked parts of it. But the scene where Sisko suddenly gets up, abruptly "understanding" that he's supposed to run off to the Fire Caves where he has no reason to believe anything important is happening--I didn't buy that.
I also didn't find Kai Winn's betrayal particularly convincing; it's the same old "religious conservatives are really nasty, repressed hypocrites" canard. But then, in fairness, I didn't see enough of her episodes to be sure of her character.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
Wasn't MASH the first series to have a real true finale?
Posted by Architraz Warden (Member # 4285) on :
Babylon 5. Twice. Both season four and season five have interesting endings, and both were made as series finales (four being a bit more light-hearted about it). The last two or three episodes of Season five were the best part of the season, by far.
Not the final episode, but the last line in one of the episodes in the closing arc of Babylon 5:
Delenn: "It occurs to me I have never walked the length of this place end to end." Sheridan: "Well, Delenn, it's five miles long." Delenn: "I know. Coming?" Sheridan: "*Now?*" Delenn: "Now is all we have."
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
I'm sorry. The best final episode ever--"The Newhart Show." OK, most of the finale was lame, but the last 2 minutes are classic. The character wakes up in bed with the wife from his previous show, and says "I've had the strangest dream..."
Posted by katdog42 (Member # 4773) on :
"Newhart" and also "St. Elsewhere" take the cake, in my opinion, for good endings with a little twist.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I have a phobia of the end of TV shows. I usually 'read the last page' and spoil it for myself because otherwise I cannot watch the rest of the show. So far I've done it for Buffy, Blakes 7, Star Trek: TNG and MASH. I pull up the plot of the last episode or so and read it through because I'm too much of a wuss to see the rest of the show without knowing what happens. I think (actually, I know) I have plot emotional issues, heh.
None of those episodes I have actually seen, except perhaps TNG ('All good things...') which I think I watched by mistake one day.
Like I said, I have a phobia of the end of TV shows. Hee hee. But you say the Buffy finale is good? Perhaps when I get there I will survive it, then. I already know what happens, but I can't trust Joss Whedon after what he did in Serenity.
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
I think that the ending of Season 5 for Buffy is the ultimate Final Episode. I'm glad it went on because season 6 rocked, but the ending in 7 wasn't nearly as satisfying as 5.
I really loved the ending of Roswell. It was sappy but that fit with the series. I love it when writers know that their show is going to end and give it a proper conclusion. I hate it when they leave the show at a cliffhanger with the hope that it'll get picked up again.
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
The Blake's 7 finale was amazing simply because...
BLAKE'S 7 SPOILER . . . . . . . . . . Evil wins and they all die. (cept avon and villa, but you have to read a book to find that out.) You have to have a show do that every once in a while. You need a sad ending to make the happy endings mean something.
Pix
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Mabus: I can't say I liked the ending of DS9. Well...I liked parts of it. But the scene where Sisko suddenly gets up, abruptly "understanding" that he's supposed to run off to the Fire Caves where he has no reason to believe anything important is happening--I didn't buy that.
I also didn't find Kai Winn's betrayal particularly convincing; it's the same old "religious conservatives are really nasty, repressed hypocrites" canard. But then, in fairness, I didn't see enough of her episodes to be sure of her character.
Nah. He went to the Fire Caves because of a divine inspiration from the Prophets. If you accepted every previous instance of Prophet sharing ( ), then why wouldn't you accept their final intervention?
So far as Kai Winn goes, it's not that surprising. She never really believed that Sisko, an outsider, was the real emmissary until the very end of the show. Yet time and and time again, this human proved he had more faith than she, her people's kai, had. He was a better servent of the prophet, and they NEVER spoke to her, no matter how much she wanted it.
If you had seen all the previous episodes that featured her, you'd know that she was a very jealous character full of animosity. She hated the fact that the Prohpets spoke to Sisko and not her, she was jealous of it too. And she was both jealous of and hated the fact that time and again, Sisko proved he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, the last full measure of devotion you might almost say, for the cause of the Prophets where she was weak and could not go through with it. It was this jealousy, and this hatred, that caused her to turn from the Prophets. The Pah Wraiths were easier, they demanded less in the way of devotion from her, and they were easily accessible. Quite frankly, I'm surprised we didn't see her rear her ugly head sooner.
Posted by theresa51282 (Member # 8037) on :
I loved the series finale of Buffy. I thought it really wrapped things up well. I just hated Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Z***** * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Anya had to die. I wished I could have seen her and Xander happy in the end. I loved them as a couple.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
), then why wouldn't you accept their final intervention?