10 TV Show Finales That Ruined Their Whole Series

Regrettably, it’s often the case that some of the most outstanding TV shows throughout history haven’t always managed to end on a high note, delivering disappointing series conclusions. While many shows like Breaking Bad, The Good Place, Friends, Parks and Recreation, among others, have wrapped up their stories exceptionally well, maintaining the appeal of their respective series, not all TV productions have been so fortunate in providing a satisfying conclusion. In some cases, the finales have even tarnished the reputation of the entire show.

It’s unfortunate that the last episodes of classic series like Battlestar Galactica, How I Met Your Mother, and Lost didn’t deliver as much fulfillment and resolution as expected. The sudden, questionable decisions, unexpected character transformations, underwhelming demises, and unexplained plot twists have left these endings among TV’s most disappointing. Moreover, the unresolved cliffhangers that remain unanswered have tarnished our recollections of these series, which is truly regrettable.

1) Battlestar Galactica – “Daybreak”

Wrapping up Season 4 in 2009, the “Daybreak” finale of Battlestar Galactica sparked a divided reaction from viewers and critics. The last episode of this beloved sci-fi series presented the Galactica landing on an ancient Earth, with the remaining crew opting to forsake technology and coexist with primitive humans. While some found this ending fitting, others felt that numerous storylines were left unresolved, the conclusion was overly optimistic, and the finale lacked excitement or suspense.

For four seasons, the television series Battlestar Galactica was highly regarded for blending elements from political dramas, science fiction expeditions, and suspenseful mysteries into a compact and engaging show. Despite achieving its highest viewership since Season 2 in its final episodes, the divisive storyline dampened the impact of the series’ conclusion. It’s regrettable that such an influential piece of television history wasn’t given a more tidy resolution.

2) Pretty Little Liars – “Till Death Do Us Part”

Discussing unsatisfying conclusions, it’s challenging not to mention the finale of Pretty Little Liars, as the final episode of this once widely-watched series unexpectedly unveiled the true identity of the enigmatic “A.D.”, the one who had been menacing the central group with secrets. Instead of “A.D.” being someone audiences hadn’t expected, which would have been more surprising, she turned out to be a completely fresh character. Intriguingly, “A.D.” was disclosed as Alex Drake, the hitherto unseen identical twin sister of Spencer Hastings (Trojan Bellisario).

As a movie critic, I found myself utterly disappointed with the final reveal in “Pretty Little Liars”. After seven long years of anticipation and suspense around the show’s biggest mystery, the series ended up offering an anticlimactic conclusion that left more questions than answers regarding Alex’s backstory and motives. The finale, titled “Till Death Do Us Part”, was a hasty and confusing conclusion to a once thrilling and unpredictable show, leaving fans like me frustrated and craving for more clarity.

3) Killing Eve – “Hello Losers”

During its initial season, penned by renowned writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the TV series Killing Eve received numerous accolades, often being hailed as one of the greatest shows in recent history. However, its popularity decreased in subsequent seasons and concluded disappointingly with the finale titled “Hello, Losers.” In the finale of Killing Eve, Villanelle (portrayed by Jodie Comer) and Eve (Sandra Oh) unexpectedly shared a heartfelt kiss before the latter was surprisingly killed at the command of Carolyn Martens (played by Fiona Shaw).

Apart from straying significantly from its original content, the ending of Killing Eve drew criticism for being a disappointing deviation from the series’ intricate portrayal of female characters. Some viewers argued that it upheld the problematic “gay death” trope, where LGBT+ characters are written off to heighten tension. This directly contradicts the show’s core values and signified a decline in the quality of storytelling in the later seasons of Killing Eve.

4) Skins – “Everyone”

Initially, the show “Skins” stood out as a groundbreaking teen drama, often compared to the contemporary series “Euphoria.” However, as it advanced, especially in Season 4, it started to veer into the extraordinary, leaving many viewers perplexed. The finale of Season 4, marking the conclusion of stories for the second group at Roundview College, was criticized for its hasty storylines, unusual character decisions, and a senseless tragic death that divided opinions among audiences.

In the second last episode of Season 4, Freddie’s (Luke Pasqualino) character met an upsetting end, sparking much debate among viewers. The resolution in the final episode only added to the dissatisfaction. Episode “Everyone” concluded with Cook (Jack O’Connell) confronting Freddie’s murderer, declaring “I’m Cook!” This left many plot points unresolved, and despite some closure given in Season 7 episodes featuring Cook, the ending of Season 4 remains a significant letdown.

5) Seinfeld – “The Finale”

The final episode of “Seinfeld,” often hailed as one of the most impactful TV series in history, didn’t suffer greatly from poor reviews, thankfully. Many viewers believed that the show’s conclusion veered too far from its traditional humorous approach, as it placed its main characters in an implausible and surprising situation. Lacking humor, weakly written, and leaving the plot unfinished, the finale of “Seinfeld” was overly ambitious to its detriment.

Over the years, we’ve enjoyed watching Seinfeld portray its usual funny characters in ordinary, day-to-day situations. However, the finale felt overly grandiose and failed to align with the show’s typical tone, eliminating any hint of humor. This surprising conclusion was disappointing, especially for such a renowned sitcom that ended in 1998. It’s unfortunate that Seinfeld didn’t have a more fitting, true-to-character farewell.

6) Dexter – “Remember the Monsters?”

Despite several subsequent spin-offs, the finale of the original eight-season run of Dexter received significant backlash. The episode “Remember the Monsters?” was the most-viewed in Dexter’s entire series and set a record for Showtime. The actions taken by Dexter (played by Michael C. Hall), particularly his decision to leave his son, Harrison (Jadon Wells), were unexpected given his past and the show’s recurring themes, sparking much debate.

As a devoted fan of Dexter, I must confess that the final episode left me utterly disappointed. The resolution felt forced, making it challenging to revisit any episodes without being reminded of its unsatisfying end. Perhaps some loose ends were tied in spin-offs like Dexter: New Blood and the upcoming Dexter: Resurrection. Yet, the memory of “Remember the Monsters?” will forever be etched as one of television’s worst finales. And that iconic image of Dexter as a lumberjack – it’s an indelible mark on my mind.

7) The Flash – “A New World”

Following a span of 11 years, Season 9, Episode 13 of The Flash, titled “A New World,” concluded both the DC series and the Arrowverse with a rather underwhelming final act. Riddled with inconsistencies and unfinished storylines, the finale of The Flash might have been a reaction to the unfavorable reviews that DC’s live-action productions were receiving at that time. The conclusion felt hasty, the villain was effortlessly vanquished, and no tribute was made to the memorable characters who graced the series.

The TV series “The Flash” was the last surviving part of the Arrowverse, managing to keep going for as long as possible before eventually coming to an end. Actor Grant Gustin was highly praised for his portrayal of speedster Barry Allen, aka the Flash. However, when he appeared in the DCEU’s disliked film adaptation of “The Flash,” he didn’t receive much attention and his show ended without a satisfying conclusion. As a result, it remains to be seen what will happen to Barry Allen in any future DC projects. Here’s hoping that he embarks on more enjoyable adventures than he has in recent times.

8) How I Met Your Mother – “Last Forever”

In a nearly perfect conclusion, the TV show “How I Met Your Mother” almost hit the mark but ended up dropping the ball in its final scenes. To be precise, during the finale of “How I Met Your Mother,” titled “Last Forever,” we learn that the main character’s wife, Tracy McConnell (played by Cristin Milioti), had already passed away before Ted (Josh Radnor) shared his story with his kids. This unexpected twist, along with Ted reuniting romantically with Robin (Cobie Smulders), sparked a wave of harsh criticism from both viewers and critics alike.

As a devoted fan of “How I Met Your Mother,” I couldn’t help but feel let down by the last season. The excessive focus on Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin’s wedding, followed by an unexpected twist in the finale, left many viewers feeling that their investment in the series had been misguided. The departure from the show’s core themes of finding love and creating a family was also a source of disappointment for fans. Despite its popularity during its run, it’s unfortunate that the ending didn’t live up to expectations.

9) Lost – “The End”

The TV series “Lost” is often praised as one of the best television productions ever made. While many believe that its finale successfully concluded the story, tied up loose ends for most characters, and provided satisfying resolutions to the necessary plotlines, others hold differing opinions. Some viewers expressed disappointment over the resolution of some long-standing mysteries within the show, and felt frustrated by the ambiguous ending involving Hugo (Jorge Garcia) and Ben Linus (Michael Emerson), who were left on the Island.

The TV show “Lost” ended with Jack (Matthew Fox) fatally wounding the Man in Black (Terry O’Quinn) and then selflessly giving up his life so that the Island could be freed, enabling his fellow survivors to depart at last. For many viewers, this poignant conclusion was quite satisfactory. Notably, there was a subplot involving the Oceanic Flight 815 passengers reuniting in the afterlife and peacefully moving on as a group. Yet, it’s worth noting that opinions on such an intricate and multi-layered series were not unanimous, as is often the case with complex productions.

10) Game of Thrones – “The Iron Throne”

For much of its eight-season span, HBO’s “Game of Thrones” served as a groundbreaking cultural phenomenon and a highly anticipated television event. Regrettably, it may also be remembered as an instance where a significant series failed to deliver in its final stages. The finale episode, titled “The Iron Throne,” featured Jon Snow (played by Kit Harington) ending the life of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), thereby allowing Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) to ascend as the new monarch over the Seven Kingdoms.

Numerous viewers found it problematic that many strong female characters in “Game of Thrones” were sidelined or killed in the last season. Some also criticized the repetitiveness and predictability of these final episodes, as well as the underwhelming ending with Bran Stark becoming king, which they felt was anticlimactic. Despite its grand reputation, “Game of Thrones” seemed to falter in maintaining its momentum, leaving fans potentially unsatisfied with the show’s unremarkable finale.

2025-05-29 00:41