The Ultimate TV Finales: 10 Episodes That Will Blow Your Mind!

Summary

Sometimes the perfect ending to a TV series isn't the actual finale, as seen in shows like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Creating a fulfilling conclusion can be difficult, given the high anticipations of the audience and the requirement to tie up loose ends and character developments. Numerous shows, even some of the most prominent ones, featured episodes that would have served as more suitable and emotionally resonant final chapters compared to their existing finales.

Sometimes, the ideal conclusion to a television series isn't found in its finale. This doesn't mean that the show shouldn't have continued, but rather that another episode could have provided a more satisfying and impactful ending. Even the greatest TV shows of all time have fallen into this trap.

Delivering a satisfactory finale can be challenging, which is why the best ones are often remembered for years to come. There is a certain level of anticipation from the audience that must be handled delicately, all while ensuring that essential storylines and character arcs are properly concluded. It's fascinating to discover that at times, the perfect ending doesn't actually come in the form of the final episode.

10 "Waiting For Big Mo" - It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Release Date August 4, 2005Cast Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton, Danny DeVitoGenres ComedySeasons 16

The 10th episode of season 14 of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," titled "Waiting for Big Mo," is a clever parody of Samuel Beckett's play "Waiting for Godot." In this episode, the Gang finds themselves stuck in a laser-tag base, creating a humorous twist on the original play's concept of waiting.

As the episode progresses, the Gang takes a deep dive into their past actions and current behavior, questioning the validity of their childish pursuits and contemplating the idea of moving on. In a way, this episode serves as a metaphor for the entire series of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and could have been a poignant finale.

9 "Jake & Amy" - Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Brooklyn Nine-Nine debuted on September 17, 2013 and features a talented cast including Stephanie Beatriz, Melissa Fumero, Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Joel McKinnon Miller, Dirk Blocker, Terry Crews, Chelsea Peretti, and Joe Lo Truglio. This comedic crime series has spanned across 8 seasons.

The television series, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, serves as a prime example of a show that presented a perfect finale, only to be renewed for subsequent seasons that failed to match its predecessor's brilliance. In the captivating episode 22 of season 5, titled "Jake & Amy," the primary overarching story of the show, namely the relationship between Jake and Amy, reached a satisfying and masterful conclusion.

In comparison, the actual ending of Brooklyn Nine-Nine fell short in delivering the same level of excellence. This final chapter centered around Jake's retirement from detective work, ultimately undermining his character and significantly diminishing the impact compared to the superb finale that "Jake & Amy" provided.

8 "The Lost Art Of Forehead Sweat" - The X-Files

The X-Files

Release Date September 10, 1993Cast Gillian Flynn, David Duchovny, Robert Patrick, Annabeth Gish, Mitch PileggiMain Genre Sci-FiSeasons 11

The X-Files had multiple series finales, many of which were not well-received or satisfying. Some believe that The X-Files should have concluded with Season 7. However, episode 4 of season 11 may serve as the ideal finale.

Instead of trying to provide solutions to the unsolvable, like previous supposed finales, "The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat" functions as a parody of The X-Files. This episode allows the writers and cast to reflect on the series, acknowledging its highlights and even raising doubts about past events. It concludes with a perfect final line of dialogue, where Scully says, "I want to remember how it all was."

7 "The View From Halfway Down" - Bojack Horseman

BoJack Horseman

Release Date August 22, 2014Cast Amy Sedaris, Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Aaron Paul, Paul F. TompkinsGenres Drama, Animation, ComedySeasons 6

"The View From Halfway Down," episode 15 of Season 6, served as the perfect series finale for Bojack Horseman. In this remarkably exquisite episode, Bojack confronts his past, addresses his character flaws, and embarks on a journey of reconciliation. The stunning visuals capture the essence of Bojack's realization that he is trapped in a limbo, ultimately leading to a seemingly fatal outcome.

Although Bojack Horseman has always been a bleak show, the death of Bojack would have provided a poignant and fitting conclusion. However, the actual finale of Bojack Horseman primarily focuses on wrapping up the stories of the supporting characters and lacks the profound emotional impact of "The View from Halfway Down," which would have been a more appropriate ending.

6 "The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings" - Futurama

Futurama premiered on March 28, 1999 and features a talented cast including Katey Sagal, Billy West, Lauren Tom, Maurice LaMarche, David Herman, Tress MacNeille, John DiMaggio, and Phil LaMarr. This animated series explores the genres of adventure, comedy, and animation across its 11 seasons.

"The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings," episode 18 of season 4, is the original and best attempt by Futurama to create a perfect series finale. It effectively concludes Fry and Leela's love story with an entertaining and endearing tone, highlighted by the stunning visual and musical finale of Fry's holophonor performance. Although Futurama has had many beloved episodes after season 4, none of the subsequent supposed final episodes have been able to surpass the beauty and grandeur of "The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings."

5 "Goodbye, Michael" - The Office

The Office is a comedy-drama sitcom that first aired on March 24, 2005. The show features a talented cast including Mindy Kaling, Jenna Fischer, Kate Flannery, Ed Helms, Craig Robinson, Paul Lieberstein, Ellie Kemper, B.J. Novak, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Rainn Wilson, Brian Baumgartner, Phyllis Smith, Leslie David Baker, Creed Bratton, Steve Carell, and John Krasinski. With a total of 9 seasons, The Office is a beloved television series.

Content

For many viewers, The Office concluded with the departure of Steve Carell. Season 7, episode 22, titled "Goodbye Michael," serves as a poignant farewell to the show's beloved protagonist, Michael Scott, and includes a number of deeply emotional moments.

Following this pivotal episode, the remaining episodes of season 7 and the subsequent two seasons faced difficulties in capturing the same essence of the Carell era. They particularly struggled to surpass the impact of his final episode. "Goodbye, Michael" has resonated much more strongly than the season 11 finale, offering a more gratifying conclusion.

4 "Swan Song" - Supernatural

Supernatural, an action-packed, adventurous, and mysterious television series, first premiered on September 13, 2005. The show boasts an impressive cast including Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, Jim Beaver, Jared Padalecki, Katie Cassidy, Lauren Cohan, Mark A. Sheppard, Mark Pellegrino, and Alexander Calvert. With a total of fifteen seasons, Supernatural has captivated audiences worldwide.

"Swan Song," episode 22 of season 5, marked the ultimate peak of Supernatural. In this concluding episode, the Winchester brothers successfully prevented the apocalypse, effectively wrapping up the season's ongoing storyline. The closing scene, which beautifully encapsulates the characters' past efforts, received widespread acclaim for its poignant impact.

Regarded by numerous fans as the epitome of Supernatural's remarkable 15 seasons, season 5 consistently stands out as the finest. Consequently, its finale emerges as the most gratifying and emotionally captivating, making it an ideal concluding chapter for the series.

3 "Chapter 52" - House Of Cards

House of Cards

Release Date February 1, 2013Cast Kevin Spacey, Michael Gill, Michael Kelly, Robin Wright, Kate Mara, Nathan DarrowGenres DramaSeasons 6

House of Cards Season 4, Episode 13, titled "Chapter 52," could have been the perfect ending to the series. The House of Cards novel, which the show is based on, follows a four-stage structure: the rise to power, a presidency, and a fall from power. The show initially follows this structure, with each season representing a stage, much like a deck of cards with 13 episodes per season, like cards in a suit.

This metaphor reaches its climax in the 52nd chapter, which is the last card. However, the central narrative is extended and altered to continue for more seasons. "Chapter 52" also marks the departure of creator and showrunner Beau Willimon, and subsequent episodes struggle without his involvement.

2 "Broken" - House

House

Release Date November 16, 2004Cast Olivia Wilde, Jesse Spencer, Lisa EdelsteinGenres DramaSeasons 8

"Broken" is the opening episode of House season 6, consisting of two parts that take place in an addiction recovery clinic. The previous episode, which concludes season 5, ties up multiple storylines, including Chase and Cameron's wedding, Cuddy's adoption of a baby, and the shocking revelation of House's addiction.

The following two episodes focus solely on House's recovery and could have served as a satisfying finale to wrap up his character's story arc while other plotlines are brought to a satisfying close. Additionally, "Broken" even partially resolves House's injured leg, further highlighting how it could have been an ideal series finale.

1 "For Better or Worse" - Castle

castle

Release Date March 9, 2009Cast Jon Huertas, Tamala Jones, Molly C. Quinn, Stana Katic, Susan Sullivan, Seamus Dever, Nathan FillionGenres Drama, Crime, Comedy, MysterySeasons 8

The ideal ending for Castle came in the form of "For Better or Worse," season 6, episode 23. This episode not only provided closure to the overarching storyline of Castle's mother's murder but also portrayed Castle and Beckett's wedding flawlessly. By neatly wrapping up loose ends and leaving viewers with a satisfying climax, "For Better or Worse" would have made a stronger series finale compared to the subsequent episodes that followed.