TV's All-Time Best Series' Finales
05-13-06 | 06:31 AM
#1
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
05-13-06 | 07:17 AM
#2
DVD Talk Godfather
I think Newhart and MASH were a given, as well as Cheers, but:
I'm sorry, that wasn't just a picture, it was Geronimo a final nod to Coach Pantuso, which made the ending even more touching.
At any rate, I always think of those three when I think of finales. Other giant shows like Friends, Seinfeld & Xfiles just petered out in the finales and are definitely not worth mentioning despite how great the actual show runs were.
Awesome to see Arrested Development on there.
The only other one that always comes to mind is Quantum Leap. Brilliant idea for a finale and brilliant ending. Not the happy-go-lucky finale that EVERY other show seems to do. Probably the only show to bring a tear to my eye.
Sam said goodbye to the regulars and then spied a shadowed man at the front door while trying to lock up. "Sorry, we're closed," Sam shouted out, then straightened a picture on the wall and headed into the back room forever.
I'm sorry, that wasn't just a picture, it was Geronimo a final nod to Coach Pantuso, which made the ending even more touching.
At any rate, I always think of those three when I think of finales. Other giant shows like Friends, Seinfeld & Xfiles just petered out in the finales and are definitely not worth mentioning despite how great the actual show runs were.
Awesome to see Arrested Development on there.
The only other one that always comes to mind is Quantum Leap. Brilliant idea for a finale and brilliant ending. Not the happy-go-lucky finale that EVERY other show seems to do. Probably the only show to bring a tear to my eye.
05-13-06 | 08:04 AM
#3
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No St. Elsewhere? You see, that's why I hate terms like "Best ever" and "of all time" for stuff like this.
Last edited by Giantrobo; 05-13-06 at 08:06 AM.
05-13-06 | 09:48 AM
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Originally Posted by conscience
Six Feet Under 
I just knew that perfect finale would be on the list before I even clicked the link. It will be remebered for times to come. And, yes, I did cry.
I just knew that perfect finale would be on the list before I even clicked the link. It will be remebered for times to come. And, yes, I did cry.
05-13-06 | 10:35 AM
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by conscience
Six Feet Under
I just knew that perfect finale would be on the list before I even clicked the link. It will be remebered for times to come. And, yes, I did cry.
I just knew that perfect finale would be on the list before I even clicked the link. It will be remebered for times to come. And, yes, I did cry.
05-13-06 | 11:45 AM
#11
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Another for 6FU. It plays even better on second viewing. I had thought it was a mistake for them to kill off Nate with a few episodes left, but it proved to be a genius move since it set up that classic ending episode.
I'm glad to NOT see St. Elsewhere on that list. I loved that show, but felt the finale was hurt by that "big twist" which really didn't make any sense. While Newhart's finale had brilliance in the reveal (and they don't mention it there, but the audience actually shrieked when they saw Suzanne Pleshette there), St Elsewhere felt sorta cheap by comparison.
Never understood the reverence for the MASH finale. It was SO LONG. It was bloated and unnecessarily depressing. Hawkeye has a nervous breakdown after watching a mother smother her child. Charles befriends a Korean band then watches as they all die. The show drags for 150 minutes. The final shot WAS great, but before that, there was a lot of tedium. All most people remember is that final shot and the ratings.
Never knew that about the Twin Peaks finale. How many characters got offed? Any synopsis anywhere?
One they forgot was Barney Miller. That was a show that did the finale right. It had class, dignity and was very satisfying (as far as I remember anyway).
for 6FU. It plays even better on second viewing. I had thought it was a mistake for them to kill off Nate with a few episodes left, but it proved to be a genius move since it set up that classic ending episode.I'm glad to NOT see St. Elsewhere on that list. I loved that show, but felt the finale was hurt by that "big twist" which really didn't make any sense. While Newhart's finale had brilliance in the reveal (and they don't mention it there, but the audience actually shrieked when they saw Suzanne Pleshette there), St Elsewhere felt sorta cheap by comparison.
Never understood the reverence for the MASH finale. It was SO LONG. It was bloated and unnecessarily depressing. Hawkeye has a nervous breakdown after watching a mother smother her child. Charles befriends a Korean band then watches as they all die. The show drags for 150 minutes. The final shot WAS great, but before that, there was a lot of tedium. All most people remember is that final shot and the ratings.
Never knew that about the Twin Peaks finale. How many characters got offed? Any synopsis anywhere?
One they forgot was Barney Miller. That was a show that did the finale right. It had class, dignity and was very satisfying (as far as I remember anyway).
05-13-06 | 11:50 AM
#12
What a perfectly mainstream and uninspired list. No "Sleeping in Light" (which I'd wager the author hasn't even seen) = No sale. Not to mention "All Good Things ...", "Mirror Image", "The Last Show" ...
das
das
05-13-06 | 11:58 AM
#13
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Decker
Never knew that about the Twin Peaks finale. How many characters got offed? Any synopsis anywhere?
05-13-06 | 11:59 AM
#14
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
das, excuse my ignorance, but what shows were those episodes from?
05-13-06 | 12:31 PM
#17
Yeah, sorry about that. I tend to think of episodes in terms of their titles. "All Good Things ..." was the finale for Star Trek: The Next Generation.
das
P.S. It's a long way to Tipperary. It's a long way to go.
das
P.S. It's a long way to Tipperary. It's a long way to go.
05-13-06 | 01:22 PM
#18
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
I'm sorry, that wasn't just a picture, it was Geronimo a final nod to Coach Pantuso, which made the ending even more touching.
05-13-06 | 04:35 PM
#23
DVD Talk Legend
In recent years, along with Six Feet Under and Arrested Development, Angel's series finale was near brilliant. Easily the best episode to come out of the last two seasons of that show.
05-13-06 | 05:00 PM
#25
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From: Socal
I totally agree with 'Six Feet Under,' and honestly I think it sets the new standars for what a television show should aspire to (with series endings), and it is soo haunting, yet in such a fitting way, I will never forget it. And yes, I cried like a baby too...
Also I think worth noting is the series finale of "Roswell," while it was a tad rushed it will provided really great closure to the series, but left almost everything up to the viewer's imagination. "Dawson's Creek" also, while sappy ending rather well.
Also I think worth noting is the series finale of "Roswell," while it was a tad rushed it will provided really great closure to the series, but left almost everything up to the viewer's imagination. "Dawson's Creek" also, while sappy ending rather well.