As you may have heard, Battlestar Galactica, the most geek-friendly show on TV, came to an end last week. It was a stirring finale, and one that has garnered more than a little controversy in certain online circles. So it got me to thinking: How does it stack up to other great finales? Which has led to this list, all about the best television swan songs.
As a note, shows which didn't get a chance at a real finale, like Firefly or My So-Called Life, weren't considered. Also, there will be spoilers, so read at your own discretion. You have been warned.
Now to start the countdown:
10. "Exeunt Omnes," Oz
For such an innovative and influential show, Oz is rather underrated. It rarely pops up on lists of best TV series, and it's relatively difficult to find out any substantial information about the show online. I mean, this is the show that, with its stark depictions of brutal violence and graphic sexuality, not to mention its sharp and perceptive character studies and social commentaries, paved the way for such later HBO series as The Sopranos and Deadwood. It didn't break the mold, it created the mold. And it remained true to that mold until its final 100 minutes, in which all of the major storylines were resolved in fitting and, in some cases, desperately depressing ways. At the end, everyone is forced to evacuate the prison, leaving behind the ground on which so much blood was shed and so much cocaine was snorted. As dense and dark as ever.
9. "Discos and Dragons," Freaks and Geeks
Unlike so many shows that got canceled after just one season, Freaks and Geeks had a creative team that knew the axe was about to fall and who decided to actually go out with a real ending instead of praying for another year. Daniel finds happiness at a Dungeons & Dragons game, Nick finds disappointment on the disco floor, and Lindsay finds herself by listening to the Grateful Dead's American Beauty, surely the sweetest and least embarrassing spiritual transformation the Dead have ever been responsible for. It's a typically hilarious and poignant hour of perhaps the most down-to-earth and realistic teen saga television has yet to see, and if it doesn't seem to have the immenseness or finality of a last chapter, that's because it wasn't meant to. These kids have got their whole lives ahead of them.
8. "Made in America," The Sopranos
"Made in America" was forever embedded in the collective cultural conscience as soon as it ended; its infamous cut-to-black ending was so widely reported and commented on that even Hillary and Bill Clinton did a parody of it. But by focusing on that last ambiguous parting shot from creator David Chase, we run the risk of forgetting just how beautifully structured and executed an hour of television "Made in America" is. Except for Phil Leotardo's brilliantly succinct whacking, there's no outpouring of violence. So much of the series had been divided between Tony's dual lives with his family and The Family, and there's no doubting that its final hour was all about the lowercase "f" family. A.J. almost dies in a car fire with one of his many girlfriends, and decides to join the Army, only to be seduced by the more glamorous life of a movie producer, not to mention the shiny new car accompanying it. There couldn't be a more fitting denouement for the character: a rash, quasi-idealist who sells his integrity for the easiest way out. Meanwhile, Tony's final visit with Junior is heartbreaking, and that much-discussed ending shows Tony looking around at every slight movement or sound, waiting for the next attack, waiting for the next hit, waiting for death. This time, as he gives the camera one last glance, it's only his daughter. But the next time...
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Will Penley
My favorite series finale would definitely be the long-slaved-over culmination of Clerks: The Animated Series, graciously provided to the series' creators by the wonderful network that is ABC.
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2 - El Bicho
You've left off quite a few classic endings that are legendary moments in television. Where's Newhart, St Elsewhere, The Fugitive, Howdy Doody, Mary Tyler Moore?
Nice to see OZ get a mention, but the majority of these fall into such a narrow timeframe and nerd mindset that who knows if some of your choices will be able to stand the test of time. Surely, that terrible BSG mess will long be forgotten for some bad writing that too many fans are sadly willing to overlook.
3 - Arlo J. Wiley
Well, these are totally subjective choices, and they're definitely the ones that mean the most to me.
I wouldn't really count a show like Howdy Doody on a list like this, by which I mean a show that didn't tell a story. If I did, the last episode of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson would've made the cut. I can't say that I'm too partial to the other shows you mentioned (I keep meaning to watch The Fugitive, though).
And as for BSG, do you mean the series as a whole or just the finale? If it's the finale, I can certainly understand where you're coming from, and I've had discussions about its arguable shortcomings, but it worked for me.
4 - Wesley Mead
Stellar choices, AJ! "Six Feet Under" is certainly a worthy number one. What a stunning 75 minutes of television.
Good to see the likes of "Arrested Development" and "Buffy", too. Personally, I'd have found room for "Frasier" and "Cheers", but I can't disagree with any of your picks here -- well, of the seven I've seen. Great stuff.
5 - Rebecca
Whenever this topic comes up, I always think of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Even if you didn't watch the series, the final episode is so brilliantly written and acted, an undeniably amazing cap to a great show. Arlo, if you've never seen that one episode, grab a box of Kleenex and give it a whirl. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll see what all the fuss is about (and probably replace something on your list, I'd replace BSG).
And kudo's for choosing "Oz" at all - totally underrated show - and "Six Feet Under" as number one. What an amazing ending.
6 - Baron
The Shield is absent. Really? It was far better than the majority, if not all, of these listed.
7 - Chris
was hoping six feet under was number 1... "wonder years" is right there though!!
8 - Rev
The Shield was by far the best series finale I have ever seen...just as their series blew the Sopranos out of the water, so did their finale...hands down.
9 - Rev
wonder years was a really good one, too.
10 - Jen
The finale of the West Wing is one of my favorites. The behind the scenes of inauguration day was cool.
11 - alastor
I'm a really emotional guy but I DO NOT cry easily. But Six Feet Under just blew me away, I cried all throughout the final montage of the deaths of all the characters. Though others say that that sequence was a bit over the top, I have to agree with you that it was fitting to end the series that way. As to its being number 1, I don't think I've watched enough shows to agree with you. :)
12 - Mike
Seriously, where was The Shield? Did the writer just not watch the show or was it just a mistake? I haven't seen a lot of these, but for as much as I enjoyed AD, The Shield's finale blows it out of the water.
13 - Mike
Newhart, Mash, Six feet Under, but what makes me mad are when networks like ABC terminate shows like Life on Mars, Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone, and only LOM's will get a proper ending
14 - Terry
The Twin Peaks finale is superior to most of these. In fact, all of these are from very recent shows. Is the writer sixteen-years-old?
15 - El Bicho
Everything is subjective, but if you are going to title something the ten best, you should have some sense of history. Throw out M*A*S*H and this would be better titled "...of the Past 10 Years."
The Shield was a very good one as well. I can't remember Twin Peaks.
In regards to BSG, the final season was an absolute mess.
16 - Bonkerz
If you really want to see compelling television, check out the finale of Wonder Showzen
17 - Sara
Um, no. We're forgetting "Friends"... the way they all walked out of the apartment one last time, leaving the keys, and onto a separate and more grown-up existence... plus Ross and Rachel finally reunited. It was exactly what the fans wanted (including great comedy), and there wasn't a dry eye when that finale aired.
18 - MissLobyt
Will & Grace : The Finale. To me, it was the best finale ever. Jack & Karen are the funniest couple in the tv history and that duet was really "Unforgettable"!!!
19 - John W
I think you already mentioned my two favorite season finales: Buffy and Angel.
20 - yinzer b
I can't believe no one has mentioned "The Wire" Amazing finale for an amazing show.
21 - Dr Dreadful
My favorite TV finale was Everybody Loves Raymond, because it meant that show wouldn't be on any more.
22 - Arlo J. Wiley
Well, sorry that almost all of these are fairly recent, guys. I considered adding the finale of All in the Family, but apart from that, I can't think of very many older finales that have meant as much to me as these do.
Also, I've only seen the first season of The Wire (which I loved to pieces), and as soon as I finish that, it's on to The Shield.
23 - Johnnycakes
Good piece but this nonsense about the Sopranos finale needs to stop. Please watch the scene again, Tony is as happy as he can be. He isnt paranoid at all. Chase has all but said Tony died. It's the greatest finale in TV history.
Below is an astonishing piece on the ending. Just read Part 2 of the essay linked below to fully understand the depth and beauty of 'the Sopranos'. Actually you should read the whole the thing but Part 2 is really a moving elegy to the show.
What is most impressive is that the writer has crafted a rather exhaustive critique of the conclusion of the final episode, while also providing a larger contextual view, of which the ending is a piece.
The writer also offers an analysis of the final scene and the sequence of shots that I havent read elsewhere. The essay also contains a fascinating look at the Kevin Finnerty coma dreams, the connection between Phil and Tony in the final season and of course, the meaning of those ducks and how they relate to the final scene.
What it expresses more than anything else is that David Chase created one of the great works of art of the last century. Reading this I want to watch the whole series again.
24 - alirai
good choices in general...Six feet under was definately AMAZING.im not ashamed to admit that i wept like a baby the last three episodes of that show.
another show i'd like to mention is 'the wire' which is arguably the best hsow of all time and the finale was definately up there and extremely fitting, quite possibly the best piece of television i have ever seen.
25 - alirai
its also great to see 'freaks and geeks' get the credit it deserves, probably the most underrated and overlooked show in tv history.