My favorite TV swan songs.
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.…
Article comments
26 - Kate
Funny you said you're happy Ruth is still out there...a friend turned to me shortly after the show had ended and said, "What do you think Claire is doing in New York right now?" LOL This show rocked, and the finale was the best I have EVER seen.
27 - Nikki Stafford
WOW. You are a person after my own heart. I saw the headline thought, "If I were doing this, Angel would be at #2, Six Feet Under at #1, and I'd include MASH and Buffy and BSG in there somewhere." And then... you wrote it for me. :) Brilliant list. I agree about the sobbing at the end of Angel and Six Feet Under. I watched that end montage over and over, and never with a dry eye. Man. Now I have to go back and watch them both again...
And yes, definitely, watch both The Shield and The Wire. Both amazing endings as well. You know, I never finished watching Oz -- it lost me in the 4th season -- but seeing as you named so many of my other fave endings (Arrested Development, The UK Office, Freaks & Geeks) I'll have to go and watch it now.
Bravo!!
28 - Mac
No love for The Shield? The best cop show of all time went out with a figurative and literal bang.
Also, how can you even compare the original Office to it's pale American imitator? The writers of the stateside version all too often resort to making Michael Scott an idiot with too-dumb-to-be-believed story lines, e.g. planting drugs in Toby's desk, driving his car into a lake, or crawling around on the floor in a recent episode.
David Brent's craven desire to be liked and embraced made the British Office truly brilliant. His dance-off scene against his boss tops anything the American Office has ever produced.
29 - El Bicho
"The Shield...the best cop show of all time"
Wrong. That would be Homicide. While The Shield went out on a high point, it had plenty of low, silly ones throughout its run.
30 - Mike the Watcher
Star Trek Deep Space Nine by far had one of the best finales I ever saw on many shows,certainly in the Trek franchise
31 - V2Blast
Well, I guess it's not so much a finale as a movie version of one, but I'd say Firefly/Serenity would be at the top of my list :P
32 - fiver
The Wire. The best show series TV you have yet to watch.
33 - Paterick
Ow. I been slowly finding and watching the Six Feet Under series. I was up to season 4. Now I know how it ends. *sighs* I'm gonna watch some Family Guy or somethin.
34 - Pontus Olin
I agree with most of these, although I would definitely add The Wire. But I can understand if it's not considered a great ending simply because every moment of that series is just pure genius. What most people think makes an ending great is that it almost unexpectedly raises up what has come before. But it's almost impossible to raise up The Wire to new levels, it's already there. So somehow the brilliant finale was almost expected.
Also, I would personally add Farscape to the list. Peacekeeper Wars ties up the series in a fantastic way.
And, incidentally, the three series (apart from Farscape) that touched me the most were the ones you place at 1, 2 and 3. In other words, great list!
PS. Have just seen season 1 of The Shield, but I love it so far.
35 - Mallory
I've been saying Six Feet Under had the best finale I've ever seen for years! Glad to see someone agrees. I cried so hard during much of that last season, especially the last 5 minutes.
Angel, Battlestar Galactica, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Office are also shows I thought had great endings too. Angel's ending with Wesley and just the killing of Fred made me weep.
Also, I was SO glad Tim ended up with Dawn in the Office.
36 - Cog
I thought the Shield's recent finale was much better than the Sopranos, definitely more definitive, and even a touch better than BSG's. I only saw a handful of episodes from all 3 series, but the Shield's by far went out in a style more suiting that show, the writers deserve credit.
The series montage during the end credits to Concrete Blonde's "Long Time Ago" only added to the dramatic finish.
37 - James Coleman
I'm going to throw in some further British ones, as I feel we are underrepresented in this tally.
Life on Mars (British version) has by FAR the best series finale I've ever seen, where they managed to not only tie up all the loose ends and recognise every aspect and theory of the show so far, but manage to reach many emotions, close up relationships in a genuine fashion, and also keep you guessing right until the end. Honestly, it's just bloody PERFECT. (Haven't seen Six Feet Under, but find it hard to believe that it could beat it)
Another British series, a comedy from the 1970s called The Good Life. A more heartwarming comedy you'll never know, and while by no means the most outloud funny show you'll ever see, it reaches emotional levels other shows can only dream of. The finale Anniversary (though not the last episode, there were two Specials that followed) is just superb, with some brilliantly funny moments, crashing down into one of the saddest turns any series has ever managed, and ending on a wonderfully optimistic note that will keep the tears warm. Confused? Watch it, you'll see what I mean.
Actually, a lot of 70s Britcoms had good endings: To The Manor Born, Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hi-De-Hi!, Porridge, Only Fools and Horses (Time on Our Hands - not actually the last episode but intended as such in 1996), and some later ones like Goodnight Sweetheart.
Also Goodbyeee!, the last episode of Series 4 of Blackadder, Blackadder Goes Forth. Perhaps not really the series finale (one further special 8 years later), this is an utterly stunning piece of television.
Other than the omission of The Good Life and Life on Mars, you've got a pretty good list (although I might put the Buffy finale above the Angel one... prefer Angel as a show but thought Buffy tied it all up better, prob owing to having 22 episodes to prepare rather than 6)
38 - Baronius
I loved the final episode of Alias. Some people didn't. The finale didn't tie everything together, but it resolved the main story lines, and did so with the same chaotic spirit the show always had. Ed was another show that resolved nicely in the finale. I didn't think Angel was a very good show, but it definitely ended the way it should have.
Some shows try to end on a completely different note. Star Trek finales have usually made that mistake. Seinfeld is a perfect example of a show ditching its formula for its finale, leaving all its fans in a lurch.
39 - Arlo J. Wiley
Sorry about ruining Six Feet Under for you, Paterick, but I said upfront there would be spoilers!
40 - Tanru
Someone mentioned "Twin Peaks" series finale. You can't use that episode - it was a season 2 finale - it had all sorts of cliffhangers. It wasn't a resolution to a series. They expected to come back for season 3.
Personally I'd add Star Trek: The Next Generation "All Good Things..." and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine "What You Leave Behind" as wonderfully fitting endings to those series. I still like the ones that you have used here though.
No one mentions the X-Files finale... but I don't blame them. In fact I only JUST watched it a couple of months ago - and I was a big fan of the show too. Season 8 and 9 just weren't needed. I was surprised though that they basically just explained EVERYTHING - after a decade of WTF? Chris Carter was just like "Here - have it! This is what was going on." And you were like... Oh! heheheh.
41 - runa
I'd say The West Wing, but in hindsight, the finale was a bit of a disappointment. No Toby and not nearly enough Josh/Donna, quite a wasted opportunity.
42 - Ezra
My list would certainly have Star Trek Next Generation... an ending that I couldn't stop thinking about during Battlestar (since I think Ronald D. Moore also wrote that one). Unlike Battlestar's turbulent (and logically uncertain) ending, Next Generation had one of the best finales for what was essentially a procedural--Multiple time lines that show possible futures for many major characters (including a Data who has (of course) developed emotions (seemingly without the need of the ridiculous chip)... Finally, Q is brought back to put the perfect book end on the series--completely altering the reading of the first episode... Q has put humanity on trial, but the trial never ends--we must always prove ourselves. Broad, yes, but in its own way--very profound... possibly more than head Six and Head Baltar's stroll down Times Square.
43 - Jet
Everything being "subjective" it's still inexcusable that Newhart wasn't mentioned in your list.
Anyone whose a fan of "The Bob Newhart Show" and all of it's associated "hi Bob!" drinking games will tell you that at the end of "Newhart" when Bob gets hit with that golf ball and wakes up in the dark, in bed with Suzanne Pleshette, and in the Hartley's bedroom, no more histerical laughter was to be had anywhere. And when it was revealed that the entire "Newhart" series was a bad dream induced from Bob Hartley eating Japanese food before bed, just the sight of Emily Hartley was incredible.
...Especially after she realized what Bob had said about his dream wife wearing sweaters and turned their bedroom lights back on.
But of course it's all subjective.
44 - Dr Dreadful
James,
Totally agree with you about the Only Fools and Horses and Blackadder finales. TV at its finest.
And, although it's not a finale (it's the world's longest-running sitcom and shows no sign of petering out!) I think the episode of Last of the Summer Wine when Compo dies is worth a mention. The show's never been the same without the late Bill Owen.
45 - Zelda Rose
-The Shield (Vic gets stuck in his own personal hell)
-Newhart (One of the most creative, funniest, and unexpected endings to any series)
-Babylon 5
-West Wing (Say goodbye to the Bartlett Adminsitration, hello to the Santos Administration and you wish you could have seen how that would have turned out)
46 - Kathy
Completely correct with the Six Feet Under finale. I was so taken by the entire episode and felt priviledgedto have seen it.
47 - YouGottaBeKidding
No Newhart? That negates your entire list. Schmucks!
48 - MV
Correction about Anne from Angel - that character first appeared as Lilly in the Buffy season 2 ep "Anne" - when Buffy goes back to Sunnydale, Lilly asks if she can take the name Anne.
PS: Totally agree with Buffy, Angel, Freaks and Geeks and Arrested Development on that list. Not sure if it was one of the best but I kinda liked the finale of Quantum Leap...
Oh definitely agree with the Blackadder finale (not counting the specials that followed)
49 - Robin
@MV: Correction of your correction -- Anne/Lily/Chanterelle first appeared in 'Lie To Me' (BtVS s.2, ep.7) as a vampire groupie calling herself Chanterelle (which she later learned is a type of mushroom). When she next appeared in 'Anne' (BtVS s.3, ep.1), she was going by Lily (possibly her real name) and, as you said, adopted the moniker Anne along with the waitressing job when Buffy didn't need it anymore. [/continuity geek]
I haven't seen all of the shows on the list, but I can't disagree with any of the ones that I have. Sadly, many of my favoritest shows couldn't be included because they were axed prematurely. (Surprisingly, not all by Fox. I'm still kind of miffed about Sports Night.)
50 - karmelrio
Kudos on your list. I teared up just READING your write-ups on "Angel" and "Six Feet Under." What wonderful memories this story brings back.
51 - karmelrio
...now trotting out to YouTube to watch the SFU montage... the most gorgeous 10 minutes of television I've ever seen.
52 - Jet
Here is a link to the final 9 minute act of the "Newhart" series finalie. The neighbors who sold their land for millions, return to see if Bob is still the last hold out after the entire town was bought by a Japanese corporation and turned into a huge golf course/hotel complex... all except the Stratford inn of course.
The final four minutes contain the incredible scene when he wakes up in the bedroom of "the Bob Newhart Show" with Suzanne Pleshette in bed with him and the audience goes wild.
Click here
53 - KBL
DIscos & Dragons is probably my favorite single television episode of all time (though the Season 1 finale of Friday Night Lights runs a close second). Every now and again, even ten years later (has it really been that long?), I am still saddened that it was the last episode of Freaks & Geeks.
54 - Al Barger
I'm glad to see that people in this thread are hip to The Shield. "Family Meeting" was the greatest dramatic series finale you're ever likely to see.
The particular "family meeting" of the title was one of the harshest things ever on a tv - and it was particularly brilliant in the very quiet and still way of the reveal. The endings for both Shane and Vic caught me by surprise, even as the world's #1 fan of the series.
But then after seeing the finale and sleeping on it, the basic results for these two now seem to have been inevitable since early in the series. Fans -including me- got our seven year series long moral blindness all rubbed properly in our faces. We made excuses for Vic Mackey these years, but we really knew in our hearts that he was all along the rat that he openly became in his last scenes.
And odd as it might seem, it ended up making perfect sense that the truest and deepest moral judgments were outlined specifically by Shane Vendrell - the core cast member with the worst and wickedest behavior of them all.
55 - Al Barger
But not getting any love and deserving much, Titus. The show was brilliant all along at couching fairly serious ideas about human nature and relations in often the most studiously inane sitcom conventions.
But holy smokes, "The Visit" was the climactic next to last episode, and about the most amazing damned thing I ever saw that was labeled "sitcom." Wonder if that social worker ever got her damned muffins.
56 - Jaim
I like the series finale of Gilmore Girls although I wish Lorelai and Emily could have at least hugged. I miss that show.
Will and Grace was another good series ender.
I liked the end of The Cosby Show with Cliff and Claire dancing off the set together.
57 - Jarrod Adams
Wow, your top three show endings are my top three shows of all time. I've never watched BSG, OZ or F&G, but I agree with you in that, while I loved some endings of the past, particularly Newhart's, these more current shows had much more appeal to me.
I actually felt weird about the ending of "Six Feet Under". I'm not sure why. I'm not really certain that I needed to see all of their deaths. I believe I would have been happy just seeing Claire drive away in the end and the credits start rolling from there. It could just be that I didn't want the show to end and that I really hated how Keith died, but I dunno. Something about it felt forced to me.
The Buffy and Angel endings however were better than I could have possibly asked for. And your favorite part about the ending of Buffy is mine as well. I was actually a little bothered that they brought William into Angel in season five, but James brought so much to the season, I soon felt different about it.
Great article!
58 - Jessica
Agreed that the final moments of Battlestar and the ending of Adama and Roslins epic romance was the most moving moments I have I have ever watched on TV...I still cant bring myself to rewatch it.
I do agree though that the final Blackadder *over the top* was amazing too...and as much as I loved the West Wing the finale didnt really do it for me, except for the final scene with Jed and Abbey.
59 - pauld
This is going back a ways, and it was a "small" show, but its finale stayed true to the classy tone and spirit of the entire series run -- Barney Miller.
60 - Jet
On the flip side, the most horrid finale that killed everyone's hopes and anticipations for years afterward had to be Dallas with JR wandering around with an angel in the guise of Joel Gray.
MAN I was pissed.
61 - Adam
The Wire and Star Trek: The Next Generation both deserve mention. "All Good Things..." was one of the best episodes of the series.
62 - Georgia, USA
Here is another vote for The Wire as the best series and finale that television has ever produced. But I'm still happy to see the MASH and Buffy finales here too.
63 - Jet
Hey-No one saw the ST Voyager finale when the Captain and her future self did battle with the Borg to finally get back home?
64 - marc
Lost is the best one!!!!!!
65 - Carlos Gregorio
I just started to watch OZ last weekend and, oh God, I am in a marathon since then. It is so far the best show ever made for TV.
I will be very very very sorry the moment I reach the last episode. I will miss the show so much...
66 - James
My favorite Would have to be life on mars, the British edition. I love that ending where he has to choose between 'reality' and 'fiction'. That was great TV, him realizing that he was more alive in 1973 than he ever was in 2006. "if you can feel it man then its real, if you cant feel it then its not."
67 - STM
Yep, great ending for the British version ... but I think the American show is a great version too.
Loved the fashions and shocking hair cuts (did we REALLY look like that???) on both sides of the Atlantic, circa 1973
68 - yo
That wasn't coke on oz it was heroin.
69 - dewey
I was hopping for six feet under as number one...
However I can't understand why scrubs is not on the top ten