2. "Not Fade Away," Angel
If there was ever a more powerful show about redemption than Buffy, it was its spin-off, Angel. After Angel and the gang took over the Los Angeles branch of evil law firm Wolfram & Hart at the end of the fourth season, attempting to defeat the enemy from within, they soon realized that it would be all too easy for them to be tainted by corruption. But for this lesson to finally take hold, they had to lose Fred to a demon goddess resurrected by employee Knox. From then, Angel became hellbent on destroying Wolfram & Hart by any means possible, seemingly allying himself with the Circle of the Black Thorn to get the job done. And in "Not Fade Away," everything comes to a head: Angel, Spike, Wesley, Gunn, Lorne, and Illyria all spend one final day before assassinating every member of the Circle in one of the most kick-ass action sequences ever put together.
What each of them does on their last day is touching, and telling. Angel spends time with Connor, the son he couldn't raise. Spike goes to a bar and, in a lovely shout-out to longtime fans, reads aloud poetry he wrote way back in the 1800s when he was just the meek William. Gunn helps Anne (who, if you were paying attention, is the same character that started out as Chantarelle in the season two Buffy episode "Lie to Me") pack up shop. Lorne sings karaoke. And Wesley...well, Wesley cares for Illyria, who resides in the body of his beloved Fred. Wesley's eventual death is a scene poignant beyond all reason; as he lies dying in Illyria's arms, she asks him, "Would you like me to lie to you now?" Then she changes her appearance to Fred, and I honestly can't think of a television moment that's made me cry harder. As what remains of the group gathers in the alley for a final showdown, a series that was never meant to end this soon charges to the finish line as Angel declares, "Let's go to work." Fighting to the last.
1. "Everyone's Waiting," Six Feet Under
This is, quite simply, a perfect episode of television. After five long, stressful, and depressing seasons that saw each episode open with a death, Six Feet Under's finale opens with a birth. Brenda gives birth to she and Nate's child, only of course the recently departed Nate isn't there to see it. Plus, the baby's premature, and requires an extended hospital stay, which shakes Brenda to the core. Ruth, of all people, is the one who comforts her. And that seems to be a running theme in this episode, as well as in the series as a whole: People struggle with overwhelming problems, only to find them solved in the most unlikely of ways. Rico and Vanessa want to buy a funeral home, but can't afford it; David and Keith then buy Rico's 25% of Fisher & Sons so that not only can Rico get his own funeral home, but David can keep his. Claire's doubts about her artistic ability are cured by Ted, the lighthearted right-winger she can't believe she's falling for.
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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.