All good things must come to an end, and yes, that includes your favorite TV show.
Although some shows royally mess up their ending and in turn ruin the entire show (see Dexter or How I Met Your Mother), there are some shows who completely nail their finales. Here is our list of the best TV series finales so far.
SPOILER ALERT!Friends
I don’t know if a series finale could get any better than this show. It wrapped up everything in the show perfectly. It’s been 10 years since the finale, and I still bawl my eyes out every time I watch it. Ross confesses his love for Rachel (she got off the plane!). Monica and Chandler finally get their much anticipated family. But it all can’t be over without a final trip to Central Perk.
One Tree Hill
For many of us, this show was our generation’s Friends. Although it could be very cheesy and somewhat unrealistic at times, we still tuned in every week to see what the Scott brothers were up to. The finale was able to bring back some old cast members that left in previous seasons. The time hop showed our favorite group of friends happy and still together after all those years. And best of all, we got to see everyone happy and healthy. Sometimes that’s all you need in a finale.
30 Rock
Some time after Tina Fey left Saturday Night Live, she created her own show with a fictional behind the scenes look of a show like SNL. Kenneth takes over as president of NBC while Tracy has to learn to live without him. The finale allowed Tina to end her fictional show TGS and 30 Rock at the same time.
The Office
Michael Scott. Need we say more? OK, well probably. After leaving the show in season seven, Steve Carell reprised his role for the finale. Jim Halpert makes one last loveable move bringing in Michael as best man for Dwight and Angela’s wedding. This episode was the perfect blend of comedy and sincerity that a show like The Office deserves.
Breaking Bad
We feel in love with Jesse and Walter from day one and that love held strong through the very last episode. Walt returns to New Mexico to deliver profits and eliminate the neo-Nazi gang that crossed him and his loved ones in the past. When Walter can finally let go in the end, it gives you a whirlwind of emotions much like the entire run of the show did.
Gilmore Girls
Some may argue that Gilmore Girls should have ended when creator and writer Amy Sherman-Palladino left the show in 2006. However, the show still wrapped up in the perfect way. Luke came through for Lorelei reuniting them once again (or so we could hope). Rory may have turned down Logan’s proposal, which was disappointing but probably for the best. The writer left the show open ended allowing the viewer to draw their own conclusions.
Honorable Mention: Parks and Recreation
Although the final season of Parks and Recreation has yet to air, we only hope that it can be added to this list. The entire show has taught us so much, from treating ourselves to our new favorite holiday, Galentines Day. The seventh and final season will premiere January 13 and the finale will air February 24. Although that seems short, there will be 13 episodes and NBC will air two a week.
Feature Photo via Entertainment Weekly