As a TV junkie, there is nothing quite as thrilling to me as a good series finale. While I do love the occasional between seasons cliff hanger, there is nothing on TV as potentially amazing/anticlimactic, as the last ever episode of a well loved show.
However this much loved tradition is not without its perils. If a show has had a big fan base or is particularly known for its innovative storylines, the pressure of ‘ending on a high note’ is absolutely HUGE, and if you get it wrong there is much retribution to be had (I still refuse to watch “Dallas” for this very reason- I’m sorry, but if you use the ‘It was all a dream’ premise, which is usually reserved for ending creative writing pieces by year 7’s, I will not give you the time of day). And of course there is that classic conundrum of whether to end the show by wrapping up all loose ends and promising the audience happy and uneventful times ahead, or finishing with a bang, ensuring many confused water cooler conversations.
Here are a few of what I consider to be some of the best series finales of all time (if you haven’t seen the end to these programmes, prepare to be spoiled):
Twin Peaks (1991)
I’m not going to lie, “Twin Peaks” is still one of my favourite TV shows, despite its second season slump in which the dastardly ABC network forced David Lynch to reveal poor old Laura Palmer’s killer. So in true Lynchian style, he made the killer a demonic spirit inhabiting her father’s body; that’ll show ‘em for trying to control a surrealist! Although the second season took some weird plot twists, involving a gate to Hell, an albino giant and time warps, it’s final scene, which sees Agent Dale Cooper return from the hospital after he and his girlfriend Annie are attacked in the Black Lodge (don’t ask) totally sums up the frightening and ambiguous tone of the series. Lynch apparently wanted to end on a cliff hanger to bait audiences into pushing for a third season, but I think that this unintentional finale is pretty fitting for a disturbing show like “Twin Peaks”. I know I still have nightmares about BOB being at the end of my bed.
The Sopranos (2007)
Another series finale that gave narrative closure the finger, was that of “The Sopranos” - which was simultaneously praised for its inventiveness, but also met with a confused “Huh?” from many of its viewers. Running for six seasons, “The Sopranos” remains the most successful cable TV show of all time, and thus the pressure on David Chase to create a mind blowing (pardon the pun) finale was mighty intense; apparently he took a 21 month hiatus between seasons 5 and 6 just to think up the ending. After much deliberation over why Chase would end such an action packed series with a silent cut to black screen, fans from all over the world picked up clues and references within the scene that pointed to the inevitable- Tony Soprano had been whacked! Although Chase is still not keen to discuss what the final scene means, it has been pretty much accepted that the last scene renders Tony dead, or that the whole thing is in his mind; an ambiguity that not only adds to its drama, but is pretty much creative genius in promoting its own publicity through viewers trying to piece the puzzle together. I thought I’d include one of the fan made YouTube clips explaining the scene, and thank you ministryofmountz for your undeniable contribution to our understanding of an amazing mafia fest.
Six Feet Under (2005)
Talk about closure! I have to admit, I still haven’t watched the entire series of “Six Feet Under”, but I think that is even more of a testament to how powerful this ending is. I have shown this “final six minutes” as it’s known to fans, to people have never seen this show in their life, and yet despite having no prior knowledge of the characters at all, they have still been reduced to a blubbering mess. Maybe I’m just a sucker for a montage and a sad Sia song, but this finale gets me every time. Who knew a show about death would be so sad?
Seinfeld (1998)
And now to prove that a good finale doesn’t necessarily amount to killing off the main characters, or creating an emotional montage, or showing them demonically bashing their head against the mirror; they can just go to jail! Although many fans were enraged that Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer ended their time on television by being carted off to spend a year in prison after flouting the “Good Samaritan” law, I think it was the perfect way to end a series about nothing- with something happening! Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David kept the details of the finale top secret (and placed many red herring shots of Jerry and Elaine in a wedding chapel in gossip magazines) making all crew members sign a ‘no talk’ agreement, and even within the last 60 minute episode, teased the audience with a possible plane crash. If I had my way “Seinfeld” would have lasted forever but alas all good things must come to an end; and at least they had the good sense to bring back our old friend the Soup Nazi.
Next blog- the WORST TV finales ever. Be prepared.