10 Tear-Jerking Series Finale Moments That Still Have Us Sobbing

Warning: major spoilers ahead!

1. The Leftovers (2014-2017)

In a series dealing with inexplicable loss and the struggle to find meaning, The Leftovers finale presented an older Nora Durst (Carrie Coon) who claimed to have visited the "departed" and chose to come back. The most emotional moment is her recounting this to Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) years later in a tearful confession, revealing a poignant narrative about love, loss, and the human capacity for belief. The showrunner, Damon Lindelof, has left it up to viewers to decide whether Nora's story was true or not.

2. Six Feet Under (2001-2005)

Six Feet Under, the HBO series about the Fisher family who runs a funeral home, delivered one of the most satisfying and tear-inducing finales in television history. The episode, fittingly titled Everyone's Waiting, includes an 11-minute sequence that reveals the future of every main character – and, inevitably, their deaths.

This beautifully executed fast-forward through life and death encapsulates the series' central theme: everyone dies, and that's okay. Interesting to note, the series was created by Alan Ball, who won an Academy Award for the film American Beauty.

3. Person of Interest (2011-2016)

In a finale fitting for its high stakes narrative, Person of Interest left viewers in tears as they bid goodbye to Harold Finch (Michael Emerson) and the death of John Reese (Jim Caviezel). Reese sacrifices himself to save Finch and ensure the Machine's survival, a poignant moment highlighting the themes of sacrifice and friendship that were integral to the series. The series creator Jonathan Nolan originally conceived the show as a crime procedural but evolved it into a profound exploration of AI ethics.

4. China Beach (1988-1991)

Set in an evacuation hospital during the Vietnam War, China Beach offered a unique perspective on the lives of the military women and men who witnessed the war firsthand. The series finale, Hello Goodbye, provided a poignant conclusion, as Colleen McMurphy (Dana Delany) reunites with her Vietnam colleagues in a touching Washington D.C. memorial scene. Dana Delany won two Emmys for her role as Army Nurse McMurphy, cementing the importance of China Beach in TV history.

5. Fringe (2008-2013)

Fringe, a science fiction series, saw its heart-wrenching finale with the departure of the beloved character, the Observer-child Michael. He steps into the future, saving the world but causing his 'father' Walter Bishop (John Noble) to disappear forever from the lives of his son and granddaughter.

This emotional sacrifice, combined with a final loving glance between Peter (Joshua Jackson) and Walter, left fans teary-eyed. A fun trivia: the glyph symbols shown before each commercial break in Fringe episodes actually spell a code word relevant to the episode.

6. Halt and Catch Fire (2014-2017)

Set amidst the personal computer revolution of the 80s and 90s, Halt and Catch Fire captured the essence of human connection in a rapidly evolving digital age. The series concluded with a somber note on the death of Gordon Clark (Scoot McNairy), leaving viewers and characters alike grappling with their loss.

But it was the last scene, featuring Cameron (Mackenzie Davis) and Donna (Kerry Bishé) contemplating a new business venture, that really tugged at the heartstrings. It subtly suggested that the flame Gordon and others had ignited would continue to burn in the world of technology.

7. Justified (2010-2015)

Justified ended with an emotional conversation between Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) and his longtime frenemy Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) in a prison visiting room. The series, based on Elmore Leonard's short story Fire in the Hole, maintained its thrilling pace throughout six seasons, yet it was this quiet, dialogue-driven moment that packed the most emotional punch. Raylan showing compassion towards Boyd and lying about Ava's fate to protect her left many viewers choked up.

8. Parenthood (2010-2015)

Parenthood, the Braverman family saga, earned a reputation for being one of the most "real" family dramas on TV. Its final episode titled May God Bless and Keep You Always was no exception. The heart-tugging finale concluded with a family baseball game montage, set in the future, displaying various significant life events for the Braverman clan, including the death of patriarch Zeek (Craig T. Nelson). It encapsulated the series' exploration of the joy and pain that come with familial ties.

9. The Shield (2002-2008)

The Shield finale was a masterstroke, encapsulating the entire tragic arc of Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) – an antihero cop who finally faced consequences for his corrupt actions. Instead of death or jail, Mackey was sentenced to a mundane desk job, a punishment worse than death for a man of his disposition. Mackey, trapped in a personal hell of regret and guilt, hears sirens in the distance in the final scene, his gaze longing for the streets he can no longer control, a devastating end for a complex character.

10. Rectify (2013-2016)

In Rectify, Daniel Holden (Aden Young) was released from death row due to DNA evidence after spending 19 years in prison. The series finale, All I'm Sayin', ended with a scene between Daniel and his new friend Chloe (Caitlin FitzGerald), symbolizing Daniel's journey towards peace and acceptance. The show's slow, contemplative storytelling and its focus on Daniel's quest for personal redemption resulted in one of the most moving series finales in recent memory.