12 TV Shows With the Best Series Finales, According to Reddit

1. "Breaking Bad" (2008-2013)

"Breaking Bad" had a finale so sharp, it could cut glass. Walter White, our favorite high school chemistry teacher turned meth kingpin, had one final showdown in the lab. All the plot threads woven throughout the series came together tighter than one of Walt's signature knots. When Walt took that fateful bullet, it was the perfect bitter end for a man who'd broken so bad. We all felt that gut punch of an ending, and the subtle hint of justice served was the cherry on this morally complex sundae.

2. "The Sopranos" (1999-2007)

The finale of "The Sopranos" could make a philosopher out of anyone on Reddit (sure felt like it actually did just that, for a while). Tony Soprano, sitting in a diner, a suspicious guy at the counter, a door chiming, and then...nothing. Black screen. The abrupt, ambiguous ending sparked a debate that's as hot as one of Carmela's home-cooked meals. Did Tony get whacked? We'll never know, but that's the beauty (and masochism) of it.

The finale was a bold, stylistic choice that left us all in a state of existential crisis, questioning the nature of life, death, and cable TV subscriptions.

3. "The Office" (US) (2005-2013)

Dunder Mifflin's finest certainly didn't disappoint with their final episode. It was a beautifully nostalgic farewell that had us reaching for the tissues more often than we'd like to admit. A year after the documentary aired, the gang reunited for Dwight and Angela's wedding. We saw Jim's last brilliant prank, Michael Scott's surprise appearance, and the heartfelt words of wisdom in the final talking heads.

If there's one thing "The Office" taught us, it's that even a mundane job can lead to some extraordinary friendships. The finale felt like saying goodbye to our own co-workers, if our co-workers were unusually hilarious and prone to high jinks.

4. "Six Feet Under" (2001-2005)

Now, here's a show that knew how to stick the landing. "Six Feet Under," a series that routinely dealt with death, decided to off its main characters in the most profound way possible during the series finale. We witnessed their lives unfold and then their deaths, each set to Sia's hauntingly beautiful "Breathe Me." The show left no doubt about the fate of the Fisher family, making Redditors both appreciative of life and utterly terrified of the inexorable march of time.

5. "The Americans" (2013-2018)

In a world of high-stakes espionage, wigs, and '80s nostalgia, "The Americans" built a dramatic crescendo that could rival a James Bond film. Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, the Russian spies posing as American suburbanites, faced their day of reckoning. After six seasons of death-defying (literally) antics, the couple is forced to abandon their children and return to a Russia they no longer know. The haunting scene in the parking garage, the tragic farewell at the train station, and the poignant use of U2's "With or Without You" hit us like a truck, and we loved every minute of it.

6. "Fleabag" (2016-2019)

"Fleabag" was a masterclass in heartache and humor, and its finale left us laughing through our tears. Our unnamed heroine, played by the brilliant Phoebe Waller-Bridge, walks away from the camera (and us), leaving behind a life marked by tragedy and chaos. The Hot Priest and our leading lady's relationship ends with a gut-wrenching "I love you" that is met with an "It'll pass." Add in a guinea pig-themed café, a statue theft, and a surprisingly emotional fox, and you have a finale that's as unconventional as the show itself.

7. "Mad Men" (2007-2015)

The man who could sell ice to an Eskimo ends his tale in a lotus position. "Mad Men" served us a finale that was as smooth as one of Don Draper's pitches. After a downward spiral of self-destruction, Don found peace in a hippie retreat, culminating in him conceiving one of the most iconic ads of the '70s, the "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke" commercial. Don Draper's journey from Madison Avenue to the California coast was packed with scandal, booze, and more scandal. The finale was the last glass of whiskey in a seven-season binge.

8. "Newhart" (1982-1990)

"Newhart's" finale is a testament to the fact that some of the best twists come with a generous dose of humor. Bob Newhart, who played Vermont innkeeper Dick Loudon, wakes up in bed next to Suzanne Pleshette, who played his wife Emily from his previous show "The Bob Newhart Show." It's revealed that the entire "Newhart" series was a dream. The ending, a wink to the audience, was a hilarious and clever twist, making it one of television's most memorable finales.

9. "M*A*S*H" (1972-1983)

Talk about a goodbye that shook America. The final episode of "M*A*S*H," aptly titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," was a television event. The culmination of eleven seasons depicting the medical personnel's lives during the Korean War, this 2.5-hour-long grand finale was viewed by over 100 million people.

In the finale, the war ends, and our favorite characters embark on their separate paths, but not without an emotional punch. Hawkeye's mental breakdown, Klinger's wedding, and the final scene of BJ's 'GOODBYE' spelled out in stones will make even the most stoic viewers tear up.

10. "Friday Night Lights" (2006-2011)

"Friday Night Lights," a show that wove itself into the heart of American television, scored a touchdown with its finale. The Taylors move from Dillon to Philadelphia, leading to heartwrenching goodbyes. Coach Taylor's final "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose" to his team was a perfect end to a show that was less about football and more about the human spirit.

Meanwhile, Tim Riggins, Dillon's bad boy with a heart of gold, finally builds his dream house, and Tyra reads her college essay – a full-circle moment that ties up the show beautifully.

11. "Battlestar Galactica" (2004-2009)

For a series with epic battles and space operas, the "Battlestar Galactica" finale took a poignant, philosophical approach. After years of running from the Cylons, the crew of Galactica discovers a prehistoric Earth and decides to settle. It was a bold move for a sci-fi show to end with a Garden of Eden-like beginning.

Starbuck's mysterious disappearance, the reveal of Hera as 'Mitochondrial Eve,' and the notion that 'All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again' left us grappling with existential questions that lingered long after the credits rolled.

12. "Parks and Recreation" (2009-2015)

"Parks and Rec" gifted us a finale that was pure comfort food. In true Leslie Knope style, the show fast-forwarded through several years, allowing us to see how our beloved characters from Pawnee fared in the future. From Leslie and Ben's political careers, Tom's successful book, and even a glimpse of a future President (or First Gentleman?) Knope, the finale was a warm, optimistic hug. Not to mention, the glorious last scene of them all having a group hug in the Parks Department office.