Season finales can be truly amazing, and we all remember how disappointing a bad series finale can be – shows like Lost and How I Met Your Mother faced a lot of criticism. However, it’s just as important to end a regular season well, leaving viewers intrigued about what happens next with their favorite characters.
A good season finale should leave you eager for what’s next, either by introducing a new puzzle or taking the story in an interesting new direction. Whether it’s a romantic cliffhanger from a classic 90s comedy or a shocking reveal in a sci-fi series, some finales are truly memorable.
Friends, “The One Where Rachel Finds Out”
Season 1, Episode 24
Okay, so Rachel and Ross? Their relationship could be so frustrating to watch sometimes, honestly. But looking back at the season 1 finale of Friends is still great – that’s the episode where Rachel finally figures out Ross is totally into her, and it’s a really sweet moment.
As a total film and TV buff, I have to say this season finale just works. It’s got everything – a little romance, a genuinely heartwarming friendship story, and a pivotal moment when Chandler (Matthew Perry) finally tells Rachel about Ross. It’s brilliant because it doesn’t just kickstart the iconic Ross and Rachel relationship; it also perfectly captures that awkward feeling when you accidentally reveal a friend’s secret to another friend. It’s so relatable!
The episode ends with a surprising reveal. Rachel finally plans to tell Ross how she feels at the airport, hoping for a romantic connection, only to discover he’s already dating Julie. This cliffhanger leaves viewers eager to see if Ross and Rachel will eventually get together.
Gilmore Girls, “Love, Daisies and Troubadours”
Season 1, Episode 21
The first season of Gilmore Girls ends on a heartwarming and romantic note. It was a season of big changes for Rory as she adjusted to life at Chilton, and we saw the beginnings of a connection between Lorelai and Luke. The final scene – Lorelai surrounded by a thousand yellow daisies – is unforgettable.
Okay, let’s talk about Max Medina’s grand gesture. Honestly, it’s a pivotal scene for Lorelai. For the first time, she really allows herself to picture a future with someone who isn’t Rory. It forces her to confront what she wants, and maybe even needs, beyond just mother-daughter life. It’s a moment where she starts seriously thinking about leaning on another person, and that’s huge for her character.
In this episode, Rory finally tells Dean Forester (Jared Padalecki) she’s in love with him. Unlike many Gilmore Girls season finales that end with Lorelai and Rory facing challenges, this one is filled with joyful and touching scenes.
Grey’s Anatomy, “Flight”
Season 8, Episode 24
The season 8 finale of Grey’s Anatomy is considered the most impactful of the entire series. It features devastating losses and sets the stage for major challenges in the relationship between Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) and Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez).
The medical drama is well-known for its dramatic season-enders, but the episode “Flight” feels more like an action-packed disaster movie and is incredibly upsetting. It centers around a devastating plane crash involving Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and her colleagues, with repercussions that last throughout the ninth season. Arizona suffers a life-altering injury, losing her leg, and Meredith grieves the heartbreaking death of her sister, Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh).
Even though Grey’s Anatomy has thrown a lot of shocking twists our way over the years, the season finale was still incredibly suspenseful. We were genuinely worried about who would make it, and the emotional impact of the episode is still lingering.
Mad Men, “Meditations in an Emergency”
Season 2, Episode 13
Many episodes of Mad Men weave together the characters’ personal and work lives with important historical events. For example, the season 2 finale captures the tension of the Cuban Missile Crisis while also highlighting key moments for Peggy Olsen (played by Elizabeth Moss) and Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm).
The advertising agency Sterling Cooper undergoes a significant merger, causing Don to confront his deep-seated fear of isolation, which he masks by throwing himself into his work. The season finale also focuses on the emotional complexities of pregnancy, with two particularly poignant stories: Peggy reveals to Pete Campbell that she gave up their child for adoption, and Betty discovers she is expecting another baby.
Looking back, it’s clear this marked the start of the downfall of Betty and Don’s marriage, as Don consistently prioritized his own happiness and career over his family.
How I Met Your Mother, “Something Blue”
Season 2, Episode 22
Fans worried whether Lily and Marshall’s relationship would survive the challenges they faced in the first season of How I Met Your Mother. Thankfully, the show’s second season ended with their beautiful wedding.
This episode is particularly memorable for its strong narrative and Barney Stinson’s (Neil Patrick Harris) determined attempts to uncover the secret between Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) and Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders).
Finding out they broke up really highlights what makes the sitcom so enjoyable: watching the characters navigate the ups and downs of relationships, something many of us can connect with.
The Expanse, “Abaddon’s Gate”
Season 3, Episode 13
The sci-fi series The Expanse is full of great episodes, but many fans consider this one particularly memorable for its powerful story. It’s a thrilling, action-filled installment where the main characters have to save the world – a truly difficult mission!
What really makes the season 3 finale of The Expanse memorable are the revelations about the Protomolecule. A good finale for sci-fi, fantasy, or thriller shows needs to both expand on the central mystery and leave you eager for more, and this episode did exactly that.
The Good Place, “Michael’s Gambit”
Season 1, Episode 13
Netflix
The sitcom The Good Place is famous for its surprising twists, and the biggest one happens at the end of the first season. That’s when Eleanor Shellstrop (played by Kristen Bell) discovers she isn’t in the “Good Place” at all, but the “Bad Place” – a reveal that still shocks viewers today.
As a huge fan of this show, this episode really got to me! It was full of unexpected twists and genuinely moving moments – especially when Janet delivered that message to Eleanor, telling her to “Find Chidi.” What I loved most, though, was how it delved into the show’s bigger ideas about what’s right and wrong. It was fascinating to see Eleanor questioning why such a genuinely good person, Chidi (William Jackson Harper), would even be in hell. It just felt like a really thoughtful and special episode.
We were immediately excited for season two and everything to come after that incredible finale. It’s unusual for an episode to drastically alter a show’s direction while still keeping you completely engaged.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer, “The Gift”
Season 5, Episode 22
The fifth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer ends with a truly epic, memorable, and emotional finale, highlighted by the iconic inscription on Buffy Summers’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) grave – “She saved the world. A lot.” – and the climactic battle against Glory (Clare Kramer).
The most powerful moment in the show happens when Buffy bravely steps through a portal to another dimension, sacrificing herself so her sister Dawn can live. Even though the show was renewed, and we expected Buffy to return, it was genuinely frightening to think about what would happen next and how the story would continue without such a strong and beloved character.
The excellent final episode clearly showed that Buffy’s choices mattered, and it left us eagerly anticipating the next two seasons.
Westworld, “The Bicameral Mind”
Season 1, Episode 10
A lot of science fiction fans consider the first season finale of Westworld to be the show at its absolute best, and feel the series declined in quality after that. While the show’s ending was ultimately a letdown for many, that finale really stood out as something special.
From discovering William’s true identity as the Man in Black to learning about Ford’s elaborate scheme, and even witnessing Dolores Abernathy finally confront Ford with a weapon, this episode consistently surprises and feels new.
Lost, “Through The Looking Glass”
Season 3, Episodes 22 & 23
Many fans love the season 3 finale of Lost, even though it’s a really sad and intense episode. It features heartbreaking moments like Charlie’s death and leaves viewers worried about whether Desmond will ever be reunited with Penny, making for a very emotional experience.
This episode of Lost really showed us that the show was full of surprises. Even when the characters tried to escape the island, it was never certain they actually would, which kept viewers hooked despite the lack of clear answers. It was frustrating at times, but that uncertainty was a big part of what made the show so compelling.
Read More
- The X-Files’ Secret Hannibal Lecter Connection Led to 1 of the Show’s Scariest Monsters Ever
- Is The White Lotus Breaking Up With Four Seasons?
- Clayface DCU Movie Gets Exciting Update From Star
- Fan project Bully Online brings multiplayer to the classic Rockstar game
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon joins the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog next week on October 21
- Dad breaks silence over viral Phillies confrontation with woman over baseball
- Elizabeth Olsen Wants to Play Scarlet Witch Opposite This MCU Star
- New World: Aeternum Is Ending New Content After Season 10
- One Battle After Another Is Our New Oscar Front-runner
- Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson says “we’ll see” about running for President
2025-11-07 23:12