Don’t Stop Believin’: Top 12 Favorite Finales of the Past 10 Years

This Sunday and Monday, two shows that have meant a lot to me in the past 10 years will take their final bows, Lost and 24.  Of course, final episodes carry a lot of high expectations, expectations that usually aren’t met.  Sometimes, and I’ve been seeing this in the Lost fandom, people expect it to be disappointing because they’ve been burned so many times before.  It’s not easy to make a satisfying resolution to a series fans have been following for years, but sometimes you get that ending that does everything right, even if it doesn’t get to finish the story they set out to tell.  It may lead to heated debates among the fans for years after it aired, or it may just put a period on the wonderful experience that is good TV, but regardless, they ended on a high note.  While I try to omit discussing elements I consider shocking, there are obvious SPOILERS, so you’ve been warned.

12. Prison Break, “Rate of Exchnage” & “Killing Your Number” (May 15, 2009) – This is a series finale far better than this show ever deserved.  It took its convoluted storyline, which was often so ridiculous it made 24 look like The Wire in terms of realism, and tied up the major loose ends and gave almost every major character closure.  There were two additional episodes that went straight to DVD, but this is more than enough.  It’s nice that even an average show can come up with a satisfying resolution.

11. The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien, (January 22, 2010) – Regardless of how Conan took being ousted in the late night war/NBC PR nightmare in private, he was 100% class on camera.  Instead of lamenting the loss of his job, something he knew no one wanted to hear in this economy, he reflected on a great chapter in his life which was now over and despite its ending was grateful for it.  Also his passionate speech to his young viewers to forsake futile cynicism, saying it’ll get you no where, is something viewers of all ages can learn from.

10. Freaks & Geeks, “Discos and Dragons” (July 8, 2000) – Freaks & Geeks the show was picked around by NBC much like the characters on the show were by bullies.  They threw it on Saturday night, moved it around, pulled episodes at the last minute for Dateline repeats and burnt off three episodes in the summer, leaving three other episodes for syndication.  Luckily, the writers were smart enough to craft this bittersweet finale.  It showed many of the characters growing a little bit, leaving the comfort of their social circles and figuring out who they are.  It left the door open for an interesting direction in the never made season two, but they knew this was it, and plays them out wonderfully to The Grateful Dead’s “Ripple”.

9. The Sopranos, “Made in America” (June 10, 2007) – One of the most controversial finales of all time, many people were ready for blood (or calling the cable company) when The Sopranos cut to black in 2007, but as time has gone on people have warmed up to this final chapter.  The Sopranos wasn’t a show interested in tying up lose ends, with some of the best episodes introducing things that may have only been mentioned in passing afterward, and this ending reflects that.  While many fans wanted to see whether Tony would get whacked or sent to jail, the ending shows that it doesn’t matter.  The series ends on the idea that Tony will always be looking over his shoulder for a police badge or hitman’s gun and never have a moment of peace because of his work and by not getting resolution, we feel it too.

8. Angel, “Not Fade Away” (May 19, 2004) – Another show suddenly canceled, fans tried to keep this show afloat, including trying to get a straight answer as to why the now defunct WB would axe one of its biggest hits.  You can see the writers were touched by this devotion, as Angel’s final (on screen) battle could symbolize the show’s fans refusing to give up.  Some were upset that the show ended without a definitive ending or pay off to the Shanshu mystery (the aftermath has been covered in comic tie ins), but like The Sopranos, this is fitting end for the show.  As touched upon, nothing he does will make up for the lives he took and evil can never be fully defeated.  Angel’s fight never ends, so why should the show portray it any other way.

7. The Wire, “–30–“ (March 9, 2008) – David Simon’s masterpiece didn’t have the final season many wanted, but its finale is so good it pardons Simon’s axe grinding of the Baltimore Sun and the state of modern news.  As the series ends, the circle of life continues in Baltimore, with people assuming the roles vacated by characters we’ve been following the past five seasons.  As Slim put it in an earlier episode, “Game’s same, just got more fierce.”  Some characters get redemption, and they aren’t necessarily the ones who deserve it.  It’s all true to David Simon’s vision.

6.  Carnivale, “New Canaan, CA” (March 27, 2005) – Yeah, Carnivale’s first season is a slog.  It runs at a snail’s pace even compared to other HBO shows, a network not known for break neck pacing.  However its second season makes up for it from the premiere and it doesn’t let down through this killer finale.  Whereas some shows knowing cancelation is eminent will craft a decent finale for the sake of closure, creator Daniel Knauf stuck to his original six season plan: there are some major showdowns, but major pieces are left open (What does Sofie being the Omega mean?)  It’s almost too awesome for its own good.

5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, “Chosen” (May 20, 2003) – Although many fans argue the show ran two seasons too long, the final showdown between the Potentials, made into full Slayers, and The First’s army of Uber-vamps (you know, vampires that actually kill people) was not only an amazing battle, but it was a great culmination of the shows’ themes of feminism and the turmoil of growing up.  In the end, loses were had, but Buffy emerges victorious, ready to do whatever she wants as a fully realized adult.  The world needs more Buffys and fewer Bellas.

4. Arrested Development, “Development Arrested” (February 10, 2006) – Another show that knew it was coming for some time, AD must’ve had this “In case of cancelation” story ready.  It wrapped up most of the major storylines while continuing the great gags, call backs and wordplay.  It doesn’t even need the much discussed (and in all likelihood dead) film, it stands as a near perfect sitcom and a complete masterwork.

3. The Office, “Christmas Special” (December 26 & 27, 2003, UK airdate) – For a show known for being brutally uncomfortable & awkward, who knew they’d make a happy ending this touching?  After the second series kicked many of its leads to the ground, this special brings them up again.  Without resorting to something cheap like David Brent getting his job back or Dawn becoming a famous artist, it shows that finding happiness in everyday life can be as satisfying for the viewer as significant success.

2. Six Feet Under, “Everyone’s Waiting” (August 21, 2005) – It wasn’t always a smooth ride for one of the brightest stars of HBO’s golden age, but the finale made it worth sitting through the weak points (“That’s My Dog” anyone?  Thought not).  The emotional farewell to the Fishers is punctuated by a six minute montage to Sia’s “Breathe Me” as we get a look at the future of our main characters, including their inevitable deaths.  It’s an epilogue that had fans reaching for the tissues and one few will ever forget.  This could’ve easily been my number one.

1. The Shield, “Family Meeting” (November 28, 2008) – All TV series wish they could have a finale as satisfying as the brutal one-two punch of penultimate episode “Possible Kill Screen” & the finale “Family Meeting” of the flagship FX drama.  Like many of this decade’s great TV anti-heroes, fans had been speculating what would come of Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis in the role of his career) and his Strike Team, and I don’t think anyone could’ve predicted this.  His fate, as well as those of the Strike Team & the other cops in the Barn, is appropriate, unexpected and makes for a superb capper to the show.  It’s fitting that the last five minutes are dialogue free, because fans were speechless after this aired.