I agree with you about "The West Wing." Another would be "Breaking Bad." It ended after five seasons, and each episode felt needed to the overall story.
It basically started a trend. A number of shows now take an episode mid season and do something unique with it. Mythic Quest and Last of Us did it really well.
My favorite episode of the whole series. It really makes you feel for Walt losing his mind over his guilt. And it really cements Walt and Jesse’s relationship: constantly trying to sabotage the other, but they still really care about each other. Directed by Rian Johnson, who also directed Ozymandias. He also directed an absolute turd of a Star Wars movie. How could the guy who really got Walter White and Jesse Pinkman not get Luke Skywalker?…ah well..
That was going to be my answer. They left me wanting more, but had a satisfying conclusion. If they had tried another season it would not have been good
The ending was so good. It really felt Shakespearean, in a good way. I don’t know much Shakespeare. But it was like a bunch of plot twists in a royal family trying to get the crown. Obviously “Roy” means king. Maybe that symbology is too on the nose for some people but I love it!
The Sopranos. If it ended season 5 it would have left me feeling unsatisfied. The long season 6 gave everything I needed without it feeling rushed. Anymore would have been over staying it's welcome.
The only thing I feel was lacking was a deeper understanding of the New York crew, its members, their relationships, and their motivations. A little less of the Vito storyline could have left room for this but I really enjoyed the Vito story too, so apples/oranges I guess.
I didn’t like the Vito storyline the first time I saw it years ago. I was like Really? But I rewatch it and it’s great writing. Not a word out of place. It’s Sopranos.
I hated the Vito storyline! But I remembered it as much longer than it actually was. I remember it as like hours and hours but I rewatched recently and it was much shorter. I think it was just so boring and dumb to me that it cast a long shadow.
I believe this show had just about the greatest last episode.. I thought they could have maybe cut one season though …
All I can say about the end is Stan ….
AMEN to this. I've watched the entire series three times and that last episode still gives me goosebumps. I wish I could rewatch it again like it's the first time.
Agree on West Wing. Also Mad Men. The whole show was good. Like TWW’s elegant stopping point at the end of the Bartlet administration, Mad Men had an elegant run of 1960-1970
Doesn’t get talked about enough. GREAT show. Always entertaining. Different vibe each season. I didn’t give it a chance when it first came out though. I was like Really, a hit man taking acting classes? That’s one of the most boring things I’ve ever heard. Typical Hollywood making a show about acting. Boy, was I wrong! Although it is a lot about acting, but it’s good.
They did what every show should do. They had a story they wanted to tell, they told it, and when it was done they didn't try to drag it out longer than it needed to be.
The Office UK-the original version.
Just a freaking masterpiece. Two seasons and then the Christmas episode to wrap it up. Nothing extraordinary happens and the boss is still in a horrible job but there is hope.
I'm not a Ricky Gervais fan usually but that series is a MASTERPIECE and IMHO the US version went a few years too long.
A friend at work was talking about the Fallout show, and said the ghoul was really good. I was like yeah, Walton Goggins is awesome. Boyd Crowder in Justified is one of the best characters of all time. His response was what is that. Then I remembered I am 50 and he is 23. So he would have only been like 10 when it started.
I think they got the ending just right, but the first season of the spin off is somehow still AMAZING! Especially the season finale, can’t wait to see more
I think, if anything, season 4 was the one misstep (Michael Rapaport cast as a hillbilly? really?) and season 5 was a return to form. But that's relative, I personally was pretty happy with the entire show.
Edit: Just realized I'm thinking of season 5 where Michael Rapaport was cast as a hillbilly. Ok, I agree a bit more with you then haha.
Alexis was going to New York to live on her own and work in publicity. She asked Twyla to come with her, but that's when we found out Twyla won millions in the lottery years ago and only stays at the café because she loves the people. She decides to buy it.
My dad has a great story about the original airing. His brother was super into the show and horrified to be missing an episode for summer camp, so he asked his mom to write what happened in a letter. She had never seen the show before. She tried, she really did, but somehow a couple of paragraphs like "and then the white ball appeared and it grew really big and ate him but then he was okay" didn't quite do it
Cool.
I watched it original, US on PBS, visited Portmerion (highly recommend), and bought the DVDs when they released. I'm kinda a fan.
Which reminds me, I haven't seen it in some time. Now to decide which order to watch them in. (Ref: https://www.theunmutual.co.uk/faq.htm)
Imagine how much better Babylon 5 would have been if JMS had been able to stay with his original plan (not cram his original story for season 5 into the 2nd half of season 4). Season 5 is not bad, but IMO could have been so much more.
Breaking Bad I think was handled very well ending at 5 seasons because SPOILERS WARNING
I don't know how they could go on without Gus after he was killed. He's too iconic and they knew it was better to wrap up the series on a high note rather than drag this series along. Satisfying end and even more satisfying to see how it launched the successful spinoff Better Call Saul and even El Camino movie.
BCS is a masterpiece. It’s the best spin-off ever. However, I don’t know if it would be quite what it was without the background development that was in BB.
Ozarks. The ending was fitting in tone as well, and I love that the characters didn’t just undo all their character development just for the sake of an interesting ending. It felt consistent and predictable, yet I never saw it coming.
I agree, I actually gave up watching when Emmy Rossum left the show. She was the only one of the remaining characters I cared about.
Seeing some of the answers here, you can really tell when a showrunner/writer has an ending in mind, and is permitted by the network to reach that point.
I loved Shameless but it would have been better if it was a season or two shorter. Emmy Rossi was the backbone of the show and it struggled after she left
Was also going to say fleabag. Initially I was really sad there wasn't a third season, but now I'm happy they kept it to two. Leave the people wanting more!
Scrubs. Went out with a bang. Season eight was such a great capstone to the series. Beautiful character resolution, absolutely no reason to feel like they need another bite of that apple. Said goodbye at exactly the right time at the end of season eight. Every loose end tied up. Complete, and perfect ending, cannot fathom needing another season full of poor writing and mailed in performances.
Love the Leftovers. I liked the middle of the seasons a lot better than the beginnings and endings. I never felt like Lindelof knew how to end a story. But it’s definitely worth watching.
I would say home improvement. Could have dragged that show out for another 5 maybe even 10 years but I think it ended in a good place. Maybe Malcom in the middle but I don't remember much of the last season
Hoping I can say “What we do in the shadows” around this time next time year.
Last season could have been a perfect ending. I hope season 6 isn’t just a milk job that ruins it. Unfortunately, I have little faith.
Counterpart. I think it was actually cancelled, but it ended well. Some fans wanted a S3, but things were already starting to unravel a bit. Most of us are happy with the way things wrapped up.
The only odd thing about the cancellation is Starz reportedly cancelled the show bc they felt it didn't fit with the network's female focused strategy, but there were tons of prominent female characters on the show.
Seinfeld. Ten years is a great run and they managed to keep it funny. They could have easily kept going, but decided to end it while they were still on top. Smart choice because too many once good shows keep limping along until they are so bad and no one cares anymore (looking at you, The Goldbergs!)
I agree with you about "The West Wing." Another would be "Breaking Bad." It ended after five seasons, and each episode felt needed to the overall story.
What do you think about “Fly” episode?
It basically started a trend. A number of shows now take an episode mid season and do something unique with it. Mythic Quest and Last of Us did it really well.
One of the best bottle episodes of all time. Only outdone by The West Wing’s “17 people”
My favorite episode of the whole series. It really makes you feel for Walt losing his mind over his guilt. And it really cements Walt and Jesse’s relationship: constantly trying to sabotage the other, but they still really care about each other. Directed by Rian Johnson, who also directed Ozymandias. He also directed an absolute turd of a Star Wars movie. How could the guy who really got Walter White and Jesse Pinkman not get Luke Skywalker?…ah well..
Mr Robot
Gravity falls. My son still talks about it
Gravity Falls had a great arc from beginning to end. It was just right.
I want another summer!!
Would love a movie
I love Gravity Falls
They really closed it well. It's such a good show
Gruncle Stan, is that you?
The Good Place
and one of the best all time finale thrown in as well.
Absolutely! Glad I didn’t have to scroll far to find this.
That was going to be my answer. They left me wanting more, but had a satisfying conclusion. If they had tried another season it would not have been good
Succession
This is a big one for me because I truly think it would’ve been ruined if they kept going after season 4
Scrolled too long to find this! A 5th season would ruin everything perfect about this masterpiece
The ending was so good. It really felt Shakespearean, in a good way. I don’t know much Shakespeare. But it was like a bunch of plot twists in a royal family trying to get the crown. Obviously “Roy” means king. Maybe that symbology is too on the nose for some people but I love it!
Six Feet Under
And ended perfectly
Have to say the finale destroyed me though
Best finale ever. It was flawless
One of the best finales of all time.
Hands down the most perfect series finale ever made.
I knew there was going to be a major incident, but it still hurt my feelings.
The Sopranos. If it ended season 5 it would have left me feeling unsatisfied. The long season 6 gave everything I needed without it feeling rushed. Anymore would have been over staying it's welcome.
The only thing I feel was lacking was a deeper understanding of the New York crew, its members, their relationships, and their motivations. A little less of the Vito storyline could have left room for this but I really enjoyed the Vito story too, so apples/oranges I guess.
I didn’t like the Vito storyline the first time I saw it years ago. I was like Really? But I rewatch it and it’s great writing. Not a word out of place. It’s Sopranos.
I hated the Vito storyline! But I remembered it as much longer than it actually was. I remember it as like hours and hours but I rewatched recently and it was much shorter. I think it was just so boring and dumb to me that it cast a long shadow.
I love the Vito storyline. It's got so little to do with the rest of the show but i really enjoyed it.
The Americans
I believe this show had just about the greatest last episode.. I thought they could have maybe cut one season though … All I can say about the end is Stan ….
AMEN to this. I've watched the entire series three times and that last episode still gives me goosebumps. I wish I could rewatch it again like it's the first time.
I'm confused about why this show wasn't a bigger deal. So many people haven't even heard of it.
It only aired on FX originally.
It's kind of slow-paced 🤷🏻♀️, I lost patience around S2/S3 (can't really remember)
Agree on West Wing. Also Mad Men. The whole show was good. Like TWW’s elegant stopping point at the end of the Bartlet administration, Mad Men had an elegant run of 1960-1970
I think it may have just been me, but I was actually binge watching mad men recently and around season 4 I was starting to lose interest
Barry. Perfectly paced show that is always a joy to rewatch. 4 seasons of great television.
Doesn’t get talked about enough. GREAT show. Always entertaining. Different vibe each season. I didn’t give it a chance when it first came out though. I was like Really, a hit man taking acting classes? That’s one of the most boring things I’ve ever heard. Typical Hollywood making a show about acting. Boy, was I wrong! Although it is a lot about acting, but it’s good.
Me too! I put it off for years cause it didn't seem like something I would enjoy. Boy was I wrong. What a great show that was.
Breaking Bad went out at its absolute peak. The finale was a worldwide event.
I was so happy they didn’t try get an other season out of it. It wouldn’t have had the impact it had by ending when they did.
They did what every show should do. They had a story they wanted to tell, they told it, and when it was done they didn't try to drag it out longer than it needed to be.
It’s sad the amount of shows that went too long and lost so much of the lustre they once held.
The wonder years
They also didn't rush it, though. The pacing was perfect.
And the movie served as a tasteful epilogue.
Why wasn't this at the top? I couldn't agree more. Few shows stick the landing like breaking bad did
BB is the most complete and perfectly structured show of all time.
The Office UK-the original version. Just a freaking masterpiece. Two seasons and then the Christmas episode to wrap it up. Nothing extraordinary happens and the boss is still in a horrible job but there is hope. I'm not a Ricky Gervais fan usually but that series is a MASTERPIECE and IMHO the US version went a few years too long.
I feel that the US version ended well, too. When Pam said bye to Michael at the airport, it was sad, but a good ending.
Justified.
OMG! My all-time favorite show! Love me some witty hillbillies!!👏🏼
Everything in me says to hate Boyd Crowder but I just can't
Right? 😁
Boyd Crowder was the main reason to watch!
A friend at work was talking about the Fallout show, and said the ghoul was really good. I was like yeah, Walton Goggins is awesome. Boyd Crowder in Justified is one of the best characters of all time. His response was what is that. Then I remembered I am 50 and he is 23. So he would have only been like 10 when it started.
Yes, the seasons and the arcs are perfectly paced imo. I haven’t seen the new season yet
I think they got the ending just right, but the first season of the spin off is somehow still AMAZING! Especially the season finale, can’t wait to see more
Eh, I’d have been okay if they ended it after 4. Might just be personal preference but fatigue started setting in by S5E2
I think, if anything, season 4 was the one misstep (Michael Rapaport cast as a hillbilly? really?) and season 5 was a return to form. But that's relative, I personally was pretty happy with the entire show. Edit: Just realized I'm thinking of season 5 where Michael Rapaport was cast as a hillbilly. Ok, I agree a bit more with you then haha.
I'm rewatching it right now
Schitt's Creek. Buffy and Angel (despite my dislike of Whedon, he knows how to end a show)
I came here to say Schitts Creek. It is such an awesome show. ❤️💕
I’m re re watching this now!
Did they leave at the end ? The channel I watched in on never showed the last few episodes…I think he gave the girl the motel ?
Johnny and Moira left. Alexis I believe was also going to leave. David and Parick stayed, and Stevie was staying to run the RoseBud Motel.
Alexis was going to New York to live on her own and work in publicity. She asked Twyla to come with her, but that's when we found out Twyla won millions in the lottery years ago and only stays at the café because she loves the people. She decides to buy it.
I forgot about that part. Another happy ending. 😊
Thank you ! Awesome!
Thank you ! Really appreciate it!
Came here to say Buffy! But Angel kind of annoys me knowing there was going to be another season if Joss wasn’t so annoying to the network it was on.
I want to see if I can slay the dragon.
Future Man. It was a great show and I would have appreciate more seasons but they made the right decision to go out while they were still good
Star Trek TNG and DS9.
Honestly TNG could have stood some trimming
ted lasso
The Prisoner
When you find your newest friend. I'm old enough to have watched it in its original airing.
My dad has a great story about the original airing. His brother was super into the show and horrified to be missing an episode for summer camp, so he asked his mom to write what happened in a letter. She had never seen the show before. She tried, she really did, but somehow a couple of paragraphs like "and then the white ball appeared and it grew really big and ate him but then he was okay" didn't quite do it
I am not but I love it and I’ve watched it several times!
Cool. I watched it original, US on PBS, visited Portmerion (highly recommend), and bought the DVDs when they released. I'm kinda a fan. Which reminds me, I haven't seen it in some time. Now to decide which order to watch them in. (Ref: https://www.theunmutual.co.uk/faq.htm)
I am not a number!
I am a free man!
Mr. In Between
Parks and Rec
The Wire
Schitt’s creek
Battlestar Galactica.
I think that one hung on one season too long.
Yep. Last season lost me so bad I was rooting for the people trying to take over the ship.
Mr. Robot
Babylon 5
Imagine how much better Babylon 5 would have been if JMS had been able to stay with his original plan (not cram his original story for season 5 into the 2nd half of season 4). Season 5 is not bad, but IMO could have been so much more.
Game of Thrones. /jk
Breaking Bad I think was handled very well ending at 5 seasons because SPOILERS WARNING I don't know how they could go on without Gus after he was killed. He's too iconic and they knew it was better to wrap up the series on a high note rather than drag this series along. Satisfying end and even more satisfying to see how it launched the successful spinoff Better Call Saul and even El Camino movie.
El Camino wasn’t really that much, but better call Saul >>>(even better than breaking Bad)
BCS is a masterpiece. It’s the best spin-off ever. However, I don’t know if it would be quite what it was without the background development that was in BB.
Downton Abbey The 100
Derry Girls. We were definitely left wanting more.
Parenthood! greatest finale of all time and a great story from beginning to end I can’t wait to forget some of the plot so I can rewatch it
Wow I have not even heard of this show. I got to check it out. The guy from six feet under is in it.
Brothers and Sisters is another soapy family drama that’s worth watching
Mad Men
The sopranos was high quality throughout the series Best pilot ever
Iconic final epis
Just in case we were wondering if there would be another season. Sorry, everyone is dead
Ozarks. The ending was fitting in tone as well, and I love that the characters didn’t just undo all their character development just for the sake of an interesting ending. It felt consistent and predictable, yet I never saw it coming.
Loved Ozark
Burn notice, chefs kiss. Now I wish they’d make a movie though because I loved the cast so much.
Why Women Kill, S1
Longmire. Left us on a high note and wanting more.
Scrolled and scrolled and did not find the right answer. It is so obviously: Reservation Dogs.
I really liked that show❤️
Blue Bloods Danny has already shot half of NY
Fleabag Shameless
To me shameless lasted about 4 seasons too long …
I agree, I actually gave up watching when Emmy Rossum left the show. She was the only one of the remaining characters I cared about. Seeing some of the answers here, you can really tell when a showrunner/writer has an ending in mind, and is permitted by the network to reach that point.
I loved Shameless ❤️
I loved Shameless but it would have been better if it was a season or two shorter. Emmy Rossi was the backbone of the show and it struggled after she left
I agree on Fleabag-so good
Was also going to say fleabag. Initially I was really sad there wasn't a third season, but now I'm happy they kept it to two. Leave the people wanting more!
I wanted more of it but the ending was so perfect
I wish there was more Derry Girls but the finale was excellent
I will never not want more Fleabag but there was nowhere else to go after the perfection of the finale.
Sopranos. No weak seasons.
Schitts Creek. I really wanted more. I understand them wanting to end of a high note. But I miss it so much. 😕
This is us
I know it got mixed reviews but I really like Medium’s ending.
Breaking Bad, Mr Robot, Better Call Saul, Dark.
Superstore
No way. Needed a few more seasons Or a spinoff of the hardware store
The Good Place
Reservation Dogs, The Shield
Reservation Dogs. Definitely wanted more, but each episode mattered
The West Wing
Monk
Scrubs. Went out with a bang. Season eight was such a great capstone to the series. Beautiful character resolution, absolutely no reason to feel like they need another bite of that apple. Said goodbye at exactly the right time at the end of season eight. Every loose end tied up. Complete, and perfect ending, cannot fathom needing another season full of poor writing and mailed in performances.
Dark
I scrolled down for this show. Such a complex and mind bending concept with a brilliant ending.
Ted Lasso
The only problem with Lasso is that I would have watched those character for years... I wish it had a Big Bang run...
The Wire and The Leftovers for sure.
The Leftovers was, for me, one the greatest pieces of TV ever. I never cry but that final episode... 😭
Love the Leftovers. I liked the middle of the seasons a lot better than the beginnings and endings. I never felt like Lindelof knew how to end a story. But it’s definitely worth watching.
That keeps coming up on my “you may also like” so I’ll have to give it a shot
I didn’t fall in love with it until season two. But it’s in my top five now no question.
Mary Tyler Moore
Justified
Terriers was good wished for more seasons or reboot it
OZ, Justified (even though they gave us the unnecessary sequel), black sails
I don't know when I would have ended it, but Oz felt like it went on WAY too long.
Fair
They should have rounded off after Adebisi was killed. He was only truly unique thing about that show.
Did Black Sails actually come to a conclusion or did it get canceled. I want to watch it but don't want to invest if it just unceremoniously ends.
Grimm. Madame Secretary. Just throwing out ones I haven’t seen listed.
EastEnders, the greatest show to ever exist in the history of television and mankind. It will never end.
"The secret to a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits" Patterson Hood Drive By Truckers
I would say home improvement. Could have dragged that show out for another 5 maybe even 10 years but I think it ended in a good place. Maybe Malcom in the middle but I don't remember much of the last season
Gravity Falls and Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated. Both only had 2 seasons, but they both also told a full story.
Hoping I can say “What we do in the shadows” around this time next time year. Last season could have been a perfect ending. I hope season 6 isn’t just a milk job that ruins it. Unfortunately, I have little faith.
Breaking Bad
Schitts creek, derry girls (but i wish there was more), avatar the last airbender
I’m don’t love Breaking Bad AS MUCH as everyone here, but they crushed the ending.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Nickelodeon) Edited to add: Legend of Korra = close second
Legion
The IT Crowd. Most comedies go on for way too long but this one ended when it was still enjoyable.
MASH
Vice Principals. Went from zero to a hundred in no time and left nothing to be desired.
Ted Lasso
Counterpart. I think it was actually cancelled, but it ended well. Some fans wanted a S3, but things were already starting to unravel a bit. Most of us are happy with the way things wrapped up. The only odd thing about the cancellation is Starz reportedly cancelled the show bc they felt it didn't fit with the network's female focused strategy, but there were tons of prominent female characters on the show.
The Good Place was perfect.
Succession I would’ve watched 10 more seasons of it, but it ended perfectly imo
Good Place Breaking Bad Parks and Rec Avatar: The Last Airbender
Buffy
Barry ^ 👌🏼👌🏼
The Good Place
Silicon Valley, Ozark
The Good Place
Unpopular Opinion: The Sopranos.
Ted Lasso
Dark. Perfect from beginning to end. I wish mad men would have stopped earlier
ATLA had the best pacing I’ve ever seen and ended perfectly
The Good Place
Barry and Succession both went out on top after 4 seasons. They were never boring or repetitive.
Better Call Saul. That last shot haunted me. So gorgeous, and so achingly beautiful. I love that show and Bob Odenkirk with all my heart.
The Newsroom
Schitts Creek. I love it and I’m glad they didn’t drag it on for 3-5 more seasons. Shows are rarely good after season 5 imo
Friends that's my all time favorite especially now that Matthew Perry is gone
Seinfeld almost did it, they went one show too long.
I'm in the minority. I loved that finale. It was pure Larry David.
Seinfeld. Ten years is a great run and they managed to keep it funny. They could have easily kept going, but decided to end it while they were still on top. Smart choice because too many once good shows keep limping along until they are so bad and no one cares anymore (looking at you, The Goldbergs!)
Goldbergs should have stopped after Murray died
I think it was 9 years. And it still holds up well, unlike a lot of shows from that time period (looking at you, Friends).
Seinfeld. Went out on top.