Even some of the best TV shows fall victim to having one of the worst series finales. Some weren’t that great to begin with and ended just as bad. But the ones fans are most passionately angry about are the good shows that end on a note that leaves die-hard fans feeling unsatisfied, possibly even downright livid.
There have been some unquestionably fantastic TV series finales in history like Breaking Bad as well as polarizing ones like Seinfeld. But the worst TV series finales were so bad, they were actually insulting to long-time fans who stuck with the shows until their bitter ends.
10
‘And Just Like That’ (2021-2025)
To be honest, the And Just Like That finale was like a rotten cherry on top of an already slowly melting sundae. The show came out of the gate sort-of strong, reuniting three of the four main characters from Sex and the City. But it slowly morphed into something that sullied the reputation of the groundbreaking series for which it serves as a sequel.
Admittedly, the show’s cancellation came as a surprise, with two additional episodes added to conclude the story for good. And while Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) closed a literal chapter in her book by advising that her protagonist, “the woman,” wasn’t alone, but rather by herself, it still sort of felt like an unfinished first draft. What happens with Brady (David Eigenberg), his baby mama Mia (Ella Stiller), and their coming child? So many stories were hurriedly rushed, like Seema (Sarita Choudhury) and Adam (Logan Marshall-Green) and their future as one of the show’s best couples, and Lisa (Nicole Ari Parker) fighting temptation. There wasn’t closure for any of the characters, arguably even Carrie included. It was an effort in speed writing and it shows. It’s the type of finale that suggests a movie simply is needed to give fans the ending they really deserve. It’s the least that could be done for those who endured the show through all three seasons, desperately hoping it would get better.
9
‘Dexter’ (2006-2013)
As far as horrible series finales go, there’s no list on the internet that won’t include Dexter. The show was arguably strongest in its first four seasons, with plenty of episodes that were gripping from start to finish. It remained engaging through the final four as the story evolved. From the acting to the way every episode made viewers feel so conflicted, the crime drama is one of the best-ever made. That’s why the ending left fans scratching their heads and screaming “that’s it?”
After years of killing, losing people he loved because of his actions, coming inches away from being caught, and eventually dealing with his sister finding out, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) simply drove his boat off into a hurricane only to miraculously survive and wind up in some remote cabin in the woods as a lumberjack. No closure, no crafty escape, just a life left to live in solitude, repressing the Dark Passenger. Fans weren’t buying it and are forever grateful that original showrunner Clyde Phillips returned to create Dexter: New Blood, Dexter: Original Sin, and Dexter: Resurrection to keep the story and character going. The hope is that eventually (but hopefully not too soon) he’ll get a proper goodbye.
8
‘How I Met Your Mother’ (2005-2014)
For a show that’s entire premise is centered around the story of how a man met his wife, to reveal that the mother died not long after they married and had kids was more than heartbreaking. In any other show, or for a shorter movie, this might have been a sad story that accomplishes delivering a lesson that life doesn’t always work out the way people want. But for a show that took fans on a nine-season, 208-episode journey, it wasn’t the right way to end How I Met Your Mother.
What made things worse was that in the end, Ted’s (Josh Radnor) teenage kids in the future (now present day) encourage him to go visit his old friend Robin (Cobie Smulders) and make a touching, romantic declaration. Sure, his wife has been gone for ages, so it makes sense his kids would approve of him finding love again. But the fact that they recognized there was a spark between Ted and Robin for decades, even while he was with their mom, is just uncomfortable.
7
‘The Blacklist’ (2013-2023)
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