16 Of The Best TV Show Endings Ever

From 'Breaking Bad' to 'The Good Place', these finales stuck the landing and cemented their shows as all-time greats.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 11:33am

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A recent Reddit discussion highlighted some of the most acclaimed TV show endings of all time, with examples like the series finales of 'Breaking Bad', 'Avatar: The Last Airbender', 'The Good Place', 'Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood', and more. The thread praised these finales for their emotional payoff, narrative resolution, and ability to encapsulate the essence of the entire series.

Why it matters

The endings of beloved TV shows are crucial moments that can make or break a series' legacy. These examples demonstrate how a well-crafted finale can elevate an already great show to new heights, providing a satisfying conclusion that resonates with viewers long after the credits roll.

The details

The Reddit discussion highlighted several key factors that made these TV finales so acclaimed, including: staying true to the show's core themes and character arcs, balancing big emotional moments with thoughtful narrative choices, and delivering a sense of closure without feeling overly tidy or predictable. For instance, the 'Breaking Bad' finale was praised for having Walter White admit his true selfish motivations, while 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' was lauded for its epic yet character-driven climax.

  • The 'Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen' finale of 'M*A*S*H' remains the most-watched live television broadcast of a scripted show.
  • The series finale of 'Gravity Falls' in 2016 was described as the only scene in any media that makes some viewers cry every time they rewatch it.

The players

Walter White

The protagonist of 'Breaking Bad', whose journey from mild-mannered chemistry teacher to ruthless drug kingpin culminated in a finale that stayed true to his character.

Aang

The central hero of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender', whose climactic battle with the villainous Ozai was praised for its emotional resonance and thematic consistency.

Michael Schur

The creator of 'The Good Place', whose philosophical comedy series ended with a thoughtful exploration of the meaning of eternal happiness.

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What they’re saying

“After five seasons of watching Walter White ruin basically everything he touched, 'Felina' doesn't try to let him off the hook with some clean redemption arc, and it doesn't end with some vague cut-to-black either. Walt finally admits to Skyler that he did all of it for himself, not for his family. He ties up the loose ends, makes sure his kids get the money, kills the neo-Nazis, frees Jesse, and then dies in the lab. It's a really well-put-together ending, and it feels satisfying because a monster gets to go out exactly the way he chose.”

— Miserable_Click_1933, Redditor

“'Sozin's Comet' is one of those finales that just gets everything right. It had to balance huge action with emotional payoff, and somehow it does both without losing what made the show special in the first place. Aang beats Ozai without betraying his own pacifist beliefs, and the energybending never feels cheap or random. At the same time, Zuko and Azula's Agni Kai is tragic, beautiful, and honestly one of the best scenes in the whole series. Pretty much every character gets the ending they were building toward.”

— Miserable_Click_1933, Redditor

“A philosophical sitcom really had no business hitting this hard. Instead of ending once the group fixes the afterlife and finally reaches the actual Good Place, the show goes one step further and asks what happens when eternal happiness starts to feel empty. The answer it comes up with — a door that lets souls peacefully move on once they feel complete — is both heartbreaking and comforting. It's such a thoughtful way to end a comedy.”

— Miserable_Click_1933, Redditor

The takeaway

These acclaimed TV finales demonstrate the power of a well-crafted conclusion to cement a series' legacy. By staying true to their core themes and characters while delivering emotionally resonant and narratively satisfying endings, these shows were able to elevate themselves to the pantheon of all-time great television.