For any long-running show, the build-up to the final season can be the definitive factor in cementing its legacy, for better or worse. In the worst-case scenario, having a show canceled preemptively could leave a series on a cliffhanger, or it could leave the cast and crew scrambling to turn what was supposed to be just the following season into the final one. On the other hand, a final season sometimes fails to live up to the hype that preceded it. With many pitfalls, the perfect final season for a show is rarer than one might hope.
An ideal final season that ends on a high note and cements a series’ legacy is undoubtedly deserving of praise, with these television shows doing just that. Here are 20 of the greatest full final seasons in TV history.
‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ (1970 – 1977)
Season 7
Mary Richards (played by Mary Tyler Moore), a single, independent woman who moved to Minneapolis to start a career at a news station, was groundbreaking for the period. Besides challenging gender roles in the sitcom format, the show also benefited from being utterly hilarious throughout its run, with an eccentric yet lovable cast of characters around the iconic Mary Tyler Moore. The Mary Tyler Moore Show remains a landmark of feminist television whose impact set the groundwork for countless other shows.
An Iconic Conclusion to a Flawless Season
Much emphasis is placed on the series finale, which centers on the layoffs at the studio and the camaraderie of the staff. The final group hug, followed by Mary shutting off the lights at WJM-TV to bid farewell to the series, remains one of the most memorable moments in television history. While the focus remains on this emotional and perfectly delivered farewell, the final season also never saw a dip in quality, maintaining consistency throughout its entire run.
‘M*A*S*H’ (1972 – 1983)
Season 11
At its core, M*A*S*H addressed the absurdity of war, using the backdrop of the Korean War to, in a roundabout way, reflect anxieties and moral ambiguity surrounding the Vietnam War. The show followed the staff of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, which offered the perfect locale, outside the battlefield, to maintain a certain levity while also addressing tragedy and social commentary surrounding war.
The Most Watched Series Finale in TV History
M*A*S*H would redefine how sitcoms could be made, particularly in how they could play a pivotal role in social discourse while still delivering comedic gold. Here, whether the final seasons of the hit program are “perfect” is debatable, with some not enjoying how the show took a more serious turn from seasons eight to eleven. Still, the final season for many was a cultural event and a chance to spend a little more time with the members of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital; the show still holds the record for a finale, with over 100 million people tuning in.
‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ (1993 – 1999)
Season 7
Taking a different approach, not boldly going where no one has gone before, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine instead centered itself on a space station, the titular Deep Space Nine, located near the planet Bajor and beside a newly discovered, stable wormhole. This setting allowed for a more mature and character-driven show for a series already known for being exemplary in delivering just that. Over seven seasons, Deep Space Nine emerged as the forefront of essential galactic politics and prosperity.
Tieing Together Everything Perfectly
In the long history of Star Trek, there has been more disappointment in final seasons than praise, from the original series offering its weakest episodes to Star Trek: Enterprise being canceled before it could complete a major arc. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine has its share of critics, but overall, the series is considered to have one of the best final seasons in the franchise. Offering a closure to the long-running Dominion War arc and allowing key characters to have an emotional farewell has left the final season of the series as one of the best.
‘Frasier’ (1993 – 2004)
Season 11
Cheers spun off into what is arguably the greatest sitcom of the ’90s, when Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) got his own show, Frasier. As the host of a radio call-in psychiatry show, Frasier would be quick to dish out advice he had a hard time taking himself while dealing with his divorce and his family. The show offered up clever writing that set itself apart from many other sitcoms, focusing on intellectual wordplay, class contrasts, and navigating complex emotions (while being hilarious the entire time).
A Comeback Final Season to Give a Proper Farewell
Here, we will overlook the 2023 reboot of the sitcom on Paramount+, which ultimately fizzled. Instead, the original series is a masterclass in redemption and honoring everything that came before. After a few less-than-stellar seasons compared to the show’s early years, Season 11 offered a more balanced, emotionally resonant, and focused final season. All this would lead up to the monumental two-part “Goodnight, Seattle” final episodes, which is still considered among the best ever committed to the medium.
‘Angel’ (1999 – 2004)
Season 5
Taking fan-favorite Angel (David Boreanaz) from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and giving him his own series offered up a fresh and exciting take on an already adored character. Here, Angel would establish an investigative team in Los Angeles, offering assistance to those dealing with paranormal or malevolent forces in an effort to find redemption for his past.
Learning From Past Mistakes To Deliver an Iconic Final Season
Seemingly learning from the mistake of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, whose final season felt relatively rushed and low-stakes for what had come before it, Angel nailed its final season. The final season of Angel remained tense throughout, with high-stakes scenarios that lacked a clear-cut path to victory for Angel and his team. It is wonderfully intense, emotionally impactful, and pays homage to the dark and gritty tone of the Buffy world that the original series abandoned for its season finale.
‘The Shield’ (2002 – 2008)
Season 7
Bringing the police procedural into a more gritty realm, The Shield would turn Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) into a complex protagonist, delivering a corrupt yet effective officer leading an elite anti-gang unit in Los Angeles. The show thrived on moral ambiguity, blurring the lines between right and wrong, crime and justice —a theme that only escalated throughout its run.
Staying True to What Came Before It
The constant tension between Mackey’s struggles and questionable methods came to a head in season 7, culminating in a tragic yet satisfying final episode. Here, the show never lost sight of its high-stakes, morally ambiguous structure centered around a flawed antihero. Everything comes to a head, not just for Vic, but for those around him. The Shield highlighted that it is essential to remain consistent and not deviate for the sake of trying to do something different for the final season.
‘The Wire’ (2002 – 2008)
Season 5
Across its five seasons, The Wire evolved in various ways, with each season offering another angle to examine crime in Baltimore, Maryland, through multiple institutions. Considered by many to be the greatest television series of all time, The Wire thrived on authenticity and realism, backed by an ensemble cast and a deeply researched and well-executed story that shifted its focus throughout its five seasons.
Critical and Poignant From Start to Finish
By focusing on the media and its consequences for season five, The Wire was able to tie together many of its long-running themes and stories throughout. Moreover, the final season did not rely on providing emotional closure; instead, it remained true to its focus on systemic corruption. At the same time, the show offered closure for certain characters while maintaining a realistic tone consistent with what came before. The Wire perfectly balanced various elements and past seasons to make an unforgettable finale.
‘Six Feet Under’ (2001 – 2005)
Season 5
Must-watch and highly talked-about TV in the early 2000s, Six Feet Under brought a delicately dark wit to drama television as it followed the Fisher family’s struggles running a funeral home in Los Angeles. Created by Alan Ball, every episode would open with a death, serving as a means to explore different dynamics about our relationship with mortality as the Fishers dealt with the aftermath in some form or another.
A Final Season as Inevitable as Death Itself
Despite its somewhat episodic set-up for each episode, the series effectively continued building on its lore through phenomenal character development. This led to the final season, ensuring that every character received some closure on their arc, culminating in the meticulously crafted final episode, “Everyone’s Waiting.” Even better in keeping to its dark comedy roots, the show offered a glimpse of how everyone was going to die, never losing sight of its focus on mortality.
‘Mad Men’ (2007 – 2015)
Season 7
For those who were not around when Mad Men first appeared on TV screens, it is difficult to convey its impact on both the medium and pop culture. Set in 1960s New York City, the series would explore both the career and personal life of Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and several other ad executives pioneering the way America interacted with products. With money, however, comes power struggles and personal hardship, which the series never shied away from.
A Fitting Reprise After a Decade of Hard Work
The seventh season of Mad Men would see closure in various ways, marking the shift into the 1970s and a sort of personal awakening for many of the characters involved. Whether it be Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) finding romantic and professional fulfillment, or Draper finally facing his demons and finding a moment of zen, the series tied up everything perfectly.
‘Breaking Bad’ (2008 – 2013)
Season 5
The five seasons of Breaking Bad will forever remain among the best television has ever created. Starting with Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) shift from teacher to meth seller alongside Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) in a bid to secure a future after being diagnosed with cancer, there was always a sense of immediacy that would only grow with each subsequent season.
Masterful From Start to Finish
Breaking Bad would only continue to escalate up to its final season, which saw Walter White placed in a situation where he had to make a series of difficult choices to save and set his family up for a better future. It is utterly flawless in building upon the previous seasons, packed full of emotion and tension, and remains exemplary of how to conclude an already beloved series. Creator Vince Gilligan would also go on to prove it was not a fluke, with the spin-off Better Call Saul equally deserving of a spot on this list.