An ending could make or break a sequence, however generally, it merely leaves an viewers considering… “That is it?” As an alternative of answering essential questions, resolving plot threads, or finishing character arcs, reveals like these abruptly—and generally confusingly—fizzle out, leaving viewers questioning what (and why) they spent their time watching.
The explanations behind a present’s disappointing ending are varied and vary from early cancelations to disputes between present runners to guide actors wanting to go away. Though we will perceive how these conclusions got here to be, few issues are extra irritating than an anticlimactic ending, and there are few endings much less satisfying than those on this record.
10
‘Recreation of Thrones’ (2010 – 2018)
Recreation of Thrones provided viewers a fantastical journey into Westeros, the place Winter, White Walkers, and dragons remained a relentless menace. Happening over eight seasons, the present included some unbelievable moments, together with the Pink Wedding ceremony and Battle of the Bastards. Nonetheless, for all its highs, Recreation of Thrones ended on a remarkably anti-climactic low.
Recreation Over
Though the ending to Recreation of Thrones was intense, that is not the identical as being passable. It was weirdly paced, not tremendous in character, and general, type of a letdown. Certain, the ending may have labored, however in the end, it had too many logistical points and lacked correct build-up. At the moment, the present’s prequel, Home of the Dragon, is coping with related points, and we hope it’s going to be taught from its predecessor and keep away from Recreation of Thrones’ disappointing destiny.
9
‘How I Met Your Mom’ (2005 – 2013)
How I Met Your Mom follows Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) as he tells his youngsters, fittingly, about how he met their mom. Every episode focuses on his quest to seek out “the one,” in addition to his adventures with a number of associates, together with Robin (Cobie Smulders). Whereas the comedy did a superb job at portraying Ted’s romantic life, the last word course of the story was removed from a fortunately ever after for viewers.
How He Met Robin
After 9 seasons of failed dates, missed alternatives, and the central query of, “Who’s the mom?” it was revealed to followers that the mom of Ted’s youngsters was Tracy McConnell (Cristin Milioti)—and that she was useless. In a twist, Ted wound up with Robin as an alternative, thereby undoing Ted, Robin, and Barney’s arcs whereas additionally pushing apart the present’s central thriller. It felt like a faux out to have a complete sequence in regards to the youngsters’ mom find yourself probably not being about her in any respect.
8
‘Seinfeld’ (1989 – 1997)

Seinfeld
- Launch Date
-
1989 – 1998-00-00
- Community
-
NBC
Created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, Seinfeld targeted on a bunch of 4 associates in NYC and the zany antics surrounding their strange lives. A lot of the episodes centered on a seemingly unimportant occasion, akin to a date gone unsuitable, and the characters’ weird strategy to dealing with it. Famously, the sequence has been referred to as “a present about nothing,” and whereas initially humorous, by the sequence’ finish, that abstract felt far too correct.
A Present, In the end, About Nothing
Even for a present about nothing, the ending was a let-down. The 4 associates discovered themselves in jail after violating a Good Samaritan Legislation. To be truthful, it wasn’t out of character for this to occur to the foursome, and maybe it may have labored with a bit extra improvement, however in the end, it felt far meaner and fewer humorous than earlier episodes. Happily, David referenced the finale in Curb Your Enthusiasm, thereby giving each reveals a greater send-off.

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7
‘Heroes’ (2006 – 2009)

Heroes
- Launch Date
-
2006 – 2009
- Community
-
NBC
-
-
Santiago Cabrera
Simone Deveaux
-
Jack Coleman
Isaac Mendez
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Tawny Cypress
Micah Sanders
4 seasons lengthy, Heroes tells the story of a bunch of seemingly strange individuals discovering that they’ve superpowers. It was meant to imitate the texture of a comic book ebook, specializing in a number of completely different characters and their makes an attempt to be taught extra about their powers, escape those that wished them destroyed, and in the end, save the world (and cheerleader). Initially, the present was vastly widespread, however because the sequence went on, that reputation started to wane, in the end resulting in the sequence’ cancelation and an ending that far too rapidly and artificially tied up its unfastened ends.
Could not Save the Present
The WGA writers’ strike of 2007 was an enormous purpose why Heroes failed. It led to quite a few rewrites and reshoots, culminating in delays, much less intriguing plotlines, and decrease rankings. It is unlucky that Heroes ended so anticlimactically when Season 1 promised one thing particular. Nonetheless, fortunately for followers, a reboot is presently within the works.
6
‘Fairly Little Liars’ (2010 – 2016)
A 12 months after their pal, Alison, disappears, a mysterious determine named “A” begins threatening Aria, Emily, Spencer, and Hanna. Seven seasons lengthy, the present would pave the best way for a number of spin-offs, together with Ravenswood and Fairly Little Liars: Unique Sin. Whereas these spin-offs by no means fairly matched the success of the unique, they did all have one thing in widespread: lackluster endings.
Fairly Underwhelming Ending
All through Fairly Little Liars, a number of characters had been revealed to be A, and through Season 7, the query turned to the identification of “Uber A.” Sadly, the reply wasn’t satisfying to many followers, feeling emotionally underwhelming, in addition to a bit random. Plus, the “Liars'” endings felt imprecise and impersonal, including to the general sense that the ending was extra of a sudden cease than a purposeful conclusion.
5
‘Tips on how to Get Away with Homicide’
Lawyer and legislation professor Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) works at Middleton College the place her college students compete to win an internship together with her. Over the course of the present, Annalise and her college students grow to be embroiled in a number of murders, and so they should use their data of the legislation to assist not solely their purchasers, but in addition themselves. Every season had one thing to supply viewers, as did the ending itself—solely, as an alternative of feeling like a sequence’ finale, it felt like a season finale with extra to discover.
Tips on how to Virtually Get Away With a Finale
Many issues about Tips on how to Get Away with Homicide’s finale labored, together with the karmic fates of most of the characters. Nonetheless, the FBI’s corruption was a muddier facet of the episode, and several other questions remained unanswered. Plus, after wrapping up the trial towards Annalise, the present flashed ahead to her funeral, a few years later. This opened up fully new questions in regards to the characters and what had occurred throughout that point. Total, it wasn’t a foul episode, however figuring out how good it almost was makes it really feel a lot worse.

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4
‘Beneath the Dome’ (2013 – 2014)
Based mostly on Stephen King’s novel of the identical title, Beneath the Dome came about within the fictional city of Chester Hill and adopted the residents as they tailored to life underneath a mysterious, unbreakable dome. The present’s first episode was a success, breaking viewership information and profitable over critics and followers alike. Nonetheless, by the present’s third season, a lot of the present’s pleasure was gone, and as soon as the finale got here round, viewers weren’t fully certain what they had been watching anymore.
Underwhelming and Complicated
Beneath the Dome’s finale did not make a lot sense, and it did not reply most of the present’s central questions. To be truthful, the present was canceled early, which could have led to a few of the finale’s strangeness because it tried to wrap up unfastened ends. Nonetheless, Beneath the Dome had began to frustrate viewers lengthy earlier than this remaining episode, and in that sense, the finale did wrap issues up by providing audiences extra of the identical.
3
‘The Promised Neverland’ (2019 – 2021)
The Promised Neverland takes place at Grace Discipline Home, a farm that is disguised as an orphanage. Unbeknownst to the kids residing there, they’re fated to be fed to monsters. When considered one of them, Emma, learns what’s to return, she works together with her associates, Norman and Ray, to try to plan an escape. However getting all the youngsters out will not be straightforward, and even when they succeed, there are way more threats lurking past the gate.
A Failed Promise
The ending to The Promised Neverland is essentially thought of one of many worst in anime historical past. To be truthful, the manga ending was related, however in that case, there was way more of a build-up and payoff. When it got here to the anime, enormous chunks of the unique story had been reduce, making the ending really feel complicated, rushed, and like not a lot of substance had occurred. In that sense, it isn’t simply The Promised Neverland’s finale that felt anti-climactic, however your complete second season.

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2
‘Misplaced’ (2004 – 2009)

Misplaced
- Launch Date
-
2004 – 2010-00-00
- Community
-
ABC
The most effective TV reveals of the twenty first century, Misplaced advised the story of a bunch of survivors from Oceanic Flight 815. After crash-landing on an island, they started to expertise weird occasions, like rogue polar bears and assaults by a Smoke Monster. Because the mysteries continued to unfold, followers had been desirous to see what all the things was constructing as much as—however by the point we reached Misplaced’s ending, it had us feeling a bit, nicely, misplaced.
Unanswered Questions
Certain, some followers appreciated Misplaced’s ending, however for a good portion of viewers, it felt incomplete and unsatisfactory. Misplaced left viewers with many unanswered questions, together with what the ending itself was speculated to imply. Definitely, the present provided some intriguing mysteries, however the largest thriller of all is why it provided a lot build-up solely to finish so anticlimactically.
1
‘Dexter’ (2006 – 2012)

Dexter
- Launch Date
-
2006 – 2013-00-00
- Community
-
Showtime
- Showrunner
-
Clyde Phillips
A present a couple of serial killer (Michael C. Corridor) who solely killed different killers, Dexter was an enormous hit from the second it aired in 2006. Every episode adopted Dexter as he tried to steadiness his murderous Darkish Passenger together with his want to slot in and be regular. Nonetheless, towards the tip of the sequence, Dexter was compelled to kill his sister, abandon his companion, and depart his previous life behind. On the floor, this all sounds attention-grabbing, however in observe… not a lot.
A Second Missed Alternative
To at the present time, followers nonetheless aren’t fully certain why Dexter ended with the titular character working as a lumberjack in Alaska. These identical followers had been excited by the announcement of New Blood, which many considered as an opportunity to get the sequence’ ending proper. Whereas the ending to Dexter: New Blood is superior to the primary ending in some ways, followers had been nonetheless largely underwhelmed by it. Hopefully, the newest sequel, Dexter: Resurrection, will give viewers a extra becoming conclusion.