It’s laborious to get the ending of a narrative proper. As a neighborhood of writers, we at Spoiler TV are effectively conscious of that. It’s particularly difficult when producing a TV present with an viewers of a number of million folks per episode, every with their very own concepts about how the finale ought to unfold. It’s inconceivable to please everybody – somebody will at all times be sad, complaining that their favourite character’s arc felt weak or that the actors weren’t given a worthy send-off.
However then there are exhibits the place the finale is such a disastrous letdown that almost all of the viewers agrees that it’s a trainwreck with no survivors, a remaining act of self-destruction. All the things the present spent years constructing is destroyed within the remaining episode(s), leaving the viewers feeling betrayed after investing a lot time and emotion into the collection. Some finales nearly appear to mock viewers for staying loyal by means of all these seasons and years. It feels as if the ultimate storyline was intentionally crafted to punish followers for transport a pair that was by no means meant to be or for rejecting a personality the creators have been decided to push. Different exhibits, nevertheless, collapsed underneath the burden of their very own ambition, attempting too laborious to create the right ending, solely to buckle underneath stress, speeding the finale or cramming in an excessive amount of directly.
We at SpoilerTV have come collectively to compile a listing of the exhibits we consider have been robbed of a satisfying conclusion.
Dexter – Cristina
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| Michael C. Corridor © All Rights Reserved. |
The Dexter collection finale, “Bear in mind the Monsters?” (Season 8, Episode 12), is extensively thought-about one of the vital disappointing endings in TV historical past as a result of it did not ship a satisfying or logical conclusion to Dexter’s journey. All through the collection, Dexter Morgan rigorously balanced his double life as a blood-spatter analyst and serial killer who adopted “The Code.” However within the finale, he makes irrational, uncharacteristic selections—particularly in how he handles Debra’s destiny and his personal supposed “self-exile.” Debra (Jennifer Carpenter), arguably the present’s emotional core, is shot and left brain-dead after a rushed and poorly executed shootout with Saxon. As a substitute of letting her die with dignity, Dexter decides to unplug her life assist and get rid of her physique within the ocean—identical to his victims. This not solely contradicts his love for her but additionally feels chilly and mindless.
After dumping Deb’s physique within the sea, Dexter steers his boat right into a hurricane, seemingly committing suicide. Nevertheless, the present inexplicably reveals that he faked his demise and is now dwelling as a lumberjack in Oregon. Why? The reasoning is unclear. Dexter simply decides he brings doom to everybody he loves, so as an alternative of being together with his son Harrison (whom he simply deserted to Hannah, an ex-lover on the run), he isolates himself within the woods. It felt lazy, unearned, and fully out of sync with the Dexter we knew.
Oliver Saxon (the Mind Surgeon) was a forgettable, underwhelming antagonist. In comparison with previous villains just like the Trinity Killer or the Ice Truck Killer, he lacked charisma or depth. His remaining showdown with Dexter was over in seconds, making him really feel like a throwaway villain somewhat than a real remaining problem for Dexter.
One of the vital irritating elements was the dearth of closure. All through the collection, Dexter was at all times on the sting of being caught—by legislation enforcement, his colleagues, and even his personal conscience. However ultimately, he merely walks away, avoiding justice, reckoning, or redemption. It felt just like the writers didn’t know methods to finish his story, so they only… didn’t.
The ending ignored what made Dexter nice: its psychological depth and ethical complexity. The backlash was so robust that Dexter: New Blood needed to are available in years later to attempt to repair it, however by then, the harm was completed. As a substitute of an exhilarating or emotional payoff, it left followers scratching their heads—and making a variety of lumberjack jokes.
Home MD – Eve
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| Hugh Laurie © All Rights Reserved. |
The ultimate episode of Home MD, titled “Everyone Dies,” aired on Might 21, 2012. The episode acquired blended reactions from viewers and critics alike. Some viewers appreciated the introspective nature of the episode, which targeted on Home analyzing his life and future whereas treating a drug-addicted affected person. The episode featured cameos from a number of characters from earlier seasons, including a way of nostalgia. The decades-long friendship between Home and Wilson was highlighted, which many followers discovered very becoming. Nevertheless, others felt that the episode was overly sentimental and melodramatic, straying from the darker, extra practical tone of the present’s earlier seasons.
Dr. Lisa Cuddy, performed by Lisa Edelstein, didn’t seem within the remaining episode of Home MD. She left the present after Season 7. Lisa Edelstein selected to depart the present attributable to contract disputes. Within the storyline, Cuddy moved away from New Jersey following a violent finish to her relationship with Home, which included Home driving his automobile into her eating room. This occasion shocked many followers and the writers acquired some substantial warmth for this. Cuddy’s absence within the finale felt like a major oversight, particularly given her significance all through the collection and her significant relationship with Home. The underwhelming response to the finale episode and even the whole remaining season triggered an ongoing debate between followers in regards to the finale’s effectiveness and its place within the collection’ legacy.
Main Crimes – Julia
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| Robert Gossett, Kearran Giovanni, Phillip P. Keene, Tony Denison, Mary McDonnell, G.W. Bailey, Raymond Cruz, Michael Paul Chan, Johathan Del Arco and Graham Patrick Martin © All Rights Reserved. |
The primary present that instantly involves thoughts once I consider butchered collection finales is TNT’s Main Crimes. As a spin-off of The Nearer, the crime procedural ran for six seasons, solely to finish with the primary character’s demise and people closest to her disregarding her values and all the things she had stood for. Commander Sharon O’Dwyer Raydor, the pinnacle of LAPD’s Main Crimes division, mom of three and a newlywed, was needlessly killed off 4 episodes earlier than the collection finale, seemingly primarily to take away her rule-following, principled presence from the equation.
Whereas the present consisted of an ensemble solid, Sharon Raydor was primarily the present’s central determine. Because it grew to become clear that Main Crimes seemingly wouldn’t get renewed for one more season, season 6 was written with the understanding that it might be the ultimate chapter. The creators selected to finish the present by pushing apart the girl who had carried the collection for six seasons and shifted the main target to a personality who had develop into more and more disliked by a good portion of the viewers, a reality they have been undoubtedly conscious of.
To make issues worse, they killed Sharon Raydor in essentially the most uninspired method potential: they gave her a coronary heart situation and had her ignore her physician’s orders (which was very a lot out of character for her) till she collapsed and died. The second she took her final breath, her adopted son and colleagues wasted no time in disregarding all the things she had stood for, unraveling her legacy. As the ultimate slap within the face, they eliminated the actress’s identify from the opening credit sooner than one may blink. Nice present – terrible ending. Sharon Raydor deserved higher, the actors deserved higher and so did the followers.
Sherlock – Anjali
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| Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch © All Rights Reserved. |
Anybody who has ever watched BBC’s Sherlock (2010-2017) is aware of that it was among the best trendy variations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s titular detective, Sherlock Holmes. For the primary two seasons, all the things was completely praise-worthy, from the writing to the performing to the tales that got a modern-day twist and the hype became a full-fledged web phenomenon which exploded amongst audiences who weren’t solely fully invested within the “Johnlock” mania of the duo, however within the fandom attempting to unravel one of many greatest mysteries when Sherlock seemingly faked his demise in season 2 which despatched Tumblr (and all the web as a collective entire) right into a frenzied chaos for 2 years till the third season aired.
To start with of season 3 Sherlock makes his triumphant return, reuniting with John after being presumed lifeless. Whereas Watson’s anger, devastation, and shock at seeing his finest good friend once more have been targeted on the “why” somewhat than the “how,” the thriller of Sherlock’s survival remained entierly unanswered. As a substitute, each rationalization was became a parody. Even Andersen’s character grew to become a comic book aid, performing as a stand-in for the viewers. Obsessive about determining how Sherlock survived, he joins a fan group and creates a conspiracy board crammed with pictures and strings, attempting to attach the dots and make it make sense. It got here throughout because the showrunners dismissing the query about Sherlock’s survival as unimportant and each idea turning into irrelevant, which in flip, prompt that each one the fandom’s effort and time and dedication into one thing they’d actually loved immersing themselves in was for nothing.
There’s additionally the difficulty of Eurus Holmes, a sibling of Sherlock and Mycroft that didn’t exist for all the earlier episodes and seasons, till immediately, she was conjured out of skinny air. She had a really convoluted backstory and ties to Moriarty and a grand plan to destroy her brother’s lives and John’s as effectively – however by the top of the collection, all the things felt extra of a letdown than every episode that preceded it. Andrew Scott’s portrayal of Jim Moriarty casts an extended shadow, as no different villain matched his brilliance. The present began to really feel divided into two halves, earlier than season 2 and after.
The magic was gone, that lightning in a bottle feeling which was captured twice, didn’t work a 3rd or fourth time and regardless that Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman’s chemistry continues to be the discuss of the fandom, even years after the present “ended” (although by no means formally renewed or cancelled final season 4, the present is taken into account completed) it is protected to say that Sherlock had had its swan music with the finale of season 2 which was a peak tv expertise.
The X-Recordsdata – Elena
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| David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson © All Rights Reserved. |
“Not solely the worst X-Recordsdata episode of all time, however the worst tv my eyes have ever needed to see.”
“There (are) some TV collection that (I) do not suppose know when to finish.. This eleventh @thexfiles season is a exceptional instance.”
“Worst television collection finale? The X-Recordsdata finale ruined me.”
Want I say extra?
The season 11 finale, “My Battle IV” raised extra questions than it answered, specifically, why Chris Carter was writing yet one more being pregnant storyline for Scully, who was in her mid-fifties. Between Cigarette Smoking Man insisting he was William’s organic father, William’s demise, and Scully telling Mulder they’re anticipating a child, it’s protected to say that followers have been left confused and disillusioned. This present’s dealing with of fertility and conception left a lot to be desired, however in a present in regards to the paranormal, writers have a specific amount of leeway, which they’ve used unsparingly.
It have to be stated that at a sure level within the authentic run, Chris Carter and different writers of the X-Recordsdata had misplaced their imaginative and prescient concerning the mytharc and the “reality” that guided the characters and their selections. He additionally acquired criticism from many viewers for the way in which wherein he dealt with Mulder and Scully’s relationship after such a slow-burn romance. Many followers believed the present ought to have resulted in season 8, as references to the pilot and former episodes have been made, they usually felt the story had come full circle.
There’s a lot to be stated about showrunners extending a collection past its rightful finish, whether or not for revenue or legacy. On this case, plainly the revival didn’t garner the attraction of the unique followers in the identical method.
In a November 2024 episode of David Duchovny’s podcast, Gillian Anderson says in regards to the revival storyline, “It felt like Scully’s trajectory was not certainly one of energy and company, it felt prefer it was beholden to an previous thought of what a lady is and that’s all she may discuss, actually.” referring to the return of their son William, who glided by Jackson Van De Kamp.
Sadly for the producers and actors, if the X-Recordsdata reboot ought to ever develop into a actuality, they’ll by no means escape the shadows of their predecessors, and any makes an attempt, irrespective of how renewed and impressive, would finally be futile.
My recommendation? Rewatch the unique collection and flicks! 9 seasons is far more than the typical lately, and although the collection finale was actually despised by many, most argued that the 2 revival seasons featured some enjoyable monster-of-the-week episodes, they usually loved having the ability to watch Mulder and Scully develop collectively by means of one other interval of their lives.
The 100 – María Sol
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I began watching The 100 just a few years after it initially premiered, and shortly I grew to become obsessive about it, making it an instantaneous favourite. The primary seasons have been wonderful, stuffed with twists and turns that saved us engaged, with nice character growth for nearly everybody. The characters have been at all times dealing with dilemmas that generally led them to do good, however different instances took them to a darkish place.
I can recognize seasons 5 and 6, regardless that they weren’t the most effective. Nevertheless, I believe issues began to go downhill in season 7, the place they launched too many plotlines, nearly one in each episode, sending the characters to completely different planets. This didn’t assist a lot in closing the story, which ideally ought to occur within the remaining season of a present.
However the primary situation for me was Bellamy’s journey. They turned him into some kind of villain, which went in opposition to all the things we had seen in his character growth. The height of this was his demise—not the truth that he died, as I form of imagined that might occur ultimately, however the how and why of his demise. It felt like a betrayal for Clarke to kill him after all the things they’d been by means of. I perceive she did it to guard Maddie, however ultimately, it was fully ineffective since she couldn’t assist Maddie both.
Anyway, regardless that I’m not a giant fan of how the story concluded, I nonetheless suppose The 100 is a good present value rewatching. Although, perhaps I am going to simply fake that final season by no means existed.
Which TV finale left you essentially the most disillusioned? Share your ideas within the feedback!