10 Best Final Seasons In TV History
Not every show can nail its swansong, but some go above and beyond to give a fitting send-off...
It's really not an easy thing to make a TV show successful. There are so many factors that go into making a great hit on-screen, and even when showrunners do get it right, keeping the quality consistent year in year out can be a major challenge. When it comes to ending a show in particular, getting it right is key to how it will be remembered in years to come.
Not every big show can do it for a number of reasons. Producers run out of ideas and a show fizzles out over time, studio interference can lead to some unpopular decisions, and some final seasons just aren't given the time or budget they likely deserve. Game Of Thrones for example, could have had a much stronger final season with a longer-episode run, which would have fleshed out some of the big twists and u-turns some fans have criticised for coming out of nowhere.
On the other hand, some shows really do save the best for last and you can tell when the creators have poured their heart and soul into a strong ending. These are the shows that put everything into finishing their stories on a high note, with their final seasons raising the stakes, offering fitting arcs for the characters and giving the fans the pay-off they wanted...
10. Fringe (Season 5)
After four years of exploring strange phenomena and battling doppelgangers across parallel universes and alternate timelines, this cult sci-fi show came to a close with a reduced in length fifth season in 2013, which completely turned the show on its head in ways we couldn't imagine.
The story of FBI agent Olivia Dunham, along with father/son duo Peter and Walter Bishop, came to a close not in the present but in the year 2036, when the world had been taken over by Observers - bald, pale beings from the future who had travelled back in time to oppress their ancestors and enslave mankind.
Despite the aforementioned phenomena and parallel universes, this was yet another curveball for the show just when we thought it couldn't get any weirder. Yet it turned out to be a brilliant swan-song for the show - a mainly self-contained story full of emotional reunions, betrayal, tragedy and a generally happy ending, but with consequences. The futuristic setting also allowed for some incredible homages to Star Trek, Blade Runner and Star Wars to name a few - the easter eggs are countless.
It's a real shame this show didn't get more recognition at the time it originally aired - it's got a major cult following today and is considered one of J.J. Abrams greatest creations.