When people diligently watch a TV show from beginning to end, relating to or even cosplaying its characters,reciting iconic catchphrasesor even entire passages, and know the lyrics to its theme songs by heart — it stands to reason that they will also be affected by its finale.
Conclusions can be either shocking, as withHow I Met Your Mother; gut-wrenching, as withSons of Anarchy; infuriating, as withGame of Thrones; bittersweet, as withFriends; hopeful, as withThe Walking Dead; or satisfying, as most if not all characters have some sort of closure. Happy orpleasant finales can focus on a fulfilled revenge, a couple finally getting back together, career advancement, or a personal dream coming true.
From heartwarming satisfcation to bittersweet goodbyes, here are 20 series that ended on a positive note and filled the hearts of their dedicated fans with joy.
Article contains major spoilers
20New Girl (2011-2018)
New Girlis a quirky sitcom starring Zooey Deschanel, Max Greenfield, Jake Johnson, Lamorne Morris, Damon Wayans Jr., and Hannah Simone. After going through a terrible breakup, the naïve and cheerful Jess moves in and bonds with three dysfunctional single men, Schmidt, Winston, and Nick, and starts developing feelings for the latter. Her best friend, Cece, frequently pops by and later gets together with Schmidt.
How It Ends
Every character grows and matures differently. Jess and Nick get over their awkwardness and personal issues, and finally tie the knot to Phil Collins’Groovy Kind of Love, and in the hallway of the hospital where Winston’s pregnant wife Aly is about to deliver their baby, no less. A flash-forward reveals that there will be a child-friendly version of the gang’s confusing True American game, thus continuing the bizarre tradition and showing that Cece and Schmidt will have two kids, while Winston and Aly will have five.StreamNew Girlon Hulu.
19Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
Parks and Recreation
Starring Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, and Chris Pratt,Parks and Recreationfollows the whacky antics of public officials and residents in the town of Pawnee, Indiana. There is Ron, the director of the Parks and Recreation Department;Leslie, the deputy director and later a city councilor; Tom and April, their assistants; Ben, a state auditor; Andy, a dim-witted but endearing musician; Jerry/Garry/Lenny, a longstanding employee and dedicated family man; and unhinged twin siblings, Jean-Ralphio and Mona-Lisa.
After seven yearsof near cancelations,Parks and Recreationmanaged a shorter last season to give the characters closure. Andy and April are married and have a baby after disagreeing about wanting to have kids. Jerry becomes mayor of Pawnee and lives to be 100. Tom gets married and publishes a best-selling book. Jean-Ralphio fakes his death and flees America with Mona-Lisa to Tajikistan, where he opens a casino.
Ron opens a construction company, and Leslie makes him the Superintendent of Pawnee National Park, which fits perfectly with his love of nature. As for Leslie and Ben, they have triplets and often hang out with Joe and Jill Biden; she later runs for office, and he shoulders her as campaign manager.StreamParks and Recreationon Peacock.
Here is the first and last scene of every Parks and Recreation character, via the official YouTube Channel Parks and Recreation:
18Adventure Time (2010-2018)
Adventure Time
Created by Pendelton Ward for Cartoon Network,Adventure Timeis an award-winning fantasy and coming-of-age animated series voiced by Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, and Hynden Walch. Set in the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, it follows the noble missions and surreal antics of Finn, a brave 12-year-old human boy, and his best friend Jake, a dog with shapeshifting powers and exceptional cooking skills.
Along the way, they meet characters such as the friendly vampire and musician Marceline; Princess Bubblegum, the sentient gum ruler of Candy Kingdom; Ice King, a human turned into a menacing wizard; BMO, an endearing video-game console, and many others.
The emotional four-part finale is set between the present and 1,000 years into the future. Bubblegum and her uncle resolve a deadly war in a civil manner. The cute BMO becomes King of Ooo, and the Ice King finds redemption and reverts to human form. Marceline, who rescues Bubblegum from mutated monsters, shares a kiss with her, as a prelude to their fan-favorite relationshipin the spin-off series,Adventure Time: Distant Lands - Obsidian.
As for the iconic Finn-and-Jake duo, they are seen chilling in a lake, and per BMO’s narration, would go on continuing to have adventures for many more years.StreamAdventure Timeon Max.
Here is a video essay on Adventure Time and the nature of endings, via YouTube channel What’s So Great About That?:
17Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015-2019)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
The CW’s romantic musical dramedyCrazy Ex-Girlfriendstars Rachel Bloom as Rebecca Bunch, a distressed, unpredictable, and anxious lawyer who relocates to California to win back the object of her obsession, Josh Chan (Vincent Rodriguez III), who she met at summer camp years ago.
Related:Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: Songs That Show Rebecca’s Journey
After being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Rebecca realizes that her job is making her miserable and decides she will find more joy in songwriting. She doesn’t end up with either of the men she gets involved with throughout the seasons, as those relationships have been unfulfilling, but rather chooses to focus on her mental health, friends, and music.StreamCrazy Ex-Girlfriendon Netflix.
16Spaced (1999-2001)
Spacedis a satirical British television sitcom written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson as Tim Bisley and Daisy Steiner, who meet by chance and pretend they’re a couple in order to fit the prerequisites of an ad for the only living space they can afford. Other notable characters include their best friends Twist and Mike, the landlady Marsha, and Brian, a lodger and an eccentric artist.
After afrustrating will-they-or-won’t-they rapport, Tim and Daisy, though not fully emotionally mature, end up together. Mike shares wine and his love of rifle assembly with Marsha, and Twist’s face inspires Brian for a new painting. The last scene shows the apartment door closing on Tim, Daisy, and their dog peacefully watching TV. Outside the house, the For Sale sign is removed, signaling that Marsha no longer intends to sell the place that has brought so many people together.StreamSpacedon Roku.
15Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbenderis an animated fantasy action series produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio and centering on the telekinetic manipulation of the four elements — water, earth, fire or air — in an Asian, Siberian, and Arctic-inspired land. Aang, the current Avatar and last survivor of the Air Nomads, is found frozen in ice by Katara, a water bender, and her brother Sokka.
Along the way in their adventures they find the talented earth bender Toph, and eventually recruit Zuko, a fire bender and the exiled prince of the Fire Nation. Together, the friends journey to defeat the Fire Lord Ozai and stop the Fire Nation’s war against the rest of the world.
The series concludes with Aang defeating Ozai and taking his fire-bending powers away from him, while Zuko, the character withan incredible redemption arc, is crowned the new Fire Lord and promises his people peace and prosperity. Katara gives Aang a kiss, hinting she is ready to return his affection. They later get married and have three children, two of whom are gifted with bending powers.StreamAvatar: The Last Airbenderon Netflix.
Here are Aang’s last moments with all of his friends, via the official YouTube Channel Avatar: The Last Airbender:
14Ted Lasso (2020-2023)
Ted Lassois a sports dramedy following Jason Sudeikis as the titular college football coach from Kansas who is hired to help AFC Richmond, an English soccer team. Despite not being familiar with the sport and displaying too much optimism for their taste, he eventually wins the other characters over with his humor, charm, and wholesome approach.
AFC Richmond beat their rival and place second, but not before performing a touchingSo Long, Farewellto honor Ted’s obsession withThe Sound of Music. Ted returns to Kansas to be with his son, finally assuming his parental responsibilities again. As for Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt), he changes his mind about following Ted and gets married in a romantic setting. An AFC Richmond women’s soccer team isapparently in the making as a spinoff.StreamTed Lassoon Apple TV.
13Private Practice (2007-2013)
Private Practice
The acclaimed medical and romantic dramaGrey’s Anatomy, created by Shonda Rhimes, spawned three spin-offs:B-Team,Station 19, andPrivate Practice. The latter follows Shepherd’s ex-wife, neonatal surgeon Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh), as she rebuilds her life at a private medical facility in Los Angeles. Other characters she regularly interacts with include Naomi Bennett, a fertility specialist; the latter’s ex-husband, Sam Bennett, specialized in internal medicine; Violet Turner, a psychiatrist; Jake Reilly, a fertility doctor; Pete Wilder, a naturopath; and Addison’s former sister-in-law Amelia, a neurosurgeon struggling with substance abuse.
The finale concludes on a hopeful note. After she proposes for the second time, Addison finally marries Jake. Sam and Naomi find their way back to each other and are having a baby. Amelia has a chance at love and emotional stability, and Violet comes to terms with Pete’s death and is working on a book.StreamPrivate Practiceon Hulu.
12The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-2023)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
The Marvelous Mrs. Maiselis a dramedy set in the 1950s and 1960s, with flash-forwards to later years in the last season. The highly acclaimed show won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. The story follows Rachel Brosnahan as Miriam “Midge” Maisel, a New York homemaker who decides to pursue a career in stand-up comedy after Joel (Michael Zegen), her husband, leaves her. Alex Borstein stars as Susie Myerson, her manager and friend; and Reid Scott is Gordon Ford, a late-night talk show host.
After being patronized in an interview onThe Gordon Ford Show, Midge takes matters into her own hands once they return from the commercial break and gives an impromptu performance that launches her into stardom. AsBrosnahan states to Vanity Fair: “She’s different now. She’s wiser and sharper and more mature and knows completely how to get what she wants." Midge and Susie’s special bond may have been put to the test, but it eventually endures.StreamThe Marvelous Mrs. Maiselon Prime.
11Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (2020)
Produced by DreamWorks and animated by South Korean studio Mir, the adventure and fantasy seriesKipo and the Age of Wonderbeastsis set in a post-apocalyptic world filled with anthropomorphic animals or “mutes.” The story follows Kipo Oak, an upbeat girl who can transform into a Mega Jaguar; Wolf, her best friend and adopted sister; Dr. Emilia, a ruthless scientist who wants to annihilate the mutes; Hugo/Scarlemagne, a power-crazy mandrill and Kipo’s adoptive brother; the carefree and upbeat Benson; and Troy, the latter’s boyfriend.
The show aired for three seasons, spread out over the year of 2020. By the end, Scarlemagne is mortally wounded but finally redeems himself by saving Kipo from Dr. Emilia’s Mega Mute form. As for Emilia, she is defeated and swallowed by a mute slime. Fast-forward five years. Benson and Troy are still together and running a restaurant, and Kipo is happy that humans and mutes now live together in peaceful harmony.StreamKipo and the Age of Wonderbeastson Netflix.
