The Best Series Finales

This list of the best series finales in television is a somber reminder that no matter how much you love a TV character or a show, in time, they all will end. Your favorite TV couple, your favorite TV villain, and even your favorite TV businesses will all close up shop at some point, and these are the best final episodes of those TV shows that are no longer on the air. And believe it or not, some of the best TV shows ever didn't make the list because they were great TV shows with bad finales.

This list includes the greatest television series finales in the history of television, ranked by TV viewers who had a strong reaction- good or bad- to the final episodes of their favorite shows. Some of these TV shows had the highest ranked series finales of all time while others are on the list simply for resonating with their fans. Some series finales, like the final episode of Newhart, are still talked about because people can't believe the show actually ended that way. Others, like M*A*S*H, rank high because they were emotionally fulfilling to the fans who had turned on their TVs and opened their lives to those most loved TV characters week after week right up until the end.

What TV series had the best series finale? That's what this list is here to decide. Remember, the top series finales both wrapped up the storylines AND left viewers wanting more. Go easy on the series finales that came as a result of a show being cancelled, and make sure to add your favorite TV series finale if it's not already on the list.