There are more television shows than ever for audiences to binge and fall in love with. With so many options comes a lot more finales to keep up with. While some shows are canceled before they can wrap things up, others find a way to successfully bring the show to a close.
There’s been a lot of debate over what the best series finale of recent years is, and what makes them perfect.
10 Audiences Say Goodbye to Modern Family
Modern Family (2009-2020)
Modern Family is a mockumentary sitcom that follows a long line of classic, incredible sitcoms from the past, updating their tropes and classic moments to a setting that fits today’s audiences. The series stars Ed O’Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter and more, and sees, as the title suggests, a modern family. The hijinks and comedy from these characters come from themselves and less from the concept of the entire show.
By the time the show got to its eleventh season, the audience and the show were starting to feel worn out. The show was still beloved, but it had reached a point that few sitcoms are able to achieve without feeling fatigued. So at the beginning of April 2020, Modern Family finally came to an end. The families moved on with their lives, and so did their audience, wrapping up the perfect classic, modern sitcom.
9 Perry Mason Returns to Court
Perry Mason (2020-2023)
The history of Perry Mason is long and vast, going back to the ’50s when the initial series practically pioneered courtroom drama television shows. Today, audiences have several to choose from, including a short-lived reboot of Perry Mason that went by the same name. Produced by HBO, Perry Mason didn’t update the character so much as they rebooted him for modern audiences. Starring the underrated and incredible Matthew Rhys as Mason, fans of the character see Mason in his early days as a private detective and how he becomes the iconic lawyer.
Each season deals with the corrupt and twisted judicial system of Los Angeles in the early 1930s, specifically surrounding two dark, horrible murders that catch the attention of the entire city. The new series perfectly recreates the noir feeling of older movies and shows that today’s audiences have been missing. While Perry Mason didn’t last as long as it deserved, it had a great ending for what it was trying to accomplish.
8 TV’s Favorite Police Station Retires
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021)
For eight seasons, Brooklyn Nine-Nine made police funny. Starring Andy Samberg, Melissa Fumero, Andre Braugher, Terry Crews, Joe Lo Truglio and more, the series takes a comedic look at the lives of the 99th police precinct in New York City. Instead of the usual cop show tropes audiences have come to know and love, Brooklyn Nine-Nine turns it on its head with light comedy straight out of Parks & Recreation or The Office.
.
As the series progressed, real-world events would impact the show and the types of stories they would tell, specifically the 2020 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. The final season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine came to a close in an oddly sentimental, beautiful way, wrapping up all the final storyline and moments audiences had been hoping to see resolved. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of the best sitcoms of the last ten years, and the finale was perfect.
7 Kidding Is Jim Carrey’s Underrated Show
Kidding (2018-2020)
starring Jim Carrey. Kidding follows Mr. Rogers-esque television host Jeff Pickles, played by Carrey, as he stands as one of the pillars of positivity and friendship in a world that is increasingly getting harder to navigate. After the loss of his son and the implosion of his family, Pickles has to find a way to save himself from the downward spiral he’s headed towards.
Kidding only lasted about two seasons, but deserved far more attention than it got at the time of its release. The show has so much to say about grief, love, family, anger and more, and communicating those themes through a kids’ television host, someone who usually spells those feelings out, is brilliant. Even though Kidding was canceled after only two seasons, the show found a way to wrap up the ending in a tight bow. Audiences should give Kidding a try.
6 Joe Golderg Goes Full Serial Killer
You (2018-2025)
The twisted and murderous tale of You has gone on for five seasons on Netflix, ending in an epic final showdown between killer Joe Goldberg and his newest obsession. Starring Penn Badgley, the series initially focused on an obsessive stalker trying to mask his criminal acts as romance and love. When things don’t go his way, however, he gets violent and lashes out. This violence has taken him all over the world, running from his murderous side. However, by the end of Season 5, Joe returns to New York, now fully comfortable as a serial killer.
You Season 5 closes the show at the perfect time. While some audiences argue that season three would’ve been a better end, to see the story continue past then was still wildly entertaining. Joe has stopped pretending his murderous rampage is anything but blood lust. Audiences see Joe at his worst, and season five ends his murderous rampage once and for all in a very satisfying way. Although some fans have problems with the new season, You‘s fifth season was a perfect finale for the character and story.
5 Andor Was the Best of Modern Star Wars
Andor (2022-2025)
Of recent Star Wars stories, Andor is easily the best. Going beyond the nostalgic factor that the franchise has going for them, Andor elevates the brand with mature themes and powerful performances that are woven through two seasons of intense storytelling. Diego Luna as the titular Cassian Andor is perfect in the role, following his appearance in Rogue One. The first season follows Cassian’s transformation from a cynical drifter into a committed rebel whom audiences loved to see fight the Empire.
Season two elevates the show and the stakes. Cassian fully steps into his role as a leader, and the Rebellion grows into something greater, setting up his eventual sacrifice. Star Wars has only really positively stayed in the public eye after the sequel trilogy due to the incredible storytelling Andor has to offer. The writing, tone, and structure make the show not just great Star Wars, but exceptional television. Andor’s series finale was a satisfying conclusion to a smart, thrilling, and vital story.
4 Succession Comes to a Close
Succession (2018-2023)
Succession is widely regarded by audiences and critics alike as one of the best TV dramas of the modern era. The show explores the wealth and legacy of the Roy family as different family members fight to take over the company after their father shows signs of health issues. Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin and more all deliver unforgettable performances that defined the series that audiences had fallen in love with.
The series finale was a pitch-perfect conclusion that stayed true to the show’s tone. It was bleak, cynical and emotionally devastating. Rather than offering a tidy resolution, it emphasized the cyclical nature of power and the personal costs of ambition. Succession stuck the landing in more ways than one, delivering a show to audiences that they’ll be returning to for years to come.
3 Ted Lasso Goes Home
Ted Lasso (2020)
Technically, Ted Lasso hasn’t ended. In early 2025, it was announced that the feel-good show on Apple TV+ would be returning for another season after its perfect ending at the end of season three. Starring Jason Sudeikis, the series sees an American college football coach travel to London with his best friend and assistant coach to lead a new team, this time playing UK football. However, what he doesn’t know is that the entire world seems to be out to ruin his kind spirits, but through the power of positivity and friendship, Ted Lasso will make the Green a better place.
Although things felt somewhat rushed, the series finale wrapped up the series and the show perfectly in one grand ending. All the storylines were perfectly closed, characters went off and did their own thing after the team, and they even won their final game against the antagonists. The world of Ted Lasso didn’t have to come back, but reports say that they will. Even though it was the perfect finale, fans can’t wait to see Ted Lasso back on their screens soon.
2 Barry’s Killing Spree Finally Ends
Barry (2018-2023)
Barry, starring Bill Hader, is another hit HBO series about a hitman turned wannabe actor against all odds. However, his past is far from done with Barry, causing him to struggle to maintain both sides of himself. The series is one of the rare instances where a show can be considered just as much a comedy as it is a drama. While the story is heartbreaking and tense, the comedy is always present.
Barry, as a character, is so interesting, as he goes from this protagonist audiences want to root for to this vicious, horrible person. Similar to characters like Walter White, audiences wanted to see this person succeed, until he let the worst side of himself take over. Barry is a bad person, and the show makes that very clear. On top of that, the show ensures that there’s no glorification of violence or crime, as the shootouts and action scenes are more brutal and depressing than fun. The series ends just like Barry, quickly and perfectly.
1 The Breaking Bad Saga Ends With Saul Goodman
Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
The Breaking Bad saga finally comes to a close with the ending of Better Call Saul. Even though the series is a spinoff of the original Breaking Bad show, Better Call Saul creates its own identity outside of the vicious and brutal drug trade of New Mexico in the tumultuous and morality-driven law offices. The series, as the title suggests, focuses on the fan favorite character of Saul Goodman, now revealed to actually be Jimmy McGill.
Jimmy navigates his difficult relationship with his brother, Chuck, and the law firm that made him famous. Similar to Breaking Bad, this series sees Jimmy take a turn into his darker, more criminal side. Audiences get to see the rise of Jimmy McGill, criminal lawyer, to Saul Goodman, «criminal» lawyer. The story winds in so much of what audiences loved about the original series and more, and ends in a black-and-white flash forward, seeing Jimmy after the events of Breaking Bad, on the run and at the end of his days. Better Call Saul is the perfect spinoff series with the perfect ending to the show and the entire saga.
