There are many great television shows worth binge-watching, from comedies to dramas; there’s something for everyone. Often, viewers become so invested in a television show that expectations are high when they find out the series is ending. After all, when you invest your time, mental space, and heart into a television show, you want the ending to be satisfying.
When you spend so much time rooting for characters, their growth, and storylines, it can be sorely disappointing when the finales have gone off the rails. This can happen for several reasons. Sometimes, a series finale ending is disappointing when character growth is blatantly ignored; this leaves viewers feeling like the progress they saw in character was for naught. (Click here for the most unforgettable character introductions in movie history.)
Other times, there are crazy plotholes that do not make any sense. Continuity errors or a surprise ending can also leave the viewers feeling annoyed. On this list are 15 of the most dissatisfying series finale endings. To put together this list, 24/7 Tempo researched IMDb ratings and reviews from viewers. Grab your popcorn, and let’s look at which series finales could have been a bit or a whole lot better.
The Sopranos: “Made in America”
- Aired: June 10, 2007
- IMDb Rating: 9.4/10
One of the most dissatisfying series finales ever happened on June 10, 2007. Sopranos is a comedy-drama that follows the life of a New Jersey mob boss. Real-life gangsters and fictional mob boss movies inspired the show. However, the most popular theory is that Tony Soprano is inspired by the real-life mob boss Vincent “Vinny Ocean” Palermo.
The show itself is funny, dramatic, and intriguing. Therefore, the controversial ending left many fans confused and somewhat annoyed. In the finale’s last moments, Tony Soprano is shown in a diner with his family. Tony has plenty of enemies, and the audience anticipates an enemy showing up. The diner door opens…, and then it cuts to black. That’s it. The unresolved ending left fans questioning the fate of the show’s main character, and when a resolution is left up in the air, it can feel quite dissatisfying.
Lost: “The End: Part 2”
- Aired: May 23, 2010
- IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
Lost is an epic show that follows the lives of numerous airplane crash survivors who landed on a random island. Viewers root for the survivors: Jack, Kate, Hurley, and even John Locke. They felt the emotion in Jack’s voice when he said, “We have to go back, Kate,” and the pain in both eyes. Viewers cried when pivotal characters such as Sayid, Sun-Hwa Kwon, Jin-Soo Kwon, and Juliet Burke died. The character-centric episodes took viewers into the lives of the beloved group with flashforwards, flashbacks, and even flash sideways.
The climactic series left fans yearning for a satisfying ending for the characters they were rooting for. That is why when the last episode dropped, numerous fans were dissatisfied. For starters, too many questions still needed to be answered, such as the origins of many mythological aspects of the island, like the smoke monster, why Walt was extraordinary, and whether the numbers meant anything.
The series finale felt disappointing, and along with it, the entire sixth season. The characters survive in the flash sideways episodes, and the island sinks. However, as they remember their lives on the island, they are all drawn to meet one another. The characters arrive in a church, seemingly a purgatory that helps them come to grips with the fact that they are all, frankly… dead. Fans took to the internet to express just how confused and upset they were with the dissatisfying series finale.
Gilmore Girls: “A Year in the Life”
- Aired: November 25, 2016
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
While technically not the original show’s finale, when “A Year in the Life” dropped in 2016, fans of the feel-good show couldn’t wait to binge-watch and many considered it the extended finale of the mother-daughter duo. Set in four segments, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall, we were given a glimpse into Rory and Lorelei’s life almost a decade after we saw them. While many viewers were happy to see the mother-daughter duo back in action, some couldn’t help but feel disappointed with the series’ turn.
Rory was a budding journalist, fresh out of college, full of ambition and vigor. Lorelei and Luke had rekindled their romance in the last moments of the original series. So, when Rory shows up on screen seemingly aimless in her direction, uninterested in her career, and living with an engaged man (one whose marriage proposal she turned down in the original show), fans are left disheartened with Rory’s character arc.
However, perhaps the most dissatisfying part of the ending was the reveal of the forever anticipated last four words. For nine years, fans wondered what exactly the last four words Amy Sherman-Palladino had planned. In the last moments, Rory and Lorelei sit in the central pavilion, taking in the town; Rory looks at her mom and says. “Mom?” “Yeah?” Lorelei replies. “I’m pregnant,” Rory responds. We were left staring at the screen, thinking, “What? that’s it?” While we can all assume the father is likely Logan, not knowing for sure made fans annoyed, making the ending one of the most dissatisfying series finales.
Mad Men: “Person to Person”
- Aired: May 17, 2015
- IMDb Rating: 9.3/10
The Mad Men series finale is often described as being underwhelming. Donald Draper is the leading man in Mad Men. Throughout the series, fans are privy to the lives of those who work at the advertising firm Sterling Cooper. During the first six seasons, we saw tragedy, emotion, and everything in between. However, The seventh season felt redundant, slow, and rushed during pivotal character arcs.
Perhaps the most dissatisfying part of the ending was that it felt too incomplete. Leaving endings open to interpretation can be good, sometimes. However, in the case of Mad Men, not knowing what happened next for Don Draper was disappointing for many.
Game of Thrones: “The Iron Throne”
- Aired: May 19, 2019
- IMDb Rating: 4.0/10
Set in a period of war, queens, giants, mad kings, and fictitious white walkers, Game of Thrones is no stranger to climactic cliffhangers and surprising turns. Fans are hooked during the finale moments of the first episode when Jamie pushes Bran out the window. This seemingly relentless feat happens after Bran catches him in an indecent act with his twin sister Cersei. Game of Thrones drew even more fans after the season one beheading of beloved and arguably the most honorable character, Ned Stark; from there, we were hooked. Game of Thrones is truly an unexpected series. That is why when the long-awaited series finale dropped, we were expecting to be satisfied with the answer to the question: who will win the Game of Thrones?
First, the character Daenerys was one so many people were rooting for. To see her take the iron throne from Cersei would be epic. However, after the beheading of her close confidant, Daenerys is seen spinning into a spiral, much like her father, the Mad King. Fans were left heartbroken as we watched the destruction of a beloved character arc. Once an advocate for the innocent, seeing Dany destroy the entire city with dragon fire, with no regard for innocent bystanders, seems out of character. Then, to later watch her get stabbed in the chest by John Snow, it was too much.
Character conclusions were also lacking, including the demise of much-loathed Cersei, the anti-climactic ending for John Snow, and the anticipated war with the Knight King. The final blow came with the reveal of who became King. Was it really… Bran Stark? The series finale lacked plenty for a show that often put fans on the edge of their seats.
Roseanne: “Into That Good Night, Part 2”
- Aired: May 20, 1997
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
The sitcom Roseanne was popular through the 90s. It followed a working-class family who often struggled with income. The series was both funny and relatable. It provided both comedic relief and tackled difficult topics. It wasn’t just the fact that Roseanne had one of the most dissatisfying series finales; the entire ninth season felt like a complete letdown.
The ending reveals that the Conner family never did win the lottery. Instead, Dan had died from a heart attack, and all of the previous season was simply part of a book Roseanne was writing. Be it a way to cope or not, the finale was confusing and disappointing, and many viewers prefer to disregard the last season as one that never happened.
St. Elsewhere: “The Last One”
- Aired: May 25, 1988
- IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
St. Elsewhere gives viewers one of television’s most shocking and perhaps dissatisfying endings. The series provides fans with six seasons of medical drama, and they were expecting something epic. Instead, what they got was… a snow globe.
The finale ends with Donald Westphall’s son, Tommy Westphall, who has autism, staring into a snow globe. Inside the snow globe is nestled the miniature St. Eligius. His dad wanders out loud what world Tommy imagines inside the snow globe. This implies that the entire series was the figment of Tommy’s imagination. This surprise twist divided many fans over whether the ending was incomplete or epic, leading it to become one of television’s most dissatisfying series finales.
How I Met Your Mother: “Last Forever: Part Two”
- Aired: March 31, 2014
- IMDb Rating: 5.5/10
When it comes to dissatisfying series finales, How I Met Your Mother is definitely up on the list. For nine seasons, we follow the life of Ted Mosby and his friends. Fans love this show for the fun storylines and the comedic light feel it emits. However, the main question throughout the series was, who exactly is the mother of Ted’s children?
Throughout the long dialogue, Ted provides during the series, we get the sense that the epic story of meeting the love of his life will leave us satisfied to our very core. However, in the end, the divorce of Barney and Robin and the fact that the whole story wasn’t really about Tracy at all was disappointing, to say the least. The setup was simply a way for Ted and Robin to end up back together, dismissing viewers’ hope and undoing many character arcs completely.
Seinfeld: “The Finale”
- Aired: May 14, 1998
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Seinfeld’s finale is one of the most controversial episodes to date. The sitcom was essentially a “show about nothing.” The four friends walk through life, getting into trouble and making terrible decisions while experiencing little to no consequences.
However awful they sound, viewers root for their friends because their characters are funny. Yet, the finale episode shows the friends facing the consequence of not helping a man who is being robbed. Instead, they laugh, film, and then get arrested under the “good samaritan law.” Then, they stand trial while the characters are brought forth to share all the awful things these friends have done. The finale was overwhelming and less than funny, and the friends were anything but remorseful.
Gossip Girl: “New York, I Love You XOXO”
- Aired: December 17, 2012
- IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
Gossip Girl follows the lives of wealthy and privileged teens who live on the Upper East Side of New York. Throughout the teen drama series, an anonymous blogger wreaked havoc on the lives of these teens, outing secrets, causing chaos, and starting rumors. The essence of Gossip Girl was pivotal in the plot of the show.
This is why when the reveal that Dan Humphry was Gossip Girl the whole time, many fans were left disgruntled. This reveal left many questions and created multiple plotholes that are hard to ignore. Is it possible for Dan to be Gossip Girl? Sure, after all, he doesn’t exactly fit in with this group of kids. Therefore, his motives can be justified. Yet, after the finale, fans had a myriad of questions.
For starters, how would Dan be a gossip girl? There are many events where it seemed impossible that Dan would know certain information, such as Serena coming home in the pilot episode. What about when Dan was busy elsewhere, and Gossip Girl leaked gossip, like at Blair’s wedding? Also, why would Dan reveal his sister’s loss of virginity to Chuck? It seems too cruel, even if his sister wanted him to. These are only a few instances where fans felt dissatisfied with a reveal that seemed too chaotic and thrown together.
Dallas: “Conundrum”
- Aired: May 3, 1991
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Dallas ran for 13 seasons and followed J.R., Bobby, and Gary Ewing. Throughout the drama, fans are sucked in. What’s not to love? There was drama, cliffhangers (Who Shot J.R.?), greed, villains, and much more.
The finale ending, however, left fans unfulfilled and maybe even slightly annoyed. J.R. goes on a journey with a demon named Adam. During this journey, Adam shows J.R. what life would’ve been like if he had never been born, much like George Bailey. Then, the demon Adam convinces J.R. to shoot himself. The end cuts to Bobby hearing a gunshot, running upstairs to J.R.’s room, and saying, “Oh my god.” The ending left fans assuming J.R. killed himself but gave no clarity, making it one of the most dissatisfying series finales.
Dexter: “Remember the Monsters?”
- Aired: September 22, 2013
- IMDb Rating: 4.7/10
Dexter follows the life of Miami P.D.’s Homicide blood splatter analyst, Dexter Morgan. Who also moonlights as a serial killer of “bad people.” The show gained quite a following in the 2000s. While Dexter is a serial killer, the character strives to maintain he is a caring man who loves his family.
Knowing what we know about Dexter, the ending feels off. His sister Deb is braindead in the hospital on life support, and a hurricane is headed straight for Miami. Dexter unplugs his sister’s life support, dumps her body in the ocean, and Dexter simply leaves. He fakes his death, becomes a lumberjack, and abandons his son. The ending felt out of character and left viewers feeling well, unsatisfied.
True Blood: “Thank You”
- Aired: August 24, 2014
- IMDb Rating: 5.4/10
Tame. This is the word used to describe the ending of True Blood. The series follows Sookie Stackhouse, and through seven seasons, it takes fans on a chaotic ride of graphic scenes, edgy storylines, and the dark underworld of vampirism.
This is why the ending felt a little too tidy and bland for fans. The finale tidies up everyone into neat little marriages and procreating journeys. It is complete with Bill explaining to Sookie that she should want a normal life and telling her that if he lived, he would deny her the best part of life: having children. The only way she can do this is if she kills him. Supernatural is what made this show what it was; to have an ending that felt so traditional left fans feeling let down.
Pretty Little Liars: “Til DeAth Do Us PArt”
- Aired: June 27, 2017
- IMDb Rating: 5.4/10
Pretty Little Liars is a suspenseful teen drama that follows the life of five teen girls. One is missing and presumably dead, and a stalker mercilessly torments the others. By the finale, two A reveals had already happened. In season 2, Mona’s betrayal of her best friend Hannah took center stage when she was shown as the first A. Then, another A surfaces, later revealed to be CeCe, in a disorganized and unsatisfying turn of events.
Fans were hoping that the reveal of A.D. would be one for the books, yet the finale confused fans, and the storylines were rushed, incomplete, and anti-climatic.
A.D. was revealed to be Spencer’s twin sister, who was sold at birth. Alex Drake met Wren and CeCe by happenstance. Enraged after CeCe is murdered, she starts on a quest to get revenge but then decides she is going to replace Spencer with herself since Spencer got everything she never had. This intriguing storyline could have worked if there was more time to explore it. However, the plot feels rushed, with only half an episode left after the reveal. Everything is tidied up in a neat package at the end, with the girls having idyllic endings, while Mona’s struggle with mental illness is left unresolved.
Ozark “A Hard Way to Go”
- Aired: January 21, 2022
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
The ending of Ozark left many fans feeling angry. The show follows the life of Marty and Wendy Byrde, their children, and the fallout they endured while laundering money for a drug cartel. While the main characters, Marty and Wendy, aren’t exactly the most likable, fans find solace in their child, Jonah, who remains adamant that he would never be like his parents.
This resolve comes crashing down in the final moments when Jonah is seen pointing a gun at Detective Mel Sattem. Detective Sattem tells the Byrdes they don’t get to win, and Wendy says, “Since when?” The screen cuts to black at the last moment, and we hear a gunshot. It is assumed Jonah shot the detective. This moment is disheartening for two reasons. First, the Byrdes walk away with seemingly no consequences and ultimately win. The second reason is that Jonah is now forever tied to his parents’ sins. However, this conclusion left many viewers unhappy because deep down, did we actually want the villainous Byrdes to win, taking Jonah down with them? (Click to read about iconic movie villains in film history.)