For television series show runners, a series finale is like the pressure on top gymnasts trying to stick the landing after a demanding performance. Fans of the show, like discerning judges in gymnastics, expect perfection. Anticipation is high — a finale that’s satisfying as well as surprising; resolutions of conflicts that aren’t forced or rushed; closure for some characters and an open end for others. More than anything else, viewers want to feel rewarded for following the series over multiple seasons. Some of television’s most celebrated series have let down their faithful in the finale.
To determine the worst TV finales of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed IMDb data on audience reception for television finales. Series finale episodes for all shows were ranked based on the percentage decline in average IMDb user rating of the finale episode from the overall average IMDb user rating for all episodes of the show. Only finales with at least 500 user reviews on IMDb were considered. IMDb user data is current as of October 2023.
Seven of the 10 worst TV finales were from series with science fiction, horror, and fantasy themes. Two of the shows with the most disappointing closing episodes — “Two and a Half Men” and “House of Cards” — were roiled by offscreen drama involving cast members. The latter show saw a more than 70% plunge in its IMDb finale rating from its full series rating.
Among the highly regarded series whose finales misfired were “Sherlock,” “The Twilight Zone,” and “Game of Thrones,” all of them holding an IMDb full series rating of 9.1 or above. “Game of Thrones,” the most honored primetime show in TV history with 59 Emmys, was chided by critics and fans in its finale for oafish character exits and shoddy plotlines. (Also See Best HBO Shows of All Time.)
Another swing-and-a-miss finale that tainted its legacy was the comedy “Seinfeld”. Fans were disappointed by forced character returns and an unsatisfying conclusion to the fate of the main characters.
25. Sherlock, “The Final Problem”
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- Series finale rating: 8.2/10 (-9.9% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 9.1/10 (970,044 votes)
- Original airdate: January 15, 2017
24. The 100, “The Last War”
- Series finale rating: 6.7/10 (-11.8% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.6/10 (267,510 votes)
- Original airdate: September 30, 2020
23. Columbo, “The Conspirators”
- Series finale rating: 7.3/10 (-12.0% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.3/10 (39,881 votes)
- Original airdate: May 13, 1978
22. Seinfeld, “The Finale”
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- Series finale rating: 7.8/10 (-12.4% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.9/10 (339,845 votes)
- Original airdate: May 14, 1998
21. Castle, “Crossfire”
- Series finale rating: 7.0/10 (-13.6% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.1/10 (170,298 votes)
- Original airdate: May 16, 2016
20. The Blacklist, “Raymond Reddington (No. 00): Good Night”
- Series finale rating: 6.6/10 (-17.5% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.0/10 (272,312 votes)
- Original airdate: July 13, 2023
19. Supernatural, “Carry On”
- Series finale rating: 6.9/10 (-17.9% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (469,038 votes)
- Original airdate: November 19, 2020
18. Girls, “Latching”
- Series finale rating: 6.0/10 (-18.9% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.4/10 (76,065 votes)
- Original airdate: April 16, 2017
17. Star Trek, “Turnabout Intruder”
- Series finale rating: 6.8/10 (-19.0% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (89,997 votes)
- Original airdate: June 3, 1969
16. Shameless, “Father Frank, Full of Grace”
N/A
- Series finale rating: 6.5/10 (-23.5% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.5/10 (268,000 votes)
- Original airdate: April 11, 2021
15. The Man in the High Castle, “Fire from the Gods”
N/A
- Series finale rating: 6.0/10 (-24.1% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.9/10 (107,387 votes)
- Original airdate: November 15, 2019
14. Pretty Little Liars, “Til Death Do Us Part”
N/A
- Series finale rating: 5.5/10 (-25.7% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.4/10 (175,000 votes)
- Original airdate: June 27, 2017
13. Younger, “Older”
- Series finale rating: 5.7/10 (-26.9% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.8/10 (25,000 votes)
- Original airdate: June 10, 2021
12. The Good Wife, “End”
- Series finale rating: 6.1/10 (-27.4% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (80,597 votes)
- Original airdate: May 8, 2016
11. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, “Chapter Thirty-Six: At the Mountains of Madness”
N/A
- Series finale rating: 5.3/10 (-28.4% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.4/10 (104,937 votes)
- Original airdate: December 31, 2020
10. The Twilight Zone, “The Bewitchin’ Pool”
- Series finale rating: 6.5/10 (-28.6% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 9.1/10 (89,709 votes)
- Original airdate: June 19, 1964
9. The Flash, “A New World: Part 4: Finale”
- Series finale rating: 5.3/10 (-29.3% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.5/10 (363,757 votes)
- Original airdate: May 24, 2023
8. Star Trek: Enterprise, “These Are the Voyages…”
N/A
- Series finale rating: 5.3/10 (-29.3% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.5/10 (57,295 votes)
- Original airdate: May 13, 2005
7. True Blood, “Thank You”
- Series finale rating: 5.4/10 (-31.6% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.9/10 (255,358 votes)
- Original airdate: August 24, 2014
6. How I Met Your Mother, “Last Forever: Part Two”
- Series finale rating: 5.5/10 (-33.7% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.3/10 (713,016 votes)
- Original airdate: March 31, 2014
5. Dexter, “Remember the Monsters?”
- Series finale rating: 4.7/10 (-46.0% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.7/10 (748,830 votes)
- Original airdate: September 22, 2013
4. Two and a Half Men, “Of Course He’s Dead: Part 1 & 2”
- Series finale rating: 3.8/10 (-46.5% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.1/10 (274,590 votes)
- Original airdate: February 19, 2015
3. Game of Thrones, “The Iron Throne”
- Series finale rating: 4.0/10 (-56.5% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 9.2/10 (2,213,032 votes)
- Original airdate: May 19, 2019
2. Killing Eve, “Hello, Losers”
N/A
- Series finale rating: 3.4/10 (-58.0% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.1/10 (128,396 votes)
- Original airdate: April 10, 2022
1. House of Cards, “Chapter 73”
N/A
- Series finale rating: 2.6/10 (-70.1% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.7/10 (521,731 votes)
- Original airdate: November 2, 2018