Certain television shows are often widely popular and adored by legions of fans throughout the world. These programs are like a ritual for some, a weekly staple where they gather around the television – snacks and drinks at the ready – and become immersed in the fictional lives playing out on the small screen. For those of us who partake in this custom when viewing our favorite programs, it is typically expected that the show in question will provide us with at least a small window of entertainment.
But when a show ends, and they all do eventually, we expect them all to go out with a bang. Many of these programs had a spectacularly long run, giving us all the more reason to expect a fantastic series ender, sending our favorite characters off into the sunset, and leaving us satisfied with how everything turned out. Even though these are fictional worlds, just as in life, perfection sometimes eludes them as well.
The pressure to create a sensational series finale is immense. Fans of shows – whether having aired for one year or 10 – generally expect perfection. Viewers want it all – resolutions, closure, possibilities for the future – and they desire a satisfying end to programs that they’ve invested in for a long time. The pressure is at an all-time high for showrunners to deliver it all. Yet, they don’t always hit the mark, leaving audiences disappointed and let down by the way it all ended. This is the case for many of television’s most celebrated series.
To determine the most disappointing TV finales in history, 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 the 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.
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 “The Twilight Zone,” and “Game of Thrones,” both of which hold 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.)
25. Sherlock, “The Final Problem”
N/A
- Ran for: Four seasons
- Finale rating: 8.2/10 (-9.9% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 9.1/10 (970,044 votes)
- Series finale airdate: January 15, 2017
24. The 100, “The Last War”
- Ran for: Seven seasons
- Finale rating: 6.7/10 (-11.8% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.6/10 (267,510 votes)
- Series finale airdate: September 30, 2020
23. Columbo, “The Conspirators”
- Ran for: Seven seasons
- Finale rating: 7.3/10 (-12.0% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.3/10 (39,881 votes)
- Series finale airdate: May 13, 1978
22. Seinfeld, “The Finale”
N/A
- Ran for: Nine seasons
- Finale rating: 7.8/10 (-12.4% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.9/10 (339,845 votes)
- Series finale airdate: May 14, 1998
21. Castle, “Crossfire”
- Ran for: Eight seasons
- Finale rating: 7.0/10 (-13.6% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.1/10 (170,298 votes)
- Series finale airdate: May 16, 2016
20. The Blacklist, “Raymond Reddington (No. 00): Good Night”
- Ran for: 10 seasons
- Finale rating: 6.6/10 (-17.5% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.0/10 (272,312 votes)
- Series finale airdate: July 13, 2023
19. Supernatural, “Carry On”
- Ran for: 15 seasons
- Finale rating: 6.9/10 (-17.9% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (469,038 votes)
- Series finale airdate: November 19, 2020
18. Girls, “Latching”
- Ran for: Six seasons
- Finale rating: 6.0/10 (-18.9% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.4/10 (76,065 votes)
- Series finale airdate: April 16, 2017
17. Star Trek, “Turnabout Intruder”
- Ran for: Three seasons
- Finale rating: 6.8/10 (-19.0% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (89,997 votes)
- Series finale airdate: June 3, 1969
16. Shameless, “Father Frank, Full of Grace”
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- Ran for: 11 seasons
- Finale rating: 6.5/10 (-23.5% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.5/10 (268,000 votes)
- Series finale airdate: April 11, 2021
15. The Man in the High Castle, “Fire from the Gods”
- Ran for: Four seasons
- Finale rating: 6.0/10 (-24.1% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.9/10 (107,387 votes)
- Series finale airdate: November 15, 2019
14. Pretty Little Liars, “Til Death Do Us Part”
N/A
- Ran for: Seven seasons
- Finale rating: 5.5/10 (-25.7% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.4/10 (175,000 votes)
- Series finale airdate: June 27, 2017
13. Younger, “Older”
- Ran for: Seven seasons
- Finale rating: 5.7/10 (-26.9% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.8/10 (25,000 votes)
- Series finale airdate: June 10, 2021
12. The Good Wife, “End”
- Ran for: Seven seasons
- Finale rating: 6.1/10 (-27.4% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.4/10 (80,597 votes)
- Series finale airdate: May 8, 2016
11. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, “Chapter Thirty-Six: At the Mountains of Madness”
N/A
- Ran for: Two seasons
- Finale rating: 5.3/10 (-28.4% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.4/10 (104,937 votes)
- Series finale airdate: December 31, 2020
10. The Twilight Zone, “The Bewitchin’ Pool”
- Ran for: Five Seasons
- Finale rating: 6.5/10 (-28.6% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 9.1/10 (89,709 votes)
- Series finale airdate: June 19, 1964
9. The Flash, “A New World: Part 4: Finale”
- Ran for: Nine seasons
- Finale rating: 5.3/10 (-29.3% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.5/10 (363,757 votes)
- Series finale airdate: May 24, 2023
8. Star Trek: Enterprise, “These Are the Voyages…”
N/A
- Ran for: Four seasons
- Finale rating: 5.3/10 (-29.3% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.5/10 (57,295 votes)
- Series finale airdate: May 13, 2005
7. True Blood, “Thank You”
- Ran for: Seven seasons
- Finale rating: 5.4/10 (-31.6% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.9/10 (255,358 votes)
- Series finale airdate: August 24, 2014
6. How I Met Your Mother, “Last Forever: Part Two”
- Ran for: Nine seasons
- Finale rating: 5.5/10 (-33.7% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.3/10 (713,016 votes)
- Series finale airdate: March 31, 2014
5. Dexter, “Remember the Monsters?”
- Ran for: Eight seasons
- Finale rating: 4.7/10 (-46.0% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.7/10 (748,830 votes)
- Series finale airdate: September 22, 2013
4. Two and a Half Men, “Of Course He’s Dead: Part 1 & 2”
- Ran for: 12 seasons
- Finale rating: 3.8/10 (-46.5% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 7.1/10 (274,590 votes)
- Series finale airdate: February 19, 2015
3. Game of Thrones, “The Iron Throne”
- Ran for: Eight seasons
- Finale rating: 4.0/10 (-56.5% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 9.2/10 (2,213,032 votes)
- Series finale airdate: May 19, 2019
2. Killing Eve, “Hello, Losers”
N/A
- Ran for: Four seasons
- Finale rating: 3.4/10 (-58.0% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.1/10 (128,396 votes)
- Series finale airdate: April 10, 2022
1. House of Cards, “Chapter 73”
N/A
- Ran for: Six seasons
- Finale rating: 2.6/10 (-70.1% decline from show average)
- Full series rating: 8.7/10 (521,731 votes)
- Series finale airdate: November 2, 2018