List your favorite series' finales

[Guest wrestlingbs]

I remember her saying that she switched the boyfriends of her daughters because she "thought they were better for each other." Also in "real life" (of the tv show) Roseanne never won the lottery.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

IIRC:

-Becky was with David

-Darlene was with Mark

-Dan dies from the heart attack (?)

-Jackie was gay, but her mother wasn't

 

I'm a bit fuzzy on Dan dying from the heart attack. It occurred during Darlene & David's wedding, so Becky & Mark would already be married. How could it have been the other way "in real life"? For some reason, I thought the last episode said Dan died shortly after the first season (from a heart attack), after he built the writing room for Roseanne. Maybe someone can clarify.

 

Also, the "Wonder Years" finale was pretty good, too.

[Secret Agent 0]

Having never seen the final episode of Roseanne, all the talk about it peaked my intrest in the final episode. I did some searching and here is what I got for the last Roseanne.

 

Synopsis

In this emotional finale, Roseanne and Darlene reveal to each other that both want the other to stay at the Connor house. As the whole family sits down to eat, Roseanne drifts away, turning up in her writing room, finishing her book, where she revelas the truth. The lifes we have seen are actually the lifes of the people in her book ... not real life. In real life, she is still coping with the fact that Dan died, Becky married David, and Darlene married Mark. In the end, she reveals that the whole life the audience has known, has really been a narration of her book, and the way she wants life to be.

 

Notes

The last 15 minutes of this historic broadcast are a monlogue written and delivered by Roseanne. In perhaps the most surprising and effective post-modern coup in modern television, the entire last season of the show is revealed to be the character Roseanne's fantasies as she struggles to deal with the death of Dan (who presumably did not survive his heart attack during Darlene and David's wedding). Then, pushing the envelope further, Roseanne/author and Roseanne/character reveal that the entire series has been part of the fantasy, and that the characters we have come to know are fictional composites of the "real" people in "Roseanne's" life: "Darlene" is really married to "Mark" and a pregnant "Becky" to "David," "Jackie" is gay, etc. This does not entirely make retrospective sense, but it is undeniably a powerful way for Roseanne to take back authorship of her show.

 

In episode 8.24, there is a point where Dan opens his eyes for the first time since his heart attack. Everything from that point to the end of the series is all made up, according to Roseanne. We also find out that everything we saw between Becky and Mark actually happened between Becky and David. (Remember their little romance in episode 7.21?) And everything that happened between Darlene and David actually happened between Darlene and Mark. We also learn that Jackie was a lesbian (Remember all her men problems?).

 

Up until Jerry was born in season eight, the baby was supposed to be a girl. However, because Roseanne wanted the series to be exactly like her life, the baby was a boy.

 

Goofs

In the early seasons of the series (example: episode 2.24), the basement is accessed through a door in the kitchen. Later on (examples: episode 6.24, episode 7.02), the basement is accessed through the service porch [which is unrealistic, since Dan built that addition onto the house himself (see episode 3.21)]. Near the end of the final episode, the basement door is back in the kitchen.

 

Put the above goof into perspective: at the end of this episode, it's revealed that the whole series, especially the last season where the whole house got remodeled thanks to the lottery money, was just some story written by Roseanne, so it would make perfect sense for the house to revert back to the way it looked at the very beginning, since according to Roseanne, none of the changes really happened.

 

During the beginning of the "speech", Nancy looks right into the camera when it pans to her, then she moves away. Also Dan sort of narrates the camera by pointing his finger towards Bev and Mark just before the "I lost Dan..." part.

 

Credit: www.tvtome.com

[Guest NCJ]

I loved DS9 and TNG's endings. I remember actually being sad, but completed when those series were over. Very few shows or movies have ever mad me feel that way. Sisqo was always the Emmesary. He wouldn't except it, but that was always what he was supposed to be. If you watch that series from the beginning you can see how important it is that Sisqo finally excepts that after all his years of fighting against it. This is despite constantly fulfilling the prophesies that were set before him. In a way it was almost like him being the one. In the beginning seasons the Bejorans conatantly told him what he would do, and he did it however he did it in a way that no one expected a really underrated show with an incredible ending. And as Rudo said earlier TNG's ending was as close to perfect as possible. Why Q was never in one of the movies staring that cast I will never know.

 

Other favorites Newhart,(even though many hated this ending I thought it was very cool), Cheers, Quantam Leap, Hercules, and Gargoyles(after the fight with the hunters when the series was really supposed to end.)

[DerangedHermit 0]

I also like the last episode of Futurama. The ending fits very well.

 

 

 

 

 

From that Power Rangers ep, here's Zedd and Rita in human form (played by Zedd's VA and Rita's actress after Season 3):

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

I hate most of the Full House finale. It proves how the writers didn't give a shit about any character cept Michelle. But Steve coming back was such a great moment.

 

Fresh Prince had a good finale on the otherhand.

[Ravenbomb 0]

Wonder Years

MST3K

Buffy

Clerks

Boy Meets World

[Lil' Bitch 0]

MASH

 

Star Trek DS9 and Voyager

 

Highlander

 

Babylon 5

[Masked Man of Mystery 0]

Azumanga Daioh has just about the most perfect ending. They finally graduate, and you know they're all going their spearate ways, thus killing any real possibility of a sequel, but you know they'll stay friends too.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Cheers, All in the family, Hercules the Legendary Journies finales all rocked but the best was the finale of:

 

Highlander the series.

 

nothing like bagpipes. nothing.

How did that one end?

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Azumanga Daioh has just about the most perfect ending. They finally graduate, and you know they're all going their spearate ways, thus killing any real possibility of a sequel, but you know they'll stay friends too.

That sounds... meh.

[Ravenbomb 0]

Azumanga Daioh has just about the most perfect ending. They finally graduate, and you know they're all going their spearate ways, thus killing any real possibility of a sequel, but you know they'll stay friends too.

okay, does that show(?) exist on DVD or video? I checked ebay but it just gave me a bunch of figurines and shit.

[Guest Cerebus]

MST3K, Cheers, Barney Miller, and Sanford and Son are my all time favorites.

[Anakin Flair 0]

Can't believe I forgot about MASH- Best ending for a show EVER.

[Guest Anglesault]

I always hated the Roseanne finale. I thought the whole idea was stupid.

[Guest Banders Kennany]

I hate most of the Full House finale. It proves how the writers didn't give a shit about any character cept Michelle. But Steve coming back was such a great moment.

 

Fresh Prince had a good finale on the otherhand.

Actually I believe the Full House finale was just supposed to be a season finale which is why it seems so anticlimactic. They decided not to renew the show for whatever silly reason since I beleive the ratings were still very nice. So we were deprived of the Full House ending, and about Michelle? I wouldn't consider her the main focus of the show as there was so much ground to spread between the other popular main characters like Unlce Joey and Steph Tanner, etc., etc., etc.

 

Hmm, as for a good finale, I can't really think of one that wouldn't be a repeat. You guys covered the tops of the tops I think.

[Guest MikeSC]

I've always been partial to the way Roseanne ended. As someone else in this thread stated, it was quite bold.

 

Newhart's finale was pretty clever at the time as well.

Finally, some Newhart love. The whole series being a dream was a great take on the borderline retarded (and something I honestly thought Russo would do for WCW's relaunch back in 2000) Dallas season opener.

 

And include me in for the Quantum Leap finale love. I actually like that it ended on a cliff-hanger. Beautiful ending where he gives up his dream of going home to fix the only wrong he didn't set right --- the wrong of Al losing his wife.

 

Heck, almost gets me misty.

-=Mike

[Guest NCJ]

I really loved the Highlander series, but never saw the finale. Can anyone help me out with how it ended.

[JoeDirt 0]

Gotta love the old-school Fugitive finale. Talk about delaying a payoff...audiences were way more patient back then.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

I mentioned Newhart in the 7th post.

[Shanghai Kid 0]

How did Boy Meets World end?

 

The Fresh Prince finale was pretty damn good. I like when a series gives closure to every character instead of focusing on just one.

[The Amazing Rando 0]

jesus.... this whole thread and there were THREE MASH references...and I was the first about 2/3rds down the first page...

 

 

it's like the greatest fucking ending ever...

 

 

and shit... what about Gilligan's Island?

[Zack Malibu 0]

California Dreams. The band finally has a chance to make it big, but want to pursue their individual Dreams. Jake comes to the realization he's the only one who wants to go on with the group, and has to come to terms with it. They play their final gig and part ways, with Jake the only one left standing at the end. Gets me right *here* every time I watch it.

[JasonX 0]

On the finale of Cheers was the figure outside the door supposed to be someone, or just a customer?

It was the show's creators, in a final episode cameo appearance...

[JasonX 0]

I really loved the Highlander series, but never saw the finale. Can anyone help me out with how it ended.

A haphazardly put together fantasy episode with past guest stars. A group of utterly forgettable immortals from earlier in the show's run gang up on Duncan and hold his friends hostage if he doesn't surrender himself to them so that they can kill him. The whole thing though is just a set-up for an "It's a wonderful life" homage where Roger Daltrey's character shows Duncan what life would have been like if he had never been born. Basically both Daltrey's character and Richie would be dead, Amanda would become a black widow-type with no real goodness inside of her, Horton would have completely taken over the Watchers and murdered Methos's wife, causing him to reform the four horsemen of the apocalypse and inflict horrible suffering upon humanity. The only one who makes it out ok is Tessa (Duncan's GF from the first couple of seasons) though she's stuck in a loveless marriage and utterly depressed all of the time.

[LaParkaYourCar 0]

jesus.... this whole thread and there were THREE MASH references...and I was the first about 2/3rds down the first page...

 

 

it's like the greatest fucking ending ever...

 

 

and shit... what about Gilligan's Island?

What was the Gilligan's Island finale? I know they didn't get rescued until the first made for TV Movie.

[The Amazing Rando 0]

i count that... so there. *runs away*

[Masked Man of Mystery 0]

Azumanga Daioh has just about the most perfect ending. They finally graduate, and you know they're all going their spearate ways, thus killing any real possibility of a sequel, but you know they'll stay friends too.

okay, does that show(?) exist on DVD or video? I checked ebay but it just gave me a bunch of figurines and shit.

Just got US release on DVD this week. Get the box with it for like $6 or $7 for a pretty solid box and Chiyo-chan and Kamineko pins. At least at Best Buy. Very much worth getting.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

California Dreams. The band finally has a chance to make it big, but want to pursue their individual Dreams. Jake comes to the realization he's the only one who wants to go on with the group, and has to come to terms with it. They play their final gig and part ways, with Jake the only one left standing at the end. Gets me right *here* every time I watch it.

Me too.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Azumanga Daioh has just about the most perfect ending. They finally graduate, and you know they're all going their spearate ways, thus killing any real possibility of a sequel, but you know they'll stay friends too.

okay, does that show(?) exist on DVD or video? I checked ebay but it just gave me a bunch of figurines and shit.

Just got US release on DVD this week. Get the box with it for like $6 or $7 for a pretty solid box and Chiyo-chan and Kamineko pins. At least at Best Buy. Very much worth getting.

... if you need coasters.