The finale of aTV showis as important as its first episode, and some had such perfect closing lines that they made the entire show even better. There have been manycontroversial TV finalesover the years, and this can be due to poor narrative decisions, character deaths, or rushed endings.
The closing line in a TV finale can contribute to the controversy or disappointment of the episode, but there have been some cases where the final line made the finale (or the entire show) even better. Whether due to how fitting it was, emotional, funny, or heartwarming,some closing lines in TV finales were simply perfect.
Throughoutsix seasons ofSex and the City, the audience followed Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) through her chaotic relationship with Mr. Big (Chris Noth) and many failed relationships – it was only fitting, then, that the show’s final line was delivered by Carrie and was about finding love (for real this time).
After her relationship with Alex Petrovsky (Mikhail Baryshnikov) ended and she was alone in Paris, Mr. Big found Carrie in Paris and finally told her he loved her. Through a montage showing where Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte were currently at in their personal lives,Carrie, back with Mr. Big and happier than ever, finally understood what love is all about.
Parks and Recreationfollowed Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) from her days working at the Parks Department to becoming Regional Director of the National Park Service for the Midwest region in season 7.Parks and Recreationhas one ofthe best TV finales of all time, with different flash forwards to show the futures of every main character.
As the Parks and Rec team that the audience came to know and love posed for a photo after finally fixing a swing set, marking the last time they all worked together, Ben (Adam Scott) asked Leslie if she was ready, with Leslie simply replying, “Yes. I’m ready.”
Leslie saying she’s “ready” is a heartwarming moment as the audience knows she’s on her way to greater things.
Minutes before, the episode showed that Leslie went on to become governor of Indiana for two terms, and in Garry’s flash forward, Leslie and Ben attended his funeral, and it was implied thatone of them had become President of the United States. Leslie saying she’s “ready” is a heartwarming moment as the audience knows she’s on her way to greater things.
The Good Placefollowed the efforts of Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason to get into the Good Place after one ofthe best sitcom plot twists of all time. However, throughout four seasons,The Good Placealso saw the demon Michael (Ted Danson) learning about humanity and empathizing with them.
In the series finale, Eleanor decided to cross the door, but not before convincing the Judge to make Michael human so he could experience life and then the afterlife system.The Good Placeendedwith Michael living a normal, mortal life on Earth, and one of his neighbors delivering his mail to him. Michael thanked him and said the above line to the man.
Having lived as a demon for centuries, experiencing the real Bad Place, changing the afterlife system, andknowing what the Good Place actually was gave Michael wisdom that no human could ever have, and sharing a casual but powerful piece of life advice with an unsuspecting mortal was the cherry on top forThe Good Place.
Losthas one of the most controversial TV finales of all time, but the power of its final line can’t be denied. Part of the events of the show were revealed to take place in a form of purgatory in the afterlife, with the characters reuniting in a church in the series finale.
When Jack (Matthew Fox) entered the church, he reunited with John Locke (Terry O’Quinn), who told him they had been waiting for him. Whether you love or hatethe final episode ofLost,the show’s final line showed the strong bond the group had even after their deaths, and gave definitive closure to all the characters.
Shamelessspent 11 seasons following the ups and downs (but mostly the latter) of the Gallagher family, particularly those of their father, Frank (William H. Macy). After everything the Gallagher kids went through and everything Frank had done to himself and others,it was only fitting thatShamelesswould end with Frank’s death.
InShameless’ final episode, after surviving a heroin overdose, Frank died from COVID-19. Frank narrated the letter he left for his family as he watched his family celebrate at the Alibi, and it was a very Frank Gallagher letter as he referenced his alcohol use, but ended on a heartwarming note.
Frank did waste his time in many respects, especially with his family, but also lived his life as he wanted.
Frank reminded his family that time is precious, not to waste it, and to have a good time, which he definitely did. Frank did waste his time in many respects, especially with his family, but also lived his life as he wanted, so his final line is equal parts funny and heartwarming.
Six Feet Underis not only one ofthe best TV shows of all time, but it also has one of the best TV finales ever. In it,Six Feet Undershowed the futures and eventual deathsof the characters through flash forwards, while Claire (Lauren Ambrose) left Los Angeles.
As ambiguous as the line might seem, it fits perfectly withSix Feet Under’s themes of mortality, acceptance, life, and death.
As Claire took a photo of her family before leaving, Nate visited her one final time to tell her the above line. As ambiguous as the line might seem, it fits perfectly withSix Feet Under’s themes of mortality, acceptance, life, and death, and that,as sad as it can be sometimes, nothing is permanent.
The final line inFriendswas delivered by Matthew Perry’s Chandler, and it was only fitting that he made the audience laugh one final time.Friends’ finale sawRachel and Ross getting back together(supposedly for good this time), and Monica and Chandler moving out of their iconic apartment.
Rachel suggested they all got coffee before Monica and Chandler left and they agreed, with Chandler then asking “where?”
The final scene inFriendsfeatured the six main characters in Monica and Chandler’s empty apartment as they prepared to say goodbye to it. Rachel suggested they all get coffee before Monica and Chandler left, and they agreed, with Chandler then asking “Where?”
The group spent the show’s 10 seasons going to the same coffee shop (the iconic Central Perk), soChandler’s question was not only comedy gold, but one final bit of his unique sense of humorand the show’s tone to alleviate the sadness of the scene, even if slightly.
The closing line ofBoy Meets Worldnever fails to make me cry.Boy Meets World’s finale saw Cory, Topanga, and Shawn visiting Mr. Feenyin their sixth-grade classroom and asking him for advice. Mr. Feeny told them he had taught them everything he knew, and Eric asked him to tell them he loved them.
Mr. Feeny said he loved all his students equally, and the group thanked him for everything he had done for them for years. When they left andMr. Feeny was alone again in the classroom, he said “I love you all. Class dismissed.”
The bond that Cory, Shawn, Topanga, and Eric had with Mr. Feeny went beyond the typical teacher/student dynamic, asMr. Feeny accompanied them through most of their lives. I don’t doubt that Mr. Feeny loved all his students equally, but these four characters definitely had a special place in his heart, and he, along with the audience, got to say goodbye to them.
The Sopranosended with a cut to blackso abrupt that many viewers thought there was a problem with their TVs. The finale ofThe Sopranoshas some of the most suspenseful final minutes in TV history as Tony (James Gandolfini) and the audience wait to see if Tony will die or not, but before the tension begins, Tony delivers the show’s final line.
In the scene, Tony met with his family at a diner, with his wife, Carmela, arriving first, followed by their son AJ, and finally Meadow, who struggled to park and we never saw her entering the restaurant. Tony told his family the above line, andit’s possible those were his final words, in one last show of his care for his family.
The Officeends with a heartwarming line that encapsulates the essence of the show. InThe Office’s finale, Dwight and Angela got married, which saw a reunion of past employees and friends, and Jim and Pam decided to quit, though Dwight fired them so he could give them good severance packages.
As they all reflected on their time at the office, Pam took the watercolor painting of the building she had made and Michael had bought from her in season 3, and in her final interview, she said the above line as she and the rest left the building.
In the end, amid all the jokes and good times,The Officewas all about finding the joy and beauty in the small, everyday things, and that’s exactly what the show and all its characters did.
