The thread on the discussion of the last episode of a comedy series, and another thread on how a series handled the death of one of its actors, got me thinking that those concepts could use their own threads. So this is one of two.
What's your memories of memorable final episodes. Not just what happened to be the last show before it was cut in the off-season. I mean final shows that were structured that way.
I didn't watch the original The Fugitive. I think I was too young, but regardless, that was when there was one TV in the house, three channels, and if the parents didn't want to watch it, I didn't watch it. However, for a long time, this was the "finale" standard. Got the highest ratings of the time, and the doctor actually proves his innocence and nabs the one-armed man, as I understand it.
M*A*S*H was the first one I remember watching that was touted as "we wrap it up now." I thought it was appropriate, just not amazing. The "you don't say good-bye" thing about BJ was overwrought, but wrapped up nicely anyway. It was fine.
There was a show, can't remember the name, with Michael J. Fox as the conservative son of liberal parents. I think. Never watched it, but when they said, "This is it," I watched the last episode. It was decent enough. Didn't make me wish I'd watched the series.
Barney Miller continued in its gentle good humor, with Barney turning the light out and exiting the door for the final moment. The show was never over the top, and they finished it with the right note. (And this show will get a mention in the Death Thread.)
Star Trek - The Next Generation gave the viewer a nice little puzzle (I got it before the reveal, but I was pretty ST-geeky at the time), a head-butting with Q, and a lovely final shot. They had some amazing episodes, and you hope for amazing on the last one, and this wasn't amazing, but it was worthy.
And in the Star Trek theme, Star Trek: Voyager. While not a regular watcher of this one, I pretty much enjoyed it when I watched it, and the final battle through time travel (the premise was initially eye-rolling, but I got over it) and tussling with the Borg was executed pretty darn well. And having Alice Krige revise her role was wonderful. And it included a stellar (nyuk!) line: "Maybe it's something you assimilated."
Bob Newhart, the second iteration. I had watched the first series off and on, and it was always chuckle-worthy, like Bob himself, but had never watched the second one, and tuned in for the last episode. The final scene ... okay, after all my "not amazing" comments, this scene was amazing.
And I hear really good things about wrapping up Breaking Bad, but not having watched any of the series, I can't comment.
Any others?
What's your memories of memorable final episodes. Not just what happened to be the last show before it was cut in the off-season. I mean final shows that were structured that way.
I didn't watch the original The Fugitive. I think I was too young, but regardless, that was when there was one TV in the house, three channels, and if the parents didn't want to watch it, I didn't watch it. However, for a long time, this was the "finale" standard. Got the highest ratings of the time, and the doctor actually proves his innocence and nabs the one-armed man, as I understand it.
M*A*S*H was the first one I remember watching that was touted as "we wrap it up now." I thought it was appropriate, just not amazing. The "you don't say good-bye" thing about BJ was overwrought, but wrapped up nicely anyway. It was fine.
There was a show, can't remember the name, with Michael J. Fox as the conservative son of liberal parents. I think. Never watched it, but when they said, "This is it," I watched the last episode. It was decent enough. Didn't make me wish I'd watched the series.
Barney Miller continued in its gentle good humor, with Barney turning the light out and exiting the door for the final moment. The show was never over the top, and they finished it with the right note. (And this show will get a mention in the Death Thread.)
Star Trek - The Next Generation gave the viewer a nice little puzzle (I got it before the reveal, but I was pretty ST-geeky at the time), a head-butting with Q, and a lovely final shot. They had some amazing episodes, and you hope for amazing on the last one, and this wasn't amazing, but it was worthy.
And in the Star Trek theme, Star Trek: Voyager. While not a regular watcher of this one, I pretty much enjoyed it when I watched it, and the final battle through time travel (the premise was initially eye-rolling, but I got over it) and tussling with the Borg was executed pretty darn well. And having Alice Krige revise her role was wonderful. And it included a stellar (nyuk!) line: "Maybe it's something you assimilated."
Bob Newhart, the second iteration. I had watched the first series off and on, and it was always chuckle-worthy, like Bob himself, but had never watched the second one, and tuned in for the last episode. The final scene ... okay, after all my "not amazing" comments, this scene was amazing.
And I hear really good things about wrapping up Breaking Bad, but not having watched any of the series, I can't comment.
Any others?