Series finale
A
series finale is a promotional/advertising term used to describe the final episode of a
television series, usually a
sitcom or a
drama. The term came into use in American Television in the early
1990s, as a variation of the term
season finale, which indicated the end of a television
season. Prior to that, ending episodes were referred to simply as the final episode or last episode. As a common use term, the term "series finale" does serve to distinguish between a planned final episode (one which includes resolution) and the last episode of a show which was cancelled after the last show was filmed. The majority of television programs are cancelled with little advance warning, so the occurrence of a series finale is relatively rare in comparison.
Usually, a series finale is a dramatic conclusion to the basic premise of the series. Final episodes frequently feature fundamental changes in the central plot line, such as the union of a couple, the resolution of a central mystery or problem, or the separation of the major characters. Final episodes often include looks into the future or detailed looks into the series' past.
Series finales for shows that are cancelled suddenly are sometimes seen as making relatively haphazard or rushed conclusions, or soemtimes having merely reflective feeling rather than tying up loose ends.
Some feature film series have had the equivalent of series finales in which the producers claim would be the final film. However, often times if that supposedly final film is particularly successful, the series will continue regardless.
Famous Series finales
Warning: Plot details follow.
- The Fugitive (1967) - Dr. Kimble finally confronts the one-armed man.
- Mary Tyler Moore Show - The staff of the TV station find themselves bought out and fired except for Ted Baxter.
- Newhart (1990) - Bob Newhart awakes in bed. It turns out the entire series was just a dream of the character that he portrayed on The Bob Newhart Show.
- M*A*S*H (1983) - As the Korean War draws to a close, the 4077th ponder their respective futures.
- The Cosby Show (1992) - Theo graduates and Denise reveals she is pregnant.
- Cheers (1993) - Diane receives an award for a screenplay she has written. Sam and Diane lie to each other about having spouses and families, until, in a moment of weakness, Sam invites her back to Boston. Before long the passion between Sam and Diane is back on and they leave for California.
- Daria (2002) - Is it College Yet - Daria's classmates prepare for graduation while Daria decides to end her relationship with Tom and Quinn faces her own problems that demand an unexpected maturity.
- Mama's Family (1993) - Naomi finally gives birth to her baby, a beautiful girl. They name her Tiffany Thelma Harper so that both Naomi and Thelma will be happy about the name. Iola gives up her long-standing passion for felt handicrafts and begins making masterpieces out of dryer lint.
- The Wonder Years (1993)
- Roseanne (1997) - Roseanne's monologue reveals that Dan had died from the heart attack at the end of season 8, and season 8 was mostly her imagination.
- Seinfeld (1998) - The cast mocks a man who is being robbed on the street, rather than help him. They are arrested, and after a lengthy trial, they are imprisoned for one year.
- (2001) - After a decades-long journey to reach the Alpha Quadrant, Admiral Kathryn Janeway makes a bold decision to change the past in an attempt to undo the toll taken on the crew during their arduous journey home. As a result, the Voyager crew make use of the Borg's trans-warp technology to return home, while the 'future Janeway' remains to ensure the destruction of the Borg Queen.
- (1999) - the final battles of the war with the Dominion are fought, and many dangling storylines are resolved. Many of the characters move on to new things, continuing arcs that began over the course of the series.
- (1994) - Captain Picard finds himself shift around 3 different time periods as part of a challenge presented by the Q Continuum to justify the existence of Humanity.
- Home Improvement (1999) - Tim records his final Tool Time. Morgan offers Tim more money and an executive producer credit to stay with the show, but Tim rejects the offer. Jill decides to take the job in Indiana. Wilson and Tim take down their fence to make room for Al and Trudy's wedding. (This was actually the final story of the series; the true series finale was a retrospective look at 8 years of the show, complete with cast interviews, never-before-seen bloopers and ultimately the revealing of Wilson's face.)
- 3rd Rock From The Sun (2001) - The mission ends and the Solomons go back home.
- The X-Files (2002) - Mulder uses a keycard to break into Mount Weather and learns the date of the alien invasion using a misappropriated password. After escaping from the military, he and Scully go to New Mexico in search of a wise man who knows the final truth. That individual turns out to be the Cigarette Smoking Man, the individual who supplied the keycard and password. Meanwhile, Reyes and Doggett return to Washington to discover that the X-files have been closed once and for all. Black helicopters ultimately arrive and the Cigarette Smoking Man is killed, leaving Mulder and Scully to ponder the future.
- Brookside (2003) Drug dealer Jack Michaelson gets killed by a number of regular characters, who had been at the receiving end of his vile ways in previous episodes, an idea subtly suggested by Barry Grant, who makes a return to the Close along with Lindsey Corkhill. The final shots show Jimmy Corkhill adding a 'd' to the street sign, so that it read 'Brookside Closed'.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2003) - Buffy learns that she doesn't have to be the only active Slayer, and her dream of a somewhat normal life is realized.
- Dawson's Creek (2003) - Jen dies, leaving her daughter to be raised by Jack and his boyfriend - Pacey's cop brother, who turned out to be gay after all. Joey takes Pacey back to New York with her, leaving Dawson back in LA producing his autobiographical series, "The Creek".
- Touched by an Angel (2003) - Monica has her final assignment which will lead to her promotion taking over tess' position.
- Friends (2004) - Erica gives birth to twins and Rachel and Ross finally get together.
- Frasier (2004) - Ronnie and Martin wed, Daphne gives birth to a son, David Crane. Feeling increasingly distant from his family and Friends, Frasier accepts a new radio job in San Francisco. But in the end he is flying to Chicago to catch his new love. The story is somewhat open ended.
- The Practice (2004)
- Angel (2004)- Team angel plan to anger the senior partners by destroying the circle of the black thorn their influence on earth, Wesley dies on his mission and the final scene is Gunn, Angel, Spike and Ilyria about to fight the final battle.
See also