8 of the best and 8 of the worst series finales of all time

Meghan CookOct 2, 2020, 20:54 IST

"Friday Night Lights" ended well, but "Game of Thrones" didn't.Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Helen Sloan/HBO

Insider rounded up some of the best and worst series finales of all time.
Some shows, like "Breaking Bad" and "The Wire," captivated critics until the very end.
Other series, like "How I Met Your Mother" and "Scrubs," seemed to drop the ball.

For every viewer laughing along with the "Parks and Recreation" finale, there's a "Dexter" fan pulling their hair out as they trudge through the last episode.

Read on for some of the 8 best and 8 worst series finales of all time.

Note: Spoilers for many popular shows ahead.

The finale of "Parks and Recreation" gave glimpses into an optimistic future for its characters.

"Parks and Recreation" had a time-jump finale. NBC Television Universal

The "BoJack Horseman" finale provided a heavy dose of closure.

"BoJack Horseman" is a Netflix animated series. Netflix

The last episode of "The Office" was a return to form for the series.

Steve Carell returned for "The Office" finale. Chris Haston/NBC/Getty Images

"Friday Night Lights" ended on an emotional high note.

"Friday Night Lights" was a book and movie before it became a TV show. NBC

The finale of "Broad City" served as an ode to female friendship.

"Broad City" starred Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer. Comedy Central

"The Wire" stayed true to its beginnings while leaving behind a sliver of hope.

"The Wire" is a crime drama. HBO

"The Sopranos" finale polarized certain viewers, but it's also touted as one of the best TV endings ever.

"The Sopranos" finale has received some positive reactions. HBO

Viewers had high expectations for "Breaking Bad" and the finale did not disappoint.

"Breaking Bad" starred Bryan Cranston. Ursula Coyote / AMC

Alternatively, the finale of "How I Met Your Mother" was mostly met with disdain.

"How I Met Your Mother" frustrated many fans with its ending. CBS

Critics felt like "Girls" overstayed its welcome.

Lena Dunham on the finale episode of "Girls." Mark Schafer/HBO

The finale of "Pretty Little Liars" left too many mysteries unsolved.

The "Pretty Little Liars" stars, from left, on the series finale: Ashley Benson, Shay Mitchell, Troian Bellisario, Sasha Pieterse, and Lucy Hale. Freeform/Eric McCandless

"Scrubs" awkwardly ended three separate times, and the last finale was the worst-reviewed.

"Scrubs" had a few finales. Buena Vista Television

"Two and a Half Men" completely shattered the fourth wall in its finale, to ill effect.

"Two and a Half Men" didn't end on a high note. Michael Yarish/CBS

"Quantum Leap" has one of the most widely panned finales.

The final episode of "Quantum Leap" wasn't meant to be a series finale. NBC

"Game of Thrones" seemed to fizzle out in its finale.

Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow on the "Game of Thrones" series finale. Helen Sloan/HBO

Viewers and critics agree that "Dexter" has a notoriously bad finale.

The "Dexter" finale let many viewers down. Randy Tepper / Showtime

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