Top 10 "What the Hell" Television Series Finales

The Top Ten
1 Dinosaurs (Changing Nature)

Very traumatic, ABC raised the bar by killing off every character in the hit television series Dinosaurs.

In the series finale, all hope of an episode of reminiscing about the humor that made the series a hit was stripped away, as viewers got to watch Earl Sinclair bring about the end of the Dinosaurs by poisoning the world's plant life and subsequently blocking out the sun. The result of which was global temperatures dropping well below freezing and the imminent extinction of every living thing on the planet.

While every adult watching knew what was happening, their children may have been somewhat oblivious. Luckily, the writers made time in the finale's last moments to bring everyone in the know as Earl has to explain to Baby Sinclair how there's no place for them to go and that he's sorry for killing them all.

This episode was so What The Hell that T.V. Guide had to include a special warning that the subject matter in this episode might "frighten or ...more

2 The Prisoner (Fall Out)

Prepare, if you've watched the original British production of The Prisoner, you would know that there's no competing with the craziness that is its final episode. It's actually so what that while I watched The Prisoner from the beginning, I've never been able to wrap my head around its series finale.

The plot was simple, somewhat an unnamed British agent resigns from his job. After being kidnapped, he finds himself held captive in a beautiful, yet mysterious village and is given the name Number 6. While free to roam about the village, he is unable to leave.

Throughout its 17 episodes, Number 6 continuously tries to escape the island while trying to figure about the illusive Number 1 (The person that runs the island)

In the series finale, Number 6 finds out who Number 1 is, but only after sitting through a trial with a hooded jury dancing as someone sings "Dem Bones." Upon meeting Number 1, it's revealed that he's wearing a monkey mask. Underneath the ...more

3 David the Gnome (The Mountains of Beyond)

Anyone that grew up in the 80s probably remembers watching David the Gnome on Nickelodeon. The animated children's series followed the life of a gnome couple, David and Lisa. David, as a doctor, would travel around the forest on the back of his fox friend, Swift, healing animals that had been hurt.

In the series finale of David the Gnome, David and Lisa must travel to The Mountains of Beyond because it is their time to die. The only problem is that neither David or Lisa want to die, but are forced to because "that's just what happens when gnomes reach a certain age."

Before David and Lisa leave for their final resting place, an Arctic mouse shows up with a note from their old friend Casper. As it turns out, it's time for Casper to die as well, but since he is unmarried, he wants to know if he can tag along with David and Lisa because he doesn't want to die alone.

In the end, David and Lisa say goodbye, give each other one final kiss, hold hands and turn ...more

4 The Sopranos (Made in America) The Sopranos is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase. The story revolves around fictional New Jersey-based, Italian American mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini). The series portrays the difficulties that he faces as he tries to balance his home life and his criminal organization.

This is like Seinfeld, I really don’t think this needs much explanation. The series finale of The Sopranos resulted on the infamous “What The Hell heard around the world” as viewers were left in the dark - literally.
While some people including Lost creator Damon Lindelof praised the ending as groundbreaking, many were angry because the future of Tony, Carmela, Anthony Jr., and Meadow were left unknown. As for me, I still don’t understand the ending, even after Reading various explanations.
What I do know is that I, along with the rest of the world, took to their cable boxes with anger thinking that something went horribly wrong and we were missing an important scene. That is, until the credits started Rolling ()

5 Seinfeld (The Finale)

The episode ended up in a unwanted reunion with every iconic character from the series past. Perhaps the episode would have been better received if NBC hadn’t already aired an hour-long clip show before the start of the finale

Either way, the series finale of Seinfeld was not only a terrible episode, but a horrible way to say goodbye to four characters and an amazing T.V. series that brought us so many laughs.

Thankfully, the series was partly redeemed in the Seinfeld reunion episode during the most recent season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

6 ALF (Consider Me Gone) ALF is an American science fiction sitcom that aired on NBC from September 22, 1986 to March 24, 1990. It was the first television series to be presented in Dolby Surround.

In the series, when ALF wasn’t hoarding lint or trying to eat cats, he was focused on repairing his spaceship and seeking out other surviving Melmacians. As the series came to an end, it seemed like that was going to happen. That is, until ALF is captured by the military on the way to his Melmacian reunion.
In the series finale, ALF is trying to contact Australia on the radio when he stumbles across Skip and Rhonda, two surviving Melmacians who are nearing Earth. They invite ALF to go with them. As it turns out, Skip and Rhonda have purchased a new planet and are on their way there to start a new Melmac.
ALF accepts the invitation and breaks the news to the Tanner family. After throwing him a going away party, ALF sets out for the long-awaited reunion. As the alien spaceship approaches ALF, the Alien Task Force jumps in and captures him. As the episode closes, the spaceship flies away and ALF is left in the hands of the military but there is a movie.

7 St. Elsewhere (The Last One)

This Medical T.V. Show is not only credited for having one of the best episodes (Time Heals) in television history, but for also jump-starting the careers of Helen Hunt and Denzel Washington. With such prestige, you wouldn’t expect the series finale to reveal that the entire series was nothing but the imagination of an autistic child.
At the end of the series finale, they reveal us that the building is actually inside a snow globe that’s being held by an autistic child. And who is this kid? As it turns out, the autistic child is the son of Dr. Donald Westphall, the Director of Medicine for St. Eligius.

Note:
They also killed Mimsie the cat, during the credits.

8 Quantum Leap (Mirror Image)

In all seasons, Dr. Sam Beckett would leap into the bodies of various people throughout time as the result of a failed time experiment.
With the help of his best friend, Al, Sam was focused on trying to find a way home. He hoped that after so many leaps that he would eventually return to his own time. Unfortunately, Sam never returned home.
In the series finale, Sam runs into a bartender that reveals that not only was Sam himself was the one behind project Quantum Leap, but that he has control over his leaps. With this knowledge, Sam leaps to let Al’s wife know that he is still alive - and with that, the episode fades to black.(Like a Documentary)
After a couple notes about the future of Al and his wife, fans were left with these words: “Dr. Sam Becket never returned home.”
Not only were fans of the series left with only six words as a conclusion - but after countless episodes - the writers misspelled Beckett's last name - That's just lazy writing.

9 Little House on the Prairie (The Last Farewell)

This is bizarre to see, Typhus and the Lake Kezia “monster” are just some of the dangers that faced Charles Ingalls and family during their 184 episodes on the air. Although, nothing would prepare the Ingalls for what awaited Walnut Grove in the final episode - when the residents decided to blow up the town.
In the series finale of Little House on the Prairie, the residents learn that a railroad tycoon, Nathan Lassiter, held the deed to their beloved township. When Lassiter brings Union soldiers to force the residents from their homes, the town decides to send him a message by setting off explosives in every building and declaring that while he may own the land, he cannot have the town, Damn it!

As the episode ends, Robert Alden says, “Did you hear that? Walnut Grove did not die in vain.”

10 Life on Mars (Life Is a Rock)

The story revealed that Sam Tyler had not actually traveled back in time, nor was he was dead or in a coma.
As it turns out, Sam Tyler was actually an astronaut on the first manned mission to Mars, sleeping in a hibernation chamber. The chamber was equipped with computer software that helped the astronauts dream about whatever they wanted. Unfortunately, Sam Tyler’s computer screwed up and thus created the world of 1973.
But I need to say, this is nowhere near the brilliant ending of the original version. While I won’t spoil it for you, I will tell you that the U.K. version of Life on Mars was voted the #1 greatest T.V. ending of all time, take that copycat.

The Contenders
11 Power Rangers Ninja Steel (Galvanax Rises)
12 Mighty Morphin' Alien Rangers (Climb Every Fountain)
13 How I Met Your Mother (Last Forever, part 1 and part 2)
14 Danny Phantom (Phantom Planet)
15 Madeline at the Flee market (Madeline)
16 Teen Titans (Things Change)
17 Codename: Kids Next Door (Operation I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S)
18 Sons of Anarchy (Papa's Goods)
19 Regular Show (A Regular Epic Final Battle)
20 Six Feet Under (Everyone's Waiting)
21 Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Chosen)
22 Dragon Ball Z (Goku's Next Journey)
23 Lost (The End)
24 My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (The Last Problem)
25 Futurama (Meanwhile)
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