The history of television is filled with notable finales -- some brilliant, others not so much. We look at a few.

Fans called the series finale of "Parks and Recreation" -- filled with flash-forwards -- a home run.
'Parks and Recreation' —
Fans called the series finale of "Parks and Recreation" -- filled with flash-forwards -- a home run.
Colleen Hayes/NBC
Ashton Kutcher, from left, creator/executive producer Chuck Lorre and Jon Cryer all appeared in what many have called a downright bizarre series finale of "Two and a Half Men." Some fans were unhappy that Charlie Sheen did not make an appearance.
'Two and a Half Men' —
Ashton Kutcher, from left, creator/executive producer Chuck Lorre and Jon Cryer all appeared in what many have called a downright bizarre series finale of "Two and a Half Men." Some fans were unhappy that Charlie Sheen did not make an appearance.
Michael Yarish/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc
When "True Blood" met its true death with its series finale, it had the nerve to drag one of its central characters with it. (This person may or may not be pictured.) Fans were divided on the ending.
'True Blood' —
When "True Blood" met its true death with its series finale, it had the nerve to drag one of its central characters with it. (This person may or may not be pictured.) Fans were divided on the ending.
HBO
"How I Met Your Mother" ended after nine seasons in March 2014, and fans still debate the finale. After spending so much time listening to Josh Radnor's Ted Mosby describe how he married the mother of his kids, some viewers were outraged that "the mother" isn't the person Ted ends up with when the series ends.
'How I Met Your Mother' —
"How I Met Your Mother" ended after nine seasons in March 2014, and fans still debate the finale. After spending so much time listening to Josh Radnor's Ted Mosby describe how he married the mother of his kids, some viewers were outraged that "the mother" isn't the person Ted ends up with when the series ends.
CBS
The AMC drama "Breaking Bad," about a former high-school chemistry teacher turned corrupt meth kingpin, aired its final episode in September 2013, and fans still haven't stopped talking about it -- or gotten over the show ending. Overall, many seemed more upset that the series was over than about how it ended.
'Breaking Bad' —
The AMC drama "Breaking Bad," about a former high-school chemistry teacher turned corrupt meth kingpin, aired its final episode in September 2013, and fans still haven't stopped talking about it -- or gotten over the show ending. Overall, many seemed more upset that the series was over than about how it ended.
From Sony Pictures Television
For "Seinfeld's" final episode, co-creator Larry David returned to write the script. He apparently decided that the four main characters were beyond help, because they ended up in jail after a trial in which many of those they'd wronged testified.
'Seinfeld' —
For "Seinfeld's" final episode, co-creator Larry David returned to write the script. He apparently decided that the four main characters were beyond help, because they ended up in jail after a trial in which many of those they'd wronged testified.
Joey Delvalle/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Having the characters just hang out at the "Cheers" bar for one last scene (after Sam nearly left them all for Diane) seemed a very appropriate way for "Cheers" to say goodbye. And when a customer knocked on the door, Sam Malone -- in the darkened bar -- said, "Sorry, we're closed."
'Cheers' —
Having the characters just hang out at the "Cheers" bar for one last scene (after Sam nearly left them all for Diane) seemed a very appropriate way for "Cheers" to say goodbye. And when a customer knocked on the door, Sam Malone -- in the darkened bar -- said, "Sorry, we're closed."
NBC
The critically acclaimed but low-rated "Freaks and Geeks" shot its series finale early just in case it got canceled, and it was a doozy. From Nick's dance contest to Daniel playing "Dungeons & Dragons" to Lindsay and Kim secretly following the Grateful Dead for the summer, it was poignant, touching and everything we loved about this show.
'Freaks and Geeks' —
The critically acclaimed but low-rated "Freaks and Geeks" shot its series finale early just in case it got canceled, and it was a doozy. From Nick's dance contest to Daniel playing "Dungeons & Dragons" to Lindsay and Kim secretly following the Grateful Dead for the summer, it was poignant, touching and everything we loved about this show.
Chris Haston/NBC/Getty Images
After a truly bizarre final season of "Roseanne," it turned out the family did not win the lottery after all. It was just a story Roseanne made up after husband Dan died. Kind of a downer ending.
'Roseanne' —
After a truly bizarre final season of "Roseanne," it turned out the family did not win the lottery after all. It was just a story Roseanne made up after husband Dan died. Kind of a downer ending.
ABC
For "Friends," everything was wrapped up with a bow. Ross ended up with Rachel; Monica and Chandler, with kids in tow, moved out of the building; and Phoebe was married off. Joey was off to L.A. for his own sure-to-be-successful spinoff ... Oops. Still, it was a nice, tidy sendoff after 10 years.
'Friends' —
For "Friends," everything was wrapped up with a bow. Ross ended up with Rachel; Monica and Chandler, with kids in tow, moved out of the building; and Phoebe was married off. Joey was off to L.A. for his own sure-to-be-successful spinoff ... Oops. Still, it was a nice, tidy sendoff after 10 years.
NBC
"The Cosby Show" finale came full circle as Theo -- struggling with school in the series premiere -- graduated college. It was great to see Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad hold hands and get one last round of applause from the studio audience.
'The Cosby Show' —
"The Cosby Show" finale came full circle as Theo -- struggling with school in the series premiere -- graduated college. It was great to see Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad hold hands and get one last round of applause from the studio audience.
NBCU Photo Bank
Capt. Jean-Luc Picard's travels through time with Q, and that last shot of the crew playing cards, made for a fitting farewell for "Star Trek: The Next Generation." And of course the crew of the 24th-century Enterprise kept things going for four movies.
'Star Trek: The Next Generation' —
Capt. Jean-Luc Picard's travels through time with Q, and that last shot of the crew playing cards, made for a fitting farewell for "Star Trek: The Next Generation." And of course the crew of the 24th-century Enterprise kept things going for four movies.
CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
A record audience watched the tearjerker of a finale for "M*A*S*H" in 1983, as the Korean War ended and everyone prepared to go their separate ways.
'M*A*S*H' —
A record audience watched the tearjerker of a finale for "M*A*S*H" in 1983, as the Korean War ended and everyone prepared to go their separate ways.
Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
"Lost" had one of the most controversial endings of all time, but how could it not? The expectations were so high going into it. For every detractor, there was a defender for this finale -- in which Jack saves the day and dies moments later. The episode was more concerned with an ending to the story than it was in explaining the many mysteries. That was saved for a DVD-only epilogue.
'Lost' —
"Lost" had one of the most controversial endings of all time, but how could it not? The expectations were so high going into it. For every detractor, there was a defender for this finale -- in which Jack saves the day and dies moments later. The episode was more concerned with an ending to the story than it was in explaining the many mysteries. That was saved for a DVD-only epilogue.
Mario Perez/ABC/Getty Images
In the finale of "Frasier," Niles and Daphne had a kid, Martin married Ronee, and the character of Dr. Frasier Crane left Seattle with a new potential love interest, bidding goodbye to television after 20 years.
'Frasier —
In the finale of "Frasier," Niles and Daphne had a kid, Martin married Ronee, and the character of Dr. Frasier Crane left Seattle with a new potential love interest, bidding goodbye to television after 20 years.
Paramount Network Television Production
Long after many viewers cared -- in large part due to the departure of David Duchovny in season 7 -- "X-Files" got Scully and Mulder back together. We learned that aliens would colonize Earth and the world was set to end on December 22, 2012 (phew, that was close).
'X-Files' —
Long after many viewers cared -- in large part due to the departure of David Duchovny in season 7 -- "X-Files" got Scully and Mulder back together. We learned that aliens would colonize Earth and the world was set to end on December 22, 2012 (phew, that was close).
From Twentieth Century Fox
As Buffy and her expanded Scooby gang fought to save the world one last time (though Sunnydale didn't quite survive), the premise behind "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" came to something of a logical conclusion, with every potential Slayer being activated around the world.
'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' —
As Buffy and her expanded Scooby gang fought to save the world one last time (though Sunnydale didn't quite survive), the premise behind "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" came to something of a logical conclusion, with every potential Slayer being activated around the world.
Getty Images
Sure, we all knew that "The Hills" wasn't exactly "reality," but the "revelation" that it was shot at a movie studio was still a bit shocking, if not downright insulting. Apparently Kristin Cavallari and Brody Jenner wanted to leave us with a symbolic final shot that would have us questioning what was real. MTV later <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mtv.com%2Fvideos%2Fmisc%2F945137%2Fthe-hills-season-6-ep-12-alternate-ending.jhtml%23id%3D1712087" target="_blank" target="_blank">revealed an alternate ending</a> where Jenner returned to his new girlfriend, Lauren Conrad, but honestly, who knows what to believe?
'The Hills' —
Sure, we all knew that "The Hills" wasn't exactly "reality," but the "revelation" that it was shot at a movie studio was still a bit shocking, if not downright insulting. Apparently Kristin Cavallari and Brody Jenner wanted to leave us with a symbolic final shot that would have us questioning what was real. MTV later revealed an alternate ending where Jenner returned to his new girlfriend, Lauren Conrad, but honestly, who knows what to believe?
MTV
"ALF" producers seemed to be overly confident that the alien sitcom would return for a fifth season, after they had ALF captured by the military in the finale, just before NBC canceled it. We wouldn't know what became of him for several years, when ABC picked up a <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alftv.com%2Fprojectalf.php" target="_blank" target="_blank">TV movie</a>.
'ALF' —
"ALF" producers seemed to be overly confident that the alien sitcom would return for a fifth season, after they had ALF captured by the military in the finale, just before NBC canceled it. We wouldn't know what became of him for several years, when ABC picked up a TV movie.
Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Everything that happened at St. Eligius over all those years? It was all in the mind of a boy with autism. So were those six seasons of "St. Elsewhere" a giant waste of time?
'St. Elsewhere' —
Everything that happened at St. Eligius over all those years? It was all in the mind of a boy with autism. So were those six seasons of "St. Elsewhere" a giant waste of time?
NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
"Dinosaurs," the wacky sitcom with the Jim Henson life-size puppets, ended with all of the characters about to be wiped out by the Ice Age. Ha ha?
'Dinosaurs' —
"Dinosaurs," the wacky sitcom with the Jim Henson life-size puppets, ended with all of the characters about to be wiped out by the Ice Age. Ha ha?
jim henson productions
in "The Fugitive," Dr. Richard Kimble finally caught up with that one-armed man who killed his wife and got his ultimate revenge. It doesn't get more satisfying than that in TV drama.
'The Fugitive' —
in "The Fugitive," Dr. Richard Kimble finally caught up with that one-armed man who killed his wife and got his ultimate revenge. It doesn't get more satisfying than that in TV drama.
Quinn Martin Productions
"Life on Mars" lasted only a season on ABC, but there was some anticipation to see how the producers would end their version of the series after the UK's incredible finale. It turned out that Sam Tyler's trip to the 1970s was all created in his mind, as he slept in suspended animation, before landing on Mars. A bit literal, don't you think?
'Life on Mars' —
"Life on Mars" lasted only a season on ABC, but there was some anticipation to see how the producers would end their version of the series after the UK's incredible finale. It turned out that Sam Tyler's trip to the 1970s was all created in his mind, as he slept in suspended animation, before landing on Mars. A bit literal, don't you think?
ABC Studios
Lois and Clark got married (they saved it for the end, unlike the other show with their namesake), and finally, 10 years into "Smallville," we got to see Clark don the iconic red and blue suit.
'Smallville' —
Lois and Clark got married (they saved it for the end, unlike the other show with their namesake), and finally, 10 years into "Smallville," we got to see Clark don the iconic red and blue suit.
Warner Bros.
It was Dwight's wedding day (to Angela, thankfully) and Pam and Jim were ready to move on. Michael Scott showing up to fill the role of Dwight's best man was just one of many things the finale of "The Office" got just right.
'The Office' —
It was Dwight's wedding day (to Angela, thankfully) and Pam and Jim were ready to move on. Michael Scott showing up to fill the role of Dwight's best man was just one of many things the finale of "The Office" got just right.
NBC Universal Media
In the final minutes of "Big Love," Bill is suddenly gunned down by a neighbor,and the sister-wives are forced to move on without him. As we learn through an emotional flash-forward scene, even without Bill to bond them, they remain together. Definitely a shocker.
'Big Love' —
In the final minutes of "Big Love," Bill is suddenly gunned down by a neighbor,and the sister-wives are forced to move on without him. As we learn through an emotional flash-forward scene, even without Bill to bond them, they remain together. Definitely a shocker.
HBO
Psychic Allison DuBois could do many things on "Medium," but she couldn't save her husband, Joe. Her belief that her husband was still alive on an island somewhere turned out to be an illusion, and the whole thing was so depressing that it was only saved by a final scene where Allison died many years later and reunited with him.
'Medium' —
Psychic Allison DuBois could do many things on "Medium," but she couldn't save her husband, Joe. Her belief that her husband was still alive on an island somewhere turned out to be an illusion, and the whole thing was so depressing that it was only saved by a final scene where Allison died many years later and reunited with him.
Picturemaker Productions