A finale can make or break a TV show—for instance, when the epic Stranger Things series finale finally came out at the end of 2025, some people weren’t impressed. That said, others thought it was the right way to say goodbye. Here are the most controversial TV finales of all time that didn’t just disappoint people but ruined the legacy of the entire show.
Game of Thrones — “The Iron Throne”
“The Iron Throne” inspired so much backlash after a year of careful world-building and detailed character arcs, but why? Maybe because the finale sprinted through the major emotional moments that required a lot more nuance and breathing room. Daenerys’ transformation into a tyrant may have been foreshadowed, but the execution was abrupt, and viewers were also unimpressed by Bran’s ascension to the throne. While the finale had record-breaking viewership, it made many lifelong fans frustrated since the spectacle overtook the actual storytelling.
Gilmore Girls — “A Year in the Life”
When the “Gilmore Girls” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino left the show as showrunner, the once-hilarious CW creation became lackluster. But Sherman-Palladino stayed persistent, and the result was a four-episode revival from Netflix dubbed “A Year in the Life.” Apparently, the four words were: “‘Mom?’ ‘Yeah?’ ‘I’m pregnant.’ It seemed full-circle to many that a new generation would be joining the Gilmores, but it felt a bit disjointed and random rather than a satisfying conclusion. After so many seasons nailing in the concept that women were more fully fleshed creatures than just bodies to make babies, this was a bizarrely regressive way to end it.
Dexter — “Remember the Monsters?”
While there have since been many a “Dexter” spinoff, the original “Dexter” finale became notorious for one image: Dexter dressed as a lumberjack. Through eight seasons of watching this clever serial killer escape from justice, struggle with his sense of morality, and destroy his entire support network of friends and family, he would face a more intense reckoning or a surprising plot twist out of left field. Instead, we got a strange fake-out exile that was designed to be haunting but just felt emotionally evasive, filled with poor plotting, unresolved storylines, and no closure.
Killing Eve — “Hello, Losers”
Name a better duo than Eve and Villanelle—we’ll wait. These two had an extremely electric dynamic, and after seasons of us waiting for a romantic payoff to happen between the two women, we were delivered a brutal blow. The show abruptly killed Villanelle, which made many viewers feel blindsided and betrayed. The backlash was made even worse by the historical fact that LGBTQ+ characters have been killed off after experiencing happiness in shows and movies. For a show that was witty and filled with moments of psychological intimacy, the ending felt off.
House of Cards — “Chapter 73”
It felt nearly impossible for the final season of the show to continue once Kevin Spacey exited the show, and what happened next felt clunky. Claire Underwood took the center stage, and while it should have felt compelling, the plot twisted itself into incoherent knots rather than giving viewers a clear conclusion. The result? A series finale that was rushed, murky, and empty of meaning. A show that once had a lot to say about power suddenly felt like its messaging was empty.
Pretty Little Liars — “Til DeAth Do Us PArt”
The many seasons of the “PLL” franchise were packed with insane mythology, red herrings, and many a fake-out that kept us on the edge of our seats. And it all ended with the reveal of Spencer’s secret British twin, Alex Drake, as A. Though this was a memorable finale, the twist felt like a final mask pulled out of nowhere rather than a truly satisfying, well-thought-out answer to seasons of questions. For those viewers who spent years tracking clues about who A was, this payoff was frustrating and underwhelming.
How I Met Your Mother — “Last Forever”
The worst part of “How I Met Your Mother” wasn’t that the mother died. It was the finale that made the whole show feel like a detour, undoing years of character development. They killed off the mother just to reunite Ted and Robin, who had experienced so many breakups. Major life events were rushed, and the wedding focus of the final season just felt wasted. For viewers who were attached to the mother (and who rightfully felt that Ted and Robin were fundamentally incompatible after so many years of not being able to make it work), the reunion simply felt forced.
Star Trek: Enterprise — “These Are the Voyages…”
This two-part finale didn’t have much to do with “Enterprise.” While it was framed as a “Next Generation” holodeck story, it gave way too much focus to the guest stars rather than concluding the show’s own arcs, and the plot was rushed. They killed off Trip Tucker unnecessarily, and it also poorly dealt with the death of Connor Trinneer’s character, leading many people to label it the worst finale of the entire series due to its jarring and disrespectful nature.
