The Top 5 Most Controversial TV Finales, Ranked

      Here are five of the most contentious TV finales in television history, ranked.

      Warning: Spoilers ahead.

      They are listed from least to most controversial.

      5 — Lost

      ABC – Credit: C/O

      After raising numerous questions and captivating us with hours of intrigue, Lost ultimately fizzled out.

      Co-showrunner Damon Lindelof later acknowledged that the series ran too long and expressed a desire to conclude it earlier, but ABC insisted on its continuation due to its strong ratings.

      The finale reunited the main characters in a sort of purgatory, which frustrated many fans who suspected that’s where they had been since the very beginning.

      Despite this, the show provided an incredible journey leading up to that point: “Not Penny’s boat”? “We have to go back”? Lost had countless remarkable moments, making its concluding scene feel insignificant.

      4 — Game of Thrones

      Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones. Photograph by Helen Sloan/HBO – Credit: C/O

      After numerous battles and the ultimate betrayal — Daenerys Targaryen experiencing firsthand the corrupting influence of power — Game of Thrones concluded with an unexpected and rational discussion.

      This twist pleased some viewers, as it subverted expectations and implied that perhaps everyone had gleaned wisdom from the chaos.

      However, many considered it one of the most divisive finales since numerous fans found it anticlimactic, and many felt disappointed by Khaleesi's character arc and her ultimate fate.

      3 — Roseanne

      ABC – Credit: ABC

      The finale of Roseanne featured a mix of bittersweet revelations and outright disappointments.

      It revealed that Roseanne (Roseanne Barr) had been crafting a fictionalized account of her life the entire time.

      In reality, Dan (John Goodman) dies from a heart attack during Darlene’s (Sara Gilbert) wedding, and the family did not win the lottery.

      The Conners made a comeback in a new series that debuted in 2018, though Roseanne Barr was removed from the show following controversial tweets.

      Her TV family continued without her in The Conners.

      2 — Seinfeld

      NBC

      Seinfeld concluded with the group facing karmic consequences for their habitual wrongdoing. The series finale finds Jerry, Elaine, Kramer, and George in jail for ignoring a Good Samaritan law.

      Jerry Seinfeld admitted that this conclusion might have been an error, stating in an interview that “I think the only mistake, if there was one, was leaving them in jail.”

      Co-creator Larry David recognized the divisiveness of Seinfeld's finale, particularly in relation to the ending of his own show, Curb Your Enthusiasm.

      Curb’s brilliant and fulfilling finale revisited the courtroom scene, but this time, Jerry rescues Larry by exposing a juror who broke his sequester.

      (As a side note: We’re enjoying David’s Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, a humorous historical sketch series that revisits many classic jokes from Curb.)

      1 — The Sopranos

      HBO – Credit: C/O

      Perhaps the most analyzed TV finale of all time, and certainly the most polarizing.

      The Sopranos concluded in 2007 with a cut to black that conveyed everything, no matter what viewers believe transpired.

      Creator David Chase deserves credit for an ending that lacked sentimentality or self-congratulation. The finale was bold and risky, much like the show itself. Many fans, however, were left confused, with numerous people questioning if there had been a technical error, and many others eager to know if Tony Soprano lived or died.

      Our view? It’s inconsequential. Life can end suddenly for anyone, especially for someone in Tony’s profession. Hence, it’s essential to cherish time with loved ones and enjoy those onion rings.

      If you found this list interesting, you might also appreciate our list of 12 1970s TV Shows That Are Still a Joy to Watch.

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      Main image: Evangeline Lilly in Lost. ABC