Since for all intensive purposes the TV season is over. I thought I would share some of my thoughts on my favorite season finales. I perhaps have some biases that make me somewhat more inclined to favor some shows over others, but I guess that is why this list is mine and not somebody else's (duh). To me there are a couple things that make for a great season finale. The foremost of those being a great cliffhanger to get you excited for the next season. (Brothers & Sisters being deficient in that area doesn’t make the list.) And perhaps as important is that the finale should provide some emotional release that generally has been building all season long or over longer periods of time. Whether this comes in the form of a showdown between two archenemies or a grand romantic gesture/awakening between two star-crossed lovers, a good finale has got to have that pivotal emotional moment.
5. Fringe
I am almost just giving Fringe this slot just because it is a way cool show. The plots all season were creepy and gross, but interesting in the way they stretched science. The characters still seem a little flat to me and I haven’t really become emotionally attached, but interesting plot keeps the show interesting. The finale really didn’t floor me especially until the finale scene in which a very interesting shot of the World Trade Towers is shown. I won’t give away how that comes to play in the episode, but it comes about in a way that is mind-blowing in a way that only a JJ Abrams produced show can pull off. It definitely sets up next season to be particularly compelling.
Company picnics are funny let just say that. The reuniting of Holly and Michael makes any episode of The Office fantastic. (They really are soulmates.) But really outside of the normal Office antics which make the show generally great all the time, the thing that makes all The Office finales great are the very special Jim-Pam moments that seem to come out of nowhere and knock your socks off. Three years ago it was their first kiss, two years ago it was Jim finally asking Pam out on a date. And finally this year…well…I won’t give it away, but it was just as sweet as their previous finale moments.
LOST is just an awesome awesome show that really knows how to do finales. Without giving away too much, the episode was very character centric dealing with the motivations of many of the main characters. I was great to watch these well developed characters fight and then work together toward an exciting end goal. Juliet’s story was especially compelling and my boy Jack seems to finally be on some road to happiness, which if you know me and relationship with LOST is something very nice to see. This finale was not quite as earth-shattering as Season 3’s flashforward reveal, but it definitely sets up things for a very interesting final season. If you don’t watch this show, invest in or borrow Seasons 1-5 before the finale season, because it is going to be the stuff of legends.
2. Chuck
The earliest of all these finales, so the least fresh in my mind, but Chuck culminated its second season in grand fashion. Ellie’s wedding was a wonderful setting for a classic goody v. baddie showdown. Set to Jeffster playing Mr. Roboto, this is perhaps my favorite scene of all the finales. The episode also provided just enough emotion on the unrequited romance front with Chuck and Sarah, whose relationship seems on the brink of finally moving forward. The episode also ended on a major cliffhanger (having to do with kung fu) that almost guaranteed that the show would have to be picked up for a third season because it was that good a twist/cliffhanger. Definitely check out the finale and the show on Hulu/Nbc.com, it will be well worth your time.
1. Grey’s Anatomy
I have a notorious love-hate relationship with this show. I love all the characters at this point in spite of all of their flaws, so I can’t help but enjoy the show despite generally hating all the major couples on the show. Much like LOST, Grey’s really knows how to do finales. This season’s finale dealt heavily with storylines involving arguably my two favorite characters on the show, George and Izzie. Both had really terrible storylines for most of the year, but finally were able to shine in this finale. What ultimately put this show and episode at the top of the finale heap for me was the fact that it made me cry buckets of tears as it wound down with both of the aforementioned characters lives hanging in the balance. Any show that can make me invested enough to shed that many tears is worthy of my top spot. I will definitely tune in a the start of next year to see if hopefully both of my favorite characters survive.
Missing the cut for various reasons: House, Bones, Brothers & Sisters, Castle, Dollhouse
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