There’s nothing worse than spending years with a TV show only for the ending to let you down. Some finales stick the landing perfectly, while others make you wish you’d stopped watching a season earlier. These shows had me hooked all the way through, but when it came time to wrap things up, the endings just didn’t deliver.
6
The Wire
Stream The Wire on Hulu
I know this is controversial. The Wire is often hailed as the greatest TV drama of all time, and for good reason. It’s also one of my favorite shows ever, and I’ve watched it from start to finish countless times.
Across its first four seasons, it brilliantly dissected Baltimore’s drug trade, politics, schools, and institutions with unmatched realism. The writing, acting, and storytelling are still some of the best television has ever produced.
But when it came to the final season, something felt off. The newsroom storyline was clunky and rushed, and while the finale tied up some arcs, it lacked the emotional weight and subtlety of the earlier seasons. Fans have debated this endlessly—some say the ending was fine, others (like me) felt it was a step down from greatness.
It didn’t ruin the show, not even close. But compared to the brilliance that came before, the ending of The Wire just didn’t resonate the way it should have. However, I’ll still admit to shedding a tear or two during the final scene with McNulty, on more than one occasion.
It’s certainly up there with some of the other most binge-worthy shows, that’s for sure.
5
Line of Duty
Watch Line of Duty on HBO Max
For years, Line of Duty was the most gripping crime drama on British TV. Each season raised the stakes, diving deeper into the shadowy world of corrupt officers and the mysterious figure known only as “H.” The show thrived on cliffhangers, shocking twists, and interrogations that had you glued to the screen.
But the finale? Fans were left stunned—and not in a good way. After six seasons of building suspense, the reveal of “H” turned out to be a forgettable, bumbling officer who never seemed like a criminal mastermind. Instead of a jaw-dropping moment, it felt like the show had pulled the rug out from under us with a shrug.
I was actually staying at my parents at the time the Line of Duty finale aired. I watched with my family, who were all similarly deep into the series and awaiting the big reveal. And we sat in stunned silence with what we’d seen.
I guess the only real big positive from Line of Duty is that they didn’t opt for a washed-up spin-off featuring its main characters. Oh, and there is heavy talk that a season seven is underway, and should grace our screens in 2026. Maybe then we’ll find out who the real H was all along.
4
The Walking Dead
Watch The Walking Dead on Disney+
I don’t know many people who haven’t watched at least some of The Walking Dead. When it launched back in 2010, it was must-watch television. A zombie apocalypse drama with real heart, shocking character deaths, and relentless tension. For a while, no one could stop talking about it.
But as the years dragged on, the cracks started to show. The endless cycle of new villains, new communities, and drawn-out storylines wore fans down. By the time the final season rolled around, many viewers had already jumped ship. It’s hard to watch a set of people constantly make bad decisions and keep suspending your disbelief.
After a while, it just drags, and that’s exactly what happened with The Walking Dead as it approached its big finale. The finale felt less like closure and more like a springboard for spin-offs. Instead of resolving arcs in a satisfying way, the show pushed characters toward new projects in The Walking Dead universe. Fans wanted finality; what we got was marketing. After over a decade of buildup, it felt like a cheat.
Oddly, it also killed my interest in the other shows in The Walking Dead Universe. I just couldn’t be bothered to go and watch another set of survivors face similar challenges in new places; the whole story was played out and dull by the conclusion.
3
Manifest
Watch Manifest on Netflix
Manifest was a show built on mystery. A plane disappears for five years, only to land as if nothing happened. Passengers experience strange visions called “callings,” and the series teased answers to its big questions. I was hooked because it promised a payoff—one that explained the mysteries and justified the years of fan theories.
Unfortunately, the finale didn’t live up to the hype. Instead of a jaw-dropping conclusion, Manifest delivered a messy, rushed, and deeply unsatisfying explanation. Fans were vocal about their disappointment, with many saying the ending made the entire journey feel wasted. I agreed.
Instead of clarity, I felt like I’d been strung along for nothing. It actually felt like one of those shows that the creators didn’t know how to finish, so they copped out of anything that really resolved the problems uncovered along the way. We’re meant to believe everything just went back to normal? It was like discovering the whole show was a dream sequence and never happened… but it took four seasons to get there.
I’m sure that the show being canned multiple times didn’t help. On that, I can cut Manifest a bit of slack. But really, it was deeply unsatisfying.
2
The Man in the High Castle
Watch The Man in the High Castle on Prime Video
I read Philip K. Dick’s The Man in the High Castle on a holiday when I was younger, and was immediately swept into this sprawling version of an alternative history (and the alternative history in the book itself).
Of course, the TV show version was always going to be different; adaptations have to pick and choose what to show, and often cut corners and take some poetic license. For example, the alternative history book at the center of The Man in the High Castle, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, is replaced with film reels depicting an alternate reality instead.
However, the show’s alternate-history setting was chilling, immersive, and full of fascinating detail. For three seasons, it delivered suspense, compelling characters, and thought-provoking commentary.
Then came the final season. Pacing issues and rushed arcs plagued the show, and the series finale left many fans scratching their heads. The mysterious “portal” opening in the final moments was supposed to be profound, but instead it was confusing and unsatisfying. Fans debated endlessly what it meant, but the truth was simple: the show had run out of steam.
It was a deeply frustrating end to the series, especially as it had diverged so far from the original material.
1
House of Cards
Watch House of Cards on Netflix
When House of Cards debuted, it was Netflix’s flagship series. Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright delivered powerhouse performances in a show full of political intrigue, ruthless ambition, and shocking twists. For a while, it was the definition of prestige streaming.
I couldn’t stop watching. But after Spacey’s departure, the final season was left scrambling. The focus shifted entirely to Claire (Robin Wright), which could’ve worked if the writing hadn’t collapsed under the pressure. Instead of sharp plotting and devastating power plays, the last season meandered. By the finale, what should have been a gripping conclusion was instead flat, rushed, and forgettable.
I mean, six seasons to end with that? It’s no wonder that House of Cards season six’s user Metacritic rating is hovering at 3.2 compared to 8.9 for the first season. The drop-off in writing was enormous, and as said, the finale was just awful.
These are far from the only shows that have an unsatisfying or even downright awful ending. In fairness, there really are too many to go on listing. Lost, Game of Thrones, Dexter, How I Met Your Mother… I could go on listing shows.
However, it’s worth remembering that in many cases, the journey to reach the finale of these shows was incredible, and that’s what we should really hold onto—all of the amazing bits that came before.
