It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye: The Art of the Series Finale

Clockwise from Top Right: “Modern Family” (Copyright: ABC); “Homeland” (Copyright: Showtime); “Will & Grace” (Copyright: NBC), “How to Get Away with Murder” (Copyright: ABC); and “Schitt’s Creek” (Copyright: CBC/PopTV)

Over the next six weeks, five shows that I have stuck with for a total of 42 seasons and 762 episodes are airing their series finale. Some are still brilliant whereas some should have ended a while back. Regardless, however, I have stuck around to see if they stick the landing. In anticipation, I reflect on what makes a good series finale and why they mean so much to fans.

Why I Usually Stick it Out to the End … Even When I Shouldn’t

Over the next six weeks, I will say goodbye to Schitt’s Creek (the series finale airs tonight), Modern Family (tomorrow), Will & Grace (April 23rd), Homeland (April 26th), and How To Get Away with Murder (May 14th). These shows have run for a combined total of 42 seasons and aired 762 episodes, of which I have seen every single one. Give my considerable investment of time and energy into these series, I am expecting some strong emotional reactions over the next few weeks.

Many people who were once fans of these shows gave up on them long ago. They cited uninteresting plot twists, recycled storylines and themes, increasingly broad and predictable humor, and lack of novelty among their reasons for jumping ship. And it’s hard to blame them. Like many series, some of the ones reaching their end most certainly have their best days behind them. And in the era of peak TV…