10 Iconic TV Shows That Broke the Curse and Had Great Finales

10. Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2008)

An instant classic of an animated movie, Avatar: The Last Airbender has seen too many failed attempts at its live adaptations, but the original still stands unmatched.

In the world of Avatar, some people are able to bend the elements, and one chosen can bend all four of them — and this time, it’s a boy who must also save the world.

You can watch Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix and Apple TV.

9. House (2004–2012)

When it comes to fan favorite fictional sociopaths, few characters stand as popular as Dr. House (save for BBC’s Sherlock who famously did not have a perfect finale). The cynical and anti-social House is a brilliant medic who saves lives in cases his colleagues can’t crack, but he does it while being a massive thorn in their backs.

You can watch House on Netflix and Prime Video.

8. Parks and Recreation ( 2009–2015)

Famous as the criminally underrated sitcom that had Chris Pratt before he got famous, Parks and Rec deserves every last 0.1 of its stellar IMDb score. This overlooked TV series follows the daily life of small town officials as they try to make something work with their tiny budget, indulge in schemes, and be silly at times.

You can watch Parks and Recreation on Apple TV and Prime Video.

7. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)

Out of all its rivaling space sci-fi franchises from the 1970s and ‘80s, Star Trek has the best track record in terms of its prequels and sequels’ quality (what’s up, SW?). The Next Generation proved the concept the earliest: following the crew of USS Enterprise-D, it managed to up the franchise’s game and become a new classic.

You can watch Star Trek: The Next Generation on Netflix and Prime Video.

6. Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014)

The best outlaw motorcycle club TV show you’ll ever come across, Sons of Anarchy is widely known for three things: its phenomenal start, its recurring stories that quickly became annoying, and — surprisingly — its fitting and overall great ending. But shows about fathers balancing their family and outlaw lives are popular, yes?..

You can watch Sons of Anarchy on Hulu, Apple TV, Disney Plus, and Prime Video.

5. Six Feet Under (2001–2005)

The greatest comeback on our list, Six Feet Under’s premise is rather simple: it follows a family that operates a funeral house. The show’s signature dark humor and difficult topics catapulted it into stardom, but it took a huge dip with Season 4 — only to come back with an inadequately spectacular finale and make TV show history.

You can watch Six Feet Under on Netflix and Prime Video.

4. The Office ( 2005–2013)

The Office had a similar story even though its downfall was not as prominent and blatant. Following a misfit bunch of office workers in their natural habitat, this sitcom won over millions of hearts and minds and earned an unholy amount of money. No matter what Ricky Gervais says, The Office ended right on time — and beautifully.

You can watch The Office on Max, Netflix, and Prime Video.

3. M*A*S*H (1972–1983)

MASH is that old-timer everyone’s always happy to see at any part. For an old show that ran for eleven entire seasons, this war dramedy fared phenomenally well, tying up its story nicely in the finale and making history. It’s an overall amazing example of how to make compelling and simultaneously simple and complex sitcoms.

You can watch M*A*S*H on Disney Plus and Prime Video.

2. Friends (1994–2004)

Fans like to say that Friends invented the “group of friends living together” genre of sitcom; while that’s not exactly true, this iconic show at the very least popularized it and spawned countless ripoffs. Friends’ endings notoriously led to millions of fans crying and was one of the most emotional — but fitting — TV show finales ever.

You can watch Friends on Netflix and Prime Video.

1. Breaking Bad ( 2008–2013)

The biggest and baddest TV show back in its days, Breaking Bad is still going strong and acts as a silent accusation for any series that fumbles its great concept. The story of an aging chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin, Breaking Bad’s finale only highlighted its status as one of the most important series that’s ever aired.

You can watch Breaking Bad on Netflix and Prime Video.