10 TV Shows Where the Final Season Was Actually Good

1. The Leftovers (2014-2017)

The Leftovers is one of those underappreciated gems, slowly simmering until its final season boiled over with brilliance. The series, based on Tom Perrotta's novel, explores the aftermath of a rapture-like event where 2% of the world's population inexplicably disappears.

While its first season received mixed reviews, the show's creators, including Lost alum Damon Lindelof, took the criticism on board and completely reinvented the series for its second and third seasons.

The final season, with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 99%, has been lauded as a triumph in storytelling. The culmination of the Garvey family's emotional journey, from Texas to Australia, served up a satisfying conclusion that is both profound and deeply affecting.

2. Rectify (2013-2016)

This is a Southern Gothic drama that tells the story of Daniel Holden, released after spending 19 years on death row when DNA evidence casts doubt on his conviction.

Each of its four seasons brilliantly unfolds at a slow pace, but the final one is where the show truly shines. In its last episodes, Rectify not only unravels the mystery of whether or not Daniel actually committed the crime but also explores his family's struggles and the societal stigmas they face.

3. Halt and Catch Fire (2014-2017)

Halt and Catch Fire is an overlooked treasure of a show. It's about the early days of the computer revolution in the '80s and the birth of the internet in the '90s. While the first two seasons were rocky, the third season course-corrected, and the fourth emerged as a tour de force.

The final season managed to wrap up the complex relationships between its four leads and their ever-evolving tech startup endeavors. It also delivered one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful episodes of television – 'Goodwill.'

4. Catastrophe (2015-2019)

Catastrophe, a British sitcom, brings us the beautiful disaster that is Rob and Sharon's life. When Sharon, an Irish woman, has a week-long fling with Rob, an American, she ends up pregnant, and he moves to London to be with her.

The humor is biting, the situations hilarious, and the couple's chemistry undeniable. Their chaotic journey continues through four seasons, but the last one takes the cake.

The final season tackles the realities of marriage and parenthood head-on, with both hilarious and heartbreaking results. Its final episode, which tied up loose ends while keeping others intriguingly open, received rave reviews for being true to the show's essence: delightfully and catastrophically human.

5. Review (2014-2017)

Here's a wild card for you – Review, a Comedy Central series that follows the life of Forrest MacNeil, a critic who reviews life experiences rather than books or films. The show is an American adaptation of an Australian series, and in its final season, it manages to crank the absurdity to new levels.

Forrest's commitment to his show and the ridiculous situations he gets into make for some of the most cringe-inducing yet hilarious television moments. Despite the comedic nature of the show, the final season takes a darkly comedic turn as Forrest grapples with the damage his reviews have inflicted on his life.

6. Justified ( 2010-2015)

Based on a short story by Elmore Leonard, Justified is a modern Western that follows Raylan Givens, a quick-draw U.S. Marshal with a cowboy hat and a complicated relationship with his home state of Kentucky.

The final season of Justified focuses on Raylan's efforts to finally take down his lifelong adversary, Boyd Crowder, and tie up loose ends before leaving Kentucky for good.

With its blend of suspense, drama, and sharp dialogue, this season serves as an excellent wrap-up to the show, putting a satisfying period on the end of a bullet-ridden, bourbon-soaked sentence.

7. Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)

Schitt's Creek took a while to find its footing, but once it did, there was no stopping it. The show is about the wealthy Rose family who suddenly find themselves broke and forced to live in Schitt's Creek, a small town they once bought as a joke.

As the series progressed, it went from being a fish-out-of-water comedy to a heartwarming exploration of love, acceptance, and family. The sixth and final season of the show maintained its comedic tone while showing the Rose family's evolution and concluded with a tearful and satisfying goodbye, with the family finally finding their happiness.

In 2020, Schitt's Creek swept the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards, winning all seven major comedy awards, a feat that no comedy or drama series had ever achieved.

8. Person of Interest (2011-2016)

Person of Interest is a thrilling mix of science fiction and crime drama that consistently flew under the radar. The show follows Harold Finch and John Reese as they prevent violent crimes in New York City using an AI called The Machine.

The final season brings the battle between The Machine and its evil counterpart, Samaritan, to a dramatic climax. Despite being cut short, the final season was well-crafted and allowed the story to conclude on its own terms, culminating in a heartbreaking and satisfying finale that stayed true to the show's themes.

9. The Americans (2013-2018)

The Americans, an often overlooked series, provides a unique take on the spy genre by focusing on the home lives of undercover Soviet spies living in America.

The final season escalates the tension as FBI agent Stan Beeman comes closer to discovering that his seemingly ordinary neighbors, the Jennings family, are actually spies. The suspense builds episode by episode, leading up to a finale that delivers a devastating emotional payoff.

The climactic garage confrontation in the finale is one of the most intense scenes in TV history, and Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys's performances are nothing short of extraordinary.

10. Fleabag ( 2016-2019)

Fleabag, a British comedy-drama, is a masterclass in storytelling. The show, written by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, chronicles the life of a young woman in London dealing with grief, family issues, and relationship woes.

The second and final season introduces the 'hot priest,' a character who sees Fleabag for who she really is, something not even the audience is privy to in the first season. This season is brimming with humor, emotion, and fourth-wall-breaking moments.

With an impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the final season brilliantly ties up all loose ends while leaving us wanting more, which is a true testament to Waller-Bridge's writing prowess.