The finale of a TV show can be bittersweet. Viewers spend months or even years growing close to the characters on the screen, but eventually, the show comes to an end. Making that end satisfying, however, is no easy task. So, in honor of Succession, Barry, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel all concluding this week, we’re looking at the art of the TV finale. Follow along as we rank our favorites and chat with actors, writers, and music supervisors about creating the perfect series finale.
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Welcome to Finale Week
With a number of influential TV shows ending this week, The Ringer is breaking down the art of creating the perfect finale
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May 29
Where Does ‘Succession’ Rank Among the Best TV Finales?
It’s hard to say goodbye. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s that we often get a tremendous hour of television. From ‘Deadwood’ to ‘Succession’ to ‘The Sopranos,’ these are the best from the past few decades.
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May 26
In Praise of the Shows That Just Won’t Really End
All eyes are on the finales of ‘Succession,’ ‘Barry,’ and maybe even ‘Ted Lasso’—but there’s a place for TV that just keeps going and going
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May 25
With or Without You: The Oral History of the ‘Americans’ Finale
In 2018, the Cold War spy drama delivered one of the most shocking and fascinating conclusions in modern TV history. Five years later, Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, other cast members, and the creators take us through the making of the episode—and all the sleights of hand and twists of fate.
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May 24
Against the Cult of “Sticking the Landing”
The ‘Succession’ finale may be great—or it may be deflating. But it likely doesn’t matter either way. A TV show is mostly remembered for what happens before the finale, not during it.
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May 23
Pressing Play on Goodbye
The best closing songs on television condense a symphony of material into a lasting chord. We celebrate the classics and chat with music supervisors about the selection process.
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May 22
The Impossible Art of Making a Series Finale
Creating an iconic television series is easy. Figuring out how to end it in a way that satisfies both the creators and the audience is the hard part.