10 Bad Final TV Seasons That Would've Been Better With More Episodes

Dec. 19, 2024, 1 a.m.

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10 Bad Final TV Seasons That Would've Been Better With More Episodes

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There's nothing worse than starting a TV show, getting invested in the rich plot and characters, and having it ruined by a bad final season. Ranging from rushing through the plot to destroying a beloved character's growth in the final seasons, many TV shows fall into the trap of being ruined because of unsatisfying and terrible endings. Sudden cancellations of TV shows and cutting down on the length of the final season are often the culprits behind messy final seasons.

Given more time to flesh out character motivations and intricate plotlines, a lot of shows that suffered a lackluster final season could have been improved with a few more episodes. While the addition of episodes can't fix mischaracterization issues and terrible plot twists, they can potentially make the final season feel more coherent, maintain the storyline's quantity, and provide a meaningful resolution.

10 Merlin (2008-2012)

Season 5

The BBC's Merlin is a medieval fantasy series that reimagines the Arthurian legends and focuses on the warlock Merlin (Colin Morgan) and Prince Arthur (Bradley James) and their adventures. Merlin is tasked with protecting Arthur, who is prophesied to bring magic back to Camelot and unite the lands.

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite TV Shows My Watchlist Success! 8.7/10 Merlin In this reimagining of Arthurian legend, young Merlin saves the life of young Prince Arthur, and realizes that the reason for his magical gift is to protect the future king. However, because magic is illegal, Merlin must hide his gift, even as he and Arthur become friends over their adventure. Release Date September 20, 2008 Cast Colin Morgan , Bradley James , Katie McGrath , Anthony Head , Richard Wilson , John Hurt , Nathaniel Parker Seasons 5 Expand

Merlin follows the duo's misadventures and showcases how Merlin and Arthur's bond grows as they work together to protect the kingdom. In a land where magic is outlawed, Merlin's struggle to hide his secret creates tension throughout the season.

Additional episodes could have added depth to Arthur's sudden and surprising death and an earlier reveal could have explored how Merlin and Arthur's friendship followed the reveal.

However, the rushed final season was unable to provide a satisfying conclusion to Merlin, as Merlin finally revealed his magic to Arthur in the final episodes, before Arthur succumbed to his wounds. Additional episodes could have added depth to Arthur's sudden and surprising death and an earlier reveal could have explored how Merlin and Arthur's friendship followed the reveal. Since a Merlin revival with the original stars looks unlikely, Merlin's rushed final season is the official ending of the beloved show and its characters.

9 The Magicians (2015-2020)

Season 5

The Magicians is a fantasy TV series based on a trilogy of novels written by Lev Grossman. Set in a world where magic exists and magicians are trained in their abilities at a secret university, The Magicians follows a group of young adults who discover that the magical world is filled with dangers and travel between worlds.

The controversial and tragic death of the main character Quentin Coldwater (Jason Ralph) in the season 4 finale put the beloved show in a precarious position for the next season as Quentin was a central character. The Magicians was then canceled, unexpectedly making the fifth season the final season.

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite TV Shows My Watchlist Success! 8/10 7.8/10 The Magicians Based on the novel of the same name by Lev Grossman, The Magicians follows Quentin Coldwater, a brilliant young man who is given a place at a magical college named Brakebills. There, he learns magic alongside his friends Alice, Eliot, Margo, and Penny, and unlocks magical secrets far beyond his wildest imaginings that see him travel to various fantastical locations, including the world of Fillory. Release Date December 16, 2015 Network NBC , SyFy Writers John McNamara

The final season left some character storylines unresolved, and new character dynamics, such as the relationship between Eliot Waugh (Hale Appleman) and Charlton (Spencer Daniels) felt rushed were unsatisfactory, and could have been better explored if there were additional episodes.

8 Ozark (2017-2022)

Season 4

The crime thriller Ozark follows Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), a financial advisor and money launderer for the Mexican cartel as he drags his family into a life of crime and violence. The Byrde family quickly becomes entangled with the local criminals and mafia while also hiding their crimes from the FBI. Unfortunately, Ozark's fast-paced and thrilling storyline overpowered the character growth and resulted in a lack of depth to the characters.

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite TV Shows My Watchlist Success! 7.7/10 Ozark Ozark is a drama-thriller that follows the Byrde family’s journey from their everyday, suburban Chicago life to their dangerous criminal enterprise in the Ozarks, Missouri. When financial advisor Marty Byrde sees a money-laundering scheme for a prolific Mexican drug cartel go wrong, he is forced to launder $500 million in five years to keep himself and his family safe. The series explores capitalism, family dynamics, and survival through the eyes of (anything but) ordinary Americans. Release Date July 21, 2017 Cast Julia Garner , Katrina Lenk , Damian Young , Felix Solis , Joseph Sikora , Sofia Hublitz , John Bedford Lloyd , Charlie Tahan , Jessica Frances Dukes , Ali Stroker , Lisa Emery , Adam Rothenberg , Laura Linney , Skylar Gaertner , CC Castillo , Jason Bateman , Bruno Bichir , Alfonso Herrera Writers Bill Dubuque Streaming Service(s) Netflix Expand

In Ozark season 4, the character's motivations and goals rapidly changed without the show displaying or providing reasons for what caused the drastic change. Marty and Wendy's (Laura Linney) son Jonah's (Skylar Gaertner) sudden decision to murder to protect the family in the series finale, despite his anger and disillusionment toward his mother. The uninspired plot twist didn't make sense and erased the character's personality, growth, and motivations. Additional episodes for Ozark's final season could have explored and provided depth to the character's allegiances and explained the seemingly random decisions the characters made.

7 Dexter (2006-2013)

Season 8

Dexter has one of the most controversial endings to a long-running and popular TV show. The dark crime drama series follows Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a sociopathic forensic analyst who lives a double life as a serial killer vigilante, hunting down those who manage to escape justice for their crimes.

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite TV Shows My Watchlist Success! 8/10 37 8.9/10 Dexter Based on the character created by author Jeff Lindsay, Showtime's Dexter follows Miami Metro Police Department's most skilled blood spatter analyst, Dexter Morgan, as he attempts to satisfy his Dark Passenger's need to kill by hunting down criminals who have escaped justice. However, using the rules his adoptive father taught him to remain undiscovered, Dexter must walk the fine line of seemingly blending into society while continuously feeding his dark urges. Dexter faces several serial killers as his facade slowly crumbles around him; with every problem solved by his Dark Passenger, another one arises for his suburban fatherly life. When Dexter takes things personally or feels that the law is failing, he takes matters into his own hands and even compromises the investigations of his co-workers. Dexter aired on Showtime for eight seasons before receiving a mini-sequel series called Dexter: New Blood, which picked up ten years after the show's events. You can buy each season for just $9.99 for Prime Day. Release Date October 31, 2010 Finale Year November 30, 2012 Network Showtime , CBS Cast David Zayas , Jennifer Carpenter , Desmond Harrington , Julie Benz Michael C. Hall , Lauren Velez , C. S. Lee , James Remar

Filled with twists and turns, the critically acclaimed show garnered a dedicated fan base. Unfortunately, Dexter's final season did not live up to the hype and there was a significant drop in quality compared to the early seasons.

Dexter season 8 introduced several new storylines and characters and had poor pacing, distracting from the show's central focus.

It was hard to get invested in new characters and unnecessary storylines, and the controversial series finale did not conclude Dexter's journey throughout the seasons in a satisfactory way. While additional episodes cannot fix the lackluster series finale, it could make the beloved show's final season more coherent and take a deeper dive into Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) and her dynamic with Dexter, and Dexter's character growth.

6 True Blood (2008-2014)

Season 7

The dark fantasy horror series True Blood is set in a fictional rural town in Louisiana in a world where the creation of synthetic blood allows vampires to expose themselves to humans. True Blood follows Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress whose life takes a sudden turn after she falls in love with a vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) and begins entangled with the supernatural world. The unique award-winning horror show won over audiences with its incredible character dynamics, intriguing plotlines, and romances. However, True Blood faces a sharp decline in quality over the seasons.

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite TV Shows My Watchlist Success! 6/10 6.8/10 true blood True Blood is a horror/fantasy drama series created by Alan Ball and starring Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, and Alexander Skarsgård. The series follows the life of Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress with telepathic powers that lives in a fictional town in Louisiana. In this town, a new synthetic "drug" has allowed vampires to escape their coffins and roam amongst the living. Release Date September 7, 2008 Network HBO Max Cast Ryan Kwanten , Kristin Bauer van Straten , Sam Trammell , Alexander Skarsgard , Stephen Moyer , Rutina Wesley , Anna Paquin , Chris Bauer Writers Raelle Tucker , charlaine harris , Brian Buckner , Alan Ball , Alexander Woo

However, the final season of True Blood saw the death of several beloved characters and ended with the main character Sookie ending up with an unknown man. True Blood season 7, the final episode in particular, was rushed and filled with several plotlines that didn't leave time for coherent character arcs. While the criticisms against the final season can't be erased with additional episodes, they could have provided more depth for the characters, making the series' ending more consistent and better quality.

5 The 100 (2014-2020)

Season 7

The 100 is a post-apocalyptic science fiction series set in the future following survivors of a nuclear apocalypse as they return to Earth from a space settlement. Thrust into a new and unfamiliar world, the show follows a group of juvenile delinquents led by Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor) as the first people to be sent back to Earth. While the initial seasons follow the characters as they attempt to survive on Earth, the later seasons of The 100 saw a drastic change as the characters reentered space and began inhibiting a new world.

Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 star 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star 0/10 Leave a Review Your changes have been saved My List My Favorite TV Shows My Watchlist Success! 7/10 8.7/10 The 100 The 100 is a sci-fi post-apocalyptic TV series set ninety-seven years after a nuclear war has destroyed civilization. When a spaceship housing humanity's lone survivors send one hundred juvenile delinquents back to Earth in hopes of possibly re-populating the planet, they discover that Earth is still inhabited. Now constantly in a state of power flux with warring clans, cannibals, and mountain-dwellers, the juveniles must attempt to survive while re-establishing contact with the Ark. Release Date March 19, 2014 Network The CW Cast Devon Bostick , Christopher Larkin , Marie Avgeropoulos , Sachin Sahel , Richard Harmon , Chelsey Reist , Henry Ian Cusick , Bob Morley , Jarod Joseph , Paige Turco , Adina Porter , Ricky Whittle , Eliza Taylor , Isaiah Washington , Lindsey Morgan , Tasya Teles Writers Jason Rothenberg , Mallory Kass Expand

The 100 season 7 completely abandoned the thrilling and complex political and survival themes that made the show stand out and ruined several characters' growth and development. While factors making The 100's final season a terrible one, such as Bellamy Blake's (Bob Morley) sudden betrayal and death can't be fixed with more episodes, exploring his character's development might have made the decision less nonsensical. In addition, additional episodes could have eased viewers into the show's tonal shift instead of it being a jarring change.

4 Lost (2004-2010)

Season 6

The long-running and intriguing sci-fi supernatural series Lost garnered a dedicated and invested fan base with its mysterious plot. Lost follows a group of airplane crash survivors who find that The Island they are stranded on is filled with mysterious and terrifying creatures. With years of buildup throughout the seasons, it's not surprising that Lost's final season was controversial.

While Lost's ending made a valiant effort to wrap up the show in a satisfying and coherent end, the introduction of "flash-sideways" took away from the central mystery and storyline and didn't have a payoff worthy of the time invested in it. If the complex show had gotten additional episodes, Lost could have better addressed the unanswered questions and plot holes and provided a satisfactory conclusion to character arcs. Most importantly, Lost season 6 having additional episodes could have provided further insight into The Island's mythology.

3 Sherlock (2010-2017)

Season 3

Sherlock is a British mystery crime drama series based on the iconic Sherlock Holmes stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The series had a large and passionate fan base heavily invested in the series that was disappointed by the convoluted mess that was Sherlock season 4. While Sherlock has major flaws, the final season highlighted and exacerbated the preexisting issues, making it one of the most controversial conclusions to a TV show.

With three episodes per season from the start, Sherlock had notoriously short and compact seasons. However, this proved to be a fatal flaw as the show's final season introduction as the main villain came too late and was a plot twist that prioritized shock over a coherent and compelling narrative structure. Additional episodes could have introduced the main villain Eurus Holmes (Sian Brooke) earlier, increasing her screen time and helping cement her as a formidable villain, along with adding hints about Sherlock's connection to her.

2 The Umbrella Academy (2019-2024)

Season 4

The Umbrella Academy is a superhero drama show following a dysfunctional superpowered family who reunite after their father's sudden death and stumble through attempting to stop the impending world-ending apocalypse. Throughout the series, the time travel and apocalypse storylines risked becoming convoluted and repetitive, however, the lovable characters and the complex family dynamics kept the show engaging. Unfortunately, the final season of The Umbrella Academy ruined that element with beloved characters making their out-of-character choices and adding unnecessary romance subplots and drama.

The Umbrella Academy season 4 being shortened to six episodes instead of the usual ten made it difficult to wrap up the ensemble show's character arcs. The deleted scenes from The Umbrella Academy season 4 added much-needed sibling interactions and character development to the show. The short deleted scenes provide important depth to the characters and additional episodes could have made the frantic pace of the final episodes coherent with the character's growth.

1 Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)

Season 8

Game of Thrones has now become synonymous with an incredible TV show that was ruined by a terrible final season. Game of Thrones' final season was a rushed and virtually incomprehensible mess, with important character developments and arcs being resolved in a disappointing manner that ruined the character growth throughout the series. Even when characters made heinous decisions, the complex character-building done throughout the show made the decisions make sense.

Game of Thrones season 8 ruined that character-building for the sake of a cheap plot twist. While Daenerys Targaryen's (Emilia Clarke) sudden and inexplicable descent into madness is hard to justify, additional episodes could have provided better character motivations that explained the events of the final episode. Criticized for having a rushed final season, Game of Thrones' ending could have been better justified with additional episodes dedicated to explaining the narrative and character decisions instead of having abrupt and jarring twists that ruined the show.