7 TV Shows That Ended At The Height Of Their Popularity
Summary TV shows like Better Call Saul and Fleabag ended at their peak to give their characters a fitting conclusion.
Series like Game of Thrones and Parks and Recreation faced audience mixed reactions as they concluded.
Succession and Sex Education made impactful decisions to wrap up their stories, despite being loved by fans.
Although every TV show eventually ended, some went off the air at the height of their popularity. Because of the format, TV show stories can be expanded upon and dragged out in ways that movies or books simply cannot. TV shows vary in length, ranging between mini or limited series of just a few episodes, such as the recent Baby Reindeer, and long-running TV shows with more than ten seasons, like Supernatural or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. However, some outstayed their welcome, with audiences noting that some TV shows went on one season too long.
A show coming to an end wasn’t necessarily a negative thing, however. Several TV shows ended at the right time, perfectly gauging when their storylines and characters deserved a fitting conclusion. Regardless of the timing or the reason behind their end, such as cancellation or creative differences behind the scenes, multiple TV shows were taken off the air just as they reached their peak or were in the depths of success.
Relevant TV Show Air Dates Final Season Better Call Saul 2015–2022 Season 6 Game of Thrones 2011–2019 Season 8 Succession 2018–2023 Season 4 Sex Education 2019–2023 Season 4 Parks And Recreation 2009–2015 Season 7 BoJack Horseman 2014–2020 Season 6 Fleabag 2016–2019 Season 2
7 Better Call Saul
2015–2022
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buy Not available Not available Not available Set in times before, during, and after Breaking Bad, the AMC crime drama spinoff follows the trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Saul Goodman (Odenkirk) as he looks to make a name for himself at his firm located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The show digs deeper into the events that crafted Saul and the repercussions of his actions. Cast Bob Odenkirk , Rhea Seehorn , Jonathan Banks , Patrick Fabian , Michael Mando , Giancarlo Esposito Release Date February 8, 2015 Seasons 6
Better Call Saul, the spinoff of the hit TV show Breaking Bad, was highly anticipated by audiences upon its initial release in 2015. Better Call Saul served as a prequel to the parent show and followed the ethical decline of disgraced attorney Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) in the years before he became Saul Goodman. The show did a fantastic job of delving further into Goodman's characterization. It developed a rich backstory, inviting audiences to get to know him before he became the man they knew from Breaking Bad.
Better Call Saul ran for six seasons, one longer than Breaking Bad, but the prequel gave so many exciting and new details that it gave audiences even more context about the show’s universe and the lives of its characters.
Although it was a prequel, Better Call Saul saw the return of several Breaking Bad characters, such as Walter White (Bryan Cranston), Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), Gustavo Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) and Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks). Better Call Saul ran for six seasons, one longer than Breaking Bad, but the prequel gave so many exciting and new details that it gave audiences even more context about the show’s universe and the lives of its characters. Better Call Saul received critical acclaim and was rated exceptionally high on Rotten Tomatoes, with season 1 at 97% and the final three seasons at 99%.
Better Call Saul Season Rotten Tomatoes Rating Season 1 - 2015 97% Season 2 - 2016 97% Season 3 - 2017 98% Season 4 - 2018 99% Season 5 - 2020 99% Season 6 - 2022 99%
6 Game Of Thrones
2011–2019
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buy Not available Not available Not available Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones is a TV series based on the book “A Song of Ice of Fire” by George R. R. Martin. It tells the story of the ongoing battle between the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros - as they fight for control of the coveted Iron Throne. Friction between the houses leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the far north. Amidst the war, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night's Watch, led by House Stark's Jon Snow, is the first to encounter icy horrors that threaten all realms of men. The series premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011, and quickly became one of the biggest event series in the "Golden Age" of TV. Winner of 38 Primetime Emmy Awards, Game of Thrones has attracted record viewership on HBO and has a broad, active, international fan base. Cast Emilia Clarke , Lena Headey , Richard Madden , Michelle Fairley , Kit Harington , Maisie Williams , Alfie Allen , Peter Dinklage Release Date April 11, 2011 Seasons 8
As Game of Thrones approached its final season, it faced enormous pressure to appease long-time fans of the show and George R. R. Martin’s books. It was only until season 5 that the production was able to adapt the novels, and from season 6 onward, they used a combination of information from Martin, outlines of the future books, and original content. Although audience reactions to Game of Thrones season 8 were very mixed, there was a lot of hype for it before airing. Game of Thrones became one of the biggest TV shows ever and developed a large cult following.
The creators made this decision so the show wouldn’t outstay its welcome, which made sense, especially as many considered Game of Thrones a TV show that went on one season too long.
Many were eager to see who would ascend the Iron Throne in its climax, as it would wrap the show up nicely, but also because fans of the books would discover the characters’ fates before the release of the final book, A Dream of Spring. Although HBO and Martin wanted to continue, the show’s creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, decided to end Game of Thrones early. The creators made this decision so the show wouldn’t outstay its welcome, which made sense, especially as many considered Game of Thrones a TV show that went on one season too long.
Game of Thrones Season Rotten Tomatoes Rating Season 1 - 2011 90% Season 2 - 2012 96% Season 3 - 2013 96% Season 4 - 2014 100% Season 5 - 2015 97% Season 6 - 2016 94% Season 7 - 2017 93% Season 8 - 2019 55%
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5 Succession
2018–2023
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buy Not available Not available Not available Succession is a Black Comedy and Satire television show created by Jesse Armstrong. It stars Hiam Abbass, Nicholas Braun, Brian Cox, and Kieran Culkin and follows the story of an aging conglomerate owner as he deals with his declining health and the sudden realization that one of his children will soon inherit his position and run his company. Cast Hiam Abbass , Alan Ruck , Sarah Snook , Kieran Culkin , Natalie Gold , Nicholas Braun , J. Smith-Cameron , Matthew Macfadyen , Peter Friedman , Brian Cox , Arian Moayed , Jeremy Strong , Rob Yang , Dagmara Dominczyk Release Date June 3, 2018 Seasons 4
Despite only running for a total of four seasons, Succession quickly became an audience favorite and was praised for its tense storylines and brutal, sharp-tongued characters. Succession kept audiences on the edge of their seats as they followed the individual journeys of members of the Roy family, led by patriarch and Waystar founder Logan (Brian Cox). Succession’s engaging themes included a lot of social commentary, focusing on corporate greed, manipulation of the press, and class ranking, with each of the Roy children proving the many ways they did and didn’t deserve to succeed Logan.
Showrunner Jesse Armstrong explained that he wanted the ending to be “a bit more muscular and complete, and [to] go out sort of strong,” and had dwelled on how long Succession would be for a long time.
Succession’s ending aired in 2023, and the final season was packed full of drama, including the presidential election, the fallout of Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) and Shiv’s (Sarah Snook) relationship, and Logan's sudden death, which left his family in shock and the future of Waystar unclear. Showrunner Jesse Armstrong explained that he wanted the ending to be “a bit more muscular and complete, and [to] go out sort of strong,” and had dwelled on how long Succession would be for a long time. Although many would have loved the show to continue, finishing Succession with season 4 still made an impact.
Succession Season Rotten Tomatoes Rating Season 1 - 2018 89% Season 2 - 2019 97% Season 3 - 2021 97% Season 4 - 2023 97%
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4 Sex Education
2019–2023
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buy Not available Not available Not available Sex Education is a comedic-drama series that follows various students, parents, and staff of Moordale Secondary School and their awkward sexual dilemmas. The series primarily focuses on student Otis Milburn with a dour outlook on sex due to his mother's occupation as a sex therapist who has several affairs with zero attachments. Seeing an opportunity to capitalize on his second-hand knowledge and ambivalence to sex, Otis and his friend Eric set up an in-school clinic to advise other students with sexual issues. This clinic becomes compromised when Otis begins to have feelings for one of his clients. Cast Gillian Anderson , Ncuti Gatwa , Tanya Reynolds , Aimee Lou Wood , Alistair Petrie , Kedar Williams-Stirling , Connor Swindells , Asa Butterfield , Emma Mackey , Patricia Allison Release Date January 11, 2019 Seasons 3
Sex Education was a groundbreaking TV show with a new and exciting twist on the typical teenage drama. The comedic take on young people discovering their sexuality was a brilliant example of LGBTQ+ representation in TV and, overall, a delightful and realistic interpretation of growing up. Sex Education was known for its unique visual style, set in the present day, yet appearing as if it were at some point in the 1980s. The Sex Education cast was solid, and the show helped launch the highly established careers of Ncuti Gatwa, who played Eric, and Emma Wiley, who played Maeve.
Sex Education season 3 received the highest rating of any other, earning a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Sex Education season 4 expanded its cast and introduced an array of even more diverse characters to the show, including Felix Mufti as Roman and Anthony Lexa as Abbi, two trans individuals. Sex Education season 3 received the highest rating of any other, earning a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences were keen to tune in for season 4 and see how the characters’ respective storylines would be wrapped up. Showrunner Laurie Nunn stated that the right time to end Sex Education was with season 4 because the actors were aging and couldn’t continue playing teenagers, which made sense.
Sex Education Season Rotten Tomatoes Rating Season 1 - 2019 91% Season 2 - 2020 98% Season 3 - 2021 98% Season 4 - 2023 91%
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3 Parks And Recreation
2009–2015
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buy Not available Not available Not available This political sitcom full of humor and heart follows the adventures of Leslie Knope, deputy director of the Parks Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Every week holds a new crisis of small-town politics, but Leslie and her friends work tirelessly to make Pawnee — and the world — a better place. Cast Amy Poehler , Nick Offerman , Chris Pratt2 , Aubrey Plaza , Adam Scott , Rashida Jones , Retta , Jim O'Heir , Aziz Ansari , Rob Lowe Release Date April 9, 2009 Seasons 7
Although Parks and Recreation initially stumbled, it quickly found its feet, and by its ending, it stood out as one of the best sitcoms of all time. Parks and Recreation was praised for its hilarious ensemble cast, including Amy Poehler as the eccentric Leslie Knope, Rashida Jones as Nurse Ann, and Nick Offerman as Parks Department Director Ron Swanson. Parks and Recreation ran for seven seasons and ended in 2015, saying goodbye to the town of Pawnee, Indiana, and Leslie’s crew of dedicated civil servants. Most of the show’s popularity was due to its creators, Greg Daniels and Michael Schur.
Although audiences offered mixed responses on season 7, with many disliking the time jump, seeing the hilarious show end was still disappointing.
The pair were behind several other successful sitcoms that were airing simultaneously, such as The Office and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, encouraging audiences to check out Parks and Recreation. Season 1 only received a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 68%, whereas season 6 was 96%. Although audiences offered mixed responses on season 7, with many disliking the time jump, seeing the hilarious show end was still disappointing. Parks and Recreation finished with season 7, and in a 2014 interview with EW, Schur explained that he and Poehler pitched NBC the ending as they knew how they wanted to wrap things up (via EW).
Parks and Recreation Season Rotten Tomatoes Rating Season 1 - 2009 68% Season 2 - 2009 96% Season 3 - 2011 100% Season 4 - 2011 100% Season 5 - 2012 96% Season 6 - 2013 96% Season 7 - 2015 89%
2 BoJack Horseman
2014–2020
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buy Not available Not available Not available Once the famous star of a hit sitcom, BoJack Horseman has fallen on tough times. Stuck in a major career slump and longing to relive his glory days, BoJack attempts to once more become relevant in an industry that has long since turned its back on him. With a few dysfunctional friends at his side, BoJack begins his long-overdue career comeback. Cast Amy Sedaris , Will Arnett , Alison Brie , Aaron Paul , Paul F. Tompkins Release Date August 22, 2014 Seasons 6
BoJack Horseman was another show that took some time to grow. The show had a star-studded voice cast, including Will Arnett as the titular character, Alison Brie as Diane, Aaron Paul as Todd, and Amy Sedaris as Princess Carolyn. BoJack Horseman was praised for its use of dark comedy and for reflecting on the topics of mental health and the pressures of stardom. What made these themes even better was that because of the show’s visual style, with many of its characters being various animals, the deeper topics BoJack Horseman discussed were even more jarring and unexpected, yet impactful.
Season 1 earned a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but as audiences got to know Bojack and understood his dark past even more, they became hooked on the show.
Season 1 earned a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but as audiences got to know Bojack and understood his dark past even more, they became hooked on the show. The show’s final season aired in 2019 and received a rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, gaining praise for how it brought Bojack and Diane’s stories to a close, specifically. Creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg spoke about the show’s end in an interview with Vulture, explaining that although he wrote every season finale with the potential for its return, Netflix decided that season 6 would be the last of Bojack Horseman (via Vulture).
Bojack Horseman Season Rotten Tomatoes Rating Season 1 - 2014 71% Season 2 - 2015 100% Season 3 - 2016 100% Season 4 - 2017 97% Season 5 - 2018 98% Season 6 - 2019 96%
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1 Fleabag
2016–2019
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buy Not available Not available Not available Created by and starring Pheobe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag follows its titular main character through her life in modern-day London. After the death of her best friend and the imminent demise of their joint business venture, the show deals with Fleabag's grief over the loss, her struggle to maintain the business, and her complicated relationships with her immediate family. The show is known for its use of the fourth-wall break and is based on Waller-Bridge's award-winning one-woman show which debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013. Cast Phoebe Waller-Bridge , Sian Clifford , Andrew Scott , Brett Gelman Release Date June 21, 2016 Seasons 2
The hit British TV show Flebag, based on Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s one-woman show of the same name, only released two seasons. Waller-Bridge portrayed the titular character and engaged audiences by frequently breaking the fourth wall with her witty remarks, which made it easy to fall in love with her. Season 2 famously cast Andrew Scott as the Priest, and some of their emotional conversations in Fleabag became instant, quotable classics. Fleabag was one of the very few shows ever to receive a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating across all seasons, and even though there were only two, it was well deserved.
This proved just how much of a success the show had become in such a short time.
Fleabag received an outstanding 11 Emmy nominations for season 1 and won six, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for Waller-Bridge in the pilot. This proved just how much of a success the show had become in such a short time. While it seemed odd that Fleabag would end at its peak, Waller-Bridge decided this because she felt her character’s story was complete. However, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Fleabag creator mentioned that she’d be interested in reviving the character in a few decades (via The Hollywood Reporter).
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