TVSquad

This guy Stewart at the Phoenix always has odd lists. I mean, he says it's an article about SEASON finales and then he goes and lists last episodes? Whatever. Going by his rules, I'd pick:

Star Trek: TNG, when Picard is kidnapped by the Borg.

Newhart's last episode.

Alias: Syd wakes up in a foreign country and she finds out two years have passed and Vaughn is married.

Ross' wedding on Friends.

West Wing: "Two Cathedrals"

Magnum P.I.'s season 7 "Limbo": Magnum dies

The X-Files: several, actually.

Reply

NCIS, Season Two - Kate Todd takes a bullet to the head. Fans hoped it was only a dream.

Reply

Gah...no, that would have been a horrible ending for Magnum! It had many serious moments in the show's run, but having it end with Magnum's death would have been pointless.

Reply

The season finales from Alias in seasons 1,2, and 4:

Season 1: "Vaughn, it's bigger than I thought."
Season 2: "You've been missing for almost 2 years."
Season 4: "For starters, my name isn't Michael Vaughn."

Reply

I liked the recent finale of "Crossing Jordan" this past sunday. It was amazing, and the writing was wonderful. It guest stared Whoopie Golburg. I couldn't believe it was the last episode until the fall. I will be sure to watch the season premire this coming September. If you want a tape of the show, you can contact NBC at www.nbc.com.

Reply

The West Wing: Season 1 - What kind of Day Has It Been
"I saw something!"

The West Wing: Season 2 - Two Cathedrals
I won't deny it, I'm a Dire Straits fan and I thought the use of Brothers in Arms at the end was just perfect.

Those episodes remind me why I think that television can be and increasingly is better than anything you get in the cinema. The only other times I've watched something and shivers of excitement, awe, whatever, have run down my spine has been that episode, the Alias pilot, the Lost pilot and the ER pilot. In the case of ER it was because it was the first drama I'd seen that was just perfect right from the beginning, was so different from anything else, was of a quality production-wise that would rival any hollywood production.

Reply

the oc season 2 finale. so much happened in that episode, and it was when the show was still good and unpredictable

veronica mars season 1 finale. great ending to an awesome season and tied up pretty much all loose ends. could have been a fitting end to the series if it hadnt been renewed. im betting tomorrow's season 2 finale will be just as good, maybe better.

Reply

ummm, charlie, that was law and order whoopi was on, but I will agree that last nights crossing jordan was very good.

Reply

Without a doubt, STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, Season 3 "The Best of Both Worlds, Part One." Not only did it have me on the edge of my proverbial seat, but in retrospect it was the maturing point of the series. It was clear at that point that THIS version of Trek was pretty damned good.

The swell of the music gives me chills even now....and Riker turns to the viewscreen with one word..."Fire!"

Dah-dah-dah! Dah-dah-dah! "To be continued...."

I worked at the station that aired STNG and later that fall we massaged the schedule in order to re-air the season finale immediately before the season premiere.

During the end credits of part one, we ran a voice over announcing that the station "would be signing off at this time for necessary transmitter maintenance....just kidding, stay tuned for the season premiere of star Trek: The Next Generation!"

Boy, did we get calls. But every single viewer who called in loved the gag. They were ready to throw a brick through their TV screen for a moment, but loved us for understanding their passion.

I just wish part two could have lived up to part one.

Good times....

Reply

Totally agree with Tommy - the Veronica Mars Season 1 finale was insane good. I just could not believe how much they resolved in less than one hour. My adrenaline was going and my heart was in my throat. Just great television, and I'm hoping tomorrow night's finale will hold up to that standard of pure storytelling magic.

I also think the Boston Phoenix was right about the Season 5 Buffy finale. As a total college fangirl, I could not believe that they would let the season end that way. Absolutely shocked when I watched it, calling everyone I knew in hysterics.

For a finale that no one else has listed, I've got to say the Farscape Season Two closer was pretty insane. Aeryn's dead and Crichton's on the operating table with his brain exposed to his nemesis, Scorpius. Ack!

And the Battlestar Galactica finale a couple months ago was pretty wicked as well.

Reply

BattleStar Season 2 I hope it was a dream but I know its not. I had a sick feeling in my stomach watching the Cylon walk through.

Reply

I think the upcoming Season FInale of LOST... because then at least they will tell us when we can expect a new episode.

Reply

Easily, my favorite season finale is season two of Buffy. Am I a pussy for admitting that I've seen it like five times and it still makes me cry? Buffy triumphs, but the victory leaves her completely emotionally shattered. That can only happen if the showrunners spend the entire season working on building the characters to bring them to that point.

Reply

This show I watched on PBS and my heart pounded for hours after the last BBC sci-fi episode of "Blake's Seven". Avon killed Blake and straddled his body as he was surrounded by Federation Troopers, raised his gun, the screen went to black and then you heard gunfire. Really stayed with me for a long time.

Reply

Have to agree with Bob re: Star Trek Next Gen where Picard is assimilated. For me, that's the classic "What?! OMG, no!!!" finale that makes me hate the rest of the summer.

Reply

Buffy definitely had some of the strongest season finales; Season 2 and 5 finales were my favorites, i think... and I'd be lying if the Series Finale didn't blow me away)

Reply

I have to agree that alias's Season finales are just genius. Specially Seasons 1,2 and 4

S1. "I have waited almost tirthy years for this"
"¿Mom?"

S2. "Syd. Since that night, you've missing for almost two years"

S4. "Vaughn, what are you telling me?"
"For starters my name insn't michael vaughn"


and of course i have to add, season finales 1 and 2 of "24"

S1. Teri Dying in Jack's Arms
S2. PResident Palmer being atacked by a deathful handshake

Loved them!

Reply

Oh, and I completely forgot! Every single season finale of The Shield (season four possibly excepted), especially seasons 1, 3 and 5, all of which left me depressed for a couple days afterward.

Reply

The season finale where Susan dies (!!!) on Seinfeld. That may have been one of my first real 'WTF?!' moments. I loved it. And then they come back the next season with moustaches. Brilliant.

Reply