Worst Television Finales

“The Mist” — based on the work of Stephen King — ran for just one 10-episode season before it was canceled by its network Spike. The show’s finale matched its lackluster run, being described by TV critic Vinnie Mancuso as “jarringly nonsensical.”

British writer and actor Stephen Merchant’s comedy series “Hello Ladies” ran on HBO from 2013 to 2014, concluding with a second season that consisted of a single feature-length special. But the sentimental finale failed to connect with fans of the show.

Swedish detective drama “Wallander” was released as three seasons of feature-length films. The series was popular enough to inspire an adaptation for British television. The series’ final film has only managed to generate a 6.4/10 rating, however, compared with the overall series’ 7.6/10.

Like “The Mist,” “Under the Dome” is based on the work of Stephen King. Unlike “The Mist,” “Under the Dome” was a big success upon initial release. Viewership gradually dropped, however, and the series was canceled after three seasons. The show failed to go out on a high note, with critic Matt Fowler describing the final episode, “The Enemy Within,” as “a horrid episode filled with utter nonsense and awful dialogue.”

Hospital-based comedy “Scrubs” ran for an impressive nine seasons before being canceled. The show’s final season — and final episode — didn’t sit especially well with long-term fans, as the ninth season shifted focus from familiar cast to a host of new faces. While the series’ last episode has a rating of only 6.3 on IMDb, the final episode of the eighth season — titled “My Finale” — has a 9.8 rating.

“The Good Wife” won five Emmy awards and a Golden Globe over its seven seasons run. Yet the series’ final moments — which consisted of one major character slapping another across the face — left many fans unhappy. In a 2016 interview with “Variety,” the show’s creators Michelle and Robert King defended the ending, yet acknowledged that they “knew fans, a lot of fans, would be upset.”

Lena Dunham’s original and oftentimes controversial HBO series “Girls” seemed to have produced an acceptable finale with the ninth episode of its final season, titled “Goodbye Tour.” However, one more episode was released at the urging of executive producer Judd Apatow. Featuring just two of the show’s main characters, many felt the episode unnecessary and tacked on.

“How I Met Your Mother” was an undoubtedly popular series, running for nine seasons with a current overall rating of 8.3 out of 10 on IMDb. Many viewers felt the show’s writers dropped the ball when it came to the final episode, however. Fans went so far as to create a petition on Change.org, requesting a new ending. The petition acquired more than 5,000 signatures.

“Star Trek: Enterprise” is the sixth series in the Star Trek franchise, and the last prior to J.J. Abram’s 2009 cinematic return to the sci-fi property. The series was well-received prior to its final episode, which featured a tie-in with “The Next Generation.” Even series creator Brannon Braga later admitted to regretting the finale at a Star Trek Las Vegas Convention. “It didn’t work out so well,” he recounted.

Vampire-drama “True Blood” ran for seven seasons on HBO, during which time it won a Golden Globe and an Emmy. The show seemed to be running on fumes by the end of its tenure, with TV critic Carrie Raisler finding the finale forced, “silly,” and — worst of all — “boring.”

Showtime’s serial killer series “Dexter” is generally well regarded, with more than 590,000 IMDb users giving it a combined rating of 8.7/10. By the end of season 8, the show seemed to have lost much of its spark. Referencing the finale on Den of Geek, reviewer Nick Harley stated, “the series didn’t conclude so much as it just shrugged and kind of gave up.”

CBS sitcom “Two and a Half Men” ran for a notable 12 seasons, over which time multiple prominent actors — including Charlie Sheen and Angus T. Jones — left the show. The show’s bizarre finale, which featured everything from 3D animation to a “Silence of the Lambs” homage, indicated that it was finally time for the show’s cast and crew to pack it in.

Political thriller “House of Cards” was a huge critical success throughout most of its six seasons run, during which time it won seven Emmys and two Golden Globes. Following allegations of sexual misconduct against Kevin Spacey, Netflix fired the star and announced that it would cancel the show following its sixth season. While the entire final season was poorly received, the final episode hit a new low, receiving an abysmal 2.7/10 rating on IMDb.