By
Liam Gaughan
Published Feb 22, 2026, 9:18 PM EST
Liam Gaughan is a film and TV writer at Collider. He has been writing film reviews and news coverage for ten years. Between relentlessly adding new titles to his watchlist and attending as many screenings as he can, Liam is always watching new movies and television shows.
In addition to reviewing, writing, and commentating on both new and old releases, Liam has interviewed talent such as Mark Wahlberg, Jesse Plemons, Sam Mendes, Billy Eichner, Dylan O'Brien, Luke Wilson, and B.J. Novak. Liam aims to get his spec scripts produced and currently writes short films and stage plays. He lives in Allentown, PA.
Sign in to your Collider account
Add Us On
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
The following article contains spoilers.Ending a television show comes with a tremendous amount of expectation because loyal viewers want to ensure that their time has been rewarded. While a comedy show may only have situational scenarios in which the narrative development doesn't lead towards a dramatic finale, drama shows can be judged based on whether they are perceived to have a satisfying finale. There’s no better example of this than Game of Thrones; although it was once considered to be one of the best drama shows of all time, it now has a more mixed legacy as a result of its terrible last episode.
The pressure to be successful has grown stronger in the last decade because of the obsessive relationships viewers have with their favorite shows within the streaming era. Here are the best drama television finales of the last ten years, ranked.
10 "Prisoners of War" (Season 8, Episode 12)
'Homeland' (2011–2020)
Carrie looking angry while talking to someone in Homeland.Image via Showtime
Homeland was an uneven series that managed to pull off a great finale with “Prisoners of War” because it ended in a realistic way. It was never possible for Carrie (Claire Danes) to completely escape from her responsibilities to protect the United States from terrorist threats, but “Prisoners of War” at least put a solid finish to her relationship with Saul (Many Patinkin), a character who was her ally, mentor, and occasionally adversary.
“Prisoners of War” was a cleverly named title because it’s shared with the original Israeli television series that inspired Homeland. Although “Prisoners of War” indicated that one chapter of Carrie’s story had come to an end, there’s always the possibility that the series could have a revival, especially given that it has seen a surge in popularity after being made to stream on Netflix, which resulted in a significant uptick in viewership.
9 "Lock and Key" (Season 6, Episode 6)
'Peaky Blinders' (2013–2022)
Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders leaning against a dresserEverett Collection
Peaky Blinders is one of the most satisfying British crime dramas because it was a rare show that seemed to get better with each season. While it began as an underrated BBC series with a niche viewership, Peaky Blinders became a phenomenon when it became available internationally on Netflix, and managed to make an icon out of Cillian Murphy’s Thomas Shelby.
Peaky Blinders ended perfectly with “Lock and Key” because it resolved the succession of the Shelby family and provided a satisfying end to each of the characters, including a clever last-minute twist involving Thomas’ destiny. While it was as great a conclusion as any loyal fan of the show could have asked for, it's not the ultimate ending, as Murphy and most of the original cast are returning for the spinoff film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man on Netflix.
8 "Jedha, Kyber, Erso" (Season 2, Episode 12)
'Andor' (2022–2025)
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor looking behind in 'Andor' Season 1.Image via Disney+
Andor is the best piece of Star Wars storytelling since Return of the Jedi, and the series ended on a perfect note that beautifully set up the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, in which Cassian (Diego Luna) sacrifices himself to ensure that the Rebel Alliance gains access to the Death Star plans. While grounded within the mythology of Star Wars, Andor was praised for its timely parallels to real-world politics.
Andor ended on the appropriately bittersweet note, as it was always going to be somewhat depressing that Cassian would not live to see the Empire fall to its knees. However, the twist that Bix (Adria Arjona) was pregnant with his child was an emotional way to signify that his heritage of heroism would continue well into the future, and that the name “Andor” would be remembered throughout galactic history.
7 "Green Queen" (Season 1, Episode 10)
'The Curse' (2023–2024)
Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone in 'The Curse' on ShowtimeImage via Showtime
The Curse is one of the weirdest shows of all time because it combined the awkward, psychologically unnerving black comedy of Nathan Fielder with the relentless thrills of Benny Safdie. Although The Curse was a series that hinted at supernatural elements as a conflict that emerged between the white characters and the people of color whom they try to “save,” the finale, “Green Queen,” takes a surprising twist by including something completely fantastical.
The Curse’s ability to take a hard slant into the inexplicable was a daring choice that resulted in an ending that left viewers scratching their heads in a way television hadn’t seen since the ending of The Sopranos. Perhaps the greatest surprise is that Fielder, a comedian at heart, was capable of giving a profound, dramatic performance and proved himself worthy of sharing the screen with Emma Stone.
6 "The Book of Nora" (Season 3, Episode 8)
'The Leftovers' (2014–2017)
Justin Theroux as older Kevin Garvey and Carrie Coon as older Nora Durst slow-dancing at a wedding in the series finale of The LeftoversImage via HBO
The Leftovers is the best show that Damon Lindelof has ever written, and in many ways makes up for some of the mistakes that were made on Lost regarding plot contrivances. The Leftovers may have started as an HBO show that was almost too bleak for its own good, but it evolved into a surprisingly thoughtful, moving expose on the way that people respond to the unexplained facets of life.
The Leftovers dropped any semblance of spectacle in its finale by reverting to focus singularly on the relationship between Nora (Carrie Coon) and Kevin (Justin Theroux), whose romance had been the guiding light of the series. Whether the story that is told within the final monologue should be believed is a debate that fans of The Leftovers still have, which is only further proof that the finale has a lasting power.
5 "START" (Season 6, Episode 10)
'The Americans' (2013–2018)
Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys in The Americans Season 6, Episode 10, "START" (2018).Image via FX
The Americans is one of the best contemporary dramas because it was both a thrilling espionage series and a thoughtful examination of the burdens placed upon a family. Although there was a threat hanging over Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) from the beginning that suggested they would eventually have to choose between their loyalties to the Soviet Union and their new home in the United States, “START” forced them to confront this question in the most dramatic way possible.
“START” managed to finally pay off the storyline involving the character Stan, played by Noah Emmerich, in a remarkable performance. It’s even more impressive in retrospect to consider how authentically The Americans was as a depiction of what married life is like, especially since Rhys and Russell became married in real life after forming a bond while shooting the series together.
4 "Hello, Elliot" (Season 4, Episode 13)
'Mr. Robot' (2015–2019)
Mr. Robot and Elliot Alderson staring off to the side in the show Mr. Robot.Image via USA Network
Mr. Robot didn’t have the finale that fans of Sam Esmail’s brilliant hacking drama expected because it didn’t center on a major showdown between Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek) and Whiterose (BD Wong), who has commanded the cyberterrorist organization Dark Army. Instead, the “Hello, Elliot” unpacked how Elliot’s various personalities had been born out of his desire to escape childhood trauma, and brought a satisfying conclusion to his relationship with Mr. Robot (Christian Slater).
Mr. Robot is a perfect example of why planning out a show in advance is a good thing, as Esmail knew exactly how Elliot’s story would end from the moment he began working on it, meaning that all the foreshadowing within the previous seasons paid off perfectly in “Hello, Elliot.” It also featured a staggering performance by Malek, who was able to unpack new layers to Elliot after shocking truths were revealed throughout the fourth and greatest season of the series.
3 "Saul Gone" (Season 6, Episode 13)
'Better Call Saul' (2015–2022)
Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) stands at a podium, wearing a neat suit as he addresses people in the courtroom through the microphone in 'Better Call Saul' Season 6, Episode 13 "Saul Gone."Image via AMC
Better Call Saul ended with a finale that was perfect and seemed to confirm that it was a masterpiece worthy of Breaking Bad, the series in which Bob Odenkirk had first debuted the character of Jimmy McGill, also known as “Saul Goodman.”
Better Call Saul had used a split narrative device since its beginning to show the events that lead Jimmy down a path of corruption and crime, as well as what his life looked like in the aftermath of the Breaking Bad finale, “Felina.” “Saul Gone” not only completed flashing back to the events of Breaking Bad and showing them from Saul's perspective, but finally forced him to face the consequences of his actions; like Walter White (Bryan Cranston) before him, Saul became a narcissistic anti-hero who was incapable of being redeemed because of his unwillingness to show any change.
2 "Part 18" (Season 3, Episode 18)
'Twin Peaks: The Return' (2017)
Amanda Seyfried appears in Twin Peaks: The ReturnImage via showtime
Twin Peaks had a rocky road to its finale because David Lynch’s brilliant crime mystery was initially canceled by ABC in 1991, only for him to revive it in 2017 with a third and final season. Twin Peaks: The Return had trapped Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) in the body of the childish character for the majority of its eighteen episodes, but the ending saw him finally returning in an attempt to save Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) in the past before the murder that set up the show.
Subscribe for deeper TV-finale breakdowns and picks
Join the newsletter to unlock extended breakdowns, scene-level analysis, and curated rankings of the decade's best drama finales—plus broader TV storytelling deep dives that put endings in sharp context. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.“Part 18” is among the bleakest hours of television ever aired because Cooper sees the misguided notion of trying to change the past, which inevitably leads Laura to suffer even more. It’s not only a perfect ending to Twin Peaks, but a poignant ending to Lynch’s work as an artist, as he did not direct any other movies or shows before his tragic passing in 2025.
1 "With Open Eyes" (Season 4, Episode 10)
'Succession' (2018–2023)
The cast smiling at a long conference room table in Succession episode With Open Eyes.Image via HBO
Succession ended in the only way it possibly could by finally facing Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Shiv (Sarah Snook), and Roman (Kieran Culkin) with the consequences of aspiring to fulfill the legacy of their late father, Logan (Brian Cox). Although the question of who would take control of Waystar RoyCo had been debated throughout the entire show, “With Open Eyes” made a cruel twist; Shiv’s spurned husband, Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), would be placed as the new CEO, even though he had sold out the company to the invasive investor Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard).
Succession ended on a Shakespearean note that confirmed the tragic fates that each of the characters was doomed to after failing to come together to save the company. Nicholas Britell’s score has always been brilliant, but the musical cues he used within the final moments of “With Open Eyes” may be his greatest contribution to the show.
Like
Follow
Followed
Succession
Drama
Comedy
Release Date
2018 - 2023
Network
HBO Max
Showrunner
Jesse Armstrong
Directors
Mark Mylod
Cast
See All-
Hiam Abbass
-
Alan Ruck
Expand
Collapse
-
Succession
Subscribe for deeper TV-finale breakdowns and picks
Join the newsletter to unlock extended breakdowns, scene-level analysis, and curated rankings of the decade's best drama finales—plus broader TV storytelling deep dives that put endings in sharp context. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.What To Watch
July 20, 2025
The 72 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Trending Now
This Epic 10/10 Prime Video Series Is the Best Binge for Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fans
Netflix’s 4-Season Sci-Fi Thriller Is Becoming the Go-To Fix for ‘Silo’ Fans
This Intense 25-Episode Crime Thriller Is Quietly Proving It's a Strong Alternative to 'Peaky Blinders'
