10 Most Divisive TV Finales Of All Time, According To Reddit
Whether the reviews were mostly negative like Angel or mostly positive like The Sopranos, Redditors noticed that these finales split opinions.
With Better Call Saul quickly becoming one of the most talked-about TV finales of the year after choosing to go for an appropriately understated ending, it’s no surprise that there are some disagreements over how it turned out. Luckily, the consensus is that it was the perfect ending to the Saul Goodman saga.
This can change with time, as often the most divisive shows do end up reviled when they first air, such as with Angel and Lost, but ultimately see a shift in opinion. Along with endings that weren’t what fans were expecting for other reasons, such as BoJack Horseman and The Sopranos, these are the finales that Reddit thinks divided viewers the most.
Charmed (1998-2006)
To not be confused with the CW Charmed reboot series that also had its conclusion earlier this year, Charmed followed a sister trio of demon-fighting witches and was the original fantasy drama that gained a cult following during its run. Unfortunately, the critical consensus was that the show fell in quality during the later seasons, but the finale has no shortage of fans.
Redditor BrittBrat893 felt that some were underwhelmed by the final episode because of its “focus on relationships and real life over demon fighting.” Like many though, they loved the final episode for this exact reason as it emphasized the fact that the show is ultimately about sisters.
The Sopranos (1999-2007)
The Sopranos is a hugely critically acclaimed show and considered a masterpiece by many fans. The only downside of this is that it’s impossible to please everyone though the ambiguous finale that seemed to open to interpretation of whether Tony died made for an interesting attempt.
Most were happy with it, finding it to be a well-made ending, but there has always been a vocal group of fans that weren’t pleased with it, like Redditor Playful_Slice. They say they couldn’t call such an inconclusive ending “well written.” Whilst the hints towards Tony’s death in The Sopranos finale were enough for some fans, others wanted something more concrete.
How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
If some divisive finales manage to get away with a positive reception from critics, many aren’t so lucky, and that includes How I Met Your Mother. The conclusion of what’s widely considered one of the worst final seasons in TV history, its messy ending is often accused of tarnishing the legacy of an otherwise well-liked show.
Nevertheless, there was no shortage of fans willing to speak out and defend the ending. Often negative bandwagons end up taking all the internet discourse, but Redditors like 05110909 were happy to admit that they “love the ending of HIMYM.” It’s possible that the consensus on the finale may even shift entirely as more fans admit to liking it.
Blindspot (2015-2020)
Blindspot immediately hooked viewers with its intriguing premise that the tattoos found on a mysterious amnesiac woman are the key to crimes that the FBI must solve. Though it never received overwhelming acclaim, fans enjoyed how the show took time to unwrap its mysteries and build tension.
In the finale, however, some felt the use of the central character’s hallucinations as a plot device undermined the closure that the ending was supposed to give. Redditor Natureboy45 put the show forward as having a divisive finale. Though they were happy to admit “I liked Blindspot finale,” they felt the overall consensus was a lot harsher.
Supernatural (2005-2020)
Though some consider Supernatural to be a TV show that’s embarrassing to admit they like, its interesting mythos and fascinating plot have made it a show that fans love to discuss. However, whereas fans rate most episodes highly, the finale sits at a 6.8 rating on IMDb, reflecting the large split of opinion it has caused.
Redditors like ShazH89 think that the finale was “not as terrible as people are making out.” Though they admit the finale had major flaws that make the negative reaction it received somewhat justified, such as the “horrible” treatment of Cas, they consider themselves in the minority for having a balanced view of the episode.
Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)
Whilst plenty of critics were actually positive about the finale to the epic sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica, plenty of loud voices, including Game of Thrones writer George R. R. Martin, felt that it was a lackluster ending and an example of poor writing. In a show that was full of harsh cynicism, an optimistic ending that showed humanity abandoning technology was always going to be a tough sell.
However, Redditor MR_TELEVOID was one staunch supporter of the finale, saying that “it all worked for me.” Though they know it’s a series finale with plenty of detractors, they think that the use of a deus ex machina actually captures “your imagination if you let it” and shouldn’t be considered an automatic downside.
Lost (2004-2010)
There’s no doubt that in the immediate wake of its broadcast, Lost’s final episode was one of the most hated series finales of all time. For a show that had hooked fans with mystery after mystery, many critics felt the final twist was a cop-out and a predictable one at that. Over time, however, it seems more and more approving fans of the finale have started to appear.
That includes one Redditor who explains that “for me, it was always about the journey of the individuals and not the mysteries” and, as a result, they weren’t too bothered at the loose ends and unanswered questions that frustrated so many at the time. In fact, the final episode sits at a rating of 9.0 on IMDb, so there are likely a lot more who feel the same.
BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
If there’s a show that’s never been afraid to subvert the audience’s expectations in a dark way, it’s BoJack Horseman. After six seasons of following the washed-up celebrity horse through some brutal low points, it finally came to a typically devastating conclusion, despite offering the character some redemption early on in the season.
Redditor AlbertaNorth1 summed up fans’ feelings, who were dissatisfied with the ending by saying, “after the emotional decimation that show wrought for 5 seasons I just wanted a happy ending to it all.” Whilst it’s not a show that would fit well with a fairytale ending, it’s still understandable that not everyone was pleased with it.
Full House (1987-1995)
There’s no denying that Full House had an incredible run of eight seasons during which it was one of America’s favorite sitcoms, but not everyone was happy with how it ended. For some fans, the show had already run out of steam towards the end, and a finale that used amnesia as a plot device was the final straw.
However, not everyone thought it was so bad, with many fans actually rating the two-part conclusion quite highly. Redditor csula5 believes that most of the negative feeling towards it is only because it is more of “a season finale” than a “proper send-off” to the show and that’s why it’s a divisive one.
Angel (1999-2004)
Before Lost, the show most associated with having a poor finale would likely have been Angel for most people. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin-off won over a ton of fans in its five-season run after initially suffering from comparisons to its predecessor. But, a cliffhanger ending put it on the receiving end of a ton of criticism from fans once again.
Redditor madmaximus17 explains how it gradually won over many fans and critics once again, this time without doing anything but waiting for more people to re-evaluate their initial reaction. They say that, in contrast to the response “at the time,” Angel is now “often viewed as one of the best series finales.” It is perhaps the greatest example of how the consensus on a divisive ending can shift with time.
