10 HBO Shows That Nailed Their Series Finales

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HBO is known for delivering incredibly satisfying series finales, as seen in shows like The Wire and Six Feet Under. While some, such as Game of Thrones and Girls, have had controversial endings, HBO has consistently created some of the most well-regarded final episodes in television history.

The last episode of The Sopranos famously ended with a sudden cut to black, but that ambiguity was consistent with the show’s overall style. Veep and Silicon Valley both finished with clever, ironic jokes, and the ending of Succession was appropriately melancholic. Overall, these HBO series all had satisfying conclusions.

Veep

The last episode of Veep truly showed Selina Meyer’s ruthless side, highlighting how far she’d go to gain and maintain power. The flash-forward to her funeral is a clever way to reveal the ultimate fate of each character, and it’s funny because it mirrors the very first episode – news of Tom Hanks’ death steals the spotlight from her memorial.

The Leftovers

After its second season, the show The Leftovers nearly ended, but creator Damon Lindelof persuaded HBO to let him finish the story with a third and final season. He used that opportunity to provide a proper conclusion and a satisfying ending, finally revealing the fate of the missing 2% of the population and offering viewers closure.

Silicon Valley

Throughout its six seasons, Silicon Valley constantly threw challenges and setbacks at the Pied Piper team, including deliberate sabotage from larger companies. It was ironically fitting, then, that they ultimately had to intentionally fail. They developed technology so revolutionary that they had to destroy it themselves to keep it from being unleashed on the world.

Barry

Bill Hader’s show, Barry, started with a simple idea but became a deeply moving and surprisingly dark exploration of flawed characters. The series finale offered a fitting, almost beautiful, conclusion for everyone involved: Barry faced a deservedly bleak fate, Gene sadly took the blame for Barry’s actions, and Sally finally found a bit of peace. The final moments of the show neatly wrapped up its themes about the power of stories, how we rewrite them, and the artificiality of Hollywood.

Chernobyl

Craig Mazin’s series about the Chernobyl disaster is deeply unsettling, focusing on the events right after the explosion. It feels less like a typical historical drama and more like a terrifying thriller. However, the final episode shifts its focus from the disaster itself to the search for truth and justice, as one man tries to reveal what really happened despite a government attempting to hide the facts.

Succession

Before the last episode of Succession aired, many people debated who would come out on top. However, the finale, created by Jesse Armstrong, demonstrates that in the ruthless world of business, nobody truly wins. While Tom Wambsgans does become the new CEO, it’s not a victory; he’s stuck in an unhappy marriage with Shiv and a difficult working dynamic with Lukas Matsson.

In the end, Kendall is left isolated and unhappy, with only his security guard for company – a fate similar to his father’s. Roman will likely manage to rebuild his life somehow, but he won’t find lasting contentment. The finale of Succession is fittingly bittersweet: no one achieves their desired outcome, but at least they’ve escaped the cutthroat world they were trapped in.

The Sopranos

The final episode of The Sopranos is famous for being one of the most debated series endings of all time. The scene shows the Soprano family finally sitting down to dinner at a cozy restaurant, but then the show unexpectedly cuts to black. While some found this abrupt ending disappointing, it actually fits the show’s overall style perfectly.

While a dramatic, explosive ending like in Scarface might have been exciting, it wouldn’t have fit the uncertain nature of The Sopranos. The show consistently defied typical gangster story conventions. The abrupt cut to black emphasizes how quickly Tony’s death could come – whether it’s in the restaurant or somewhere else – because of the dangerous life he leads.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Following years of criticism about how the TV show Seinfeld ended, its creator, Larry David, deliberately mirrored that controversial finale with his next series, Curb Your Enthusiasm. The final episode of Curb essentially recreated the Seinfeld ending, featuring Larry on trial and facing angry testimony from characters he’d encountered throughout the show’s run.

Both Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm had fantastic series finales, and Curb‘s was particularly enjoyable. Seeing so many memorable characters testify – like Mocha Joe, Rachel Heineman, and the little boy with the doll – was a treat. It was cleverly self-aware to have Jerry Seinfeld help Larry avoid a similar ending to his own show.

The Wire

The final episode of The Wire doesn’t offer a neat and tidy resolution, and that’s intentional. David Simon’s acclaimed series was a starkly realistic look at the deep-rooted issues within American cities. In the finale, even with dedicated people like McNulty, Bunny Colvin, and Tommy Carcetti trying to make a difference, the same problems persist.

In The Wire, one addict might find recovery, but another will always take their place. When a dangerous criminal like Omar falls, someone equally ruthless, like Michael, steps in to fill the void. The show’s final episode powerfully and poetically confirmed its bleak view of the cycle of violence and addiction.

Six Feet Under

The last episode of Six Feet Under isn’t just the best ending for an HBO series—many consider it the greatest series finale ever made. Throughout its run, the show focused heavily on death, but the finale beautifully celebrated life. Unlike every other episode, which began with a death, the final episode started with a birth.

The finale of Six Feet Under, like all truly great series endings, hints at what happens next for its characters. But it also beautifully reinforces the show’s central theme of death by showing us how each character eventually passes away. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting conclusion to the series.

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2025-11-07 01:14