These TV shows surprised and impressed us with solid pilot episodes and fantastic series finales. Some great shows have bad pilot episodes, and others are compelling at the beginning and then become confusing or boring by the end. It’s not common for the same show to hit all the right notes, all the time.
When a story can truly come full circle and show great character growth, that’s an incredible achievement for any genre. Whether it’s one of the biggest sitcoms of the 1990s or an HBO sci-fi story that makes us think about how to move on from a loved one’s death, these shows have equally amazing first and last episodes.
Friends (1994-2004)
Comparing the Friends pilot episode and series finale makes it clear why the 1990s sitcom still holds so much meaning. Sure, many episodes and catchphrases are still hilarious, but ultimately, it’s an emotional story about the beauty of close friendship and growing up.
The first episode cements newly single Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) as part of the friend group, and in the finale, she and the others are super close. The Rachel/Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) love story that starts in the pilot is also paid off in the end when they commit to each other.
The ending is beautiful and realistic. While we know the friend group won’t see each other every day now that Monica Geller (Courteney Cox) and Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) are living in the suburbs, they’ll still be in each other’s lives, and that feels right.
Orphan Black (2013-2017)
The pilot and series finale of Orphan Black showcase Tatiana Maslany’s incredible acting talent and ability to play several clones who feel distinct from each other and are equally fascinating.
The sci-fi show begins with Sarah Manning starting her epic journey and finding out about the clones. It ends with Sarah and the others, who have bonded, becoming a beautiful part of each other’s lives once the main threat is over.
The best part of the Orphan Black series finale is knowing that Sarah has grown as a person and learned to accept help and love, which makes the conclusion so satisfying. Instead of leaving unanswered questions or featuring an overly confusing chain of events, like some sci-fi shows, this one has a perfect ending.
The West Wing (1999-2006)
The West Wing ends the way it begins: with a sense of hope and optimism about life in general and politics in particular. The pilot features a funny storyline about President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) crashing his bike into a tree and focuses on his smart staff members figuring out the latest crisis.
We expected Aaron Sorkin’s popular drama to wrap up with the conclusion of Bartlett’s presidency, and the last episode is as moving as it should be. With Bartlet thinking about “tomorrow” while on a plane and his staff going to see a movie because they’re not sure what the future will be like, it’s a heartfelt ending that isn’t over the top.
ER (1994-2009)
Most TV shows with more than 10 seasons don’t have perfect pilots and finales, but that’s what makes ER special. The first episode, “24 Hours,” is a moving introduction to the epic romance between Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies) and Doug Ross (George Clooney) and also shares the tough daily reality of practicing medicine through Dr. Mark Greene’s (Anthony Edwards) storyline.
The ER finale, “And in the End…,” has a similar emotional center and fast-paced tone. You see the doctors you’ve loved watching for over a decade doing their best to ignore their exhaustion and save people, and you get the same heartwarming feeling that you did when tuning into the pilot.
Instead of upsetting fans with a shocking death or not bringing back major characters, the last episode of the medical drama feels like just another episode of this great show (and with a great Noah Wyle appearance). And that’s what makes it work so well.
Oz (1997-2003)
Oz‘s first episode, “The Routine,” shares the violent prison area a group of inmates are in, and the last one, “Exeunt Omnes,” finds everyone leaving. Since this is such a unique place, it made perfect sense that this was the note the show would conclude on.
Although some parts of the HBO prestige drama felt unnecessary and upsetting, like the pills that would make inmates get older sooner, the ending worked well. The best series finales often find main characters moving away to start the next stage of their life, and Oz concluded by making it clear that these characters wouldn’t be in this place forever.
The Wire (2002-2008)
David Simon’s acclaimed HBO crime drama not only had a flawless pilot and series finale, but it’s hard to pick out a terrible or lackluster episode of all five seasons.
The first episode sets up this world, including major characters like detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) and drug dealer Stringer Bell (Idris Elba), and the finale resolves the season 5 serial killer plotline and lets us know what happens to each person we’ve been following.
The best part of The Wire finale is its focus on the beauty and pain of life in Baltimore, Maryland. We’re glad to have spent time with these people and enjoy thinking of them continuing their complicated lives in the future.
The Sopranos (1999-2007)
While The Sopranos finale is more controversial than its universally beloved pilot, which balances a sweet scene of Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) looking after ducks with his violent life as a mob boss, both episodes stand out as some of the best TV ever made.
From the beginning to the end, The Sopranos makes it clear that Tony cares about his family more than anything. This makes him more human and likable than he would be otherwise. And, since Tony lives so dangerously, we’re always terrified he’s going to get hurt, which is what makes the final scene so unsettling and unforgettable.
Mad Men (2007-2015)
Both Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and Peggy Olson (Elizabeth Moss) have grown a lot by the Mad Men finale, which makes this a satisfying story. In the pilot, Don is having an affair and at the top of the advertising world, and Peggy is a scared, nervous secretary.
In the finale, Don begins to think more carefully about his feelings and his trauma at a spiritual retreat, and he even tells Peggy he’s not perfect, which we never thought we would see.
Peggy also finds more confidence in life and work, knowing she’ll keep pursuing her advertising passions without Don and letting herself fall for Stan Rizzo (Jay R. Ferguson). We definitely hoped Don would face himself at some point and that Peggy would find success.
The Leftovers (2014-2017)
If The Leftovers pilot sets up the mystery of the “Sudden Departure” event that made 2% of the people in the world go missing, the series finale answers it… possibly.
There are two ways to interpret the ending, which works since the entire HBO series makes us think long and hard about what we would do if we had to live without the people we love.
After meeting determined Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) and the heartbroken Nora Durst (Carrie Coon) in the pilot, we go on an unnerving journey with them, and it’s heartwarming seeing them talking in the finale. Whether or not we think Nora’s story about finding her family in another reality is true, The Leftovers is a compelling tale about death and love.
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
After the shocking scene of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) running out of an RV in his underwear, it was hard to believe that Breaking Bad could improve upon its pilot. But, thankfully, the last episode, “Felina,” is just as effective, blending action-packed moments with emotion.
It was clear that Walt would die in the series finale, whether from his terminal lung cancer or criminal activity. While his final scene is definitely violent and alarming, he seems okay with what’s happening, which is the right ending to his unique story.
