TV shows with were great till the end

[Stan the Bat]

SGirl said:

Lucifer. Assuming it has finished and there’s no more to come!

Detectorists.

George and Mildred.

You were joking about George and Mildred weren't you?

[Nickbrapp]

Spooks was good from beginning to end, so was house of cards, they handled the change to without Kevin spacey very well


As was keeping up appearances, which is still my favourite TV program

[cologne2792]

Stargate Sg-1 was rather excellent.
It started from where the film left off and was ok in its own right.
But between Season 1 and Season 8 it had turned from an ok show into a masterclass of acting, writing and humour.
Season 8, which was supposed to be the end, finished perfectly in what is probably the best end to any series ever.

Season 9-10 were technically a different show but still very good.

[Dromedary66]

Greg66 said:

Six Feet Under

Definitely this. Went out in style.

[entropy]

hungry_hog said:

Miami Vice

Starts going downhill in season 3. By this time Michael Mann was doing Manhunter.

Season 4 was weak and features a few utter dogst episodes where Crockett & Tubbs go on wild goose chases over: cryogenically frozen Reggae singer, bull semen and alien abduction via James Brown! I kid you not!!

The production values markedly drops in season 4 onwards. They completely change the colour palette to a dull grey; the hued tones wasn't just a fad it showed off the vibrant colour of Miami.

Season 5 is marginally better. Good ending. Made me consider a career Southern law enforcement.

[bobbo89]

I always thought The Mentalist was pretty good throughout its run. Dexter was ok but started to get stretched out and milked.

Already mentioned but Blackadder was always good too, the theme of it did always help keep it fresh though.

[Shakermaker]

Drew106 said:

Westworld.

Don't think anyone's mentioned it yet. Good first series, second was a bit all over the place and turned a bit ridiculous.

I think a third was planned, but the second series was not well received, so might get canned.

Season 3 coming in 2020

I didn't even get halfway through episode 1 of series 2 though

[boyse7en]

Stan the Bat said:

You were joking about George and Mildred weren't you?

You prefer the early years of the show?

[SGirl]

Stan the Bat said:

You were joking about George and Mildred weren't you?

No. I liked it. It kept up its momentum right through to the end.

[nealeh1875]

Another vote for Mad Men, fantastic series and really enjoyed the ending.

Can't see that it has been mentioned but Prison Break. I know people say the last couple seasons wasn't great (3&4) but i loved Sona and i enjoyed season 4 too. just got a bit too long in the end but i liked the ending.

Was a shame that they did do a season 5. it was OK but should of ended on 4 IMO and the way it did.

I initially didn't like the ending to Dexter but once i read online and re watched it i decided it was ok and quite fitting in the end.

Breaking bad, great throughout and the ending was fab

[Robbo 27]

Drew106 said:

Westworld.

Don't think anyone's mentioned it yet. Good first series, second was a bit all over the place and turned a bit ridiculous.

I think a third was planned, but the second series was not well received, so might get canned.

There is a reason why no one has mentionned it.

[chris watton]

Robbo 27 said:

There is a reason why no one has mentionned it.

I think the problem lies in the thread title, it is way too ambiguous, it could mean both 'Shows that were great from start to finish, or 'Shows that were great until the final season, where they went crap'

Which is it?

[BrabusMog]

cologne2792 said:

Stargate Sg-1 was rather excellent.
It started from where the film left off and was ok in its own right.
But between Season 1 and Season 8 it had turned from an ok show into a masterclass of acting, writing and humour.
Season 8, which was supposed to be the end, finished perfectly in what is probably the best end to any series ever.

Season 9-10 were technically a different show but still very good.

Agreed, back in the day when you could only watch one episode a week as well, unless you were late to the party and had DVD's to catch up/plough through.

[Lucas Ayde]

slipstream 1985 said:

New Caprica episodes was the high points along with "33". Started strong got amazing, dropped the ball then fumbled it across the line and then with the final 20 mins or so of the final being a real tear jerker.

Indeed - the scene where Galatica FTLs into the upper atmosphere, drops like a stone while launching Vipers and then FTLs back out just before it hits the ground is one of my top TV scifi moments ever.

Low point has to be that run of 'characters who discovered that they were secret Cylons and didn't know how to deal with it' episodes. Mega depressing and a grind to watch.

Thought it finished about as well as it reasonably could have - lots of action and a reasonably satisfying conclusion to their quest for Earth. And a sort-of explanation for 'Head Baltar and Six'.

[Halb]

Lucas Ayde said:

Indeed - the scene where Galatica FTLs into the upper atmosphere, drops like a stone while launching Vipers and then FTLs back out just before it hits the ground is one of my top TV scifi moments ever.
Low point has to be that run of 'characters who discovered that they were secret Cylons and didn't know how to deal with it' episodes. Mega depressing and a grind to watch.
Thought it finished about as well as it reasonably could have - lots of action and a reasonably satisfying conclusion to their quest for Earth. And a sort-of explanation for 'Head Baltar and Six'.

I was only just thinking about that episode. 'Adama's back.' Gies me tingles. and when they find out they've been tricked
30,000 feet and falling like stone sir.

And then how that episode gets resolved....just beautiful.

I've come to peace with the ending. The 'fifth' was an ending they left open for a long time before they decided on who. I do think I had a much better idea for certain things at the ending regarding the head Baltar and stuff. I'm being vague because it's unfair to be specific.

[crofty1984]

techiedave said:

I have mentioned it elsewhere in a different thread.

Ashes to Ashes
Started off ok got better the 1st series finale was great 2nd series finale great
Series 3 good and IMHO the last 2 episodes of the programme are some of the greatest pieces of TV ever seen
The realisation of the characters that they were all dead every single one of them was moving.Chris's death because of a poor decision by a superior officer was sad Rays story was heart breaking but Shaz Grangers is really heartbreaking
Then there is the issue of Alex herself and Gene Hunts revelation is intelligent
I genuinely believe the ending of Ashes to Ashes is one of the best things the BBC have done

Oh and Our Friends In The North - quality throughout

Did you intentionally miss out life on Mars?

[droopsnoot]

chris watton said:

I think the problem lies in the thread title, it is way too ambiguous, it could mean both 'Shows that were great from start to finish, or 'Shows that were great until the final season, where they went crap'

I viewed it as the former, but it seems a lot haven't read the opening post:

fatandwheezing said:

With all the strange angry folk petitioning HBO about GoT, I got thinking about long running shows that were as good at they end as they were at the start
.... snip ...

Other than the Wire and Breaking Bad, any others?

[T-195]

Had Starsky and Hutch yet?

[T-195]

Hancock's Half Hour

Bilko

[T-195]

The Mighty Boosh.