10 TV Shows That Undid Seasons Of Character Growth In Their Final Episodes

Summary

• How I Met Your Mother and Game of Thrones suffered from poorly executed endings that undid character growth.
• Friends provided a satisfying conclusion, but Rachel’s choice to take Ross back was a tragic disappointment.
• The Vampire Diaries and Skins also fell victim to disappointing finales that failed to make sense within the context of the characters’ development.

Even the most successful TV shows can fall into the trap of wrapping up the characters’ story arcs in the most horrible way possible and canceling out any growth they have had over the seasons. How I Met Your Mother‘s ending controversy might have been impossible to avoid, but that wasn’t enough of an excuse for the finale’s storylines that made little sense and reverted some of the characters to their starting points. Sadly, How I Met Your Mother is far from being the only series that has made such a grave mistake with its own ending.

While sitcoms’ biggest error is often choosing the wrong endgame couple, shows of other genres are prone to dooming their characters to much worse fates. Game of Thrones got off to a great start, which was followed by a steady seven-year run, but the show dropped the ball in season 8 with most of its storylines — Game of Thrones’ ending remains an example of how amazing characters can be demolished in a matter of minutes. Character growth is important, but only if it is consistent from beginning to end, and that has proven to be a challenge for many shows.

10 How I Met Your Mother

“Last Forever” (season 9, episodes 23–24)

How I Met Your Mother‘s finale, “Last Forever,” was so out of line that it deemed its own title utterly meaningless. Barney and Robin’s relationship was developing throughout the series, and season 9 was focused solely on their wedding weekend, only for them to get divorced three years later. Barney became the best version of himself because of Robin, but the finale reduced him to nothing — he slipped right back into his old ways until his daughter was born. The fact that Tracy was mercilessly killed off for Ted and Robin to end up together was even more infuriating.

9 Game Of Thrones

“The Iron Throne” (season 8, episode 6)

Daenerys and Jon were easily two of the most beloved characters in Game of Thrones. They had the most development over the course of the show, and that was all destroyed in “The Iron Throne.” Daenerys became a lunatic killer for no reason and in the space of a few hours. Jon, her most trusted ally, was the one to kill her, which was followed by his exile into the Night’s Watch. Both of these characters deserved much better endings that would have brought their stories full circle, instead of sending them back to square one or worse.

8 House, M.D.

“Everybody Dies” (season 8, episode 22)

Gregory House didn’t particularly have many moments of growth throughout the series, but he learned his lessons occasionally. By House, M.D. season 8, House was a bit less selfish and a bit more understanding of the concept of consequences, especially after he drove his car into his ex-girlfriend’s living room, which prompted Cuddy to leave House, M.D. after season 7. All that went away completely in the series finale, “Everybody Dies,” when House faked his own death to spend Wilson’s last months together, leading the people who loved him to believe that he was gone.

7 Friends

“The Last One” (season 10, episodes 17–18)

Friends‘ finale was heartwarming and tear-jerking, as it provided a satisfying conclusion for most characters, but Rachel wasn’t one of them. After a decade of a toxic will-they-won’t-they relationship with Ross, which hindered her professional development and personal life, Rachel gave up a huge job opportunity and took Ross back. They tried to work things out so many times and were unsuccessful, so it remains a mystery why Rachel decided that this time would be any different. Seeing her risk everything for Ross again in “The Last One” was the real tragedy of the show.

6 Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life

“Fall” (season 1, episode 4)

Rory was never the most likable character in Gilmore Girls, but she had her moments. In the original show, Rory made the mistake of sleeping with a married man and seemingly learned her lesson. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life demonstrated that she hadn’t, as she went on to have an affair with Logan while he was engaged, and she had a boyfriend. This disaster blew up in Rory’s face in the finale, “Fall,” when she discovered that she was pregnant, and Logan was supposedly the father of Rory’s baby. Seasons of character development went out the window.

5 The Vampire Diaries

“I Was Feeling Epic” (season 8, episode 16)

The Vampire Diaries’ love triangle got tiresome rather quickly, and it was a relief when Stefan finally let go of Elena and moved on with his life. Stefan and Caroline’s relationship in the later seasons was a much better alternative to the love triangle. In the penultimate episode, the two got married, and in the finale, “I Was Feeling Epic,” Stefan sacrificed himself to lock Katherine up in hell. Stefan had just found happiness with Caroline and made his vows, and he certainly didn’t have to give up his life for Elena’s happiness and leave his own wife a widow.

4 Supernatural

“Carry On” (season 15, episode 20)

Supernatural’s finale, “Carry On,” felt underwhelming because of Dean’s mishandled story arc. Dean once believed that he would go out in a fight, like most hunters did, but in the later seasons, he went on to experience the joy and peace that a family could give him, especially during his time with Lisa and Ben. Dean spent so much time saving the world, and he should’ve gotten a proper send-off into a hunting-free life. Dying a hunter’s death didn’t make sense for Dean since he wasn’t the same person he was in season 1.

3 Jane The Virgin

“Chapter One Hundred” (season 5, episode 19)

Jane the Virgin pulled the worst telenovela twist imaginable in season 5 by reviving Michael and giving him amnesia. Michael and Jane’s history was important, and the former’s death made an impact. Turning Michael into a cowboy and marrying him off to another woman was an insult to his memory. Once Rafael found out that Michael was alive, he suddenly became a jealous manchild with zero confidence in his and Jane’s relationship, despite having overcome those issues years ago. In “Chapter One Hundred,” Jane married Rafael against all odds and despite his immature behavior.

2 13 Reasons Why

“Graduation” (season 4, episode 10)

13 Reasons Why had plenty of weird storylines, but nothing was worse than the show’s finale, where no one behaved like themselves. After years of character development and speaking her truth, Jessica suddenly made her peace with Bryce, her rapist, and even found a way to be thankful to him for bringing the gang together. However, the worst plot development in “Graduation” was the way Justin died. He was doing incredibly well, atoning for his past mistakes and trying to be more responsible. There is no way that Justin would’ve hidden his illness and avoided doing a health checkup.

1 Skins

“Fire (Part 2)” (season 7, episode 2)

Skins season 7 was one big disappointment. Effy was the character who viewers got to know the best over the course of four seasons, and she turned up in season 7 as a completely different person. She was finally taking control of her life by being a responsible grownup, and things were starting to look up for her. Out of nowhere, Effy decided to commit a crime to get ahead in the company, and on top of that, she chose to trust her boss in such a sensitive situation. Effy getting sent to prison just didn’t make any sense.