Final words that memorably capped off our favorite shows.
Saying goodbye to your favorite TV show is never easy. However, it's better to have resolution than to be left hanging, especially with networks and streaming services axing original content left and right. As some showrunners neatly tie everything up with a satisfying ending, and others opt for a more tragic conclusion, a series finale offers viewers a glimpse into how these stories resume off screen — and nothing provides that closure quite like a closing line. Whether it's a witty joke (Seinfeld), a clever callback (The Good Place), or a treacly farewell (Modern Family), these final bits of dialogue linger with you forever.
Scroll down for the most memorable last lines on a TV series finale.
"Memoir," Young Sheldon (2017–2024)
CBS' Big Bang Theory prequel series, Young Sheldon, wraps up after seven seasons with Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage) finally arriving at the California Institute of Technology, where he will someday meet his future geek squad, Team Leonard. Standing before the Caltech sign, a professor approaches him and asks, "You lost?"
To which Sheldon confidently responds, "No. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be." —James Mercadante
"One for the Road," Cheers (1982–1993)
The legendary sitcom about the place where everybody knows your name ended with Sam (Ted Danson) telling a patron through the window, "Sorry, we're closed." —Mary Sollosi
"Father Frank, Full of Grace," Shameless (2011–2021)
Showtime's beloved drama series takes its final bow by saying goodbye to Gallagher patriarch Frank (William H. Macy), who ends his life by overdosing on heroin. As the remaining Gallaghers and their South Side neighbors gather outside the Alibi — delighting in a burning Tesla and singing Spoon's "The Way We Get By" — Frank's spirit flies above as we hear his voice read the letter he'd written to his family while alive, which ends on a very Frank-ish note: "People say you can't drink your troubles away, I say you're just not drinking enough. I guess that's it. Not much left to say really. Except, time's precious, don't f---ing waste it. Have a good time. I sure as hell did." —J.M.
"One Last Ride," Parks and Recreation (2009–2015)
The Parks and Recreation finale gives viewers a peek into the future for Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and her crew of lovable oddballs. But it ends in the present day, with everyone posing for a photo after fixing a swing set. In the last moments, Ben (Adam Scott) asks Leslie, "You ready, babe?"
"Yes," she answers, then faces the camera. "I'm ready." —M.S.
"Happy Ending," Schitt's Creek (2015–2020)
Leaving behind the titular town they called home for six years, Johnny (Eugene Levy) and Moira Rose (Catherine O'Hara) head toward California. As they pass the Schitt's Creek welcome sign one last time, Johnny asks the driver to stop the car, rolling down his window.
When Moira asks what's wrong, Johnny responds with "Just wanted one last look," before signaling the driver to continue on their way. (We love that journey for them!) —J.M.
"Chosen," Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)
After Sunnydale crumbles into the Hellmouth, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her loyal friends stand at the edge of what was once their hometown, reflecting on how their lives have changed. "You've just got to live like a person. How does that feel?" Faith (Eliza Dushku) asks.
"Yeah, Buffy," Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) says. "What are we gonna do now?" Her sister then smiles. —M.S.
"Finale," Modern Family (2009–2020)
The series finale of ABC's Emmy-winning sitcom saw most of the Pritchett-Dunphy family go their separate ways. After sharing a tearful group huddle — uncertain of when they'll all be together again — we hear patriarch Jay Pritchett (Ed O'Neill) narrate a montage of their new lives: "Life is full of change, some big, some small. I learned a long time ago you can fight it, or you can try to make the best of it, and that's all a lot easier if you've got people who love you, helping you face whatever life throws at you." —J.M.
"Finale," The Office (2005–2013)
"All in all, I think an ordinary paper company like Dunder Mifflin was a great subject for a documentary," Pam (Jenna Fischer) says in her last interview, as we see Michael (Steve Carell) hanging a watercolor that Pam painted of the office building. "There's a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn't that kind of the point?" —M.S.
"The Last One," Friends (1994–2004)
As all the Friends turn in their keys and leave that purple-walled apartment for the last time, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) suggests they get some coffee.
"Sure," Chandler (Matthew Perry) agrees. "Where?" —M.S.
"The Iron Throne," Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
Despite the series finale brimming with tragedy, Game of Thrones ends on a lighter moment with Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) starting to say to the Small Council, "I once brought a jackass and a honeycomb into a brothel…"
Sounds familiar? That's because he shared this tale in season 1 as a prisoner of Lysa Aryn (Kate Dickie). —J.M.
"I Was Feeling Epic," The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)
The Vampire Diaries came to an end with a reunion that got fans teary-eyed. Inside the Salvatore house, Stefan (Paul Wesley) opens the door to find his brother. "Hello, brother," Damon (Ian Somerhalder) says, and the series ends with their embrace. —M.S.
"Whenever You're Ready," The Good Place (2016–2020)
The Good Place ends with demon architect-turned-human Michael (Ted Danson) seeing one of his lifelong dreams come true. When a stranger hands him a piece of mail — a Coyote Joe's Marketplace Rewards Card — Michael thanks the man.
As the man says, "Take it easy," Michael replies, "I'll do you one better. I'll say this to you, my friend, with all the love in my heart and all the wisdom of the universe — take it sleazy." —J.M.
"Tomorrow," The West Wing (1999–2006)
President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) leaves the office in The West Wing's finale, but he doesn't spend the last moments of the series waxing nostalgic about his presidency. "What are you thinking about?" his wife, Abbey (Stockard Channing), asks as he looks out the window of the airplane taking them home to New Hampshire. "Tomorrow," he replies. —M.S.
"No Lessons Learned," Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000–2024)
Once Susie (Susie Essman) delivers the last clear line with "Go back to f---ing jail, Larry" — a nod to the Seinfeld series finale — Curb Your Enthusiasm wraps up in classic Curb fashion: with everyone erupting into an ultimate screaming match. —J.M.
"Fall," Gilmore Girls (2000–2007, 2016)
Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino came up with the final four words of the series way back in season 1, but — as she exited the show before its seventh season — she didn't use them until the last scene of 2016's Netflix revival of the series, A Year in the Life. The finale ends with Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) sitting in Stars Hollow's gazebo, saying:
Rory: Mom?
Lorelai: Yeah?
Rory: I'm pregnant. —M.S.
"The Last Day," Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021)
A year after most of the Squad left the 99th precinct of the N.Y.P.D., they reunite in hopes of continuing their Halloween Heist tradition. Now captain, Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) takes a beat before shouting one last "Nine-Nine!" — which is then echoed by the rest of the bullpen. —J.M.
"The Wrath of the Lamb," Hannibal (2013–15)
After successfully killing Francis Dolarhyde (Richard Armitage), Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) — longtime adversaries with a strong, strange connection — are left alone on a cliff.
"See? This is all I ever wanted for you, Will. For both of us," Hannibal says.
"It's beautiful," Will replies. With that, he embraces Hannibal and tips them both over the edge of the cliff. —M.S.
"Home," Pen15 (2021–2022)
A show encapsulating the sundry layers of female friendship — especially during the hell that is middle school — Pen15 concludes (far too soon) with besties Anna (Anna Konkle) and Maya (Maya Erskine) imagining a lifetime of friendship. Together, they fantasize about sharing dorms and daily walks, double weddings and double divorces, and no matter what happens, they are "just going to protect each other from everything."
After picturing their shared future and shedding tears, Anna and Maya look up in tandem and say, "Oh my god, look! That's when we met." The screen then cuts to a TV playing a home video of them as little girls, dancing on stage. —J.M.
"What Is Your Name?," Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)
The 2017 revival of David Lynch's trippy cult-hit series ends with a bang (er, a shriek). In the last scene, after finding a dead end at the Palmer house, Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) asks a simple question that introduces a wild new possibility: "What year is this?" —M.S.
"Brave New World," Boy Meets World (1993–2000)
Boy Meets World ends with the four main stars saying goodbye to their beloved teacher, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels), thanking him for all he'd given them and demanding he tell them he loves them — which he refused to do, insisting it would be inappropriate. It is only after they have all left that he becomes emotional. "I love you all," he says, looking over the empty classroom. "Class dismissed." —M.S.
"Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television," Community (2009–2015)
The finale of Community ends with a meta-joke as no other show ever would, with a fake commercial for a Community board game, narrated by series creator Dan Harmon. It said:
"Dice not included. Some assembly required. Lines between perception, desire, and reality may become blurred, redundant, or interchangeable. Characters may hook up with no regard for your emotional investment. Some episodes too conceptual to be funny. Some too funny to be immersive, and some so immersive, they still aren't funny. Consistency between seasons may vary. Viewers may be measured by a secretive obsolete system based on selected participants keeping handwritten journals of what they watch. Show may be canceled and move to the internet, where it turns out tens of millions were watching the whole time, may not matter. Fake commercial may end with disclaimer gag, which may descend into vain Chuck Lorre-esque rant by narcissistic creator. Creator may be unstable. Therapist may have told creator this is not how you make yourself a good person. Life may pass by while we ignore or mistreat those close to us. Those close to us may be those watching. Those people may want to know I love them, but I may be incapable of saying it. Contains pieces the size of a child's esophagus." —M.S.
"Series Finale," Pose (2018–2021)
After securing Legendary status from Elektra (Dominique Jackson), Blanca (Michaela Jaé Rodriguez) is approached outside by a frustrated ball mother tired of losing every night, demanding to know what it takes to win a trophy. Drawing on the wisdom and confidence imparted by Pray Tell (Billy Porter), Blanca offers her advice before walking away.
“Ain’t no secrets or shortcuts to success,” she says. “You want a reason to continue? It’s standing right there in front of you. And they’re going to keep coming here, to New York City, sure as the sun rises. So what you’ve got to do is reach higher and dream big until you triumph. It won’t happen today, but one day. And when you do, I’mma be right in there — cheering you on." —J.M.
"An American Girl in Paris," Sex and the City (1998–2004)
Sex and the City ends, naturally, with Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) musing in voice-over. During a montage of her friends with their husbands, children, and lovers that ends with Carrie walking down the street and answering a call from Big (whose name, we finally learned from the screen on her bedazzled flip phone, is John), she says:
"Later that day, I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But, the most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And, if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous." —M.S.
"The Promise," Justified (2010–2015)
After six seasons of rivalry (and occasional partnership), Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) finally admits what viewers already knew: He and Boyd (Walton Goggins) had a connection — dare we say, a friendship. That revelation comes with the series' final words, as Boyd explains their dynamic by saying, "We dug coal together."
Raylan simply responds: "That's right." —Samantha Highfill
"The Finale," Seinfeld (1989–1998)
The final scene (besides the closing credits) of Seinfeld ends with a thoroughly mundane conversation about which buttons to button on a shirt.
Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld): "The second button is the key button. It literally makes or breaks the shirt. Look at it — it's too high, it's in no-man's-land."
George (Jason Alexander): "Haven't we had this conversation before?"
Jerry: "You think?"
George: "I think we have."
Jerry: "Yeah, maybe we have."
They had had the conversation before — in the series' first episode. —M.S.
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