7 divisive TV show finales that are worth a rewatch on Disney+ Hotstar and Amazon Prime Video

For a TV show that has achieved any semblance of fame and fandom, the responsibility shouldered by the series finale is varied and multi-faceted—bring together all plot points into a cohesive ending, yes. But more importantly, offer emotional payoff and validation for fans who have been immersed in the show’s universe over the span of multiple seasons and years.  However, it pays to note that there is no one perfect ending—in the words of legendary writer Shel Silverstein, “There are no happy endings. Endings are the saddest part.” It stands to reason then that some most acclaimed TV shows would ultimately leave fans unsatisfied or wanting more. 

But can the passage of time and nostalgia salvage some of the more divisive series finales? They might not classify as the most successful send-offs in TV history, but coasting on the importance that these titles once held in our lives and everyday conversations, here are the finales that are worth being re-examined. 

After seven seasons of world-building, character development and a prolonged two-year wait for the final season, it would be an understatement to say that expectations were rocketing sky-high from the last chapter of Westeros. However, the rushed pace of storytelling and Daenerys’ last-minute descent into madness followed by Jon Snow’s deception left many fans feeling betrayed, prompting an online petition for a remake that has since garnered close to two million signatories. While the curtains have been firmly drawn on the show, the news of the prequel House of Dragons makes for a worthy reason to revisit the universe that fans have been immersed in over the past decade. 

Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar

With nine seasons hinged on the titular pursuit of the mother, it would appear that the Emmy-winning sitcom had a singular task to accomplish in its series finale. However, after offering several glimpses of the mother throughout the final season, fans were disappointed to part ways with her shortly into the finale, only for the show to make an eleventh-hour return to Ted and Robin’s will-they-won’t-they romance. Though some believe that it would have been a bolder call for the show to go out on a bittersweet note with the mother’s death, the show’s legacy lives on through the gang’s shenanigans and Barney Stinson’s iconic catchphrases. 

Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar

Over the course of nine seasons and 180 episodes, the Emmy-favourite sitcom has received great critical acclaim for its self-awareness and the use of meta humour that would influence the genre for years to come. True to its tonality, the finale ended with the morally questionable characters behind bars. However, the concept alienated a section of fans who had been invested in the show for a decade, even as others agreed that a sentimental swan song would have contradicted the raison d'être of the show. 

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Through its twelve-year run, the show had been privy to its share of shake-ups—including Charlie Sheen’s controversial exit from the show. In hindsight, it stands to reason that the finale would stir up drama as well. After much hype around Sheen’s possible return for the final episode, the show ended with a piano crushing his lookalike and the camera cutting to show creator Chuck Lorre saying, “winning”. The anti-climax drew polarising reactions from the fans on the breaking of the fourth wall, but managed to deliver on its share of laughs nonetheless. 

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

With six seasons of record-breaking viewership—and the Emmy and Golden Globe trophies to show for it—much was expected from the series finale, but fans felt denied of a satisfying send-off when the show’s storyline was proved to be a part of purgatory. However, a certain camp of the fanbase maintains that the series finale was misunderstood and that a rewatch might shed more light on the show’s man of science and man of faith ethos. 

Available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video

Like most TV series finales, Dexter found itself faced with the quandary of going out on a bold note versus playing it safe for tying up its eight-season run. Critics and fans are in unanimous agreement that the finale clocked in on the latter end of the spectrum, with many believing that Dexter deserved better than the last haunting image as a bearded lumberjack. 

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

Over the course of six years, the nameless, faceless Gossip Girl commanded reign over Manhattan’s elite—and our hearts as well. While the identity of the anonymous blogger had served as cause for much speculation over the years, the eventual unmasking of Dan Humphrey proved to be a letdown for many. However, sartorial enthusiasts had plenty to revel in with not one, but two showstopper wedding gowns on display—from Blair Waldorf’s elegant Elie Saab number to Serena van der Woodsen’s gilded Georges Chakra Couture gown. 

Available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video

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