SciFi Wire has an interesting article today that lists six series genre shows they say were ruined by their finale (in this case, ruining the show to the point of making rewatching the entire series impossible).
Among the shows are the original UK “Life on Mars,” “Quantum Leap,” “The Prisoner” and “Star Trek: Voyager,” “The X-Files” and the modern “Battlestar: Galactica.”
You can read the full list and their reasoning HERE.
Firing back, I don’t necessarily think that the finales of “BSG” or “Quantum Leap” ruined the shows as a whole. In fact, I’m probably the only person on the planet who liked the ending of “Quantum Leap.” Also, while I agree the finale of “The X-Files” is a huge letdown, it still can’t take away from how great the show was when it was on the top of its game (Say for example “Clyde Bruckman”)>
You can bash me in the comments…and tell us what you’re least favorite genre series ending is.
KG from DC says
Uhm, I actually liked the ending of Voyager. I think the end of BSG was *meh*, but it wasn’t ruined. Not by a long shot.
Stoffern says
For me it wasn’t just the BSG finale. More like the two last seasons. Season one and two of the new BSG were awesome but then it just went somewhere I didn’t care for.
Nick says
Could not agree more. Religion ruined this series as did the personal drama and character assassination of Starbuck
ejdalise says
Star Trek Enterprise . . . taking a page from Whedon’s book of “Death: The Pointless Plot Device”, they killed off Trip, nixing any thought we had of rewatching the series (we had stopped watching after season 2 for time constraint reasons, and planned to buy it and rewatch from scratch).
The Farscape guys were reading the same book, and Dargo’s death came close to ruining the series for me (I just recently watched the pilot, and may continue on).
Michael Falkner says
I disagree with the article on the topics of Star Trek: Voyager, Quantum Leap, and Battlestar Galactica.
Voyager’s ending was as pedestrian as the rest of the series, cementing the fact that Star Trek had become impotent years before. The finale didn’t ruin Voyager; the Star Trek franchise’s lack of creativity ruined Voyager.
Quantum Leap’s ending was shocking on first viewing, but I think it holds up well on re-watch. Aside from the fact that it was supposed to be a season finale and not a series-ender, it was time for Sam’s Leaping to evolve beyond the safe formula the writers had established. Unfortunately, they never got that chance. What it does for me is bring the series into a whole new light. Not only is it a show about a guy doing good things while being bounced around by Time, Fate, God, or possibly himself, but it really shows us what Sam Beckett is made of. The last minute of the episode “Mirror Image” ties in beautifully with the handful of episodes that defined the fraternal relationship that Sam and Al had. It also inspires because one man made the most of his circumstances and sacrificed his personal desires to do the right thing. Personally, I keep hoping Don Bellisario gets the ducks lined up to continue the story like he wants to.
BSG has *always* been about religion. It has been since “Saga of a Star World” and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Anyone who claims that BSG’s ending was a contrived Deus Ex Machina cop-out obviously didn’t pay attention to anything in the mythos. It’s always been a religious morality tale wrapped in a tasty military sci-fi shell.
Farscape did what they could with what they had. I wrote an article for The ScapeCast a while ago about how D’Argo’s journey compares to that of Homer’s epic “The Odyssey,” and I hold steady to the belief that his fate in “Peacekeeper Wars” was a fitting end to his arc. Just like the modern BSG’s ending, it makes me cry, and to me — a somewhat emotionally detached person — that means something.
Star Trek: Enterprise is one of the worst endings in history. The only episode of Trek I consider worse than “These Are the Voyages…” is TNG’s second season finale “Shades of Grey,” which was a clip show in Riker’s brain. “These Are the Voyages…” was advertised as a Valentine to the fans, but really was an open-handed slap across the face.
The only show that ticks me off more regarding it’s ending is Journeyman.
Summer Brooks says
I think it’s curious that many people hated the BSG ending because they didn’t understand the significance of the appearance of that Baltar and that Six. I know for a fact that a couple friends didn’t realize that they weren’t those same people reborn, but were instead the avatars/angels who were the “hallucinations” that Baltar and the Six that loved him experienced until I pointed that out.
I didn’t think the “message” of “this has happened before, and it will happen again” went against the ending we got. However, I did think that Starbuck’s fate was handled a bit heavy-handedly, and some of Cavil’s behaviors (the One’s) weren’t consistent (especially given what we saw happen in The Plan), but you’re not likely to have a top of the line finish when you say that most of your previous two seasons were thought up off the cuff with the assistance of lots of alcohol.
As for the rewatchability, it’d be easier for me to enjoy rewatching the new miniseries and the first two seasons than it would be to rewatch the final season.
Kyle Nin says
The “X-Files” finale was a huge letdown? Really?
Blue Tube says
Voyager was ruined from the beginning ……. by my wife could not watch it with out her complaining – “Why is it the only female Star Ship Captain has to get lost in space on the first episode and cant find her way back”
Enterprise was ruined after season 1 …….. Trying to emulate U.S. failed government policies and events of the time the show was aired
BSG was ruined for me with the episode about the BSG ship powered by rocks with the people in the belly of the ship shoveling the rocks onto a conveyor belt. and of course the damn camera shaking
tmw says
i thought the ending for UK Life on mars was absolutely fantastic, made the show even better! Granted, it wasn’t something a US show would ever risk doing or ever get away with…
ejdalise says
50% of my friends (one) have been pressuring me to commit to watching BSG, but based on what I am reading, he is are now irrevocably engaged in a futile task.
My sincere thanks for helping me dodge a bullet, or at least what would have been a very bitter pill. And of course, good call on my part for dropping the series early on.
Summer Brooks says
EJ, there was no bullet to dodge. It truly was one of the best dramas on television those first three seasons, and if you want to check it out without too much committment, watch the miniseries and the first five episodes again. However, if the emotional burden of the ever-increasing bleakness of humanity’s situation is too much, feel free to return to the shows with flowers and puppies and folk music š
And I can’t wait until Kevin Grazier’s upcoming book “The Science of BSG” comes out
Michael Falkner says
To Blue Tube’s comment on BSG, I was actually pleased to see a spaceship that relied on having to be refueled rather than having a perpetual reactor. What a great spin on a typical sci-fi TV trope. š
ejdalise says
It’s the metaphysical angle (as explained above) that turns me away.
As far as the miniseries (I presume the one which eventually evolved into the series), I did not like it at all, and did not finish watching it. I did watch a couple of the first episodes, and again they did nothing for me.
As for ever-increasing bleakness of humanity’s situation, I am handling it fine without flowers, puppies (I do have a 19-year-old cat), or folk music. However, that does make me inclined to avoid bleakness-wannabe-shows . . . they just don’t compare to real life, so I don’t get, or sympathize with, the so-called problems the characters in these show face.
I’m not criticizing anyone who likes those sorts of shows; they’re just not for me.
Summer Brooks says
Interesting. I don’t know if I’d categorize that element simply as metaphysical.
Do you dismiss all genre content (TV, movies, books) with real or implied metaphysical components, or does it merely count as a larger strike than against other shows? Where would you classify shows with similar explicit or hinted at elements such as Doctor Who, Journeyman, Stargate, Quantum Leap, Robin of Sherwood, Pushing Daisies, Medium — plus any number of other programs that involve gods from the many pantheons throughout human history (Norse, Greek/Roman, Egyptian, Celtic, Oriental, Mesopotamian, Lovecraftian, etc) — and why do they appeal to you where BSG does not?
I am honestly curious what causes you to make your stated distinctions, since it can’t only be the presence of metaphysical flavoring… that would exclude a lot of genre programming that I know you have watched.
Bronzethumb says
Oh good lord… Listen, SciFi Wire, at least have the guts to give this article it’s proper title: “WE HATE THE LOST FINALE AND IT RUINS THE SHOW (EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN’T ACTUALLY SEEN IT YET)!!!1!”.
BSG’s ending? Fantastic. One last fight, a culmination of several prophecies, and a very human decision leading to the continuation of the cycle even though the characters think they’ve solved everything already.
Life on Mars? HOLY COW that was awesome! And I know that what I think happened doesn’t necessarily jive with the producers intentions, but they made it as vague as they did so that people like me can fill in our own explanations and be satisfied–and I was satisfied.
Do you understand how bad a series finale would actually have to be to retroactively make you hate all the episodes that preceded it? That’s pretty friggin’ bad. Can I seriously get a show of hands, has ANYONE actually seen a finale they didn’t like and subsequently decided that now they hate the entire show, even if they loved it before?
ejdalise says
Whoa . . . exceeds this medium of discussion, but I’ll try to be brief. My definition relates to religious metaphysics, or the underlying idea of a being who can do anything. Given that:
Dr. Who – have not see metaphysical yet, but will stop watching when and if
Stargate – stopped with introduction of ascention
Quantum Leap – just stopped watching, got bored
Robin of Sherwood – have not seen the new series, but the story of old lacks metaphysical component (I could be wrong, but that’s how I remember it)
Journeyman / Pushing Dasies / Medium – have not watched
Stopped watching any Star Trek with Q.
I did/do like Dead Like Me, some mythological stories, and some stories where the underlying metaphysical premise is secondary, with the “being” not directly involved.
Fantasy, religion, magic, et al are all OK, or not, depending how they are done. I’m currently enjoying Dresden, although I don’t view it as steeped in religion, and magic is more of a tool than an end in itself. I liked Heaven Can Wait, Defending your life, and some of the prophecies movies. I liked Angel, but it would have been ruined for me if at some point we find out the whole premise is anchored in the existence of nanomachines controlling/creating the characters. Even then Angel came close to being turned off with him turning mortal at odd times.
Mostly it’s the mixing of SciFi and fantasy/religion/prophecies/magic to which I object, especially if introduced after the basic universe has been fairly well defined.
Summer Brooks says
point of clarification: Robin of Sherwood was the British series that ran 1983-1986 (I think), where the newest British series was just a retelling of the Robin Hood myth. The new series didn’t have any metaphysical elements, but the Robin of Sherwood series (the last two chapters of which starred Sean Connery’s son Jason as Robin) definitely had both magical and mystical elements as integral parts of the story fabric. To my knowledge, it’s the only Robin Hood series that incorporates the mystical. That series was only finally released on DVD in the US back in 2008.
Now, explain to me how Doctor Who isn’t the very definition of “a being who can do anything” š
By your own parameters, you would have stopped watching when Tennant’s Doctor regenerated from Eccleston’s Doctor. Regeneration is just a technological wave of the hand term for reincarnation/rebirth. A being who can travel through space and time to influence the very path of species and civilizations based on his own personal perception of what’s right and what isn’t, the lives of the beings he affects be damned. Wasn’t there an episode where he had to defeat the Devil? There are many contradictions in your statement and your assumptions, and I find that fascinating š
And, having never heard anyone use the term “religious metaphysics” before, that leads me to ask what specifically you mean by that phrase. Seeing as how the fight over the definition of spirituality and who to worship was a core reason for the war between the Colonials and the Cylons, and we knew that from the very start, I call shenanigans on your argument that it was introduced after the universe was already established š
Magic is inherent to most tales of fantasy, whether that magic be based in alchemy, spirituality, or sorcery… choosing to object to some and not to others without viewing the content at all seems oddly random to me. Thus I respectfully poke and question.
Sofie says
BSG – I had no problem with the metaphysical, actually I really enjoyed the treatment of religion and mythology through the series, but I found the idea that the survivors were willing to leave everything behind preposterous. We’re talking about going back to a time when people die of childbirth or a cold? That’s idiotic – there was no logical reason given why it made sense to the survivors to do this, only handwaving on the part of the writers. It felt very much like the writers were adamant they were going to shoehorn the series into that idea no matter how little sense it made.
Life On Mars – they rather missed the point that the audience got to decide which was the ‘real’ world. I thought it was a brilliant ending.
Ryan says
I can’t agree with Enterprise enough. I love the last 4 episodes before the “last” one and refuse to watch it again because it ends on the right note after they defeat Terra Prime.
I tried to watch BSG and found I couldn’t. I came into it late and couldn’t follow it.
The other show I wish had a better ending is the fan favorite Firefly. That doesn’t stop me from watching it anyway since my wife needs inducting into the world.
Jeremy says
Um, what? The *UK* Life On Mars had a poor ending? What? The UK version final episode was brilliant and tied everything together beautifully.
The US version, with its ridiculous space travel addition – THAT was rubbish.
Tammy Smith says
I agree with Jeremy. The UK Life on Mars ended just fine. The US ending was horrible.
John from Jersey says
I have to wonder if the author of this “article” even bothered to watch the shows he’s complaining about. He’s dead wrong about the X-Files finale introducing the notion that the alien invasion was going to take place in 2012. That had been long since revealed in the second season, and mentioned more than once over the course of the series. The finale had its issues, to be sure, but that was not a valid criticism.
But then, this wouldn’t be the first time SciFi Wire published an article that was mostly troll-baiting opinion and poorly researched “facts”, would it?
Michael Hickerson says
Now, explain to me how Doctor Who isnāt the very definition of āa being who can do anythingā
Technically, the Doctor can’t do “anything.” He does have limits…they just change based on what the story or script requires that week. š
ejdalise says
Iām not familiar with that particular Robin Hood series, probably for the very reasons you mention.
To date, and I admit my episode watching is still in the low teens, The Doctor has not performed any miracles. And as far as I can tell, he has no special abilities per se, assuming knowledge is not an ability, other than he can operate the TARDIS. Rest assured, at the risk of alienating Hickerson, I will drop the series at the first sign of unexplained woo.
As for regeneration, I am willing to give it a little slack mainly because I recognize it strictly as a means to swap out actors. Based on my limited viewing, Iāve not seen it used as a strong plot point, or any plot point at all. Where the series will likely lose me is in the āwobbly timeā idea. Weāll see how consistent they are, and even then I will cut some slack if the stories and characterization are outstanding.
To my understanding, metaphysical is the exploration of first causes. Definitions and scope change through human history, usually coincident to advancement in knowledge, but as I understand it to be applied today it seeks to give us explanations of our universe, and our place in it.
To that end, religious metaphysics (sometimes referred to as popular metaphysics) deals with the supernatural (mysticism and occultism) as an explanation for what we donāt know of ourselves and the physical universe. Precisely because it is popular, mystic or occult themes are often included in TV shows and movies.
Let me be clear I offer no criticism of those who may lean that way. I can, and do, enjoy the treatment of the supernatural in some entertainment vehicles, but usually not when itās a central theme. As an example I offer Heaven can Wait versus Touched by an Angel. The underlying mythos is similar, but the treatment is different. I have an antipathy for the logical inconsistency of the later, while I did like the humor and casual treatment in the former.
My statement that I wonāt watch BSG was based on the above comments labeling it as āabout religionā, but I did not accuse it of introducing the concept after the universe was established. That was meant as a general statement regarding what I dislike, and I apologize if it sounded like me accusing BSG of it.
Certainly what little I saw early on did not dwell on the spiritual, quasi-religious aspect described above, and if it did, I missed completely. My then lack of interest had more to do with it being a show not to my liking . . . did not like the characters, situational conflicts, and the idea someone could be a Cylon and not know it. Having said that, the revelation of the described mystical/religious component seals my lack of interest in it. Again, just stating itās not for me, and I hold no rancor toward, or disdain for, or pass judgment on those who find it interesting.
As far as the seemingly random nature of what magic/fantasy vehicle or treatment I will accept in my entertainment, all I can say is regardless how it appears to the casual observer, it is internally consistent. Or maybe Iām just going senile.
Summer Brooks says
EJ, so it’s more of a personal preference for you *how* those elements are used, not that you’re dismissing the program out of hand because it uses them at all. That’s cool, then, because your earlier statements seemed to indicate that you were never going to watch or continue watching any program that contained any of those elements *because* it contained those elements, not how those elements were implemented by the writers.
See? Clarity makes all the difference, especially when statements like what I thought you were saying set off my bullsh*t sensors because you weren’t internally consistent in your argument initially š
Michael Falkner says
Regarding the ending of BSG with the eschewing of all technology, it made perfect sense to me. It was pointed out throughout the four year run of the show that everything had happened before and would happen again. Furthermore, it was directly linked to technology pushing evolution.
Technology brought about the Cylons to make the Colonials’ lives easier. The Cylons gained sentience and revolted against being slaves. Lather, rinse, repeat. What better way to prevent this cycle from repeating then to get rid of the catalyst?
Of course, the coda showed us that it may have only delayed the inevitable…
chavalier says
I think BSG was hardly ruined by the ending, There are things I would have loved for them to do different. For instance, I would have like to see Starbuck jump into her viper at the end and jump away. I think it would have still left enough room for the metaphysical.
I liked the ending with Six and Baltar walking amongs the humans at the end. I think it gave us a nice capstone to their journey. As a total geek moment, it would have been really awesome to see the original Galactica from the 70s jump into view with Six and Baltar watching. IMHO
I loved the ending to Quantum Leap, I was actually a little heartbroken for Sam at the end of that. It may not be the ending we wanted, but I loved that he made that choice.
Skiznot says
Not another story to bring up the old BSG wounds. The rest of those season finale’s that I’ve seen were fine.
BSG had a great finally that managed to DESTROY the whole series for me in the last 30 minutes. First with Starbuck being a unicorn and then one of the coolest mysteries of the show, the head six, with no explanation, also a unicorn. Also, no retribution for Baltar’s and Caprica 6’s crimes, like hitler walking free and farming the rest of his days. It was my favorite epic sci-fi experience of all my life snatched away in lazy last minute writing. They needed to watch B5 to learn how to resolve mysteries with answers that are even cooler than the questions. Then again it’s TV, I take comfort in how much SGU is getting right and knowing I can always read if I want good sci-fi.
ComputerKing says
My most hated “endings” were Kyle XY, Angel, and the original end of Farscape (Before the Peacekeeper Wars Movie wrapped everything up). In short, I don’t like endings that don’t end. Of those 3, Angel came the closest to having an actual ending, and that was because the network gave them enough time to write an end script.
Arkle says
The only one I agree with is Quantum Leap, but then again, one could argue that most of the final SEASON ruined the series for re-watching. I liked BSG’s ending, I really don’t care what anyone else says. I also disliked Voyager’s ending, but for different reasons than those given in the piece.
Platypus says
Summer Brooks: “As for the rewatchability, itād be easier for me to enjoy rewatching the new miniseries and the first two seasons than it would be to rewatch the final season.”
Very, very true. The first two seasons were quite good. Season 4 overall is drowing in plot holes, shallow character retcons and an obvious desire to just get it over with at the end.
Anne Gallagher says
I agree with your choices. I would also add Deep Space Nine.