J
Jetfire
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Angel S5 was good for me...it made me wish it didn't end there...that being said I hate Angel S1-S4. 
Examples of shows where the final season was the best
- Thread starter Ensign_Redshirt
- Start date
The Shield
The 4400 had a pretty good last season
ENT seasons 3 and 4 were both excellent, I find it hard to decide which one was the best.
For DS9, I'd pick season 5, and I'd put season 6 above season 7 as well. Season 6 had its problems, but lees so than season 7 (there was less Pah-wraiths crap, and don't get me started on Sisko's Prophet Mom storyline...).
I'm not counting series that only had 2 seasons, so Carnivale, Rome etc. are out of running.
The 4400 had a pretty good last season
ENT seasons 3 and 4 were both excellent, I find it hard to decide which one was the best.
For DS9, I'd pick season 5, and I'd put season 6 above season 7 as well. Season 6 had its problems, but lees so than season 7 (there was less Pah-wraiths crap, and don't get me started on Sisko's Prophet Mom storyline...).
I'm not counting series that only had 2 seasons, so Carnivale, Rome etc. are out of running.
Really? I thought VOY season 7 was awful and its worst. Season 4 was the best, IMO.
I remember Early Edition's fourth year as being pretty great...
Haven't seen Boston Legal's fifth yet, so I can't comment on that...
And while I'm no Walker, Texas Ranger expert, I did like the cast at the end: not only Walker and Trivette, but the young buck and the badass Asian chick. Having four main heroes gave the show a a warmer, more lighthearted feel than the earlier days of grittier, Norris-as-Rambo action. But those two joined up in the penultimate season, and I have no idea which was better, that or the last.
Haven't seen Boston Legal's fifth yet, so I can't comment on that...
And while I'm no Walker, Texas Ranger expert, I did like the cast at the end: not only Walker and Trivette, but the young buck and the badass Asian chick. Having four main heroes gave the show a a warmer, more lighthearted feel than the earlier days of grittier, Norris-as-Rambo action. But those two joined up in the penultimate season, and I have no idea which was better, that or the last.
How about Andy Richter Controls the Universe? It at least had two...
I might nominate season 3 of Arrested Development, although the quality level was hairs-breadth consistent throughout that whole show.
I could argue DS9's S7, as others have. That's hard to call--like DevilEyes said, it sure did bring a lot of chaff with the wheat. Chaff covered with manure.
Season Five (and the first six episodes of S6) were the high point of DS9. Everything after that was a disappointment. I did enjoy "The Final Chapter" more than anything since "Sacrifice of Angels" but "What You Leave Behind" absolutely pissed me off and killed my interest in the show.
Farscape, ended way before its time.
Legend of the Seeker. Its second season was clearly a vast improvement over the first, and it was getting even better when it was canceled.
Agreed.
Dollhouse Season 2 was best season.
If Fringe continues on it's current path (every season getting better) it'll be true for Fringe
Jeremiah's last season was best.
Wow........ surprisingly few examples are coming to mind. Even the ones I posted are iffy. Dollhouse and Jeremiah were both cancelled in their second season. Fringe is getting better every season but if it goes another couple seasons, there's no way to guarantee that trend will continue.
I'm probably going to get a lot of 'WTF' reactions here, but I'm going to say Battlestar Galactica. Season 4 might not be as perfectly executed as, say, Season 1, but, in terms of storyline and content, it surpasses what S1 did by bringing everything full-circle and by giving us some of the best episodes of the series. Some of my favorite eps in the entirety of the series come from Season 4, such as The Road Less Traveled, Faith, Guess What's Coming to Dinner, Revelations, Sometimes A Great Notion, No Exit, and Blood on the Scales, amongst others.
I would have to say Enterprise as well, which was a shame. It took four seasons to get good and then UPN pulls the plug.
WTF?
EDIT: Honestly, though, "Sometimes A Great Notion" was a fantastic episode. As was "No Exit." But beginning with "Deadlock" the series really stumbled into its finale. Had Season 4 been 13 episodes like Season 1, then it may have been more consistent. But with 20 episodes, Season 4 was just all over the place. Even if you factor in the mutiny arc as a highlight.
I'll agree that seasons 1 and 4 of Galactica were the best; the middle two were pretty unfocused and erratic. But I'm not sure which of the "outer" two seasons I'd rate higher.
I guess this is supposed to be a thread about science fiction shows, but someone mentioned "Arrested Development", so I think it should be okay for me to mention the U.K. version of "The Office". When I first heard it ended after only two seasons despite being the hottest show in the U.K., I thought that sounded crazy, but looking at the state of shows like the American version and "The Simpsons", I keep feeling more and more respect for the decision of Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant to end the show in a way that would let it go out on top.
I don't see much difference between the two seasons, but from what I recall season two is just as good as season one, if not better sometimes, and the ending to the second Christmas special (which I guess can be considered the series finale?) is one of the best endings to a TV series I've ever seen.
I don't see much difference between the two seasons, but from what I recall season two is just as good as season one, if not better sometimes, and the ending to the second Christmas special (which I guess can be considered the series finale?) is one of the best endings to a TV series I've ever seen.
WTF?
EDIT: Honestly, though, "Sometimes A Great Notion" was a fantastic episode. As was "No Exit." But beginning with "Deadlock" the series really stumbled into its finale. Had Season 4 been 13 episodes like Season 1, then it may have been more consistent. But with 20 episodes, Season 4 was just all over the place. Even if you factor in the mutiny arc as a highlight.
I don't personally think there was any dip in the quality of the episodes during S4, even if there are a few plot-related things that could've used some better set-up/wrap-up, but you're entitled to your opinion.
Examples of shows where the final season was the best, imo:
Battlestar Galactica: I disagree about the final season. Actually from what I'm hearing, I disagree with you guys a lot about this show. I'm not saying BSG didn't have any so-so episodes because it had a couple, but I think overall it was a great series. I'd say the last season was its best. I thought the series finale was perfect.
Lost: I also disagree about LOST. The last season was Amazing. Well written, well acted. I liked the two plotlines & the finale was one of the best I've seen. Such a great show. I miss it.
Enterprise: I agree. The last season was really good. I think it should have been more like the last season all along. The final season was much closer to the feel of the first Star Trek and Enterprise should have been like that.
Hmm. Not too sure what else. I agree that a lot shows do not end on their best season. X-Files last season was horrible (and that final episode...ugh), Angel had a really good final season, but it wasn't its best imo. And I'm one of the few people who hated the Angel series finale!
Buffy's final season was so-so, Quantum Leap had a good final season (with an excellent series finale), but I'm not sure if it was their best season. Farscape's final season was a mixed bag at first and then near the end of the season it really picked up (at Unrealized Reality till Bad Timing). Still, I think season 3 is the best Farscape season. Hmm. I just can't think of any other shows that had great final seasons...
Battlestar Galactica: I disagree about the final season. Actually from what I'm hearing, I disagree with you guys a lot about this show. I'm not saying BSG didn't have any so-so episodes because it had a couple, but I think overall it was a great series. I'd say the last season was its best. I thought the series finale was perfect.
Lost: I also disagree about LOST. The last season was Amazing. Well written, well acted. I liked the two plotlines & the finale was one of the best I've seen. Such a great show. I miss it.
Enterprise: I agree. The last season was really good. I think it should have been more like the last season all along. The final season was much closer to the feel of the first Star Trek and Enterprise should have been like that.
Hmm. Not too sure what else. I agree that a lot shows do not end on their best season. X-Files last season was horrible (and that final episode...ugh), Angel had a really good final season, but it wasn't its best imo. And I'm one of the few people who hated the Angel series finale!
Buffy's final season was so-so, Quantum Leap had a good final season (with an excellent series finale), but I'm not sure if it was their best season. Farscape's final season was a mixed bag at first and then near the end of the season it really picked up (at Unrealized Reality till Bad Timing). Still, I think season 3 is the best Farscape season. Hmm. I just can't think of any other shows that had great final seasons...
Six Feet Under (the best final season ever from beginning to end)
The Sopranos (it smoothe you in at the start and then push you through a whirlwind in the second half of the season)
The Shield (It was like watching the final act of a Shakespearan tragedy in a good way)
Battlestar Galactica (a good final season despite its flaws)
Deadwood (the building tension of Season 3 kept you glued for each episode)
Angel (character development, change of scenery, Spike joining the cast, and the return of some familiar faces made this season the best of the series and one of the best final seasons in TV history)
Ashes to Ashes (just like the final season of Deadwood, the season's building tension kept you glued for each episode through the season's twists and turns until the revealing final episode that left you satisfied in terms of answers to some of the show's major questions and emotional closure with the characters the way Lost never fully achieved)
The UK version of the Office (The second season delved more into the characters than the first season did and, if you include the Christmas special to the Season 2 package, had a excellent series finale)
Party Down (Season 2 really hit it out of the park for the show from beginning to end)
The Sopranos (it smoothe you in at the start and then push you through a whirlwind in the second half of the season)
The Shield (It was like watching the final act of a Shakespearan tragedy in a good way)
Battlestar Galactica (a good final season despite its flaws)
Deadwood (the building tension of Season 3 kept you glued for each episode)
Angel (character development, change of scenery, Spike joining the cast, and the return of some familiar faces made this season the best of the series and one of the best final seasons in TV history)
Ashes to Ashes (just like the final season of Deadwood, the season's building tension kept you glued for each episode through the season's twists and turns until the revealing final episode that left you satisfied in terms of answers to some of the show's major questions and emotional closure with the characters the way Lost never fully achieved)
The UK version of the Office (The second season delved more into the characters than the first season did and, if you include the Christmas special to the Season 2 package, had a excellent series finale)
Party Down (Season 2 really hit it out of the park for the show from beginning to end)
Charlie Jade. 
Uh seriously, Star Trek: Enterprise is the only genre show I'm sure about this offhand. I did like the seventh season of DS9 more then many (Ezri Dax helped a fair bit, I think) but it's been so long since I've seen the show in its entirety I'm reluctant to make a sweeping statement like favourite season ever considering the entirely strong candidacies of seasons five, six and four.
What season seven did to Dukat, for one thing, is enough for me to really not opt for it. I mean can we pretend that never happened and Dukat just disappeared, oh, after "Waltz"? Please?
But I wouldn't call it the best year of the series. If it wasn't so uneven in places I'd be inclined to say season two, just to be contrarian, but season three quite rightly deserves the spot of best Farscape year in my eyes.
My problem for Deadwood and the Sopranos both is by and large I found the shows to be very good with remarkable consistency, so I'm not of a mind to declare a given season a favourite - the last year of either show is a reasonable enough candidate, but just one of many.
Six Feet Under, though... I dunno. The show had a knockout finale and concluding arc, however, and given that and add to it some less-then-ideal decisions made in previous years (so many annoying side characters, so little time to blast them all) the fifth year is a good enough pick for me too.
Nah it was a good year. I don't bat an eyelid to whichever season Battlestar Galactica fans consider best - the first, second and fourth are all fine.
Now if you say three, then I'm sure you're crazy.
Uh seriously, Star Trek: Enterprise is the only genre show I'm sure about this offhand. I did like the seventh season of DS9 more then many (Ezri Dax helped a fair bit, I think) but it's been so long since I've seen the show in its entirety I'm reluctant to make a sweeping statement like favourite season ever considering the entirely strong candidacies of seasons five, six and four.
What season seven did to Dukat, for one thing, is enough for me to really not opt for it. I mean can we pretend that never happened and Dukat just disappeared, oh, after "Waltz"? Please?
It did. And I do think the fourth season was good overall, especially in its epic concluding arc.
But I wouldn't call it the best year of the series. If it wasn't so uneven in places I'd be inclined to say season two, just to be contrarian, but season three quite rightly deserves the spot of best Farscape year in my eyes.
My problem for Deadwood and the Sopranos both is by and large I found the shows to be very good with remarkable consistency, so I'm not of a mind to declare a given season a favourite - the last year of either show is a reasonable enough candidate, but just one of many.
Six Feet Under, though... I dunno. The show had a knockout finale and concluding arc, however, and given that and add to it some less-then-ideal decisions made in previous years (so many annoying side characters, so little time to blast them all) the fifth year is a good enough pick for me too.
Nah it was a good year. I don't bat an eyelid to whichever season Battlestar Galactica fans consider best - the first, second and fourth are all fine.
Now if you say three, then I'm sure you're crazy.
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