Why are TV endings so hard to get right?

Fair warning, spoilers ahead

But honestly, if you haven't seen these shows by now, the internet's probably already ruined them for you anyway

Nevertheless, you've been warned. Why do so many great shows refuse to just die

Some shows peak, hit the perfect exit ramp, and instead of taking it, they just keep going

Today, we're exploring what can happen when you drag a show past its prime

and why the final episode can either make fans love it or hate it for years

This is how it hits. Take Dexter. It started off as one of the best shows on TV

It was smart, tense, even darkly funny. You give me a f***ing creep. You know that, Dexter

Yeah, I know. Sorry about that. F*** you. Okay. And then... we got Lumberjack Dexter

To be fair, the story didn't end there. Dexter New Blood brought him back years later and now Dexter Resurrection where he back again Which both seem to have been received relatively well so redemption is possible But still the original series was just a mess by the end

The Walking Dead, a show about zombies that just wouldn't die. There was always another spinoff, another villain, another endless march

And then there's The Office. Once Michael Scott left, it felt like the party was over

But the guests just kept hanging around in our living rooms. These shows prove that the hardest part of TV isn't always starting out strong

It's knowing when to leave the stage. Oh, that was amazing! That was awesome

What am I playing? But sometimes shows do end, and that last episode can be the difference between a satisfying goodbye and an all-out fan riot

The Sopranos cut to black ending. Genius? Or... Don't stop Wait, did our cable just go out

Game of Thrones spent nearly a decade building up its story but the final season rushed to tie up every loose end And the result was And who has a better story than Bran the Broken

Well, yeah, I think we're all better off just forgetting that. And How I Met Your Mother, after nine seasons, Ted's big love story was... Robin

Again, these kinds of finales don't just divide fan bases, they keep fans arguing long after

the credits roll. Other times, finales don't just make us angry, but kind of just leave us feeling... empty

Remember Lost? polar bears, smoke monsters, mysterious numbers, so many unanswered questions all leading to an

ending that left fans asking, wait what? What just... what? And Dexter, again, not only did

it go on for too long it ended with one of the most unsatisfying finales ever These to me are actually the more frustrating endings because it not just the anger It the feeling that all that time

invested meant nothing. TV shows are almost like long-term relationships. Years invested in

characters, drama, laughs. So when it ends badly, it feels personal. To be fair, endings are hard

But when shows are able to somewhat stick the landing, like Breaking Bad or Mad Men

it can turn a great show into a legendary one. The truth is, TV shows should be treated almost like guests at a party

Show up, make us laugh, make us cry, leave us with great memories

And then leave. Because nothing kills a good time faster than a great show that just doesn't know how to say goodbye

I'll see you tomorrow at lunch. I am looking forward to lunch. But hey, what about you

What's a show ending you absolutely loved? Or one you'll never forgive

Let us know in the comments. And as always, thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time on How It's..