25 TV Stars Who Hated Their Show’s Finale

Television finales are often the most scrutinized episodes of any series as they must provide closure for years of storytelling and character development. While some shows manage to satisfy their audience others leave viewers and even their own stars feeling disappointed by the creative choices. The following actors have publicly shared their frustrations with the way their iconic shows concluded their journeys on the small screen. These accounts provide a glimpse into the behind the scenes reactions to some of the most debated endings in television history.

Emilia Clarke – ‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

Emilia Clarke expressed her frustration with the rapid character shift for Daenerys Targaryen in the final season of ‘Game of Thrones’. She felt the ending for her character was rushed and lacked the necessary build up to justify the descent into madness. The actress noted that she wished her character could have had more scenes with other leads to flesh out the transformation. Fans shared this sentiment as the series conclusion became one of the most polarizing events in television history.

Alyson Hannigan – ‘How I Met Your Mother’ (2005–2014)

Alyson Hannigan admitted that the final episode of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ felt like it cut out too much essential material. She believed the quick wrap up of the titular mother character was a disservice to the long running mystery. The actress expressed that the table read was emotional but the final edit missed the mark for many viewers. This finale remains a point of contention for fans who felt the ending undermined nine years of character development.

Penn Badgley – ‘Gossip Girl’ (2007–2012)

Penn Badgley has been vocal about his confusion regarding the reveal that his character was the titular blogger in ‘Gossip Girl’. He pointed out that the twist made very little sense given the previous six seasons of narrative logic and character actions. The actor noted that the plot hole was significant because his character was often shocked by the blog posts while alone. Despite his personal reservations he acknowledged that the show was known for its dramatic and sometimes improbable turns.

Evangeline Lilly – ‘Lost’ (2004–2010)

Evangeline Lilly revealed that she was disappointed by the direction the final season of ‘Lost’ took for her character Kate Austen. She felt that Kate became a secondary figure whose primary purpose was to follow the male leads around the island. The actress wanted more autonomy for the character she had portrayed for six years instead of a focus on a love triangle. Many viewers shared her concerns about the spiritual and ambiguous nature of the ultimate conclusion.

Michael C. Hall – ‘Dexter’ (2006–2013)

Michael C. Hall acknowledged the widespread dissatisfaction with the original series finale of ‘Dexter’ which saw the main character become a lumberjack. He admitted that the ending was not particularly satisfying for the audience or the cast members involved in the production. The actor felt the character deserved a more definitive or meaningful resolution after years of moral complexity. This dissatisfaction eventually led to the creation of a limited series revival to provide a new conclusion.

Jerry Seinfeld – ‘Seinfeld’ (1989–1998)

Jerry Seinfeld has frequently discussed his mixed feelings regarding the final episode of the legendary sitcom ‘Seinfeld’. He mentioned that while the creators enjoyed bringing back old guest stars the courtroom format felt disconnected from the show’s usual tone. The star admitted that comedy finales are notoriously difficult to get right because expectations are so high. The episode remains one of the most watched and debated finales in the history of television.

Scott Bakula – ‘Star Trek Enterprise’ (2001–2005)

Scott Bakula and his fellow cast members were reportedly unhappy with how ‘Star Trek Enterprise’ concluded its run. The finale was framed as a holographic simulation within a different era of the franchise which many felt sidelined the current crew. Jolene Blalock was particularly vocal about the episode calling it appalling and a disservice to the fans. The decision to focus on characters from a different series for the finale remains a sore spot for the franchise.

Holly Marie Combs – ‘Charmed’ (1998–2006)

Holly Marie Combs criticized the final episode of ‘Charmed’ for its lack of budget and the absence of key cast members. She felt the series deserved a more grand farewell that properly honored the legacy of the Halliwell sisters. The actress noted that the production felt rushed and the story lacked the emotional weight she had hoped for. Fans have often pointed out the visual effects and writing choices in the finale as points of weakness.

Roseanne Barr – ‘Roseanne’ (1988–1997)

Roseanne Barr famously disliked the original series finale of ‘Roseanne’ which revealed the entire final season was a fictional story written by her character. The twist that her husband Dan had actually died of a heart attack was widely criticized by viewers and the star herself. She felt the departure from the show’s grounded blue collar roots into a fantasy world was a mistake. This ending was eventually retconned when the series returned for a revival and subsequent spin off.

Ian Somerhalder – ‘The Vampire Diaries’ (2009–2017)

Ian Somerhalder had a different vision for the end of ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and was not entirely pleased with the final outcome. He believed that the vampire brothers should have met a more permanent and perhaps darker end together without the romantic resolution. The actor felt that the redemptive path for Damon Salvatore was less interesting than a tragic conclusion. Despite his personal preferences the finale provided a sense of closure for the long running supernatural drama.

Troian Bellisario – ‘Pretty Little Liars’ (2010–2017)

Troian Bellisario expressed some hesitation and confusion regarding the secret twin twist in the ‘Pretty Little Liars’ finale. While she enjoyed the challenge of playing a new character she understood why fans felt the reveal was abrupt. The actress noted that keeping such a major secret for years was difficult and the execution was always going to be risky. Many viewers felt the ending relied on a trope that had not been properly established in earlier seasons.

Stana Katic – ‘Castle’ (2009–2016)

Stana Katic was reportedly shocked by her sudden dismissal from ‘Castle’ just before the show was officially canceled. The final episode featured a hastily filmed epilogue to give the characters a happy ending after it became clear the leads would not return. The actress has remained largely silent about the specific plot points but the tension on set was widely reported. Fans found the time jump and domestic resolution to be a jarring shift from the intense cliffhanger ending.

Sandra Oh – ‘Killing Eve’ (2018–2022)

Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer both faced backlash following the final episode of ‘Killing Eve’ due to the treatment of the main characters. The death of Villanelle shortly after she and Eve finally united was seen by many as a trope that punished certain characters. Sandra Oh mentioned in interviews that the ending was difficult to film and was changed several times during production. The creator of the source material even publicly criticized the television adaptation for its choice of ending.

Jensen Ackles – ‘Supernatural’ (2005–2020)

Jensen Ackles initially struggled to accept the script for the ‘Supernatural’ series finale and even sought outside advice. He felt the fate of Dean Winchester was difficult to swallow after fifteen years of fighting against destiny. The actor eventually came to terms with the ending after speaking with creator Eric Kripke but remained open about his first reaction. Many fans were divided over the decision to kill off a main character in a relatively mundane way during the final hour.

Angus T. Jones – ‘Two and a Half Men’ (2003–2015)

Angus T. Jones famously distanced himself from ‘Two and a Half Men’ long before the series finale due to his personal beliefs. The final episode featured a meta commentary on the show’s history and a cameo by a lookalike that many found bizarre. Jones did not return for the finale and has expressed his discomfort with the themes of the sitcom. The ending was criticized for being more of a jab at a former lead actor than a proper conclusion for the fans.

Eliza Taylor – ‘The 100’ (2014–2020)

Eliza Taylor and other cast members of ‘The 100’ faced a difficult finale that saw many characters reach a divisive transcendental conclusion. The actress expressed that she had hoped for a more traditional happy ending for her character Clarke Griffin after years of trauma. Fans were particularly upset by the deaths of major characters just episodes before the series wrap. The final message of the show was viewed as cynical by a significant portion of the audience.

Stephen Moyer – ‘True Blood’ (2008–2014)

Stephen Moyer shared that the final scenes of ‘True Blood’ were difficult because of the fate of his character Bill Compton. He felt the choice for Bill to seek a permanent death was a somber note to end on for a show that was often campy and fun. Many fans were disappointed that Sookie Stackhouse ended up with an unnamed human character instead of an established love interest. The actor acknowledged that the finale tried to provide a realistic look at grief and moving on.

Allison Williams – ‘Girls’ (2012–2017)

Allison Williams found the ending of ‘Girls’ to be a bittersweet and somewhat uncomfortable experience for her character Marnie. The finale focused on a smaller subset of the cast which left some feeling like the group dynamic was unresolved. Williams noted that the characters were never meant to be fully likable or have perfect endings. However the lack of a final gathering for the four main friends was a point of criticism for those who followed the series.

Steve Carell – ‘The Office’ (2005–2013)

Steve Carell was hesitant about returning for the finale of ‘The Office’ because he did not want to overshadow the current cast. While he did eventually make a cameo he was very specific about having a limited role in the final episode. Some fans and critics felt his brief appearance was not enough to honor his massive contribution to the series. The actor maintained that the show had evolved past his character and the ending should belong to the remaining stars.

Megan Mullally – ‘Will & Grace’ (1998–2020)

Megan Mullally was reportedly involved in a conflict with her cast mates during the final season of the ‘Will & Grace’ revival. This tension led to her absence from several episodes and a finale that some felt lacked the chemistry of the original run. The actress has not spoken extensively on the finale itself but the behind the scenes drama was apparent to many fans. The original 2006 finale was also controversial for its time jump which the revival eventually ignored.

Tom Welling – ‘Smallville’ (2001–2011)

Tom Welling stood his ground regarding the decision not to wear the full Superman suit in the ‘Smallville’ finale. He believed the show was about the journey of Clark Kent and not the adventures of Superman himself. Many fans were disappointed by the heavy use of CGI that obscured the hero in his iconic costume. The actor defended the choice as being true to the spirit of the series despite the desire for a classic reveal.

Mischa Barton – ‘The O.C.’ (2003–2007)

Mischa Barton had a complicated relationship with ‘The O.C.’ and her character was killed off well before the series finale. However she expressed that the show lost its way toward the end and the final season struggled to recapture its early success. The actress felt that her exit was necessary but the subsequent decline of the show was unfortunate. The series finale itself was seen as a quiet exit for a show that was once a cultural phenomenon.

Lauren Graham – ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’ (2016)

Lauren Graham was surprised by the final four words of the ‘Gilmore Girls A Year in the Life’ revival and the cliffhanger they created. She expressed that the ending felt like a beginning rather than a definitive conclusion for the characters. The actress noted that she was not sure how to feel about the cyclical nature of the story for Rory Gilmore. Fans were left divided on whether the ending was a poetic full circle or a regression for the lead characters.

Matthew Morrison – ‘Glee’ (2009–2015)

Matthew Morrison has discussed the challenges of the ‘Glee’ finale following the tragic passing of Cory Monteith. The actor felt the show never truly recovered from the loss and the ending was a difficult attempt to provide closure. He noted that the original planned ending was completely different and centered on the characters of Finn and Rachel. The final version felt like a patchwork of ideas to many viewers who had stuck with the show through its ups and downs.

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