Fantasy TV reveals hardly ever get full runs, and even those that do aren’t assured satisfying endings. Fantasy is likely one of the hardest genres to carry to tv, because it lends itself to longer, extra expansive storytelling — one thing that is removed from a given within the streaming period.
Many fantasy series are canceled before their time, typically leading to dissatisfying conclusions for his or her characters. Others see their tales by means of to the tip however nonetheless fail to stay the touchdown, whether or not it is due to unpopular writing decisions or circumstances exterior their management.
Regardless of the causes, it is all the time disappointing when a beloved sequence is weakened by a disappointing ending. These fantasy reveals definitely deserved higher than the finales they received, which vary from mildly disappointing to a few of the worst endings in TV history.
Cursed
Netflix’s Cursed may need gotten a greater ending if it had been renewed for season 2, however it stands nicely sufficient by itself — in case you can overlook the paradox of Nimue’s destiny. Cursed diverges from Thomas Wheeler’s book on this regard, because the supply materials confirms that Nimue survives her fall into the lake.
Whereas her open ending may look like a aid, given the present’s shortened run, it is fairly disappointing that that is how her story ends. Katherine Langford’s heroine deserves higher than this, and Cursed on the entire ought to have been picked up for a sophomore season. Its nice potential feels wasted at simply 10 episodes.
Merlin
13 years after Merlin‘s series finale, it’s still devastating to consider. And though a tragic conclusion does not all the time quantity to a disappointing one, that finally ends up being the case for the BBC present. Followers had been overwhelmingly crucial of Merlin‘s sequence finale, and it is exhausting responsible them. Not solely did it ship a devastating conclusion for its characters, however it additionally felt unfocused and rushed.
Merlin may have gone the tragedy route if it had dealt with the occasions of the ultimate season higher. Sadly, they really feel poorly pieced collectively. Given what a cult following the sequence had, it is unhappy to see how a lot its legacy has been formed by its divisive ending. It deserved so significantly better than that.
The Legend Of Korra
The Legend of Korra‘s greatest weak spot — its lack of 1, overarching story all through its 4 seasons — is not the present’s fault, because it needed to take care of uncertainty surrounding renewals (by way of CBR). However no matter the place the blame lies, this resulted within the spinoff’s last season being a step down from the earlier one.
The Legend of Korra season 3 has excessive stakes and an awesome villain in Zahir, and it does not fairly reside as much as that with its ending. On high of that, the romance between Korra and Asami deserved to be extra overt, providing true LGBTQ+ illustration. Evidently, the ultimate episodes show disappointing, even when they are not as dissatisfying as among the different endings on this record.
The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries was strongest throughout its first 4 seasons, however issues took a flip when Elena grew to become a vampire. And after Nina Dobrev left the present, it felt like a distinct story fully. This made getting Elena again for the finale a necessity, however sadly, her return to Mystic Falls nonetheless felt a bit awkward.
As touching as Elena’s last moments in The Vampire Diaries are, the final scene feels underwhelming for such an iconic and long-running sequence. Moreover, Stefan’s destiny on the finish of the present is a degree of rivalry; he did not want to finish up with Elena, however they may have given him a greater destiny than that. The Vampire Diaries deserved to finish on a better be aware, however persevering with previous its pure finish made that unimaginable.
True Blood
The Vampire Diaries is not the one common vampire present to have a disappointing conclusion. True Blood was a gripping addition to the subgenre when it made its debut, however the HBO sequence did not preserve its prime quality during. By the point its ending arrived, it felt like a hole shell of the sequence it was once.
True Blood‘s finale does not resolve its romantic storylines in a satisfying means after preserving viewers on edge for seven seasons. It additionally does not ship on all of the tensions current all through the ultimate outing, making it each underwhelming and inconsistent after every part that got here earlier than. It is a disgrace, because it actually was an awesome present.
Shadow And Bone
Shadow and Bone is one other canceled fantasy present which may’ve had a greater ending if it had continued — although season 2’s shift away from the supply materials did not encourage hope. Shadow and Bone season 2’s ending sees Basic Kirigan defeated, with Alina Starkov changing into queen and uncovering shadow powers. It is uncharted territory, although we’ll by no means know if such modifications would have paid off.
Viewers deserved higher than to be left on a significant cliffhanger that even Leigh Bardugo’s books could not reply. And digging deeper, Shadow and Bone deserved a conclusion extra in step with what occurs within the supply materials. What makes its early ending even sadder is the truth that we’ll by no means get a Six of Crows spinoff. Evidently, its destiny is disappointing on many fronts.
Recreation Of Thrones
A listing of disappointing TV endings would not be full with out Recreation of Thrones — as a result of, regardless of how you are feeling in regards to the finale, there are positively issues that might have been dealt with higher. Recreation of Thrones season 8 is not all unhealthy, and the Starks have comparatively satisfying endings. Nonetheless, the best way the ultimate episodes rush to the end line does not lend itself to satisfying storytelling.
Daenerys’ Mad Queen flip may have labored with extra time, however Recreation of Thrones does not give it sufficient to completely promote it. There’s additionally the White Walker storyline, which left viewers disenchanted after seasons of build-up. With Recreation of Thrones being one of the vital influential fantasy reveals of all time, it is a bummer it does not have an ending that lives as much as that.
Supernatural
After 15 seasons of Supernatural, the CW sequence deserved an unbelievable sendoff — however it made some decisions within the sequence finale that viewers are nonetheless scratching their heads over. Dean’s destiny is maybe the most important downside with the final episode; even when Jensen Ackles’ character was destined to exit working for the household enterprise, absolutely they may have given him a extra epic finish.
Castiel’s dying additionally feels pointless — and that is to not point out how his last moments play into Hollywood’s “bury your gays” trope — and Sam’s ending, whereas becoming, has confirmed divisive. With Supernatural boasting such an extended and lasting legacy, it ought to have had a extra satisfying conclusion than this. It is no marvel followers of the long-running fantasy sequence are hoping for season 16.
