25 TV Stars Who Hated Their Show’s Finale

TV series finales are always closely watched, because they have to wrap up years of stories and character arcs. Some endings please fans, but others leave viewers – and even the actors themselves – unhappy with how things turned out. Here are some actors who have spoken out about their disappointment with how their famous shows ended, offering a look at the reactions behind the scenes to some of the most talked-about finales in TV history.

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

As a big fan of ‘Game of Thrones,’ I was really disappointed with how quickly Daenerys Targaryen changed in the final season. Emilia Clarke, who played her, has said she felt the same way – that Daenerys’s turn just felt rushed and didn’t quite make sense without more development. She wished they’d shown more scenes of her interacting with other characters to help us understand the shift. Honestly, a lot of us fans felt that way too, and it’s why the ending became so controversial and divisive – it just didn’t feel earned.

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

Alyson Hannigan has said that the last episode of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ felt rushed and left out important parts of the story. She thinks the show quickly resolved the mystery surrounding the mother character, which didn’t do it justice. While the initial read-through of the script was emotional, the final version didn’t resonate with many viewers. The finale continues to be a source of frustration for fans who feel it didn’t honor the nine seasons of character growth.

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

Penn Badgley has publicly expressed his bewilderment over the ‘Gossip Girl’ reveal that his character was the anonymous blogger. He feels the twist didn’t really fit with what had happened in the previous six seasons, considering how his character had consistently reacted to the blog’s posts. While he personally questioned the logic, he understands the show was famous for its over-the-top and surprising storylines.

Evangeline Lilly – ‘Lost’ (2004–2010)

Evangeline Lilly wasn’t happy with how her character, Kate Austen, was written in the final season of ‘Lost.’ She felt Kate was reduced to a supporting role, mainly existing to follow the male characters. After playing Kate for six seasons, Lilly hoped for more independence for the character, rather than being caught in a love triangle. She wasn’t alone in her disappointment, as many fans also found the show’s ending too focused on spirituality and open to interpretation.

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

Michael C. Hall has openly discussed how many viewers were disappointed with the original ending of ‘Dexter,’ where his character became a lumberjack. He agreed the finale didn’t feel satisfying for either the audience or those who worked on the show, and believed Dexter deserved a more fitting conclusion after such a complex journey. This ultimately led to the creation of a new, limited series designed to give the character a better ending.

Jerry Seinfeld – ‘Seinfeld’ (1989–1998)

Jerry Seinfeld has often talked about how he feels about the last episode of ‘Seinfeld’. He said the creators had fun revisiting old characters, but the courtroom setting didn’t quite fit the show’s normal style. He also pointed out that it’s always tough to end a comedy series well because people have such high hopes for the finale. Despite this, the episode is still one of the most popular and talked-about series endings ever.

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

Many of the actors from ‘Star Trek Enterprise,’ including Scott Bakula, were disappointed with how the show ended. The finale presented the events as a holographic recreation set in a different time period, which many felt ignored the main characters and their stories. Jolene Blalock strongly criticized the episode, calling it terrible and unfair to fans. The choice to feature characters from another ‘Star Trek’ series in the finale continues to be a point of frustration for those involved and fans of the show.

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

Holly Marie Combs has expressed her disappointment with the final episode of ‘Charmed,’ citing a limited budget and the lack of appearances from original cast members. She believes the show deserved a more elaborate and fitting conclusion to celebrate the Halliwell sisters’ story. Combs felt the episode was made too quickly and didn’t have the emotional impact she expected. Many fans agree, often criticizing the finale’s special effects and writing.

Roseanne Barr – ‘Roseanne’ (1988–1997)

Roseanne Barr never liked how the original ‘Roseanne’ series ended. The finale revealed the entire last season was a story written by her character, and many viewers, including Barr herself, disliked the twist that her husband Dan had secretly died. She believed the ending strayed too far from the show’s realistic portrayal of working-class life. When the show was brought back, this ending was changed, and a new storyline was created for the revival and subsequent spin-off.

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

Ian Somerhalder imagined a different ending for ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and wasn’t completely happy with how it turned out. He thought the vampire brothers, Damon and Stefan, should have had a more definitive and possibly tragic fate together, rather than a happy ending. Somerhalder felt Damon’s journey towards redemption wasn’t as compelling as a more somber conclusion. However, the finale ultimately did offer a satisfying sense of closure for the series.

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

Okay, so I recently chatted with Troian Bellisario about that Pretty Little Liars finale, and honestly, she seemed a little conflicted about the whole twin reveal. She admitted it was fun to step into a new role, but she totally got why fans felt like it came out of nowhere. Apparently, keeping that secret for so long was incredibly hard, and she knew the payoff was always going to be tricky. A lot of viewers, and I agree, felt like the twist relied on something that hadn’t really been hinted at throughout the series. It just didn’t feel fully earned, you know?

Stana Katic – ‘Castle’ (2009–2016)

Stana Katic was surprised when she was unexpectedly let go from ‘Castle’ shortly before the show ended. The final episode included a quickly-made ending to give the characters a happy conclusion, as it became clear the main actors wouldn’t be back. While Katic hasn’t spoken much about what happened, many reports indicated there was tension during filming. Viewers felt the episode’s jump forward in time and focus on a settled, domestic life was a sudden and unwelcome change from the show’s previous dramatic cliffhanger.

Sandra Oh – ‘Killing Eve’ (2018–2022)

The ending of ‘Killing Eve’ sparked criticism for how its main characters, Eve and Villanelle, were treated. Many viewers felt the quick death of Villanelle after she and Eve finally came together relied on an overused and unsatisfying plot device. Sandra Oh revealed the ending was challenging to film and underwent multiple revisions. Even the author of the original story publicly disagreed with the direction the TV series took with its finale.

Jensen Ackles – ‘Supernatural’ (2005–2020)

Jensen Ackles had a hard time with the original ending for ‘Supernatural’ and even talked to others about it. After playing Dean Winchester for fifteen seasons, he found it tough to accept the character’s fate. He eventually understood the decision after discussing it with the show’s creator, Eric Kripke, but admitted his initial reaction was negative. The choice to kill off a central character in a fairly ordinary scene also sparked a lot of debate among fans.

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

Angus T. Jones stepped away from ‘Two and a Half Men’ well before it ended, citing his personal values. The series finale included a self-aware look back at the show’s past and a strange cameo that confused many viewers. Jones didn’t participate in the final episode and has said he was uncomfortable with the show’s subject matter. Many critics felt the ending focused more on a disagreement with a former star than on giving fans a satisfying conclusion.

Eliza Taylor – ‘The 100’ (2014–2020)

The ending of ‘The 100’ was tough for Eliza Taylor and many of the show’s fans. Taylor had hoped for a happier conclusion for her character, Clarke Griffin, after everything she’d been through. Viewers were especially disappointed by the deaths of several key characters so close to the end of the series, and many felt the show’s final message was pessimistic.

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

Stephen Moyer said the last scenes of ‘True Blood’ were emotionally challenging due to what happened to his character, Bill Compton. He thought Bill’s decision to choose permanent death was a sad way to end a show that was usually lighthearted and over-the-top. Many viewers were unhappy that Sookie ended up with a random human instead of one of her previous love interests. Moyer explained that the finale aimed to portray grief and healing in a realistic way.

Allison Williams – ‘Girls’ (2012–2017)

Allison Williams felt the ending of ‘Girls’ was both sad and a little awkward for her character, Marnie. The finale centered on just a few characters, which left some viewers feeling like the relationships between the group weren’t fully wrapped up. Williams explained that the show wasn’t designed to make all the characters lovable or give them perfect conclusions. Many fans, however, were disappointed that the four main friends never had one last get-together.

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

Steve Carell didn’t want to appear in the final episode of ‘The Office’ because he didn’t want to take attention away from the current cast. Although he did make a quick appearance, he insisted it be a small role. Some viewers and critics thought his cameo wasn’t substantial enough, considering how important he’d been to the show. Carell believed the series had moved on and that the ending should focus on the actors who were still with the show.

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

During the last season of the ‘Will & Grace’ revival, Megan Mullally reportedly had disagreements with her co-stars. This caused her to miss a few episodes and led some viewers to believe the final season lacked the same spark as the original series. While Mullally hasn’t discussed the finale in detail, many fans noticed the tension behind the scenes. Interestingly, the show’s original finale in 2006 was also debated at the time due to a time jump that the revival ultimately didn’t acknowledge.

Tom Welling – ‘Smallville’ (2001–2011)

Tom Welling explained his reasoning for not fully appearing as Superman in the ‘Smallville’ finale. He felt the show focused on Clark Kent’s development, not on Superman’s adventures. While some fans were upset with the extensive use of special effects that hid the character in his costume, Welling maintained the decision stayed true to the show’s core concept, even though many wanted to see a traditional reveal.

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

Mischa Barton’s time on ‘The O.C.’ ended when her character was written off the show before it finished. She later said she believed the series declined in quality as it went on and didn’t live up to its initial popularity. While she felt leaving was the right decision, she was saddened by the show’s eventual struggles. The finale was considered a low-key ending for a series that had once been a major cultural hit.

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

Lauren Graham was taken aback by the last four words of the ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’ revival, which left the story on a cliffhanger. She felt the ending was more of a fresh start for the characters than a true conclusion. Graham admitted she wasn’t sure what to make of the way the story came full circle for Rory Gilmore. The ending sparked debate among fans, with some seeing it as a beautiful, cyclical conclusion and others viewing it as a step backward for the characters.

Matthew Morrison – ‘Glee’ (2009–2015)

Matthew Morrison has talked about how hard it was to film the final season of ‘Glee’ after Cory Monteith’s death. He believes the show never felt the same after his passing, and the finale was a struggle to bring the story to a satisfying end. The original plan for the finale focused on the characters Finn and Rachel, but that had to be changed. Many viewers felt the final version felt disjointed and didn’t quite live up to expectations after everything the show had been through.

Share your thoughts on these controversial television endings in the comments.

2026-01-07 04:23