All good things must come to an end, as the old saying goes, and this is especially true for TV series. Over the years, we’ve seen many of them go too soon – think of cult classics like Firefly, for example – and others outlive their usefulness, becoming too cheezy and predictable for the viewers’ tastes (think Stargate: SG1 with a final season that felt like nothing but SyFy’s attempt to break a Guinness world record with it, which it did). But a new year has come, and this year, we have to say our final farewells to some very successful and popular series that fans hate to see leave the screens.
Game of Thrones (8 seasons)
Created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss and based on the epic fantasy novel series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R. R. Martin, “Game of Thrones” redefined “epic” when it comes to television series. Each season of the series cost HBO the budget of a high-profile movie, and it shows – it didn’t only become one of the most popular and successful TV series ever but it was also the most pirated one in history. Plus, it won a total of more than 230 awards (Peter Dinklage, playing Tyrion Lannister, pocketed 8 of them himself, being the most awarded of the cast), not counting the awards and nominations it will surely get for its epic conclusive season.
“Game of Thrones” will go out in style, with six episodes, betrayal, war, and an epic battle to conclude the series’ events. And to ease the pain, the channel will produce a prequel series taking place millennia before the events in GoT.
The Big Bang Theory (12 seasons)
Big Bang Theory entered its last season this February, its swan song after more than a decade of on-screen entertainment. The series was created by Chuck Lorre, who contributed to the world of entertainment with series like “Two and a Half Men”, “Mom”, and “Dharma & Greg”, and Bill Prady, a writer and producer who has worked on everything from “The Muppets” to “Star Trek: Voyager”. During its run, TBBT won Primetime Emmys, a Golden Globe, Critics Choice Television Awards, People’s Choice Awards, even a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award (Johnny Galecki).
Even if it hurts seeing TBBT go, we can find some comfort in the prequel series “Young Sheldon”.
Gotham (5 seasons)
Gotham, the series filled with the origin stories of some of the greatest DC Comics heroes and villains, will end after its ongoing fifth season. Luckily, Fox made it clear that the season will not leave any loose ends behind, wrapping up the story by the time it ends. Perhaps, all the characters will become their familiar selves, just as David Mazouz hopes
Homeland (8 seasons)
A look at the US’ intelligence community, based on the Israeli series “Prisoners of War”, went on for seven seasons so far, collecting several Primetime Emmys (including two for protagonist Claire Danes), Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, and many others. The series’ first season received rave reviews by critics, with their scores have continued to decline over the years. Apparently, it’s leaving the screens not a moment too soon.
Mr. Robot (4 seasons)
Last but not least, let’s take a look at a series that is painfully actual: Mr Robot, starring a socially anxious and depressed hacker recruited by an insurrectionary anarchist to turn the world upside down. Three seasons, a Primetime Emmy, and a Peabody award later, the series prepares for its fourth and final season. The series managed to maintain its position in the eyes of the critics and viewers alike. This is one of the series we truly hate seeing go.
The final season of the series will air sometime before the end of this year.