Series finale

A series finale is a promotional/advertising term used to describe the final episode of a television series, usually a sitcom or a drama. The term came into use in American Television in the early 1990s. Prior to that, ending episodes were referred to simply as the final episode or last episode. As a common use term, the term "series finale" does serve to distinguish between a planned final episode (one which includes resolution) and the last episode of a show which was cancelled after the last show was filmed. The majority of television programs are cancelled with little advance warning, so the occurrence of a series finale is relatively rare in comparison.

Usually, a series finale is a dramatic conclusion to the basic premise of the series. Final episodes frequently feature fundamental changes in the central plot line, such as the union of a couple, the resolution of a central mystery or problem, or the separation of the major characters. Final episodes often include looks into the future or detailed looks into the series' past.

Famous Series finales

Warning Wikipedia contains spoilers

• Newhart- Bob Newhart awakes in bed. It turns out the entire series was just a dream.
• MASH (1983) - As the Korean War draws to a close, the 4077th ponder their respective futures.
• The Cosby Show (1992) - Theo graduates, Denise reveals she is pregnant.
• Cheers (1993) - Diane receives an award for a screenplay she has written. Sam and Diane lie to each other about having spouses and families, until, in a moment of weakness, Sam invites her back to Boston. Before long the passion between Sam and Diane is back on and they leave for California.
• Roseanne (1997) - Roseanne's monologue reveals that Dan had died from the heart-attack at the end of season 8, and season 8 was mostly her imagination.
• Seinfeld (1998) - the cast mocks a man who is being robbed on the street, rather than help him. They are arrested, and after a lengthy trial, they are imprisoned for one year.
• Star Trek: Voyager (2001) - After a decades-long journey to reach the Alpha Quadrant, Admiral Kathryn Janeway makes a bold decision to change the past in an attempt to undo the toll taken on the crew during their arduous journey home. As a result, the Voyager crew make use of the Borg's trans-warp technology to return home, while the 'future Janeway' remains to ensure the destruction of the Borg Queen.
• Home Improvement (1999) - Tim records his final Tool Time. Morgan offers Tim more money and an executive producer credit to stay with the show, but Tim rejects the offer. Jill decides to take the job in Indiana. Wilson and Tim take down their fence to make room for Al and Trudy's wedding. (This was actually the final story of the series; the true series finale was a retrospective look at 8 years of the show, complete with cast interviews, never-before-seen bloopers and ultimately the revealing of Wilson's face.)
• The X-Files (2002) - Mulder uses a keycard to break into Mount Weather and learns the date of the alien invasion using a misappropriated password. After escaping from the military, he and Scully go to New Mexico in search of a wise man who knows the final truth. That individual turns out to be the Cigarette Smoking Man, the individual who supplied the keycard and password. Meanwhile, Reyes and Doggett return to Washington to discover that the X-files have been closed once and for all. Black helicopters ultimately arrive and the Cigarette Smoking Man is killed, leaving Mulder and Scully to ponder the future.
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2003) - Buffy learns that she doesn't have to be the only active Slayer, and her dream of a somewhat normal life is realized.