It’s a misconception thatfantasyTV shows are light and always have happy endings, as some of the most famous additions to the genre have some of the darkest series finales of all time. This isn’t necessarily bad, as devastating conclusions can be cathartic, and are often the only narrative choice that will do justice to the arc of the characters and the themes of the story.
While these weren’t necessarilyTV show finales that made viewers feel betrayed, they sparked conversation and controversy because audiences always have high expectations for series finales. It’s impossible to please everyone, fans and critics alike, butthe sadness that pervades these episodes is impossible to ignore,and leaves a lasting mark on the legacy of these TV shows.
8Game Of Thrones (2011–2019)
Not Only Dark, But Also Disappointing, GOT Mishandled Its Conclusion
Though a fantastic series and one of the most important fantasy projects of the 21st century,Game of Thronesis notorious for its disappointing and devastating series finale,“The Iron Throne.” WhileGame of Thronesseason 8 challenged the expectations of viewers and critics from the start, the final episode came as a shock to the audience.
When looking atGame of Thrones' fantasy replacement shows, it’s clear that the series' influence can’t be overstated. However, the series finale is not one that should be copied.Killing off Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and crowning Bran(Isaac Hempstead Wright) in the confusing aftermath of the destruction of King’s Landing wasn’t just a letdown; it undermined the show’s overarching themes.
There were also elements of the episodes leading to the finale that made it so sad, with the Lannisters perishing in a sad, unmemorable moment, and the intense burning of the city. While the Starks mostly came out on top, with the living siblings returning to where they wanted to go, this was the only glimmer of light at the end ofGame of Thrones.
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7His Dark Materials (2019–2022)
The Pain Of Growing Up Is Made Fresh & Memorable In His Dark Materials
For readers of Philip Pullman’s beloved fantasy book series of the same name, the ending ofHis Dark Materialsdidn’t come as a surprise. However, this doesn’t lessen the impact of Lyra’s (Dafne Keen) and Will’s (Amir Wilson) separation and the pain of growing up. A lot ofHis Dark Materialsgrapples with what it’s like to come of age while battling systemic injustices and prejudice.
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His Dark Materialsisone of the few recent fantasy TV shows that got to complete its run,exploring the entire story within its three seasons. This allowed the series to reach a satisfying conclusion, but just because an ending makes sense for the narrative, doesn’t mean that it won’t crush the hearts of the viewers and characters alike.
ThoughHis Dark Materialstakes on big questions about faith and the balance between life and death, it’s able to anchor these unwieldy topics through the characters' relationships. Will and Lyra embark on epic quests, but it’s seeing them grow together that makes them so compelling. The fact thatthe young couple has no choice but to be separatedis a crushing blow at the end of the show.
6Supernatural (2005–2020)
After Avoiding Death For Decades, The Winchesters' Ending Came As A Shock
Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki were the heart and soul ofSupernaturalthroughout its fifteen seasons. Dean and Sam Winchester are some of the best TV brothers of all time. Their dedication to saving the world and beating back the forces of evil made it easy to follow them on all of their adventures, even as the series evolved and transformed over the years.
The Winchesters die many times throughout the show.Supernaturaleven sees them visit heaven in season 5, episode 15, “Dark Side of the Moon.” However,the series always found a loophole or a way to bring the brothers back together,until the series finale, “Carry On.” While the danger of their profession always meant the Winchesters would eventually die, the waySupernaturalhandled it was unexpected.
Dean dies anti-climactically,and though he returns to heaven to be reunited with his loved ones, Sam lives out the rest of his life without Dean, undermining many of the themes and lessons of the series. It’s not surprising that while the finale brought a tear to the eyes of viewers, it also sparked lots of discussion, as the melancholy ending was not how people imagined the finale.
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5Penny Dreadful (2014–2016)
The Darkness Of Penny Dreadful Carries Through To The End Of The Show
The dark, gothic world ofPenny Dreadfullends itself to a somewhat unhappy endingfrom the pilot, but this doesn’t soften the blow when the beloved protagonist doesn’t survive the series finale. Eva Green leads the cast ofPenny Dreadfulas Vanessa Ives, a woman with supernatural powers that bring her into contact with the world of monsters and demons, like Dr. Frankenstein and Dorian Gray.
The series uses classic characters from the titular genre of literature, the penny dreadful, to populate its world, crafting a fantastical landscape. However,Penny Dreadful’s ending does feel a bit abrupt,as there was potential for the series to continue and for Vanessa to get a happier ending. Despite what we might have wanted, Vanessa is too powerful and plagued by demons to get what she deserves.
This doesn’t change the fact that it was heart-wrenching to see Vanessa die in the end. Her strength and ability to combat all the forces that challenged her in seasons 1 and 2 made it all the more tragic that the only way to save the world was to accept her death and release the faith that drove her throughout the show.
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4Attack On Titan (2013–2023)
Attack On Titan Is As Dark As It Is Compelling Until Its Final Moments
Based on the manga series of the same name,Attack on Titantranscends genre, appealing to first-time anime watchers and long-time fans of the genre alike.While not all fantasy viewers seek out anime,Attack on Titanis a must-watch series,even though it will break your heart by the series finale. There’s a lot of lore and world-building to contend with, but it’s worth diving into.
Attack on Titan (2013–2023)
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With a thrilling magic system and enough gore to rival fantasy heavyweight series likeGame of Thrones,Attack on Titansteadily increases the stakes with every season, incorporating shocking twists.Eren, the series' protagonist, is nearly unrecognizable by season 4,as he plots to destroy the world, many of his loved ones included. Of course, his allies can’t let this happen.
There’s still a part of us that hopes Eren will realize the error of his ways, butAttack on Titanis aware there’s only one way Eren’s story can end. Eren dies, but not before he causes a lot of damage. However, this doesn’t change the fact that the other characters, and the audience, are hit hard by his death and the fallout of his actions.
3Arcane (2021–2024)
Arcane Ending Brings The Narrative Full-Circle, But That Doesn’t Make It Less Devastating
The wait betweenArcaneseasons 2 and 3 was agonizing, especially after the shocking cliffhanger in the season 1 finale. Quickly heralded as one of the best Netflix original series of the past decade,Arcanecaptured the audience’s attention with gorgeous visuals,fast-paced action, and compelling characters. It’s impossible not to get invested in the story.
Though there are many overlapping stories, magic, and relationships thatArcanefocuses on,it’s the sisterly bond between Jinx and Vi that drives the central narrative.Watching them grow apart and try to piece their relationship back together over the seasons is one of the most emotionally fraught parts ofArcane. It’s the source of its biggest tragedy.
Both sisters have a lot of baggage and trauma that motivates them throughoutArcane, but it’s Jinx who ends up being the more tragic anti-hero of the piece. After taking slow steps to redeem herself and untangle the warring parts of herself, Jinx makes the ultimate sacrifice for the world, giving Vi the gift of a new life and a new start, even if it’s heart-wrenching.
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2Merlin (2008–2012)
Merlin’s Beloved Characters Are Left To Suffer Alone At The End Of The Show
Of all the contemporary takes on the legends of Camelot and King Arthur,Merlinmight be the best in recent memory.Starring Colin Morgan as Merlin and Bradley James as the young Arthur,Merlinfollows their early years growing as a sorcerer and a leader, and learning to trust each other, even though Merlin must keep his magic a secret.
ThroughoutMerlin’s five seasons, audiences were waiting with bated breath to witness Merlin revealing his secret to Arthurand seeing the pair embark on magical adventures together. Unfortunately, “Diamond of the Day” didn’t just disappoint viewers, it threw a wrench in the entire thematic fabric of the show. Arthur discovers Merlin’s powers, and the characters spend most of the episode at odds.
To make matters worse, Arthur dies, leaving Merlin alone to grow old and spend the rest of his life wandering the world, waiting for Arthur’s heralded return to the world when it needs him most. Though it’s no secret that Arthur dies at the end of his story,Merlinnever got the chance to explore the narrative’s promise, making the ending especially dark and shocking.
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1The Magicians (2015–2020)
The Magicians' Beloved Characters Don’t All Get The Endings They Deserve
Everyfantasy fan should watchThe Magiciansregardless of how the epic fantasy series ends. Based on the book trilogy by Lev Grossman,The Magiciansis a thrilling twist on the magic school genre,throwing its characters into a dangerous and shocking world of adventures that often come at a high cost.
Primarily following Quentin (Jason Ralph) and his time at Brakebills University,The Magicianstakes its story to extremes, never holding back in terms of drama, even when the series is making you laugh. WhileThe Magiciansseason 4 finale is the saddest of the show,the show’s final episode, “Fillory and Further,” didn’t give the characters the endings we wanted for them.
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The Magiciansdid a great job of justifying itself and its continued story in seasons 4 and 5, after the books ran out, but it’s clear in the series finale that the writers weren’t certain how to conclude the show. Seeing the characters separated, and leaving Eliot, one of thefantasyseries' most long-suffering characters, alone, was difficult to stomach.
