Top 10 TV Shows RUINED by Disturbing Endings

#10: “Twin Peaks” (1990-91; 2017)

It’s true that “Twin Peaks” Seasons 1 and 2 can't be pinned down to just one feeling. With its quirky small-town humor, dreamlike strangeness, and bursts of horror, it’s at times joyful, sad, weird and even terrifying. One moment you’re laughing at Andy and Lucy, the next you’re unsettled by Bob crawling on the couch. But the revival strips away most of that quirky charm, leaning into the darker side. Dale Cooper has been trapped in the Black Lodge for 25 years, while Laura Palmer has been dead just as long. Meanwhile Bob– through Cooper’s doppelganger– has been roaming free, rising as a kingpin. There’s still humor here and there, but it’s overshadowed by the horror, trauma and despair best understood after “Fire Walk with Me”.

#9: “Ozark” (2017-22)

We know life isn’t a bed of roses and that bad things happen. Still, it’s hard to understand why Ruth Langmore had to die. This sharp-tongued underdog was a fan favorite who had endured so much in her young life, yet what did she get in the end? A bullet from Javi’s mother. This move isn’t just tragic– it’s cruel and cynical. While the Byrdes walked away untouched, Ruth had to pay the ultimate price after losing her entire family and Ben too. Perhaps, it was the show’s way of reminding us there’s no lasting happiness in the world of “Ozark”. But why couldn’t that harsh truth apply to the Byrdes too? Honestly, if anyone deserved a happy ending, it was Ruth.

#8: “The Walking Dead” (2010-22)

It’s nothing new for so-called gritty shows to build up characters we love only to kill them off in the name of realism. “TWD” became notorious for this. At first, the brutal unpredictability made it gripping since you never know who’d be next. But as more beloved characters died, it began to feel pointless. In fact, long before the finale, many fans had already given up on the show. Then came the ending, which should’ve tied everything together. Instead, it offered no closure and felt like a setup for other spin-offs. After more than a decade of investment, viewers got no resolution, no satisfaction– just another hanging thread and a bleak weight over the series. Even Rick Grimes’ last happy moment wasn’t enough reward.

#7: “True Blood” (2008-14)

From the start, “True Blood” thrived on its campy style, supernatural chaos and unapologetically sexy vibe. It was over-the-top and proudly wild–and that’s why fans loved it. But toward the end, it seemed to lose its nerve. So instead of sticking to its daring nature, it played it safe. The clearest example? Sookie Stackhouse. Once known for her fiery independence and dangerous attraction to the supernatural, she ends up killing Bill and settling with some random guy. That’s totally off. Sure, some characters got their happy endings, but someone like Tara deserved better. After everything, she was killed off-screen as if the writers had no plans for her. Overall, the show abandoned the very spark that made it special.

#6: “Dinosaurs” (1991-94)

The ending of “Dinosaurs” wasn’t just bittersweet, it was downright devastating. For four seasons, this show remained goofy and satirical as it revolved around a family of dinosaurs in an otherwise typical sitcom setting. Instead of closing with laughter, it chose a somber message about our actions having dire consequences. The well-meaning but bumbling Earl Sinclair has set off a chain of environmental disasters while working for WESAYSO Corporation. The series ends with Sinclair confessing to his wrongdoings, as the family huddles together while snow begins to fall. The camera pans out to a news report of the world ending. There’s no miraculous escape, no light-hearted resolution—just extinction. It’s honestly one of the darkest notes any sitcom has ever ended on.

#5: “Lost” (2004-10)

ABC’s 2004 mystery show has one of the most misunderstood finales. Can you blame viewers left totally confused by its ambiguous end? For seasons, the show piled on mysteries- cryptic numbers, time travels, smoke monsters and more. As such, fans expected every detail to be explained in a clear and logical manner. Instead, we got a flash-sideways that made us believe the characters were dead all along and that nothing happened for real. Hard-core fans have explained that the Island was real and everything that happened did happen. Still, couldn’t there have been a better way to wrap things up without leaving so many viewers lost? In the end, it wasn’t even about the mysteries— it was all about the characters’ spiritual journey. We should’ve known.

#4: “13 Reasons Why” (2017-20)

This teen drama could’ve been a powerful, self-contained story if it had ended in one season. All the creators had to do was stop where Jay Asher’s book did. But instead of closing the book, the story dragged on into a second season, third and even a fourth. At this point, it felt less and less like healing and resolution and more about piling up trauma. With school shootings, police brutality, and increasingly graphic violence, the show leaned more on shock value than thoughtful storytelling. Characters like Clay Jensen spiralled into deeper instability while Justin Foley, after everything, contracted HIV and died in the final episode. In all, the show’s ending wasn’t cathartic– it just left viewers feeling emotionally drained.

#3: “Dexter” (2006-13)

For eight seasons, fans followed Dexter Morgan, the charming blood-splatter analyst who moonlighted as a serial killer. Much of the tension came from whether he’d be caught or meet a dramatic ending fitting the dark legacy he created. Along the way, good cops died because of him–LaGuerta, Doakes and even Debra. Rather than have Dexter face the consequences of his actions, we get Lumberjack Dexter. He fakes his death and abandons his son. Then Debra, who should’ve found some respite, is left brain-dead only to be finished off by Dexter. Years later, “Dexter: New Blood” arrives and ends with Harrison killing his father. Sure, Dexter deserved a fitting downfall, but was turning Harrison into a killer really the best way to do it?

#2: “Game of Thrones” (2011-19)

The finale of “GOT” is one we can’t forget– and not for good reasons. The series began as one of TV’s greatest sagas, pulling us into its sprawling story of power, prophecy, and survival. The characters were so compelling, we became fully invested in their fates. But when the finale arrived, everything fell apart. After seasons of being framed as the liberator, Daenerys suddenly becomes the mad queen. Jon Snow kills her only to be exiled back to the wall, while Brandon Stark is crowned king of the seven kingdoms. What? The truth is, fans weren’t just left unsettled by who lived or survived, they were stunned by how sloppy and disjointed it all felt. After all that investment, the end was both disappointing and disturbing.

#1: “How I Met Your Mother” (2005-14)

“HIMYM” began as a heartfelt sitcom and pulled the rug from the audience in a way that felt more cruel than clever. The entire hook was Ted telling his kids the long, hilarious story of how he met their mother. Tracy was warm and perfect for Ted, only for the finale to shatter it all. Turns out, Tracy was already dead and the story wasn’t really about her, but Ted’s true love, Robin. The show tried to frame Ted’s pursuit of Robin as romantic, but it made no sense, especially since she had already divorced Barney. Shouldn’t the so-called kids be traumatized by this tragic tale disguised as a love story? Seriously, the whole set-up makes the journey feel hollow and unsatisfying—not heart-warming in the slightest.

Which of these finales disturbed you the most? Let us know in the comment section.