10 TV Shows That Had Their Endings Planned From The Start

Warning! Spoilers ahead for the endings of many popular TV shows!Planning the trajectory of a TV show is notoriously difficult, as how the story plays out is impacted by character development and external factors outside the writer's control. However, there are certain series that the writers and creators went into knowing how the show was going to end or having a clear idea about the path they wanted the characters to take. Even incredibly drastic character arcs in TV shows are sometimes planned from the beginning. While a show doesn't necessarily need to be plotted before it begins, this can create a satisfying ending.

Shows like Mad Men or How I Met Your Mother are good examples of shows that take many twists and turns but end up exactly where the writers imagined by the series finale. There's typically a sense of inevitability in these final episodes. These endings are true to their shows because they were so meticulously imagined. The shows can turn out slightly different than the producers initially imagined. However, the sequence of the plot eventually led to the epic conclusion that writers felt best represented not only the characters but the show as a whole.

10 Babylon 5 (1993–1998)

An amazing sci-fi series had a formulated plan from the beginning

In the years since Babylon 5 was released, it's become more than a cult classic, garnering a devoted following from sci-fi fans of all kinds. Part of the reason so many audiences connect with the series is because Babylon 5's ending was planned from the beginning. This meant that the show got to fulfill its arc, ending with season 5, instead of being canceled and cut short. The creator, Michael Straczynski, has spoken about the fact that by the end of Babylon 5 season 5, the series had reached its natural conclusion.

Watching Babylon 5 today is extremely satisfying because of how well-crafted the story is from beginning to end.

Babylon 5 gained notoriety for its season-long arcs, opting for a serialized story rather than the episodic style that most contemporaneous series of the same genre. The writing and foreshadowing of Babylon 5 are a large part of the appeal of the series, as the time and attention to detail pay off in every aspect of the series' production. Watching Babylon 5 today is extremely satisfying because of how well-crafted the story is from beginning to end.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Babylon 5 (1993–1998)	N/A	92%

Source: Screen Rant.

9 Mad Men (2007–2015)

While the history of the U.S. plays out throughout Mad Men, Don Draper's arc takes center stage

Mad Men's creator, Matthew Weiner, had a clear vision for Don Draper (Jon Hamm) since the beginning of the series. Since so much of Mad Men is deeply in conversation with the evolution of America from the early 1960s to the 1970s, many of the historical events that play a role in the series' major beats were predetermined. However, for Don Draper himself, the ultimate trajectory of his life was created by Weiner. At the end of the series, Don's fate might have seemed unexpected to the audience, but Weiner saw it coming.

The series ends with Don at a commune in California and then fades to the iconic Coca-Cola ad, "Buy The World A Coke." It's implied that after having his pseudo-spiritual awakening, Don uses this experience to fuel his work as an adman. Weiner has said that this final moment was part of his idea for the series when the pilot was first being pitched. The image of Don in Mad Men, which has become an iconic piece of TV history, was something that Weiner had imagined long before audiences were first introduced to the characters.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Mad Men (2007–2015)	94%	96%

Source: Rolling Stone.

8 How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014)

This iconic sitcom flipped the script on its formula in the series finale

As one of the best sitcoms that take place in New York City, How I Met Your Mother is famous for the chemistry of its cast and the divisive nature of its ending. Throughout the series, Ted (Josh Radnor) is on the hunt to find the love of his life through the frame story of telling his kids the story of how they met. There are many red herrings throughout How I Met Your Mother, as Ted gets involved with many different women who could be the mother.

The creators of the show, Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, knew very early on in the series that while Robin wasn't the mother, she was going to end up with Ted in the end.

Her identity is finally revealed at the end of season 8, with Cristin Milioti playing Tracy, Ted's future wife. However, everything is thrown into chaos in the series finale, when the series flashes forward and shows Tracy passing away and Ted returning to his early love, Robin (Cobie Smulders). The creators of the show, Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, knew very early on in the series that while Robin wasn't the mother, she was going to end up with Ted in the end.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014)	84%	85%

Source: Screen Rant.

7 Spartacus (2010–2013)

An epic action series with a hero who gives everything to his cause

Spartacus is led by Andy Whitfield and Liam McIntyre, who both portray the titular character and protagonist, Spartacus. Following the life of Spartacus, who begins the series as a Thracian gladiator enslaved by the Roman Empire, Spartacus sees him slowly gain power and notoriety among the other people subjugated by Rome. The original 1960 movie, starring Kirk Douglas as Spartacus, as well as the history the series is based on, paved the way for the story.

Steven DeKnight, one of the creators of Spartacus, discussed how he knew from the beginning that Spartacus had to either die or be seriously hurt on the battlefield and then carried away. The final season revolves around Spartacus' conflict with Marcus Licinius Crassus, which comes to a head in the series finale. Spartacus' continuous internal conflict plays out in one of the best TV show battle scenes of all time. The show sees him make the ultimate sacrifice by the end of the story.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Spartacus (2010–2013)	64%	N/A

Source: Spartacus.

6 The Americans (2013–2018)

One of the best modern Cold War TV shows of all time

Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys lead The Americans, the iconic spy thriller TV series that has one of the best series finales of the 21st century. They play Elizabeth and Philip, two KGB officers living undercover in the U.S. who navigate raising their children and balancing the real and fabricated parts of their relationship. The ending of The Americans, which concluded with season 6, might have come as a shock to audiences, but the writers and creators felt strongly about where the characters would end up.

The creators of The Americans, Joe Weisman and Joel Fields, have discussed how they knew very early on that Philip and Elizabeth would return to the Soviet Union.

The creators of The Americans, Joe Weisman and Joel Fields, have discussed how they knew very early on that Philip and Elizabeth would return to the Soviet Union. However, whether they would be separated from their children wasn't certain until the series finale arrived. From season 1 to the end of The Americans, the characters change a lot, and season 6 successfully raises the stakes, making their trajectory feel predestined.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Americans (2013–2018)	96%	94%

Source: LA Times.

5 Bates Motel (2013–2017)

This horror prequel series alters the ending of Hitchcock's iconic film

Making a prequel to a horror movie as synonymous with the genre as Psycho can always be a risk, but Bates Motel found a following and ended up running for five seasons. Though Psycho's ending is well-known and touches upon familiar themes that can be seen in other Hitchcock movies, Bates Motel was never meant to be a carbon copy of the original film. Altering Norman's final moments from those in Psycho was the intention of the producers behind Bates Motel.

Instead of being put away for the rest of his life, Norman, played by Freddie Highmore in the series, dies in the final moments of Bates Motel at the hands of his brother. The tragedy and romance of Norman's fate are in touch with the larger themes of Bates Motel, which are closer to the gothic love story at the heart of the story. Having Norman and his mother die and then be reunited beyond the grave was the purpose of the series from the beginning.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Bates Motel (2013–2017)	93%	91%

Source: Comic Book Rant.

4 Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

Walt's arc as an anti-hero leads him in one direction

Bryan Cranston's turn as Walter White in Breaking Bad is one of the best modern examples of the portrayal of the antihero. While this archetype has only become more popular in recent years, Breaking Bad introduced new elements into the crime and antihero formulas. There are only a few ways a character arc can end for a person like Walt, and since the series kicks off his cancer diagnosis, it's clear that the writers were actively considering ending the series with his death from the beginning.

Though the writers bounced around alternate endings for Walt in Breaking Bad, his death was on the table from the beginning. Whether this would be at the hands of someone else or because of his cancer diagnosis was part of what the writers and creators had to determine over the years in Breaking Bad. When the series finale happened in season 5, it was during the arguable height of the show's popularity, making the decision to end on such a high all the more impactful.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Breaking Bad (2008–2013)	96%	97%

Source: Entertainment Weekly.

3 Merlin (2008–2012)

A vivid adaptation of the well-known legend with original twists and turns

Loosely based on the legends of King Arthur, Merlin takes these well-known stories and centers the young warlock Merlin as the protagonist instead of the fearsome Arthur. It's interesting to see the younger versions of iconic literary figures like Merlin, Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot play out the early versions of their epic story, all while knowing where their fates are heading. Though the audience and writers know very well how Arthur's story ends, this doesn't make it any less enjoyable to watch.

Colin Morgan and Bradley James were the perfect pair to bring Merlin and Arthur to life, as their chemistry and natural comedic timing made Merlin not only dramatic but fun. For a story like Merlin, there are certain parts of the legend that can't be changed and are always part of the legend of King Arthur, giving the story its predetermined conclusion. Of course, the fun of a series like this is how you reach this inevitable end, and Merlin takes the viewer on an unforgettable adventure full of magic, love, and friendship.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Merlin (2008–2012)	85%	88%

2 Farscape (1999–2003)

This beloved sci-fi series never saw its intended conclusion realized

Farscape is a classic example of a series that had a planned arc but never got to complete it, as the show was cut short before its time. Ending with an unbelievable cliffhanger in season 4, Farscape never reached the story beats that the creators had planned, even though the series eventually did get a miniseries that wrapped up the narrative. Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars premiered in 2004, giving a semblance of closure after the explosive ending that threw the series' fandom into chaos.

It was always planned for Farscape to have five seasons and for John Crichton (Ben Browder) to get the ending he deserved.

It was always planned for Farscape to have five seasons and for John Crichton (Ben Browder) to get the ending he deserved. While The Peacekeeper Wars did provide some satisfaction for fans and critics, it wasn't the same as the final installment that Rockne S. O'Bannon might have utilized had the show reached its fifth season. However, even without the fifth outing, Farscape has remained an important part of the sci-fi canon.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Farscape (1999–2003)	90%	87%

Source: Syfy.

1 Penny Dreadful (2014–2016)

Vanessa Ives' shocking arc was planned by the writers

After the tragic series finale of Showtime's Penny Dreadful, it was revealed that the showrunner and creator, John Logan, always planned to conclude the show after three seasons. Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) dies at the end of Penny Dreadful, successfully ending any future for the character. Though it's an upsetting ending, it's fitting for Vanessa, whose character arc was always set up to be on a bold and intense trajectory. However, this didn't stop her demise from coming as a shock to fans of the show.

Penny Dreadful's ending was a twist for many viewers since the creators didn't announce that season 3 was the final installment until after the finale premiered. It was a polarizing choice, but the creative team behind Penny Dreadful always meant for the story to end with a bang, staying in line with the gothic and theatrical themes of the narrative. Even though the spinoff series, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, didn't reach the same level of success as the original, it's still a fun follow-up for those who missed the first show.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Penny Dreadful (2014–2016)	91%	90%

Source: The Hollywood Reporter.

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