Going into “One Last Ride,” Leslie had rekindled her relationship with Ron, shortly before being offered another job at the Department of Interior in Washington D.C. As one last act before leaving Indiana, she rounds up her gang and goes on a mission to fix a swing set at a local park. The episode then flashes multiple times into the future to show each character mature over the years. Ron settles down as a park superintendent, Andy and April finally have children, and we’re given a slight hint that Leslie or Ben could have ended their journey in the White House. It’s a picture perfect wrap-up for the beloved characters, complete with many happily-ever-afters.

19. Mad Men - “Person to Person”

After seven smoke-filled seasons, Don Draper’s journey atop the world of advertising came to a close with a smile and a cut to McCann Erickson’s cap off their stories.

In the montage leading into the last shot, we witness everyone continuing on with their lives. Pete, Trudy, and Tammy board a plane to their new jobs working for Learjet; Joan can be seen managing her new business while Roger and Marie enjoy their honeymoon in Paris. Meanwhile, Sally has taken up the mantle as woman of the household while her dying mother Betty smokes a cigarette and Peggy is shown hard at at work. It all culminates in Don sitting in a yoga pose at a retreat before the light bulb goes off in his head. His spiritual awakening reveals itself through another sales opportunity and from his reaction we know he will return to his old ways once again.

18. Seinfeld - “The Finale”

Depending on your stance, the final episode of Seinfeld is either another stroke of genius from Larry David or an absolute travesty that doesn’t deserve any recognition on this list. While we understand that “The Finale” still manages to fall miraculously short of the series’ many highlights, we’re also inclined to agree that it’s among the best conclusions in sitcom history.

While we’ve noted the controversy surrounding the last episode in our list of many people they’ve ridiculed in the past. By definition, the protagonists of the series were awful people who were only able to stand each other. As a form of punishment, karma catches up to them and they're sentenced to time behind bars. While it may not have been the tone viewers were hoping for, it fit Larry David’s idea about never truly learning from your mistakes. Nothing could have been more true as Jerry continues doing stand-up from inside the prison, acting completely oblivious to his situation.

17. The Larry Sanders Show - “Flip”

Arriving before HBO became a household name in original content, The Larry Sanders Show provided the first satirical critique of Hollywood. Headed by creator and star Garry Shandling, the series focused on talk show host Larry Sanders as he ran his production from behind the scenes. Alongside his producer and mentor Artie and his announcer sidekick Hank, mostly known for his catchphrase “Hey now!”, the three dealt with the everyday interactions from the show’s staff and celebrity guests.

Inspiring the rise to fame of shows like Entourage, the series' guest stars often played outlandish versions of themselves. Named after Larry’s phrase “no flipping”, used just before commercial breaks to prevent audiences from changing the channel, the finale embraces the end of the series by throwing one last show. When Larry realizes Jon Stewart (playing himself) is threatening to take over, he schedules a final taping. A bunch of familiar faces show up for surprise cameos as the talk show comes to a close. Of course, the entire taping turns out to be a mess, keeping in tune with the rest of the series, but the final speech provides a heartwarming moment just before the lights go out.

16. Angel - “Not Fade Away”

Although Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it was every bit as creative and had its fair share of defining moments to separate it from its predecessor. Unlike its sister show, however, Angel went out with an intentionally ambiguous ending that left fans itching for more.

Following the events of the episode “Power Play”, the team believe Angel may have been corrupted by the Senior Partners of the demon-run Wolfram & Hart. Convinced he's ed the evil law firm as a member of the Circle of the Black Thorn, they question him on his recent behavior before learning he has infiltrated the group, hoping to take them down before they unleash Hell on earth.

In a pact with the team, he sends everyone on their own suicide mission to take down the of the Circle and upset the Senior Partners’ plans. Knowing they may not make it out alive, they put their lives on the line in a final act of heroism. It all culminates in a last gathering in a darkened alleyway, as the remaining crew prepare for one last stand against Hell’s army, fully aware of the outcome that awaits.

15. Friends - “The Last One”

The heartache of saying goodbye to the cast of Friends can only be measured by the numerous moments of laughter the series gave its fans over the year. From Ross and Rachel’s breakups (They were on a break!) to Monica in a fat suit, each moment invited viewers to become part of the group. That’s why this last sit down at the Central Perk cafe felt like such a big deal to the 52.5 million watching at home.

The series wraps everything up as neatly as expected. Following their reunion in the previous episode, Ross and Rachel make amends but Rachel still decides to leave for Paris for a new job. We’re given a touching moment as Ross stops her at the airport and the couple decide to stay together. Meanwhile, Monica and Chandler adopt twins and pack up the apartment to move to the suburbs, Phoebe settles down with her husband Mike, and Joey gets a new baby chick and duck. Everyone held back their tears as the cast laid their keys on the kitchen counter of the now empty apartment before exiting the room where they had spent countless hours over the last ten years.

14. Battlestar Galactica - “Daybreak”

Before the three hour conclusion of Battlestar Galactica aired, creator Ron Moore knew there would be a fair share of disappointment. His assumption was spot on as many viewers felt the politically charged sci-fi series ended on a baffling note, but Moore was never shy about infusing his series with rich symbolism. That’s why “Daybreak,” no matter what your opinion may be, still manages to stand out as a remarkable and risky feat compared to other shows of its caliber.

From the opening mini-series, there was always a question of whether the show took place in the past or future. In the finale, we learn not only are the characters early descendants from the past, but that humankind is destined to repeat their mistakes. Promising to find Earth by the end of the series, the crew finally lands near a habitable planet to call home, abandoning their technology to start anew with the primitive humans. While questions remained about Starbuck’s mysterious disappearance, it left fans with plenty of room for speculation. In the end, the war against the Cylons held a mirror to our own society’s shortcomings, leaving us with one of the most thought-provoking shows in recent memory.

13. The Mary Tyler Moore Show - “The Last Show”

With enough spunk, charisma and endurance to go around, Mary Richards did something uncommon for '70s sitcoms: she made it in a world full of men. The Mary Tyler Moore Show was more than a source of constant laughs, it was an indelible fighting spirit for strong-willed women in the workplace and it couldn’t have happened without its leading lady. Almost four decades after the series finale, the final episode is still a touching wrap-up for Mary and the rest of the WJM-TV family.

“The Last Show” begins with the unfortunate news that WJM’s station manager Mr. Coleman is firing a list of employees to make up for the Six O’Clock News’ low ratings. Mary is released from the station alongside her boss Lou and her co-workers Murray and Sue Ann. Huddled together for one last goodbye, Marry delivers a touching monologue to her family for the past seven seasons before finally turning the lights out on the studio and walking away for the last time. The poignancy of the final scene is only outweighed by the accomplishments of Mary, who remains one of the most important female characters to ever appear on television.

12. Star Trek: The Next Generation - “All Good Things…”

It took seven seasons, a number of accolades and an irable performance from Patrick Stewart as the mature Captain Jean-Luc Picard, but the crew of the starship USS Enterprise finally gained enough recognition among television audiences to go toe-to-toe with Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the original series for the best The Next Generation would eventually come full circle to Picard’s confrontation with Q.

Discovering that his mind is jumping between three points in time - the present (stardate 47988), six years prior (just before USS Enterprise-D’s first mission), and 25 years in the future - Picard must resolve an anomaly that could consume space and time. Over the three different time periods, Picard has to find the anomaly and fix it to prove humanity’s worth to the omnipotent Q and the Q Continuum. The story offers a look back at the seven year journey and gives us a glimpse of the years still to come. It concludes with Picard sitting down to a card game with his crew, cherishing the time he has left.

11. Friday Night Lights - “Always”

“Clear eyes, full hearts” may have been the words Coach Taylor spoke before each game, but there wasn’t a dry eye watching the finale. Going into the episode, Taylor had once again coached a winning team to the state championship, but this time the outcome wasn’t important. the characters and it was never more evident than on the potentially gaming-winning . As the final throw is made, the series flashes forward days later to the lives of the cast before audiences can see what happened.