7 HBO Show Endings That Are Genuine Masterpieces
This Collider feature rounds up seven HBO series finales praised as standout achievements in television, spotlighting how the network's willingness to let shows end on ambiguous, devastating or emotionally honest notes has cemented its reputation for prestige drama. The piece argues that a strong finale, much like a strong pilot, can define whether a series is remembered as a lasting classic, and highlights HBO's Emmy pedigree (over 1,500 nominations and 220-plus wins since Oz launched the network's original programming in 1997) as evidence of this track record.
Among the endings discussed are Hacks, where Deborah Vance's plan to end her life due to terminal illness gives way to a rediscovered will to create comedy alongside Ava; Chernobyl, whose finale sees scientist Valery Legasov expose Soviet cover-ups about the doomed RBMK reactor at his own career's expense; and The Sopranos, whose famously abrupt cut-to-black during Tony's family dinner at Holsten's remains one of TV's most debated conclusions. The article contains spoilers throughout and references several other HBO finales as part of the same list.
- Collider lists seven HBO series finales it calls masterpieces
- Includes Hacks, Chernobyl and The Sopranos among the picks
- Piece contains spoilers and cites HBO's strong Emmy record
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HBO is a US television network that became known for original dramas and comedies, including series made to run over several seasons. A series finale is the last episode, and it can shape how viewers remember the whole programme.
The endings in the feature come from very different kinds of shows: Hacks is a comedy about veteran performer Deborah Vance and writer Ava, while Chernobyl dramatises the 1986 nuclear disaster and its aftermath. The Sopranos follows a New Jersey crime boss balancing family life with organised crime, and its final scene has prompted years of debate.
These examples matter because a finale must bring a story to a close while leaving room for uncertainty or reflection. HBO’s long record of original programming and awards has helped make its shows’ endings a point of wider discussion.