A Guardian television feature rounds up the most heartwarming series finales in TV history, marking the emotional send-offs that left viewers in tears of joy rather than despair. Writers pick out moments where long-running characters finally achieve their ambitions or find contentment, arguing that these endings resonate because they reward years of audience investment with genuine catharsis rather than cynicism or shock twists.

Highlights include The Marvelous Mrs Maisel's Midge finally achieving standup stardom on a late-night show while her manager Susie watches with pride, and 30 Rock's 2013 double-episode finale, in which Liz Lemon balances marriage and motherhood with her career as the show-within-a-show TGS gets one last outing. Detectorists is also singled out for its quietly moving conclusion, in which friends Andy and Lance settle into new homes and relationships without needing anything more than what they already have, while other shows mentioned in the piece's headline, including Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Only Fools and Horses, are also part of the wider selection.