Amid the numerous TV show cancellations today, where streaming platforms often wield the axe without mercy, leaving stories unfinished and audiences unfulfilled, some shows manage to defy the odds and still manage to reach the conclusions they deserve. Netflix, in particular, has been on a cancellation spree this year, with shows like Dead Boy Detectives, Kaos, and The Brothers Sun being cut.
However, Netflix also boasts several series, some of them long-running, wrapping up stories and character arcs with definitive endings leaving fans utterly satisfied. To that effect, here are ten such shows that reached their intended conclusions.
Orange is the New Black (2013-2019)
Based on a true story, Orange Is the New Black follows Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), a privileged New Yorker sentenced to 15 months in a women’s prison for a decade-old drug trafficking crime. Over seven seasons, the show weaves a complex narrative of life behind bars, culminating in a finale that delivers both tragedy and hope for its main characters, with some achieving happy endings while others face darker fates.
Piper builds a new life after her early release, moving to Ohio to be closer to her incarcerated wife, Alex (Laura Prepon), with their story culminating in a long-awaited reunion. Meanwhile, Lorna (Yael Stone) and Red (Kate Mulgrew) find themselves in the prison’s psychiatric ward, while Nicky (Natasha Lyonne) becomes the new maternal figure in the kitchen.
Though Taystee (Danielle Brooks) doesn’t receive the justice she deserves — remaining imprisoned for life for a murder she didn’t commit, she finds purpose by establishing the Poussey Washington Fund, which provides microloans to former inmates.
After Life (2019-2022)
While Ricky Gervais is primarily known as a comedian, he skillfully portrays Tony Johnson, a man grappling with the loss of his wife and living in the shadow of his former self in After Life. Initially sarcastic and cynical, Tony pushes everyone away, but his journey throughout the series leads to significant personal growth.
The final episode serves as a masterful conclusion, set against the backdrop of the historic Tambury Fair. The ending scene, where Lisa’s ghost appears briefly before fading away, followed by Tony and his dog Brandy also fading from view, holds symbolic meaning. Rather than simply representing Tony’s readiness to move forward, it speaks to the broader theme of life’s continuity.
The fair’s 500-year history serves as a powerful reminder that life persists beyond individual existence. As Gervais himself explained, the ending addresses the fundamental question: “If you lose everything, is life still worth living?”
Bad Blood (2017-2018)
The first season of Bad Blood is based on the book Business or Blood: Mafia Boss Vito Rizzuto’s Last War (2015), chronicling the rise and fall of the real-life Rizzuto crime family. However, the second season diverges from the source material and becomes entirely fictional. While it may not be one of Netflix’s biggest hits, the Canadian crime drama delivers a satisfying ending that may not align with all viewer expectations.
Typically, shows with similar themes see their main characters meet tragic ends, but Declan (Kim Coates) survives despite his involvement with some of Canada’s most notorious crime lords and his takeover of a mafia family’s operations.
Though he overcomes his enemies and survives a final violent confrontation, the victory comes at a devastating personal cost with the loss of his nephew Reggie (Ryan McDonald). While Declan’s ability to outlast Montreal’s biggest players is remarkable, the ending skillfully balances triumph with tragedy.
Ozark (2017-2022)
In this gripping crime series, financial advisor Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) and his politically ambitious wife Wendy (Laura Linney) are forced to relocate their family to the Missouri Ozarks when a money laundering scheme for a drug cartel goes awry. There, their paths cross with Ruth Langmore (Julia Garner), a fierce local criminal whose fate becomes inextricably linked with the Byrdes’ dangerous enterprise.
In the series finale, cartel leader Omar Navarro (Felix Solis) is killed during a prison transfer as part of his sister Camila’s (Verónica Falcón) plan to take control. At the Byrdes’ foundation fundraiser, Camila learns that Ruth killed her son Javi, leading to Ruth’s murder. The finale culminates with the Byrdes’ teenage son Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) shooting at investigator Mel Sattem (Adam Rothenberg), who threatens to expose a devastating family secret.
While Ruth’s death remains contentious, the ending stays true to the show’s core themes—that escape from corruption comes at a terrible price and that only those within the immediate family survive. Despite outrage from some fans, it’s worth noting that the conclusion rings true to the series’ dark tone and unflinching portrayal of power and consequences.
BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
In this animated dark comedy, BoJack Horseman (Will Arnett) is a washed-up actor living in a Hollywood where humans and anthropomorphic animals coexist, struggling with addiction, depression, and his fading relevance, years after starring in a hit ’90s sitcom.
BoJack Horseman’s finale is one for the books. After the public discovers his role in Sarah Lynn’s death, BoJack is arrested for breaking into his former home and sentenced to prison. He is granted a furlough to attend his ex-girlfriend Princess Carolyn’s (Amy Sedaris) wedding. Later, in a poignant rooftop conversation that might be their final meeting, Diane Nguyen (Alison Brie), BoJack’s former ghostwriter and closest friend, closes the show with the line, “Sometimes life’s a b****, and then you keep on living,” encapsulating the painful yet realistic nature of their journey.
Although BoJack is not meant to find happiness, he gains closure that helps him understand his core conflicts and accept the changes he must make to become a less toxic presence in others’ lives. The show subverts expectations by not ending with BoJack’s death, as many had predicted from the opening credits’ imagery.
Sense8 (2015-2018)
Thanks to Sense8’s passionate fanbase, Netflix was compelled to create a two-hour special that transformed what could have been an abrupt cancellation into a meaningful farewell. The series, which follows eight psychically connected individuals from different parts of the world, wrapped up its major storylines through a carefully structured conclusion that brought its diverse ensemble cast together for one final mission.
After Wolfgang’s (Max Riemelt) capture by the BPO, the cluster launches a daring rescue mission that succeeds in freeing him, leading to the dismantling of the organization that had been hunting them. Meanwhile, the show resolves its romantic storylines — Nomi (Jamie Clayton) and Amanita’s (Freema Agyeman) wedding at the Eiffel Tower serves as the emotional centerpiece, while Kala’s (Tina Desai) love triangle finds an unconventional but fitting resolution through a polyamorous relationship with both Wolfgang and Rajan (Purab Kohli).
While some secondary plotlines remained unexplored due to the show’s early conclusion, the finale successfully delivered closure for its main characters without resorting to common tropes like cliffhangers or tragic endings.
Grace and Frankie (2015-2022)
Grace and Frankie, one of Netflix’s most successful original series, follows uptight retired cosmetics mogul, Grace (Jane Fonda) and free-spirited artist, Frances (Lily Tomlin) who forge an unlikely friendship after their husbands leave them to marry each other. The series sticks its landing with a finale that delivers both laughs and heart.
At Coyote’s (Ethan Embry) wedding, our heroines are accidentally electrocuted when Frankie’s microphone connects with Grace’s vodka martini, temporarily sending them to heaven. There, they meet a working-class angel named Agnes (Dolly Parton), who initially only approves Grace’s return to Earth while Frankie must stay behind. Agnes, touched by their extraordinary friendship, eventually helps them forge paperwork allowing both to return.
The series concludes with Grace and Frankie exactly where they belong — together on the beach. Grace finally overcomes her fear of the ocean, while Frankie, despite her worsening arthritis, continues to paint with Grace’s help.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is about a talented street kid named David Martinez who turns to life as a high-tech mercenary in Night City, a dystopian metropolis obsessed with cybernetic body modifications. His journey from an ambitious outsider to a legendary edgerunner sets the stage for one of the most emotionally resonant finales in recent animated history.
The series masterfully concludes David Martinez’s story with an ending that, while heartbreaking, feels true to the cyberpunk genre’s core themes. David’s final stand against Adam Smasher comes as he succumbs to cyber-psychosis, using his last moments to ensure Lucy and Falco can escape, ultimately falling to the more powerful opponent.
The finale expertly balances tragedy with triumph, as Lucy’s bittersweet realization of her dream of reaching the moon comes at the cost of losing everyone she loves. This ending elevates the series beyond typical happy conclusions by offering something more profound: a reminder that in Night City, even the most tragic endings can carry meaning when driven by love and sacrifice.
The Punisher (2017-2019)
After a former Marine’s family is murdered, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) becomes a lethal vigilante known as The Punisher, uncovering a deep military conspiracy while brutally eliminating criminals across New York City.
As one of Marvel’s most brutal projects, the intense conclusion sees Frank consciously embracing his darkest impulses, and fully committing to his role as The Punisher after turning down a CIA job offer with the words “I already have a job.”
The final scene shows Frank in his iconic skull vest, standing tall and wielding his twin machine guns, which is a perfect farewell to the character, especially highlighted by Bernthal’s signature roar. While some may see it as an open ending, it feels intentionally crafted, wrapping up multiple storylines while establishing Frank’s permanent transformation into the comic book vigilante.
Dark (2017-2020)
Dark, a mind-bending German sci-fi series, follows four interconnected families in the small town of Winden as they unravel a time-traveling mystery spanning multiple generations.
Sources: Cosmopolitan, Screen Rant, Pop Geeks