19 Penultimate Episodes That Were Better Than The Finale

    Sometimes, the best is not saved for last.

    Farrah Penn
    by Farrah Penn

    BuzzFeed Staff Writer

    We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us what the BEST penultimate episode of TV is and why, and they really delivered! Here are second-to-last episodes that were actually better than the finale.

    1. Schitt's Creek Season 5, Episode 13, "The Hike."

    Netflix

    "No spoilers, but hands down, Schitt's Creek Season 5: 'The Hike.'"

    —gabby1205

    2. Girls Season 6, Episode 9, "Goodbye Tour."

    HBO

    "The second-to-last episode of the final season. In the last scene, the girls accept they’re going different directions and dance away. It's a perfect end. Hannah and her mom, and Marnie are the only characters in the finale. So boring."

    —samanthaallynj

    3. How I Met Your Mother Season 9, Episode 22, "The End of the Aisle."

    Hulu

    "The finale was such a disappointment. [SPOILER AHEAD] To have Robin and Barney divorce after everything they went through? And having the mother die? [END SPOILER] The penultimate was amazing though. Barney and Robin get married, and he promises her that he will always tell her the truth (which is a big deal for him). Lily and Marshall rewrite their vows since the ones they made to each other seven years earlier were 'too perfect for real life.' Ted has a great voiceover speech about how loving someone is the best thing we can do."

    —shelleyk43467ee67

    4. Danny Phantom Season 3, Episode 11, "D-Stabilized."

    Nickelodeon

    "The second-to-last episode of Danny Phantom was an amazing episode. I’m a large Danny x Valerie shipper, so this really made me happy to see them teaming up together again. The fact that the finale 'Phantom Planet' just forgot everything from 'D-Stabilized' entirely just makes the finale worse than it already is #GoGhostAgain."

    —sarahroze

    5. The Office Season 9, Episodes 24 and 25, "A.A.R.M."

    Peacock

    "Really, the second-to-last episode of The Office was quite a bit better than the finale. The video Jim made for Pam makes me cry every time, and I feel like in the finale they were just tying loose ends."

    —gracedegroot1

    6. Bojack Horseman Season 6, Episode 15, "The View from Halfway Down."

    Netflix

    "'The View from Halfway Down' is one of the most stunning episodes of television ever. I still think about it all this time later."

    —fernwigfield

    "The penultimate episode is so heartbreaking and perfectly reflects the mood of the show, and then the final episode just kinda disappoints."

    —claudiag41f20c7cf

    "It's easily one of the most beautifully written episodes of television in recent times and while the final episode was perfect, 'The View from Halfway Down' hits the emotions in such a powerful way."

    —babyjanehudson

    7. Heroes Season 1, Episode 22, "Landslide."

    Peacock

    "Heroes Season 1 penultimate episode was amazing! Hiro finishes his training and he’s like totally ready to kill Sylar! We find out Molly can track Sylar! There’s foreshadowing of the final ep when Claire almost shoots Peter, Linderman dies and Nathan wins the election! And that bit at the end when Sylar is just watching all this happen and he’s just smiling there! It’s just so good and so exciting that I had to remind myself that this isn’t real! 😂"

    —mishapanchal79

    8. Fleabag Season 2, Episode 5.

    Amazon Prime

    "The last episode is so beautiful, but the penultimate episode left me pausing every fives seconds to catch my breath. The chemistry between the characters was unbelievable."

    —megane20

    9. Euphoria Season 1, Episode 7, "The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Pee While Depressed."

    HBO

    "Euphoria’s 'The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Pee While Depressed.' The nightclub scene is honestly the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, and I still get chills every damn time I watch it."

    —dawnwashere17

    10. Breaking Bad Season 3, Episode 12, “Half Measures.”

    Netflix

    “'Half Measures' was INCREDIBLE. Specifically, the last minute of the episode when Walt says 'RUN.' I get chills just thinking about that entire scene!"

    —kalie

    11. Broad City Season 5, Episode 9, "Along Came Molly."

    Hulu

    "Literally everything about this episode — from exposing NYC unembellished, to Ilana's 'psychosomatic response' to Abbi's moving, to the freaking vent scene — perfectly encapsulates the characters and setting while still remaining lighthearted. Truly one of the best episodes of TV of all time."

    —quart_knee

    12. Sons of Anarchy Season 7, Episode 12, "Red Rose."

    Hulu

    "Gemma's part in Tara's murder, her lies, and dirty secrets are revealed to Jax and Nero. It was worth the six-year wait for Jax to finally know how evil his mother truly was."

    —harleejo

    13. 30 Rock Season 7, Episode 12, "Hogcock!"

    Hulu

    "It would have been the absolute perfect last episode had they not added the next episode. It wrapped everything up so nicely."

    —snooplasersnake

    14. The Sopranos Season 5, Episode 12, "Long Term Parking."

    HBO

    "It's a masterpiece. One of the best episodes of the show, just so gut wrenching."

    —reallydone

    15. Lost Season 6, Episode 16, "What They Died For."

    Hulu

    "You finally had the context of the island and got to see how the other characters reacted to it. It also did a great job of setting up the final episode without revealing too much."

    —cora_alabama

    16. The Legend of Korra Season 3, Episode 12 "Enter the Void."

    Netflix

    "It's certainly the best animated penultimate episode!"

    —lemeacatlover456

    17. The Office Season 3, Episode 23, "Beach Games."

    Peacock

    "It's one of their great underrated episodes. There’s humor, there’s drama (some of Jenna Fischer’s finest acting!), and even though certain characters are featured, it’s a real ensemble episode. It also sets up the finale so well, but never feels like exposition."

    —mollyconnelley

    18. Game of Thrones Season 6, Episode 9, "Battle of the Bastards."

    HBO

    "I finally started watching Game of Thrones for the first time a few weeks ago and I just watched 'Battle of the Bastards' last night. Hoo boy, it was a doozy but fucking amazing! Some parts were hard to watch but it had a wonderfully satisfying scene at the end."

    —pepperopigeon

    "To be fair, most of the penultimate episodes of Game of Thrones were pretty epic, but 'Battle of the Bastards' was incredible. I have to remind myself to keep breathing during *that* scene!"

    —joolzr2

    19. Supernatural Season 15, Episode 19 "Inherit the Earth."

    Netflix

    "Supernatural, Supernatural, Supernatural! Episodes 18 AND 19 of Season 15 were heartbreaking, dramatic, and absolutely wonderful. The final episode was NOT the goodbye that we all deserved from 15 years of fandom."

    —nikkifalcon

    "The finale was a total letdown. I would have been more satisfied with Episode 19 as an ending than the actual finale. Heck, let’s make it Episode 18 — by far one of the best episodes."

    —semi-thoughtful

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