31 TV Shows That Had Amazing First Episodes And Also Stuck The Landing With Their Last Ones

    Schitt's Creek was perfect from start to finish.

    Nora Dominick
    by Nora Dominick

    BuzzFeed Staff

    There are a lot of TV shows out there, but it's kind of rare that a show has a great first episode and an equally amazing series finale. So here are some TV shows that were able to achieve both a perfect pilot and an iconic series finale:

    🚨Warning: There are MASSIVE spoilers ahead!🚨

    1. Fleabag

    Fleabag getting ready for a date to come over, then Fleabag waving goodbye at the camera
    Amazon Prime Video

    First episode: "Season 1, Episode 1"

    Last episode: "Season 2, Episode 6"

    2. Watchmen

    Angela saying she has a "nose for white supremacy" and then Dr. Manhattan telling Angela he could, in theory, transfer his powers into an egg
    HBO

    First episode: "It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice"

    Last episode: "See How They Fly"

    3. The Haunting of Hill House

    Steven saying that people who inhabit Hill House walk alone, and then in the series finale, Steven saying those who inhabit Hill House walk together
    Netflix

    First episode: "Steven Sees a Ghost"

    Last episode: "Silence Lay Steadily"

    4. The Vampire Diaries

    Damon saying "Hello, brother" to Stefan in the first episode and the last
    The CW

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "I Was Feeling Epic"

    5. Schitt's Creek

    Moira screaming about losing her things and then Johnny taking one last look at the Schitt's Creek town sign
    Pop / CBC

    First episode: "Our Cup Runneth Over"

    Last episode: "Happy Ending"

    6. Normal People

    Connell and Marianna looking at each other, and Connell saying that he will always love her
    Hulu

    First episode: "Episode 1"

    Last episode: "Episode 12"

    7. How to Get Away With Murder

    Annalise teaching her first class vs. Christopher now teaching the class in the series finale
    ABC

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "Stay"

    8. Breaking Bad

    Walt driving the RV and losing his pants, and Jessie laughing and crying while Walter bleeds out on the floor
    AMC

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "Felina"

    9. Gilmore Girls

    Lorelai asking Luke for a cup of coffee in the first episode and then, Rory and Lorelai in Luke's during the series finale
    Warner Bros.

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "Bon Voyage"

    10. New Girl

    Jess telling the guys that her life is like a horror movie and then Winston revealing his greatest prank in the series finale
    Fox

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "Engram Pattersky"

    11. Six Feet Under

    Ruth crying into Nate's arms, then the entire family at Ruth's bedside before she dies in the series finale
    HBO

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "Everyone's Waiting"

    12. The Good Place

    Eleanor looking at the "Welcome! Everything is fine" sign and Michael saying "Take it sleazy" in the series finale
    NBC

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "Whenever You're Ready"

    13. Hannibal

    Hannibal and Will, who's covered in blood, looking at each other, and then Hannibal saying this is all he ever wanted for Will during the series finale
    NBC

    First episode: "Apéritif"

    Last episode: "The Wrath of the Lamb"

    14. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

    Will arriving in Bel-Air and mistaking Geoffrey for Uncle Phil, and then Will saying goodbye to the house in the series finale
    NBC

    First episode: "The Fresh Prince Project"

    Last episode: "I, Done: Part 1 and Part 2"

    15. Friends

    Rachel walking into Central Perk in her wedding dress and then the group getting coffee one last time and leaving the apartment
    NBC

    First episode: "The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate"

    Last episode: "The Last One"

    16. Boy Meets World

    Mr. Feeny telling a young Cory he'll learn something from him, then Cory saying goodbye to Mr. Feeny in the series finalev
    ABC

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "Brave New World: Part 1 and Part 2"

    17. Jane the Virgin

    Jane's interests at 10 years old being her family, god, and grilled cheese sandwiches, and then in the series finale Jane telling Rafael her book ends with it being a telenovela
    The CW

    First episode: "Chapter One"

    Last episode: "Chapter One-Hundred"

    18. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

    Angel telling Buffy she can't turn her back on everything, and Faith, in the series finale, asking Buffy if she's ready to act like a normal person
    Warner Bros.

    First episode: "Welcome to the Hellmouth"

    Last episode: "Chosen"

    19. Parenthood

    Max playing his first game of baseball vs. the Bravermans all playing after spreading Zeek's ashes
    NBC

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "May God Bless and Keep You Always"

    20. Avatar: The Last Airbender

    Sokka and Katara finding Aang and then Aang standing during the series finale
    Nickelodeon

    First episode: "The Boy in the Iceberg"

    Last episode: "Sozin's Comet"

    21. The West Wing

    Bartlet arriving and saying the first commandment vs. Bartlet's final scene where he reads the "Bartlet for America" napkin
    NBC

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "Tomorrow"

    22. Orphan Black

    Sarah seeing Beth for the first time, and then Helena telling her sestras that her book is called "Orphan Black"
    BBC America

    First episode: "Natural Selection"

    Last episode: "To Right the Wrongs of Many"

    23. Friday Night Lights

    Tami and Coach Taylor in the first and last episode
    NBC

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "Always"

    24. Scandal

    Harrison offering Quinn a job and saying he's a "gladiator in a suit," and then two young Black girls looking at Olivia Pope's portrait in the series finale
    ABC

    First episode: "Sweet Baby"

    Last episode: "Over a Cliff"

    25. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

    Coulson telling Daisy she should join the team, then Daisy, in the series finale, saying that the team isn't the same now that everyone is gone
    ABC

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "What We're Fighting For"

    26. Parks and Recreation

    Leslie trying to get someone out of a slide at the park, and then Leslie saying she's ready during the series finale
    NBC

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "One Last Ride"

    27. One Tree Hill

    Nathan and Lucas playing basketball in the pilot vs. Jamie playing as a Raven in the series finale
    The CW

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "One Tree Hill"

    28. The End of the F***ing World

    James saying he thinks he's a psychopath and then telling Alyssa he loves her too
    Netflix

    First episode: "Season 1, Episode 1"

    Last episode: "Season 2, Episode 8"

    29. Orange Is the New Black

    Jones telling Piper to make the most of her time in prison, and then in the series finale, Taystee talking about the Poussey Washington Fund and Piper visiting Alex
    Netflix

    First episode: "I Wasn't Ready"

    Last episode: "Here's Where We Get Off"

    30. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

    Adora becoming She-Ra for the first time, then Catra pleading with Adora to stay because she loves her
    Netflix

    First episode: "The Sword: Part 1"

    Last episode: "Heart Part 2"

    31. And finally, M*A*S*H

    Hawkeye writing a letter to his dad and then Hawkeye leaving and seeing the "Goodbye" sign made out of rocks
    CBS

    First episode: "Pilot"

    Last episode: "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen"

    Which TV shows do you think have incredible first AND final episodes? Tell us in the comments below!