7 Netflix Show Endings That Are Genuine Masterpieces

Image via Netflix Published Aug 19, 2026, 8:06 PM EDT Dyah (pronounced Dee-yah) is a Senior Author at Collider, responsible for both writing and transcription duties. She joined the website in 2022 as a Resource Writer before stepping into her current role in April 2023. As a Senior Author, she writes Features and Lists covering TV, music, and movies, making her a true Jill of all trades. In addition to her writing, Dyah also serves as an interview transcriber, primarily for events such as San Diego Comic-Con, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Sundance Film Festival. Dyah graduated from Satya Wacana Christian University in October 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, concentrating on Creative Writing. She is currently completing her Master's degree in English Literature Studies, with a thesis on intersectionality in postcolonial-feminist studies in Asian literary works, and is expected to graduate in 2026. Born and raised between Indonesia and Singapore, Dyah is no stranger to different cultures. She now resides in the small town of Kendal with her husband and four cats, where she spends her free time cooking or cycling. Sign in to your Collider account Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for multiple shows.The mark of an excellent show is how it ends. Luckily for Netflix, the streamer has a lineup of shows that have nailed the art of the ending. Traditionally, a finale is supposed to provide a concrete resolution and tie up every loose end. But sometimes, the best endings leave viewers surprised, emotional, or even questioning what they just watched. These days, some shows have taken bold steps to deliver endings that might not meet viewers' expectations but are exactly what the story needs. When that creative risk pays off, the result can become a masterpiece in its own right. From haunted houses to young adult coming-of-age stories, here are Netflix show endings that are genuine masterpieces. 'Midnight Mass' (2021) Image via Netflix Midnight Mass delivers one of the most sorrowful and lingering finales in this vampiric tale. The once-isolated Crockett Island is ultimately destroyed by the very "miracles" given to its residents. Father Paul (Hamish Linklater) has secretly been giving the congregation vampire blood through Communion, promising them healing and resurrection. Instead, they return as vampires and turn the island into a slaughterhouse. The Midnight Mass' finale focuses on the final minutes before sunrise, as death becomes inevitable, and the remaining characters choose how to spend their final moments. The overzealous Bev Keane (Samantha Sloyan) frantically digs a hole in a desperate but futile attempt to protect herself from the sun. On the beach, Sheriff Hassan (Rahul Kohli) and Ali (Rahul Abburi) pray together, accepting what is about to happen. Meanwhile, the remaining infected townspeople solemnly sing the traditional Christian hymn "Nearer, My God, to Thee," as death is about to sweep them. The imagery is graphic, but the finale itself feels strangely still and peaceful—a difficult balance for a horror series to achieve. 'BoJack Horseman' (2014–2020) Image via Netflix The recurring theme of BoJack Horseman is that BoJack (Will Arnett) is beyond salvation, and when he nearly drowns in his former home, it seems to reinforce the idea that he might be better off dead. But the show doesn't let BoJack off that easily without learning one final lesson. After surviving and being arrested, he gets a one-day release from prison to attend Princess Carolyn's (Amy Sedaris) wedding, where he reconnects with the people closest to him. BoJack doesn't immediately turn over a new leaf—it would take a miracle for that to happen. Instead, he learns one vital lesson: the only person who can save him is himself, and the people he loves, like Princess Carolyn and Diane (Alison Brie), won't always be there to save him. During BoJack's final rooftop conversation with Diane, the two finally go their separate ways without any promise that everything will be okay. And that's the point. Sometimes life moves forward without giving us the closure we want, and accepting that may be the closure BoJack needs to keep going. 'The Queen's Gambit' (2020) Image via Netflix Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) faces her biggest challenge in The Queen's Gambit finale, returning to Moscow for the Tournament of Champions determined to defeat Vasily Borgov (Marcin Dorociński) after losing to him in Paris. This time, however, Beth is more prepared than ever, drawing on chess guidance from her fellow competitors-turned-coaches back in America, alongside Jolene's (Moses Ingram) support as she confronts her grief. But what makes the ending a masterpiece is that Beth's victory isn't really about defeating Borgov; it's about finally understanding why she loves chess. Throughout the series, chess represents control in an otherwise chaotic life, becoming tangled with her addiction. After beating Borgov, Beth doesn't immediately chase another tournament. Instead, she wanders through a Moscow park, where elderly men casually play chess. When one invites her to join, she happily accepts. After spending so long treating chess as a path to greatness, Beth finally finds peace in playing just because she loves it. 'Baby Reindeer' (2024) Image via Netflix Trauma is a deeply nuanced subject, and the Baby Reindeer finale explores its complexities without excusing the harassment Donny (Richard Gadd) has endured. By the finale, Donny finally begins processing the experiences behind Martha's (Jessica Gunning) relentless stalking, particularly the sexual abuse inflicted by someone from his past. His public breakdown becomes a crucial step toward confronting the trauma he has spent so long avoiding. Even after Martha's arrest, Baby Reindeer acknowledges the experiences that shaped her intrusive behavior, suggesting that she, too, carries unresolved trauma without excusing her actions. The finale's simplest visual moment brings everything full circle. When Donny realizes he has forgotten his wallet, the bartender gives him a free drink, mirroring the kindness that first brought him and Martha together when he offered her tea. The series shifts from the horror toward the complicated humanity behind it, suggesting that we never truly know what someone else is carrying. Collider Exclusive · The Sorting Hat Awaits Which Hogwarts House Are You? Gryffindor · Slytherin · Hufflepuff · Ravenclaw Four houses. One destiny. The Sorting Hat has considered thousands of students — now it's your turn. Answer honestly and discover where you truly belong at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 🦁Gryffindor 🐍Slytherin 🦡Hufflepuff 🦅Ravenclaw PLACE THE HAT → 01 What quality do you value most in yourself? Answer as honestly as you can — the Hat always knows. ACourage — I act even when I'm afraid, because what's right matters more than what's safe. BAmbition — I know what I want and I have the drive and cunning to get there. CLoyalty — I show up for the people I love, no matter what it costs me. DWisdom — I think before I act and I'm always hungry to understand more. NEXT QUESTION → 02 A friend is being treated unfairly. What do you do? How you protect others says everything about who you are. AStep in immediately and confront whoever is responsible — I won't stand by. BWork out the best strategy to address it — a smart move beats a rash one. CBe by their side, support them, and help them through it however they need. DAnalyse what's actually happening and find the most reasoned, fair solution. NEXT QUESTION → 03 What does success look like to you? What you're working toward defines who you're becoming. ABeing remembered as someone who fought for what was right, whatever the odds. BAchieving the goals I set for myself — influence, status, and earned respect. CA life where the people I care about know I was there for them, always. DMastering my field, contributing something meaningful, and never stopping learning. NEXT QUESTION → 04 What is your greatest fear? Fear is the most honest thing about a person. ABeing a coward when it mattered — looking back and knowing I did nothing. BMediocrity — fading into obscurity without making my mark on the world. CLosing the people I love or letting them down when they needed me most. DIgnorance — being wrong and not knowing it, or never reaching my potential. NEXT QUESTION → 05 The rules say no. Your gut says go. What do you do? Every institution has rules. What you do with them is a choice. ABreak the rules — if it's the right thing to do, no rule should stop me. BFind a way to get what I want without getting caught. Rules are guidelines. CProbably follow the rules — but I'd find a way to help within them if I could. DThink it through carefully — is the rule unjust, or is my gut just impatient? NEXT QUESTION → 06 What kind of friend are you? Who you are to the people you love is who you really are. AThe protector — I will go to the ends of the earth for the people I care about. BThe strategist — I give sharp advice and I'm the one who figures out how to fix things. CThe constant — I'm always there, always reliable, and I never make it about me. DThe guide — I help people think things through and see perspectives they've missed. NEXT QUESTION → 07 You look into the Mirror of Erised. What do you see? The mirror shows the deepest desire of your heart. AYourself standing victorious, having faced the greatest challenge and won. BYourself at the height of your power — respected, successful, and in control. CYourself surrounded by everyone you love, whole and happy and together. DYourself with all the answers — every book read, every mystery solved. NEXT QUESTION → 08 The Sorting Hat pauses. It whispers: "You could do well in any house. But what matters most to you — truly?" This is your tiebreaker. The Hat always listens. ABravery. I want to be the kind of person who acts when others won't. BGreatness. I want to leave my mark and be more than ordinary. CBelonging. I want to be part of something good and never let my people down. DUnderstanding. I want to know the truth of things and keep growing forever. REVEAL MY HOUSE → The Sorting Hat Speaks Your House Has Been ChosenAfter careful deliberation, the Sorting Hat has made its decision. This is the house your values, your instincts, and your particular way of being in the world were made for. 🦁 GryffindorYou have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you're terrified — especially then. Gryffindors don't act because they're fearless — they act because they understand that some things are worth being afraid for. You stand up for people when it would be easier to look away. You charge toward what's right even when the odds are terrible. Harry, Hermione, Ron — the heroes of Hogwarts's greatest chapter — all called the tower with the scarlet and gold home. And now, so do you. 🐍 SlytherinYou are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there. Slytherin has long been misunderstood — painted as the house of villains when it is, at its best, the house of those who refuse to accept limits placed on them by others. You are resourceful, strategic, and you play the long game. You know your worth. You protect your own fiercely. The dungeon common room with its view of the Black Lake is yours — and the ambitions that will take you further than anyone expects are yours too. 🦡 HufflepuffYou are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it. Hufflepuff is not the "safe" house or the "leftover" house — it is the house of those with the greatest heart and the most unwavering integrity. You show up. You work hard. You don't need glory or recognition — you do what's right because it's right. Your loyalty never wavers, even when tested. Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander — some of the wizarding world's finest. And now you join them. 🦅 RavenclawYour mind is your greatest gift, and you've always known it. Ravenclaws are the thinkers, the questioners, the ones who find a puzzle irresistible and a good book better company than most people. Ravenclaw is not merely about intelligence — it's about the love of learning, the pursuit of truth, and the rare courage to admit you don't know something yet. You see the world with unusual clarity and depth. Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Rowena Ravenclaw herself — all extraordinary, all original. And so are you. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ 'Sex Education' (2019–2023) Image via Netflix Some things in Sex Education aren't meant to last—and that's exactly what makes its ending so meaningful. After years of will-they-won't-they tension, Otis (Asa Butterfield) and Maeve (Emma Mackey) finally admit they love each other, only to realize they're better apart. Maeve isn't the only thing Otis learns to let go of, either. He also gives up his role as the school's unofficial sex therapist, accepting that he doesn't need to be in control or constantly fix everyone else's problems to be useful. Sex Education refuses to give its characters the conventional happy endings audiences might expect. Otis and Maeve don't end up together, and many of their friends don't get tidy romantic conclusions either. However, the finale allows them to find happiness on their own terms, with the highlight being Aimee's (Aimee Lou Wood) storyline. After struggling with the trauma of her assault, she's still healing, but is finally ready to experience intimacy again on her own terms. Rather than suggesting that healing means forgetting the past, Sex Education ends by showing that moving forward can simply mean reclaiming the parts of yourself that trauma took away. 'Grace and Frankie' (2015–2022) Image via Netflix When legendary Dolly Parton guest-stars in your finale, chances are you're in for a masterpiece. Grace and Frankie ends its seven-season run with what initially seems like a morbid goodbye, as Frankie (Lily Tomlin) becomes obsessed with her inevitable death after a psychic predicts she will die within three months. In a comically dark twist, Grace (Jane Fonda) and Frankie accidentally electrocute themselves and seemingly die together. They then meet Agnes (Parton), an angel expecting Frankie but surprised by Grace, whose death wasn't supposed to happen yet. In the white, limbo-like realm, the two share tearful goodbyes before Agnes has a change of heart and sends them back to Earth. That twist is what makes the finale so beautiful. Grace and Frankie aren't sent back because they've escaped death, but because they're given the chance to stop fearing it. After spending so much of the series proving that aging doesn't have to mean giving up, they return with a renewed appreciation for the present. 'The Haunting of Hill House' (2018) Image via Netflix The Haunting of Hill House might have scared viewers with its tragic tale, but the finale brings the show's family drama roots to the forefront. The Crain family finally escapes Hill House, but not without one last devastating loss. Olivia (Carla Gugino) tries to keep her children with her forever by trapping them in the Red Room, believing that death will free them from the "dream" of life. Hugh (Henry Thomas) manages to save the surviving siblings but realizes that the only way to stop Olivia is to stay behind. The real tragedy of Hill House isn't the ghosts living inside it, but the way the house feeds on people's grief and uses their pain against them. For years, the Crains have tried to escape the trauma of what happened in the house, only to find themselves haunted by it in different ways. Death is still a major part of the finale, but instead of being portrayed solely as a terrifying ending, it represents peace.