Most of these shows did not know they were making their final episode, so that’s not quite fair.
I would go with:
MASH
Mary Tyler Moore
Newhart
Breaking Bad
LOST (just kidding)
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Misread that as “Big Little Lies”, duh. That had just the one good season and didn’t need any more.
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Maybe I’m remembering it wrong; I thought that Gilligan and AMC still hadn’t come to a deal for a Season 5 at the time that Season 4 wrapped up so they tied up all the major story arcs just in case that was all they got.
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M-A-S-H ended before Newhart.
I’m simultaneously happy that several people here mentioned Newhart and disappointed that they beat me to it.
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Great question: Their site has a lifestyle section, which might explain it. And the writer’s site ‘bio’ indicates varied interests, so…
Heck. Even the NY Times has a crossword section. 
(Loan company. Still a bit odd, though.)
Buffy, Season 5. I don’t know that it was ever said officially or that it’s even true, but it’s pretty clear that was written as the series finale. There were rumors of contract problems with Sarah at the time, and the network was getting cold feet. They also changed networks two or three times, which triggered some “soft” finales, just in case. Season 7 was also never supposed to happen due to (it’s been said) contractual issues with Sarah. I’m glad it did though, because season 6 would have been an odd place to stop.
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Same here. And they earned points with me by just getting away with the old “it was all a dream” tactic.
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Thank you for the data dive!
It’s inconceivable how Lost and Seinfeld did so well on this list.
Evidently, part of the dynamic on how the last episode performed is linked to how the last season as a whole performed: So, Game of Thrones gets a 4.2, and Lost/Seinfeld get relatively good final episode marks, despite their abysmal quality.
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DINOSAURS. Widely regarded as having the best series finale evar of all time. Gawd.
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Magnum P.I. is an obvious one, what with Magnum dying and all. Oh wait, we’ve got an extra season, bring him back!
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- Sense8
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Orphan Black
- The Magicians (sorry, can’t continue the list because I have to go cry inconsolably for at least 30 minutes. It was still one of the best wraps of all time, though)
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I liked the real Breaking Bad finale but this “alternate ending” was pretty great too. (Sadly the clip itself has been yoinked from YouTube but I’m sure it’s possible to find it out there somewhere.)
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That list is severely lacking Six Feet Under.
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Interesting that at the top of the list are Breaking Bad and Chernobyl. I’ve thought expectation plays a big role in terms of how show endings are viewed, and having endings that are, to some degree, pretty well pre-determined from the start sets up audience expectations in a big way.
Operation P.R.O.M.
The Halt and Catch Fire finale was wonderful.
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I guess I’m one of the few that enjoyed the Lost finale. When the puppy-dog laid down beside Jack I lost it. Couldn’t speak about Lost for several days.
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ST:DS9 has a good final episode…well I know this list is garbage. I binged DS9 a few years back and was severely disappointed at the ending.
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