Top 5 Season Finales

For this week’s Top 10, Jenn and I are each recounting our top 5 season finales. These are mine, and check back soon for Jenn’s list.

1) The Gift, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” Season 5
I still bawl every time I watch this episode – and I must have seen it 50 times. “Buffy” finales are always apocalyptic (literally), but this one particularly hit home for the Scooby gang and its fans. Facing imminent world annihilation at the hands of hell God Glory, Buffy sacrifices herself to save her sister, Dawn. Buffy was told earlier in the season that death was her gift. In this episode, she realizes what this means and ultimately uses her “gift” to protect Dawn. She leaves Dawn and us with these words: “The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Be brave. Live... for me." And then I sob uncontrollably. Sure, the Scoobies bring Buffy back from the dead in the season six opener, but that doesn’t make this episode any less heartbreaking and poignant.

2) Two Cathedrals, “The West Wing,” Season 2
In this stunning season finale, President Bartlett must disclose that he has MS, which he had been hiding from his staff and his constituents for eight years. While weathering this political storm, Bartlett and his staff face an actual tropical storm and the aftermath of beloved secretary Mrs. Ladingham’s shocking death. The question of everyone’s mind: Will Bartlett seek a second term? The answer lies in an almost imperceptible body gesture in the final minute of the episode, which still gives me chills.

3) Leave it to Beaver, “Veronica Mars,” Season 1
After an hour of twists and turns, this episode finally wraps up the many mysteries of season 1. We find out Lilly’s murderer in a killer twist that leaves Veronica in life-threatening danger. This episode also reveals Veronica’s paternity – Keith is her father (thank god) and Veronica and Duncan are not siblings (yay because that would have been icky). The episode leaves us hanging on which suitor – Logan or Duncan – Veronica will choose. I’m left screaming, “Let it be Logan!” as the credits roll.


4) State, “Friday Night Lights,” Season 1
Panthers win State! I’ve never been so excited about the outcome of a football game in my life. We became so attached to this team and these characters throughout the amazing first season that witnessing their success was truly heart-warming – as was the news of Tami’s surprise pregnancy. The look on Coach Taylor’s face when Tami tells him about the baby… well that just proves the Emmy’s complete stupidity for depriving Kyle Chandler of a statue. Actually, that scene makes them doubly dim-witted for not honoring Connie Britton as well.

5) Becoming, Part 2, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” Season 2
Up against another apocalypse, Buffy sacrifices her true love, Angel, to save the world. Not quite as devastating as when she sacrifices herself – Angel was always too mopey for my tastes anyway – but still a very sad blow to Buffy and her fans. Sarah Michelle Gellar really stepped up in this episode, displaying both Buffy’s toughness and her vulnerability in a single look.