This Season’s Broadcast-TV Finale Episodes, Ranked From Worst to Best
Even in a broadcast-TV season upended by Hollywood strikes, this spring still went by in the traditional blur of 30-something finale episodes. And now that the dust has settled, we’re taking stock of the highs and lows that this year’s finales had to offer.
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In the list below, we’re reflecting on 34 season or series finales that aired across ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW earlier this year, with quick-hit recaps of each episode’s strengths and weaknesses. But when it came time to rank these three dozen-ish hours of TV — a near-impossible feat on its own — we turned to TVLine readers for help, ranking the finales based on the average grades you gave them in our reader polls at the time of each episode’s airing.
Note: Though most of the finales below aired in May, we also included season enders for shows like Found and Quantum Leap, which arrived earlier in 2024. And in the case of any ties — where multiple finales earned the same average score from TVLine readers — we’ve listed the tied shows in alphabetical order.
So, which finale(s) did you deem the strongest of the 2023-24 broadcast season? And which finales left something to be desired? Keep scrolling for a complete assessment of this spring’s season/series enders, then drop a comment with your thoughts on the results!
34. Law & Order (NBC)
THE GOOD: The team rallied to another courtroom victory following a case that hit close to home for Tony Goldwyn’s Nicholas Baxter.
THE BAD: Did no one say goodbye to Camryn Manheim’s Lt. Kate Dixon, who departed the show after three seasons? And should we be worried that D.A. Baxter’s election was too close to call? — Keisha Hatchett
READER GRADE: 72/100 (“B-“)
33. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
THE GOOD: Surprises galore (Jo really is pregnant, Blue came face to face with his amnesiac ex, Lucas aced the ABSITE test).
THE BAD: As Richard prepared to retire his scalpel, Catherine sacked Meredith, Amelia, Teddy and Owen! — Charlie Mason
READER GRADE: 74/100 (“B”)
32. Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
THE GOOD: Benson gifted Maddie Flynn’s mother the necklace Stabler gave her; Stabler completely understood.
THE BAD: Fin got shot! — Kimberly Roots
READER GRADE: 78/100 (“B”)
31. The Conners (ABC)
THE GOOD: Darlene agreed to co-sign a lease for Harris; Darlene gave Becky the OK to let Tyler move in, to ensure they’re compatible before her sister makes any drastic moves.
THE BAD: Everything involving Mark’s efforts to save money for college (the repo man gig, the hacking lair, etc.). — Ryan Schwartz
READER GRADE: 80/100 (“B+”)
30. CSI: Vegas (CBS)
THE GOOD: Max brilliantly outwitted the Big Bad (and has a new, secret beau!); Josh was reinstated.
THE BAD: Max’s ability to “hack” DNA in subpar conditions was a stretch; it looks like Josh/Serena are 100% dunzo. — Matt Webb Mitovich
READER GRADE: 80/100 (“B+”)
29. NCIS: Hawai’i (CBS)
THE GOOD: With Sam sidelined by exposure to a bioweapon, everyone on Jane’s team had a hand in taking down the Big Bad; the going-away party for Sam effectively doubled as the cancelled series’ sad aloha to viewers.
THE BAD: Was the show and/or Maggie about to bring back Jane’s recently teased mom? We’ll never know! — M.W.M.
READER GRADE: 80/100 (“B+”)
28. Chicago Med (NBC)
THE GOOD: Plenty of tension courtesy of Ripley and Charles’ argument, and suspicions turning to Ripley when Pawel accused him of assault.
THE BAD: No big developments for Maggie and her new beau; Crockett’s impending exit. — Vlada Gelman
READER GRADE: 82/100 (“B+”)
27. FBI: International (CBS)
THE GOOD: Stunning shootout filmed on location at the Olympic ski jump site in Holmenkollen; closure on Scott’s whereabouts, even though it means he’s gone from the team.
THE BAD: After the two-episode hero edit that guest star Colin Donnell got, NSA liaison Brian Lange isn’t a keeper? — M.W.M.
READER GRADE: 82/100 (“B+”)
26. Walker (The CW)
THE GOOD: James Van Der Beek’s surprise appearance as the Walkers’ new cult-leader neighbor!
THE BAD: That we won’t get to see the above storyline play out. — V.G.
READER GRADE: 82/100 (“B+”)
25. 9-1-1 (ABC)
THE GOOD: Bobby surviving his cardiac event was a relief, along with Hen and Karen getting to keep Mara in their lives via Maddie and Chimney.
THE BAD: Christopher angrily leaving town in the finale as a result of Eddie’s affair — as if that storyline hadn’t done enough damage already! — Andy Swift
READER GRADE: 84/100 (“B+”)
24. Fire Country (CBS)
THE GOOD: Bode’s free, if unable to work for Cal Fire; hmm, did Gaby maybe not go through with her wedding?
THE BAD: It’s way too soon to introduce Gen’s likely dad/break Jake’s heart! — M.W.M.
READER GRADE: 84/100 (“B+”)
23. Law & Order: Organized Crime (NBC)
THE GOOD: Eli and his girlfriend, Becky, are having a baby.
THE BAD: Emery got away with a briefcase full of chemical weapons, and Joe Jr. is the kingpin’s new right-hand man. — K.R.
READER GRADE: 84/100 (“B+”)
22. The Cleaning Lady (Fox)
THE GOOD: Thony and Jorge worked together to take down Ramona; Camila and her mom were rescued from the cartel’s workforce.
THE BAD: Nadia’s unexpected murder, just as she was finally getting out from under the cartel’s thumb. — Rebecca Iannucci
READER GRADE: 86/100 (“A-“)
21. NCIS (CBS)
THE GOOD: A nice, dramatic showcase for Gary Cole and Katrina Law — including the promise of insight into Parker’s past.
THE BAD: Oh no, did Jess just quit the team (and Jimmy)?!?! — M.W.M.
READER GRADE: 86/100 (“A-“)
20. The Irrational (NBC)
THE GOOD: Resolution to Alec’s decades-old bombing mystery; Kylie joined the FBI as an independent contractor (read: more Travina Springer in the action).
THE BAD: Who kidnapped Rose?! — K.R.
READER GRADE: 88/100 (“A-“)
19. The Rookie (ABC)
THE GOOD: Nice, surprising-ish assist from the Rookie: Feds team; John and Bailey are on the adoption track; vulnerable Tim’s speech to Lucy in the elevator.
THE BAD: The “Argentina” action was a bit of an eyeroll; ugh, Bailey’s ex escaped prison. — M.W.M.
READER GRADE: 88/100 (“A-“)
18. Station 19 (ABC)
THE GOOD: Happy endings for everybody — well, except for Chaos Kate, who nobody liked, anyway.
THE BAD: This wasn’t just the season finale, it was the series finale — and the show was on freakin’ fire! — C.M.
READER GRADE: 88/100 (“A-“)
17. FBI (CBS)
THE GOOD: Tiffany got closure on Hobbs’ murder; there was no hint that Maggie might choose parenting over the job, as teased weeks prior.
THE BAD: Didn’t feel like a season finale — you have a three-season renewal, play with a cliffhanger! — M.W.M.
READER GRADE: 90/100 (“A”)
16. Found (NBC)
THE GOOD: M&A rescued Dasheka, the girl who’d been missing since the series premiere.
THE BAD: Can the team recover after walking out on Gabi when she confessed to holding Sir captive in her basement? And is Sir about to make good on his promise to kill Lacey? — K.H.
READER GRADE: 90/100 (“A”)
15. Ghosts (CBS)
THE GOOD: Isaac realizing what he really wants and that he’s not ready to get married, followed by a dangerous but fun cliffhanger as Patience pulled him into the dirt.
THE BAD: Pete’s power limitation possibly putting a premature end to his romance with Donna. — V.G.
READER GRADE: 90/100 (“A”)
14. So Help Me Todd (CBS)
THE GOOD: The mysterious Merritt Folding finally showing up was a heck of a cliffhanger, and we fully support Todd deciding to go all-in with Judy.
THE BAD: We won’t get to see any of these storylines play out in future seasons, because CBS decided to cancel the show. — A.S.
READER GRADE: 90/100 (“A”)
13. Will Trent (ABC)
THE GOOD: Crystal was revealed as the serial killer (twist!); Will imagined growing old with Angie (d’aw!).
THE BAD: Will placed Angie under arrest, sealing their fate as a couple. — R.S.
READER GRADE: 90/100 (“A”)
12. Bob Hearts Abishola (CBS)
THE GOOD: The future-set series finale afforded everyone a happy ending*.
THE BAD: *A rushed happy ending, clocking in at just under 22 minutes. — R.S.
READER GRADE: 92/100 (“A”)
11. Chicago Fire (NBC)
THE GOOD: A classy farewell to Chief Boden; the cliffhanger twist that Damon and Severide share a father!
THE BAD: Violet realizing too late that she messed up with Carver, who took a furlough and wouldn’t answer her calls. — V.G.
READER GRADE: 92/100 (“A”)
10. Chicago P.D. (NBC)
THE GOOD: After a harrowing brush with death, Voight made it out of that serial killer’s basement alive.
THE BAD: How is Voight going to mentally recover from that, especially now that Upton has left? — K.H.
READER GRADE: 92/100 (“A”)
9. Tracker (CBS)
THE GOOD: Bringing Jennifer Morrison into the fold as an old family friend with fresh intel on the Shaw family conspiracy.
THE BAD: The improbable wrap-up to the case of the week, in which Colter was able to coordinate with the FBI and take down a crooked sheriff — all in under 15 minutes. — R.S.
READER GRADE: 92/100 (“A”)
8. Wild Cards (The CW)
THE GOOD: Finding out that Max had been plotting with Ricky for months was a fun twist, as was the final reveal that she knows who killed Ellis’ brother.
THE BAD: Following Max and Ellis’ first kiss in the series premiere, we figured (slash hoped) they’d be closer to a second one by the end of the finale. — A.S.
READER GRADE: 92/100 (“A”)
7. Young Sheldon (CBS)
THE GOOD: A fine farewell to family patriarch George Sr.; Sheldon’s arrival at Caltech.
THE BAD: Trusting that every viewer has seen The Big Bang Theory and knows that Mary and Missy are going to be OK. — R.S.
READER GRADE: 92/100 (“A”)
6. Elsbeth (CBS)
THE GOOD: An upgraded office and a permanent gig with the NYPD nicely cemented Elsbeth’s new home; Wagner sweetly showing up at Elsbeth’s fashion show.
THE BAD: No Good Wife/Good Fight cameos. (You can’t just name-drop Cary and then not deliver!) — V.G.
READER GRADE: 94/100 (“A”)
5. Not Dead Yet (ABC)
THE GOOD: Nell finally encountered a ghost she knew; Lexi and Edward’s strangely sweet moment in the hospital.
THE BAD: No resolution to the cliffhanger question of whether Duncan remembers Nell’s secret. — V.G.
READER GRADE: 94/100 (“A”)
4. Quantum Leap (NBC)
THE GOOD: After two seasons apart, Addison and Ben were finally back together!
THE BAD: Now, there are two more leapers lost to time, with no way of returning home. — K.H.
READER GRADE: 94/100 (“A”)
3. S.W.A.T. (CBS)
THE GOOD: Thanks to his sister-in-law’s lousy love life, Deacon was able to dodge retirement and stay with 20-Squad; awesome Hondo/tanker chase stunt.
THE BAD: Tan warmed up to Alfaro, but we need more time. — M.W.M.
READER GRADE: 94/100 (“A”)
2. Abbott Elementary (ABC)
THE GOOD: Janine and Gregory’s super steamy kiss; Barbara getting hilariously tipsy at Janine’s party.
THE BAD: Having to wait until fall to see if that heated lip-lock will lead to an actual relationship. — V.G.
READER GRADE: 96/100 (“A+”)
1. The Good Doctor (ABC)
THE GOOD: Shaun making peace with Glassman’s death and starting a foundation in his honor.
THE BAD: Claire losing her arm! — R.S.
READER GRADE: 96/100 (“A+”)
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