10 Season finales from drama shows that gave us goosebumps 

Season finales can be exhilarating, devastating, or downright shocking, but, over the years, some shows have provided us with moments that ended up giving us memories of a lifetime. The unexpected betrayals, emotional sacrifices, or mind-blowing twists that some of these shows provided became immortal in show biz.

We've had some really phenomenal season conclusions in television shows. For instance, The Winds of Winter in Game of Thrones, which ended up changing the entire course of the series in just a single episode. Then there's Breaking Bad's Felina, which in such a way that the show attained immortal status among fans. That episode is rated 9.9/10 on IMDb till date!

The sheer unpredictability of finales is quite remarkable and can go on to explain why drama is one of the most thrilling genres on television. If you are someone who relishes an edge-of-the-seat, emo-wrecking episode, then this list is for you. Here are 10 goosebump-worth season finales in drama shows.

1. Breaking Bad – “Felina” (Season 5 Finale)

Walter White's odyssey concluded in an elegant, explosive manner in the Breaking Bad's series finale. From his deliberate attack against Jack's crew to his last breaths in the methamphetamine lab, each passing moment was tense. The finale tied together significant storylines like Jesse's breakout, Walt's attempt at redemption, and the symbolic resurrection of Heisenberg. What made it all the more unforgettable was the uncertainty, whether Walt was content or remorseful in death? Viewers continue to argue whether he won or lost, but one thing is for sure tension, emotion, and pure brilliance of "Felina" generated an effect that drama endings rarely see.

2. Game of Thrones – “The Winds of Winter” (Season 6 Finale)

One of the most breathtaking and crazy scenes in Game of Thrones ever, Cersei Lannister's wildfire blast at the Sept of Baelor left all her enemies dead, in a move and left fans wondering what just happened. Jon Snow is proclaimed King in the North, and Daenerys sets sail for Westeros. All of this is topped off by some haunting piano music, complemented by Cersei's chilling win at a huge cost that it really smells like her glory days. The Winds of Winter managed to capture all that was right about politics and power play, making it the most satisfying end to what one could argue is the greatest show on television.

3. The Sopranos – “Made in America” (Season 6 Finale)

No finale has drawn more controversy than the notorious cut-to-black of The Sopranos. As Tony Soprano sat in a diner, anticipation grew with each tick – strangers entering, Meadow having trouble parking, the jukebox blaring "Don't Stop Believin'." Then, nothing. The screen blacked out, leaving audiences wondering if Tony had been assassinated or if his life just moved on as usual. The genius of this finale is that it leaves things open to interpretation, compelling the audience to decide the destiny of television's most nuanced antihero. Love it or loathe it, The Sopranos concluded on its own terms: tense, provocative, and indelible.

4. Stranger Things – “The Upside Down” (Season 1 Finale)

The first season of Stranger Things concluded with a mix of horror, heartbreak, and mystery. As Eleven's fate appeared sealed after her confrontation with the Demogorgon, the final scenes hinted at something ominous—Will coughing up a slug from the Upside Down. The chilling Christmas dinner scene, in which Joyce saw Will briefly flicker across dimensions, sent shivers down viewers' spine. This conclusion struck a balance between emotional gravity and supernatural horror, paving the way for even more sinister turns in subsequent seasons. As opposed to most horror-predicated shows, Stranger Things was able to retain its emotional core without sacrificing its enduring shocks.

5. Grey’s Anatomy – “Death and All His Friends” (Season 6 Finale)

Few medical drama finales have been as hair-raising as Grey's Anatomy's hospital shooting episode. A widower enraged by grief invaded the corridors of Seattle Grace, gunning down surgeons and wreaking havoc. Meredith's miscarriage during the mayhem, Derek being shot, and Bailey taking cover under a hospital bed made for an emotionally charged, anxiety-fraught hour of television. While most cliffhangers just create moments of shock, this finale shocked and broke hearts. To this date, it is still one of the most stomach-churning and realistic tragedies in a medical environment, which goes to show why Grey's Anatomy has viewers hooked.

6. Lost – “Through the Looking Glass” (Season 3 Finale)

"Not Penny's Boat." The three words epitomize that moment in the finale everyone will remember most from Lost. Charlie Pace's sacrifice elicited gasping pain in fans, and the startling revelation that Jack and Kate's scenes were in fact flash-forwards changed the entire game of storytelling. Jack's desperate call, "We have to go back," revealed that the two had indeed escaped the island but at a cost. Herein lies the twist that reinvigorated Lost-from survival drama to an even more powerful position among shows.

7. Better Call Saul – “Saul Gone” (Series Finale, Season 6)

Few prequels surpass their originals, but Better Call Saul did just that with a finale that was poetic and heartbreaking. Jimmy McGill, after years of dodging justice, finally owned up, trading his liberty to atone for his sins. The black-and-white prison scenes were placed in contrast with the flashbacks in color, highlighting his redemption. The last scene of Jimmy and Kim sharing a cigarette together, separated by bars was quietly heart-wrenching. Unlike Breaking Bad's explosive finale, Saul Gone chose a melancholic, character-driven finale that was exactly right for Jimmy's arc. It wasn't about consequences, it was about the burden of choices, and that makes it one of the most rewarding finales ever.

8. House – “Both Sides Now” (Season 5 Finale)

In one of House's most chilling endings, the distinction between reality and fantasy dissolved in heartbreaking ways. House thought he had overcome his addiction and rekindled his affair with Cuddy only to have the truth come crashing down like a freight train. It was all an illusion, and he was really admitting himself to a psychiatric ward. The jaw-dropping twist left viewers stunned, demonstrating how even the greatest minds can break under stress. House was always famous for medical mysteries, but this finale episode established that the biggest mystery was actually House himself.

9. The Handmaid’s Tale – “The Word” (Season 2 Finale)

Few finales have left viewers as conflicted as the end of The Handmaid's Tale's second season. June had her opportunity to flee Gilead with baby Holly, but she remained put. The choice was infuriating but logical, as she wasn't finished fighting. The tension in those last moments, as she passed Holly to Emily and walked back into the darkness, was tangible. In contrast to conventionally triumphant finales, this one insisted on the cost of uprising and the burden of unresolved struggles. With heart-freezing performances and a disorienting score, The Word set The Handmaid's Tale up as a series that thrives on painful, gut-wrenching decision-making.

10. Sherlock – “The Reichenbach Fall” (Season 2 Finale)

Sherlock Holmes' supposed death at the hands of Moriarty was television's most shocking twist. Following a frenzied battle of brains, Sherlock apparently jumped to his death after a vicious fight with Moriarty, much to the horror of John Watson. The punch-to-the-gut moment when John was speaking to Sherlock's grave only served to make the ultimate reveal, which was Sherlock observing from a distance, even more shocking. Fans spent years speculating about how he did it, and so The Reichenbach Fall became one of the most debated finales in television history.