When TV enthusiasts debate the greatest television endings in history, one classic answer almost always tops the list: M*A*S*H. The iconic 1983 episode, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” brought an entire nation together, drawing over 100 million viewers to bid a tearful farewell to the 4077th. It set the gold standard for how to close a massive, beloved series with dignity, heart, and emotional payoff.
While M*A*S*H usually steals the spotlight in these discussions, there is a modern show whose ending I believe is of equal emotional quality: the series finale of Parenthood.
For six seasons, Parenthood invited us into the messy, beautiful, and relatable world of the Braverman family. We watched three generations navigate the ups and downs of marriage, raising children, health scares, career shifts, and the undeniable strength of family ties. Because the audience had grown so deeply attached to these characters, ending the show was a high-stakes task. A weak send-off would have felt like a betrayal to years of emotional investment.
Instead, the showrunners delivered a masterpiece.
What makes the finale of Parenthood: “May God Bless You and Keep You Always” so special is the flash-forward video montage set at the very end of the episode. Instead of leaving the characters’ futures hanging in the balance or rushing a bunch of last-minute plot resolutions, the show gives viewers a gentle, poignant look into what happens to the Braverman family in the years to come. Set to a moving soundtrack, the montage effectively wraps up open storylines while offering glimpses of new life, growing families, long-term healing, and enduring bonds.
It was extremely well-thought-out, wonderfully staged, and executed with incredible cinematography. Every camera angle, smile, and shared look felt deliberate and earned. It hit all the right emotional notes without feeling overly melodramatic or forced.
Ending a long-running TV series is notoriously difficult. So many great shows stumble at the finish line, leaving fans disappointed or frustrated by abrupt endings. But when a finale is done right—like Parenthood—it gives the audience a sense of closure and leaves you feeling like the characters you came to love are going to be just fine. It was a fitting, beautiful goodbye to one of the best family dramas on television.
The Dee Zone 