TV finale season is upon us. It's a stressful time of year. Every new episode could bring the couple you've been rooting for together, or possibly quite literally throw your fave under a bus.
But which finales truly brought on the most gasps? Do dramatic deaths or giant secrets revealed make for the most memorable finales? We've rounded up some of the most edge of your seat, call your friend during the commercial break, message board outrage-worthy season finales. They're keeping the bar high for this year's final episodes. But we will be getting 29 character deaths and at least one character getting shot in the penis this finale season. So, a lot of possible contenders for a future round-up.
Gilmore Girls, Season 5, "A House Is Not a Home"
Though some might have been a little surprised by how quickly Luke and Lorelai went from two people in love pretending they didn't constantly want to make out with each other to an engagement. The real shocker of the season five conclusion is the break-up of the titular Gilmore girls. A break that would last eight long episodes.
Friends, Season 4, "The One With Ross's Wedding"
Across the country friends were calling friends and beepers were going off as everyone asked, "did he really just say that?"
The West Wing, Season 4, "Twenty-Five"
Zoey Bartlet going missing is what makes this episode so intense (I still can't believe they let fans twist over her fate for an entire summer). However, the gasp-inducing moment came when newly sworn in president Walken (John Goodman) basically told Jed Bartlet to shut up. Every character in that room was ready to dropkick him.
Grey's Anatomy, Season 1, ""Who's Zoomin' Who?"
With a late March premiere, Grey's had only aired eight episodes before they dropped this bombshell — McDreamy, the good guy with the soulful eyes who had finally gotten sweet Meredith to drop her defenses, had a wife! It's such a big part of the show's mythology now, it's hard to remember how surprising this was at the time.
Orange Is The New Black, Season 2, "We Have Manners. We're Polite."
Vee's death was very satisfying, but that moment of impact could still really make you jump.
How I Met Your Mother, Season 9 "Last Forever"
After nine years of build up, the kids finally learn how their dad met their mother, and the audience learns the identity of the mother is nearly inconsequential. Ted and Robin were always the end game, despite the fact the entire final season was built around her wedding to another character. Shocking in an infuriating kind of way.
Veronica Mars, Season 2, "Not Pictured"
So many surprises in this one. It was Beaver (sorry, Cassidy) the whole time! Also, Veronica's dad was dead — and then he wasn't. Possibly the most shocking thing is that both Logan and her dad waited for her to naturally wake up to inform her he had actually survived.
Scandal, Season 3, "The Price Of Free And Fair Elections"
This finale was so shocking they could create a top 10 craziest moments countdown. There was murder! Accusing people who didn't commit that particular murder of murder! Break-ups, new relationships, and one of the most disturbing reasons for a paternity test. Shonda Rhimes knows how to write a finale.
Shameless, Season 4, "Lazarus"
The last we saw Jimmy/Steve/Jack whatever his name was, it looked like he was being killed, with a very strong possibility his body would be lost at sea. So when he showed up in front of a now married Fiona's house, it was 100% unexpected.
The Sopranos, Season 6, "Made In America"
Perhaps the most shocking thing about this season finale is it means The Sopranos has something in common with Glee.
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