11 TV shows whose final seasons collapsed — Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, Dexter

Collider compiled a list of 11 TV shows it says “went straight to hell” in their final seasons, calling out examples from Stranger Things Season 5 to Game of Thrones Season 8 and Dexter Season 8. For Stranger Things (2016–2025), Collider argues Season 5 tries to close every thread at once, turning many episodes into finales and leaning on callbacks and fan service rather than tightened logic; Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven still sells the fear, but the pacing strains the season.

Dexter (2006–2013) Season 8 is described as a messy end where writers couldn’t agree on the show’s final statement, with Deb’s arc handled carelessly and the infamous “lumberjack” finish arriving as a last-minute pivot. How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014) Season 9 stretches a single wedding weekend across the year and then undercuts its payoff, a structure Collider says rewrites the show’s vibe and leaves many viewers angry.

Killing Eve (2018–2022) Season 4 is accused of favoring shocks over satisfying emotional steps, sidelining the intimate tension at the show’s center and ending on beats that feel like punchlines. True Blood (2008–2014) Season 7 is called a show running on fumes, full of weightless threats and reset relationships, while House of Cards (2013–2018) Season 6 had to rewire after losing its lead and ends up noisy and concerned more with surviving scandal than finishing its chess-match storytelling.

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