When a show - usually of the FailureIsTheOnlyOption or SternChase variety - comes to an end with sufficient lead time, the production team may decide to go out with a bang by ending the endless chase, destroying the undestroyable foe, or in some other way definitively and permanently changing the core axioms on which the show depends. It usually resolves all the conflicts that have driven the series over its entire run, and offers some kind of resolution to the dramatic tension that they have powered.

This is the Grand Finale - a way of very clearly saying to the audience, "Okay, the show is really over. There's no more. Go watch something else." (That this [[UnCanceled doesn't always get through to viewers]] can be a problem in and of itself...)

In contrast to American television series, anime series tend to be single, continuous season-long stories that build, like an episodic novel, to a climax in the final episode. In these cases, a Grand Finale is the only fair - and the usual - way to end the show. Of course, since most anime is based on manga, occasionally the anime [[OvertookTheManga gets ahead]] of the manga (or gets canceled before the manga ends) and the anime writers have to [[GeckoEnding make up their own ending]], which is usually not as good as the eventual ending of the manga. Alternatively, a la ''{{Bastard}}!'', ''AngelSanctuary'', and ''IchigoOneHundredPercent'', the writers can just leave it hanging.

May often involve GondorCallsForAid. Contrast with TheResolutionWillNotBeTelevised, TooGoodToLast, and SeriesFauxnale. Compare with SeasonFinale and sometimes WrapItUp.

Expect to see PlotArmor and JokerImmunity thrown out the window.

As this trope deals with endings, it obviously comes with a '''SPOILER WARNING'''
----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime ]]

* ''{{Monster}}'': [[spoiler:Tenma, Nina, Lunge, Roberto, Grimmer, and Johann all gather in Ruhenheim. A massacre ensues, and Johann is shot in the head by a terrified drunken bystander. Tenma saves his life again, and while Johann spends the next while comatose in his bed, everyone still alive goes back to their normal lives. Eventually, Johann wakes up and tells Tenma one final secret before leaving the hospital. Where he goes is left unknown.]]
* Given that the works of RumikoTakahashi tend to go on for far longer than they should, some animes end up ending abruptly without closure. The biggest example being ''Ranma 1/2''. So it was a complete shock to this troper that despite ending its anime nowhere near the end of its story, that the {{Inuyasha}} manga was finally given its GrandFinale in early 2008. It's a surprise given that twelve years is quite a long time to write a series with a major MythArc, which only widens the risk of losing closure. The question now is: will fans get their Inuyasha grand finale in anime form?
** The answer is yes: the new series, ''InuYasha: The Final Act'', just started airing.
* The explosive climax of ''MagicKnightRayearth'', where events have inevitably led the main characters, but which is nothing like they expected.
* ''SailorMoon'' had a GrandFinale whose ending was very different than that of the manga, despite the manga finishing at the same time.
* The writers of ''TheBigO'' cleverly wrapped a CliffHanger and Grand Finale together in the final series episode. Just when every character ''almost'' figures out the big secret, the entire plane of existence is erased and rebooted. Take ''that'', loyal fans!
** In fairness to them, there was ''supposed'' to be a third season, and the writers were specifically introducing a lot of unexplained weirdness in the second season so they'd have the whole final season to deal with and explain it. They got [[ScrewedByTheNetwork screwed]].
* ''ShamanKing'' had a GrandFinale, that some fans find simply ''lame''. However, the manga ''never'' had an ending, since it was cancelled before Hiroyuki Takei could write it. The only thing ''close'' to an ending in the manga is [[spoiler:a four-part story depicting the future focusing on Yoh and Anna's son, Hana, ten years after the Shaman Fight]].
** Hiroyuki Takei has recently drawn a proper ending for the manga. It's coming out in the reprint of the manga this month.
* In ''ExcelSaga'', ACROSS and Dabezin confront each other head on (with no result whatsoever), and Pedro and Nabeshin finally defeat That Man. This, however, was the ''second''-to-last episode, followed by the intentionally unairable, appropriately-titled "Going Too Far," essentially a parody of the series.
* ''{{Cowboy Bebop}}'' ends definitively with a gripping two-part finale in which [[spoiler: Vicious violently takes over leadership of the Red Dragon syndicate, Jet is injured, Spike reunites with his lost love Julia only to lose her to the Red Dragon's assassins, and Spike storms the Red Dragon HQ and faces off with Vicious for the final time, killing him and supposedly dying himself afterwards]].
* ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann''. Short verson: The BigBad dies. HappyEnding. Not as short version: [[spoiler:The [[BigBad Anti Spiral Leader]] is defeated in the FinalBattle. [[DiabolusExMachina Nia dies right after getting married to Simon]], and he walks the earth with Boota right up to the DistantFinale.]]
* ''CodeGeass'': Lelouch's saga, which took two years (real time ''and'' in-universe time), comes to its ultimate conclusion when [[spoiler:he's stabbed through the chest by his best friend and dies in his beloved sister's arms, all while the world unites by condemning him as the greatest villain in history and cheers his friend for the murder. Don't worry. [[XanatosFuneral it was his idea]]]].
*''MacrossFrontier''. [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Short version]]: The BigBad dies. HappyEnding. Not as short version: [[spoiler:The frontier finds the Vajra homeworld, where the FinalBattle occurs. The BigBad is defeated, the humans make peace with the Vajra, and migrate to their planet.]]
* ''KannazukiNoMiko'' ends with [[spoiler:Orochi being destroyed permanently, meaning that Chikane and Himeko's future incarnations will not have to perform the human sacrifice ritual]].
* ''LastExile'' - final episode "Resign" pretty much wraps it up in style.
* While not as action packed as the other examples on this page, ''{{Clannad}}'s'' GrandFinale was a [[spoiler:ResetButton GainaxEnding, where the Girl in the Illusionary World, who is actually Ushio, sends the Garbage Doll, who is Tomoya having undergone IdentityAmnesia, back in time to the day he first met her mother, Nagisa. Having done this, Tomoya, having obtained a Light Orb from Ushio, relives his senior year with both him and Nagisa knowing of their future daughter's powers. Using the Light Orbs, Nagisa is able to give birth without dying this time around, and the Okazaki family lives happily ever after]]. Also a [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Crowning Finale of Heartwarming]].
* Both the manga and anime of ''ChronoCrusade'' end with a bang. The last two volumes of the manga cover a 48 hour period in which all the characters come together for an epic battle to determine the fate of the world--and also ties up most of the relationships in the process. The anime version is a DownerEnding (or at best, a BittersweetEnding), but ties up most of the loose threads and ends things on a very emotional note (although fan opinion is split on whether it was as good as the manga or not).
* ''PrincessTutu'' ends with a final epic battle in which the BigBad is vanquished and Mytho once again becomes the Prince he once was, and also resolves the main romantic tension...although not in a way you might expect. It also ends somewhat open-ended by hinting that two of the characters (who had hints of a romantic relationship but never quite resolved it) might be starting on a new story together.
* ''FushigiYuugi'' gives us an epic battle between Nakago and the Suzaku Seishi (and Seiryuu and Suzaku themselves!) [[TheTokyoFireball in Tokyo]] before fast-forwarding to three and a half months later to symbolically wrap things up with [[CherryBlossoms cherry blossoms]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* 1986's ''Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?'', by AlanMoore and Curt Swan, closes the book on the SilverAge {{Superman}}, paving the way for ''The Man of Steel'' [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] by John Byrne.
*''TheDarkKnightReturns'' provides a definitive end to Batman's career, and ends his conflict with The Joker on the side.
** Until TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain came out
* ''{{Preacher}}'''s ''Alamo'' ended with [[spoiler:a final showdown between Jesse and Cassidy, Tulip executing Herr Starr, and The Saint Of Killers taking his vengeance against God.]]
*In TheSandman, the climax is reached in ''The Kindly Ones'' where characters from all other points in the time line come together in one ''hell'' of a story, propelling a long and complex string of events which eventually leads to [[spoiler:Dream's death and resurrection inside Daniel.]] The lengthy aftermath is depicted in ''The Wake,'' where it's demonstrated that the previous events had such gravity that they affected everyone in existence. Including [[BreakingTheFourthWall you.]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* ''HarryPotter and the Half-Blood Prince / Deathly Hallows'' could be seen as the written equivalent, tying all the separate stories into one plot.
* AlanDeanFoster's ''Flinx Transcendent'' is the grand finale of thirty five years worth of novels set in the HumanxCommonwealth universe. Sure enough, each and every dangling plot element is resolved, one by one, like a checklist.
* The GrandFinale of StephenKing's magnum opus ''DarkTower'' series is infamous for ending with [[spoiler: an AnticlimaxBoss confrontation with the King Multiverse's BigBad (who turns out to be a pathetic, powerless loony), followed by the protagonist walking through a door that turns out to be a big ResetButton that boots him back to the first scene of the series, with the implication that this has already happened many times before and that hopefully he'll eventually get it "right".]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* ''TheFugitive'''s final confrontation with the one-armed man in the original, where InspectorJavert comes to his aid. Meanwhile, the remake in 2000 ended on a CliffHanger.
* ''ThePrisoner'' finally escapes and destroys The Village and finds out who #1 is ... [[GainaxEnding or does he]]?
** Not according to the semi-canon GraphicNovel ''Shattered Visage''.
* ''[[BabylonFive Babylon 5]]'''s last episode, "Sleeping In Light", which also doubles as a DistantFinale, and was actually filmed ''before'' the final season, as the writers didn't know whether the show would be continuing.
* As usual, ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'''s "Chosen" had to top everyone else, with a triple play -- closing the Hellmouth, defeating the First Evil and its army, ''and'' permanently changing the magical rules that define who becomes a Slayer and how. Sadly, it still wasn't as powerful as the HeroicSacrifice which closed Season Five.
* And on the other hand, the final episode of ''{{Angel}}'' was Grand, but not Final, ending just as our heroes launched into a [[BolivianArmyEnding doomed charge]] against a demonic army. The message here was not, "It's over, go home," but was a final statement that the battle would ''never'' end.
* The ending of ''BlakesSeven'' was similarly a curiously open ended GrandFinale, in which all the characters were shot down in a massive gun battle. It was not clear whether any of them survived. The show's producers suggested that if a fifth season were ever made, the survivors would be the characters played by any of the actors who wanted to return. Since there never was a fifth season, the internal reading should probably be that they all died.
* ''NorthernExposure'': "The Quest" ... if one is willing to apply some DisContinuity to the episodes after Dr. Fleischman's departure.
* However, the ultimate GrandFinale, in terms of sheer viewership and dramatic power, had to be the final movie-length episode of ''[[{{MASH}} M*A*S*H]]'', entitled "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen". It ended the Korean war, irrevocably altered several characters, and brought an era of television to a close.
* ''{{MST3K}}'' had a GrandFinale both for when it was cancelled on Comedy Central (necessitating a PostscriptSeason when it returned), and later, when it was cancelled on the Sci-Fi Channel.
* ''StarTrekVoyager'' had a two-part finale in which the crew of the Voyager finally made it home.
* ''StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', having dealt with the Dominion conflict for five seasons and Sisko's Emissary role for all seven, wrapped up both stories back to back in the finale (and moved about half the cast off the station to boot).
* ''LifeOnMars'': Sam Tyler [[spoiler: commits suicide by jumping from the top of a tall building. And saves the lives of his friends in 1973, gets the girl and drives off into the sunset.]] Yes, in that order. [[spoiler:He can do this because he's [[DoctorWho the Master]].]]
** [[Series/LifeOnMars The US version]] featured him [[spoiler: waking up in a spaceship as part of a mission to find literal life on mars. Several of the themes from both series were weaved in to make a bit more sense, but the ending voided any and all chance of ever having an American ''AshesToAshes''.]]
* ''{{WCW}} Monday Nitro'''s final episode was the "Night of Champions", which would see all the belts defended for the final time in WCW, as well as have the wrestlers talking about what WCW meant to them and where they would go from here. The final match of the night was Ric Flair vs. Sting, a fitting end as the two had had many storied feuds in WCW, even before ''Nitro'' went on the air. The last thing to happen on Nitro, Shane [=McMahon=] appeared to close out the show and announce that he had bought WCW and was going to war with the {{WWF}}.
* Many seasons of ''PowerRangers'' end on a grand finale, usually following an episode that had very little relevance to the overall arc, leading to a somewhat hilarious incongruity of, say, ''PowerRangersInSpace'' where a battle against the random {{monster of the week}} was immediately followed by what many fans consider to be the definitive ''Power Rangers'' finale, wrapping up no less than six seasons of stories, wiping out every major villain the series had ever had by that point, and showcasing the heroic sacrifice of Zordon to make all of the above happen.
* After 10 years, ''RedDwarf'' finally got a proper finale in the form of a special where the titular ship and its crew got back to Earth.
* ''BattlestarGalactica''[='=]s "Daybreak". [[spoiler: They rescue Hera, Cavil dies -- in the midst of an epic struggle involving almost all the humans, Cylons and ships we've seen in the series. Kara finally finds a habitable planet, and it turns out to be ''ours''... 150,000 years before our time. Yes, two Earths.]]
** [[spoiler:[[AwizardDidIt God did it]]]]
*''{{Scrubs}}'' "ends" with "My Finale". Even though it has apparently been renewed, this episode is the finale of the series in its current format as well as the swan song/goodbye to JD as the main character. [[spoiler: The episode features JD's last day at Sacred Heart before leaving for a new job to be closer to his son Sam. He manages to get goodbyes from most of the cast, even getting to part with the Janitor on good terms and getting to hug Dr. Cox. JD is left somewhat disappointed by his ending and imagines a line-up of guest stars from past seasons seeing him off, including dead characters such as Mrs. Wilks and Jill Tracy, but this fantasy ends when JD sees the futility of living in the past, so he instead decides to look forward to his future due to inspiration from a patient about taking control of one's future. The final montage shows JD imagining his future life to Peter Gabriel's "Book of Love". JD and Elliot are shown marrying and having a child, then reuniting with Turk, Carla, Dr. Cox and Jordan for Christmas in a peaceful setting. Sam and Isabella are even shown being engaged in another fastforward. The montage ends with visions of JD and Elliot kissing, and Dr. Cox willingly walking into JD's hug. In his final narration, JD feels that his fantasies should come true, just this once.]]
**The last words said in the Finale are [[spoiler: "goodnight", said between series creator Bill Lawrence and star Zach Braff]]
* The series finale of ''PrisonBreak'' has the main couple [[spoiler:getting married]], the gang's final prison break ([[spoiler:breaking Sara out of a women's prison before the General's assassins can kill her]]), and a HeroicSacrifice ([[spoiler:Michael gives his life so that his wife and unborn child can be free]]).
* ''{{Friends}}'' concludes with Ross and Rachel ''finally'' getting past their WillTheyOrWontThey woes with a declaration of their love and a vow to "stop being stupid". The friends also go their separate ways, leaving the apartment complex and city that was their home for so long. The episode ends with the friends going to the coffee house one last time and one last look at the now empty apartment.
* The Grand Finale of ''{{Six Feet Under}}'' is arguably one of the best seen on television. [[spoiler: Brenda finally gets over her fears for the well-being of her newborn daughter, Willa and makes peace with Nate. Ruth finds herself a new purpose in helping Brenda help raise Maya and Willa. Dave and Keith finally put their relationship in place so they can raise their adopted sons. Federico leaves the Fisher Funeral Home in order to start his own business. And Claire leaves to work in New York even after the initial job offer she received was axed. As a whole, the entire cast is able to shed their dysfunctional selves and find a semblance of peace. The last six minutes of the finale shows the future lives and deaths of all major characters. That whole sequence doubles as a {{Tear Jerker}} and a {{Crowning Moment of Heartwarming}}]].
* ''HappyDays'' had an ultimate sitcom-style ending. Joanie & Chachi finally got married, Fonzie adopted a young boy, Richie returned to see everything off, and Howard ended the episode by thanking the audience for being a part of their family, then name-dropped the title.
* ''TheSteveHarveyShow'' actually had two of these but they were aired out of order. The GraduateFromTheStory episode was supposed to air first but the show had been ScrewedByTheNetwork and canceled so the HappilyEverAfter episode was shown as the GrandFinale with the graduation episode shown later. They continue to be shown in this order in syndication.
* ''TheRedGreenShow'' ended with Harold, the HollywoodNerd, getting married, Dalton renewing his wedding vows with his wife who appeared onscreen for the first time, Mike becoming a police officer, and Bill apearing outside of the black and white Adventures with Bill segment for the first time since season 2.
*''ADifferentWorld'' ended with [[spoiler: Dwayne and Whitley finding out they're pregnant and moving to Japan for Dwayne's job]] and a big goodbye party for them is shown. During the party, Kimberly and Spencer decide to get married.
* CaliforniaDreams did this by having the entire band break up at the end of high-school to go off to different parts of the country (and one to Europe) to end the show. Unfortunately it created something of a downer ending doing it.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Mythology ]]

* Ragnarok. The world is consumed, everything burns, every living creature dies, game over, insert coin. [[spoiler: Someone does.]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Videogames ]]

* One of the big selling points of ''MetalGear Solid 4''. It takes them a while, but they manage it in the end (Impressive, considering the amount of plot to go through).
* Despite a long-shot SequelHook in the bonus ending, ''{{Halo}} 3'' neatly [[strike:finishes the fight]] wraps up the plot of the entire game series.
* ''{{Thief}} 3: Deadly Shadows'' served this purpose with regards to the series' plot, with a conclusive ending that brings Garrett's story full circle.
* ''{{Ultima}} 9'' brings a conclusive end to the saga of the Avatar (no, not [[AvatarTheLastAirbender ''that'' Avatar]]), incorporating plot elements and characters from all the previous games in the series and concluding the long standing struggle between the Avatar and the BigBad Guardian.
* ''PhantasyStar 4'' brought an epic and conclusive end to the saga of the Algol star system, wrapping up all the plot threads and unanswered questions brought up in the previous 3 games. Stories set in the same universe and based on the exodus colony ships would continue to crop up in the ''Phantasy Star Online'' series, though.
* ''{{Wizardry}} 8'' wraps up the plot of the Wizardry series (although only games 6 - 8 had an actual continuous plot) and ends with the option of having your characters ascend into godhood.
* ''QuestForGlory 5'' featured appearances from characters from all 4 previous games, and brought the series' story to a conclusive end. In fact, the game was almost never made (much like the intended GrandFinale ''SpaceQuest 7''), and the developers deliberately staged it as their GrandFinale knowing it would be the last game they would make under their name.
** Although the game still allows the trademark option of letting you save your character for future use. Either they were giving players one last dose of hopeful nostalgia, or they weren't completely ruling out the possibility of a sequel.
* Though there are sure to be other games and media produced later, ''ResidentEvil 5'' certainly feels like a GrandFinale. Series BigBad Albert Wesker has finally abandoned all subtlety and now [[AGodAmI harbors delusions of godhood]], and is ready to unleash a biological threat of global proportions as opposed to one isolated to a mansion or a city. At this point in the timeline, Umbrella is all but gone. And at the climax, [[spoiler: the game defies JokerImmunity; Chris Redfield, his new partner Sheva, and his old partner Jill Valentine finally end Wesker's madness with a couple of well aimed rocket propelled grenades. While Wesker's waist deep in a lava pit.]] The ending is different this time as well: there are no mysterious phone calls, no stingers, no hints that [[spoiler: Wesker might still be alive]]. Only the relieved looks on the heroes' faces as they realize that their struggles against the threat posed by Umbrella [[spoiler: and Wesker]] is finally over. Series producer Masachika Kawata even said that the inevitable ''Resident Evil 6'' will "have to reinvent the series with another full model change or else it won't be able to keep on going."
* ''MegaManZero 4'', technically the first in the ''[[MegaMan entire series]]''. The fascist government that the heroes are fighting against is finally destroyed [[spoiler:although not without heavy casualties]]. The BigBad is now in a desperate KillEmAll mindset, setting his KillSat on a ''literal [[ColonyDrop crash course]]'' towards the last chance of healing a [[WorldHalfEmpty dying world]]. TheHero succeeds in stopping the BigBad once and for all, [[spoiler:although [[HeroicSacrifice he sacrificed]] ''[[HeroicSacrifice himself]]'' in the process]]. Due to the actions of TheHero, the humans have started to believe in [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots Reploids]] once more, and true peace has ''finally'' surfaced after hundreds of years of war.
* ''LegacyOfKain: Defiance'' brings Raziel and Kain's destiny full circle with [[spoiler: Raziel's HeroicSacrifice]]. After being a XanatosSucker to nearly ''everyone'' in the series, Raziel finally chooses his own destiny and [[spoiler: willingly merges with the Soul Reaver and renews his loyalty to Kain]]. Other plot threads are resolved as well. Moebius [[spoiler: TheDragon to the true BigBad of the series the Elder God and]] the time traveling villain responsible for Kain becoming a vampire in the first place, is rendered DeaderThanDead in the most final way possible [[spoiler: when his soul is devoured by the Elder God]]. And [[spoiler: the Elder God himself]] is finally defeated by Kain wielding the fully empowered Soul Reaver. The last scene implies that Kain has finally accepted his destiny and responsibilities as the Scion of Balance as well.
* The good endings of the ''[[{{Castlevania}} Sorrow]]'' games mark the conclusion of the battle between Dracula and the Belmont clan. In the first, Soma Cruz manages to defeat the evil of Castlevania that sought to turn him into Dracula again. In the second, he refuses the mantle once again despite being told that the BalanceOfGoodAndEvil demands that he become the King of Evil. So even if the universe truly needs a BigBad, it won't be Dracula again. To keep the franchise from dying, all subsequent games take place ''before'' the Sorrow series. Though those games also break the pattern by featuring non-Belmont protagonists who don't specialize in whips (Jonathan being a borderline example since he uses a variety of weapons).

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'' had possibly the grandest of Grand Finales; a four episode, two hour movie special that had been built up to for three seasons. Besides the [[spoiler:ultimate fate of Zuko's mother]], most plot threads has been tied up neatly, and it finally put a definitive end to the ShippingWars for the primary pairings (or at least what's canon).
* In contrast to Japan, not many AnimatedSeries in the US get to do a GrandFinale. ''KimPossible''[='=]s "So The Drama" was a rare example - when it was written. After the fact, the series was {{uncanceled}} and given a PostScriptSeason. Then it got a second GrandFinale, that ended the HighSchool-based series in the most final way possible - a two-parter entitled "Graduation".
**Granted, these it's not all that rare for Western Animation to get a Finale.
* ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' is another exception to the rule, with a grand, two-part finale - the second part of which was a colossal battle pitting the Justice League and the Secret Society against Darkseid and his armies in an StrangeBedfellows scenario - a battle that not only spanned the entire world, but also the entire length of the final episode.
** Interestingly, this was the show's '''third''' GrandFinale: The writers had believed that ''JusticeLeague'' was to be canceled after the second season, and therefore ended it with a three-part episode involving an alien invasion, a traitor in the League's ranks, and shattering a romance that had been built up throughout the series... among other things. Then the show was renewed and re-tooled as ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited''. It was believed that it was to be canceled again in its second (or fourth depending on how you look at it) season, and thus a four-part episode was created to end things with a bang, followed by a lower-key episode that served as a coda for the entire {{DCAU}}. Of course, it was [[PostScriptSeason then renewed]] for a second and final time, eventually resulting in the two-parter mentioned above.
*** In an interview, the writers remarked that they wrote every season finale with something that could work as a Grand Finale, since in the business they had little guarentee of getting another season.
* The AnimatedAdaptation of ''{{Jumanji}}'' had a finale, at a time when such was extremely rare for kids' shows. Unfortunately, it's a ClipShow in which we sit through boring StockFootage until we finally [[spoiler: see Alan's first trip into Jumanji, including the clue that he never got to see. Once they solve it, the three leave the World of Jumanji for good. As Peter says at the end: "Game over."]]
* The American animated series based on ''StreetFighter'' had a definite ending. The last story arc of Cammy being brainwashed by M. Bison ended after Cammy came to her senses and freed her comrades, culminating in a final battle between Guile and Bison (Guile was made the main character of the cartoon, instead of the fan favorite Ryu). Guile finished Bison off once and for all by, bizarrely, blasting him into a computer, at which point his powers cause it to overload and the wires and insides of it seemingly begin to ''eat him alive'', before the computer then explodes. There is then the obligatory walking into the sunset of the five characters present, although there is no get-together with all the other characters or any other sense of closure. All that is known is that Bison, their eternal enemy, is definitely dead once and for all.
--> The computer: [[MemeticMutation This is delicious!]]
* Surprisingly, ''CampLazlo'' ends with one of these. As appropriate to the tone and style of the series, it's not so much flashy as spectacularly weirder than anything that's happened previously -- and this is a series where an entire episode revolves around one character getting stuck up another's nose. It still qualifies as definitively and permanently changing the core axioms on which the show depends, though.
** Not to mention the fact that Scoutmaster Lumpus [[spoiler:turned out to NOT be the camp's scoutmaster]]. Samson, the ButtMonkey of the series said it best: "I think it just got to the point where things can't possibly get any weirder."
* The final episode of ''{{Animaniacs}}'' originally aired as an hour-length program titled ''The Animaniacs Super Special''. Among the segments included was a seven-minute music video titled "The Animaniacs Suite", featuring an orchestral medley of the show's theme music pieces synced to [[ClipShow various clips from previous episode]].
** Although it's obviously in a different setting, ThisTroper has always considered ''[[TheMovie Wakko's Wish]]'' more of a GrandFinale, as it defies the series StatusQuoIsGod and actually gives most of the character's stories ''endings''.
*''DannyPhantom'', "Phantom Planet": After some humiliation competing against a new ghostbuster team, Danny decides to remove his powers and retire. However, the world is imperiled and needs Danny again. With great difficulty, Danny regains his powers and succeeds in saving the world. As a result, Danny is honored throughout the world while he and Sam hook up for good in his new and busy life.
* ''{{Transformers}}: BeastWars'' ends with a final confrontation between Megatron and Optimus Primal on an ancient and massive warship in a battle for the fate of the timeline itself.
** ''Beast Machines'', of course, had its own GrandFinale, changing Cybertron in a way that inspired controversy and even ''death threats.''
* ''TransformersAnimated'' managed to wrap up nearly all the remaining plot threads in "Endgame". Megatron makes his final assault and is thwarted by the combined efforts of the Autobots, and we finally get the Optimus Prime/Megatron beatdown we've been waiting three seasons to see. The fact that Optimus returns to Cybertron [[spoiler: with the Magnus Hammer and what appears to be the Matrix also indicates that he might become the next Magnus.]]
* ''TheEmperorsNewSchool'' had a GrandFinale that ended with Kuzco becoming Emperor and getting an actual ''date'' date with Malina.
* ''[[EdEddNEddy Ed,Edd 'N Eddy]]'' ends with a [[TheMovie movie]],where Eddy's big brother appears. It ends with the Eds actually getting a relatively good ending rather than getting royally screwed over like they usually do.
** In the meantime, the current finale was pretty damn satisfying -- it, too, defies StatusQuoIsGod -- Eddy stands up for Edd against the Kanker Sisters after Edd has a particularly bad day ("DON'T YOU THINK HE'S HAD ENOUGH?")...moreover, the Sisters actually decide that maybe it's best they leave for the moment. Eddy then hands Ed and Edd hot dogs, and asks them--a beit in a very nasty tone of voice--"Is everybody happy? Good." Sure, maybe they didn't actually accomplish anything, and Edd and Eddy are both bruised beyond belief, but you get the feeling that they finally got to end on a happy note and maybe realized they don't have to be the {{Cosmic Plaything}}s forever.
* ''KingOfTheHill'' averts a flashy GrandFinale, but in the last episode, [[spoiler:Hank and Bobby find a common ground (grilling beef) and [[SoProudOfYou finally start bonding like father and son]]]].
* ''{{Lilo and Stitch}}'' gets a GrandFinale in the movie Leroy and Stitch, where basically all the experiments are recovered, Gantu does a HeelFaceTurn against Dr. Hamsterville, whose JokerImmunity wears off, and all the experiments in the series are listed by name in the credits.
* The animated ''Conan the Adventurer'' which was vastly under-rated, had an awesome Grand Finale. It was actually the first show that built up a plot and had the heroes defeat their ultimate Big Bad. I couldn't believe it actually ended, and loved it... opened new possibilities.
* ''JackieChanAdventures'' had a spectacular one.
* ''StaticShock'' had one the episode "Power outage" where most bang babies powerless and both of Static's top bad guys gone for good.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 Turtles]] [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 Forever]]'' seems destined to become this for the 1987 show (Even though that show already concluded...) and the 2003 show. [[supersecretspoiler: As well as the original comics.]]
* [[SpongeBobSquarePants The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie]] is ''the'' GrandFinale for the show as a whole, [[WordOfGod no matter how many more episodes are made.]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

* ''{{Narbonic}}'' ended its original run with a final episode that showed several possible futures for the main characters. This was one of only two Sunday episodes that were canon (the very first Sunday was the other).

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* The 24th chapter of ''BrokenSaints'' (aptly titled "Truth") features the climactic confrontation between our heroes and the MagnificentBastard behind the MythArc, complete with an EtherealChoir, JustBetweenYouAndMe (justified), several {{Heroic Sacrifice}}s, and [[RuleOfSymbolism lots and lots of religious symbolism]].
* ''{{KateModern}}'' ended with a 12 part finale, "The Last Work", which resolved most of the show's plotlines surprisingly neatly.
** ''{{lonelygirl15}}'' attempted something similar with "The Ascension". It fell somewhat flat due to being much shorter than the ''[=KateModern=]'' finale (or, for that matter, the ''[=lonelygirl15=]'' season one finale) and [[LeftHanging failing to resolve any of the main plotlines]], being apparently a PoorlyDisguisedPilot for ''[=~LG15: the resistance~=]''.

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