History Main / PostScriptSeason

->''"The battle's done and we kind of won, so we sound our victory cheer... where do we go from here?"''
-->-- '''Giles''', ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E7OnceMoreWithFeeling Once More, With Feeling]]"

* ''Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses'': The British sitcom about two poor wheeler-dealer street-market trader brothers ended after 15 years (7 seasons and four sets of Christmas specials) with the Trotter brothers finding an antique watch in their garage, [[RagsToRiches and becoming millionaires at last]]. The three episode finale, where the Trotters are finally shown in luxury penthouses and expensive sports cars, was shown over Christmas 1996 and attracted massive viewing figures for Creator/TheBBC. A few years later they convinced writer John Sullivan to reprise the ever-popular characters for three more {{Christmas Episode}}s. Having the Trotters [[SnapBack lose their investment money in a stock market crash (based on one in real life) and return to their original lifestyle]] [[DeusExMachina only to gain some of their lost fortune back]] and allow Rodney and Cassandra to finally have a child of their own, the specials were panned by critics and viewers alike, and no more have been produced since 2003. To add salt to the wound, "Time On Your Hands" was featured on Creator/Sky1's often repeated ''Top Fifty TV Endings'' feature... ''completely ignoring the three 2001-2003 specials''.

** ''Wizard'' had a two-parter that served as an anniversary special (since it's the introduction of the 15th Heisei Kamen Rider); this included both an EarlyBirdCameo of Gaim and the return of Series/KamenRiderDecade star Masahiro Inoue as a plot where Haruto is pulled into a realm where the Riders' defeated enemies reside and plan on returning to Earth. These 2 episodes were also part of Toei's plan to start new series on early October instead of early September (this would end being cancelled as EX-AID shortening).
** ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'''s last episode didn't have any crossovers, but gave some closure to several of the show's supporting cast, in particular focusing on the return of a past villain and [[spoiler:Micchy's redemption arc]].

** ''Series/KamenRiderGhost'' and ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'' avert this, simply having {{Early Bird Cameo}}s from a character from the incoming show. ''Ghost'' does it a little oddly since rather than Ex-Aid himself, the villainous "Black Ex-Aid" shows up and gives Specter and Necrom a good thrashing.

* ''Literature/TheLostWorld1995'', the sequel to ''Literature/JurassicPark'', came as a result of Creator/StevenSpielberg pressuring author Creator/MichaelCrichton to write a sequel with his favorite secondary character, Ian Malcolm, as the main character. [[SparedByTheAdaptation Malcolm had died in the first novel]]. Nevertheless, Crichton complied, and included a scene early in the second book where Malcolm's death was {{retcon}}ned by the man himself saying "The ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated". The [[Film/TheLostWorld film adaptation]] [[AllForNothing disregarded most of the book]] anyway.

** The ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series was meant to end with ''VideoGame/MegaManX5'', where Zero dies and is later resurrected in the ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' series. ''X5'' even ending with a DistantFinale where, three years later, X is fighting the good fight with Zero's Z-Saber, thus explaining why X is the one to give Zero back his Saber in ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZero1 Z1]]''[='s=] intro stage. ExecutiveMeddling made quick work of that and ''VideoGame/MegaManX6'' was released, retconning it to three ''weeks'' later and largely just being a MissionPackSequel that reused a lot of music and assets from the previous game. This then led to ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX7 X7]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX8 X8]]'', which more or less have NoEnding since the developers were anticipating they'd have to make more. ''X8'', to its credit, does continue to build upon the New Generation Reploid plot point introduced alongside Axl in ''X7'' and even [[spoiler:sees Sigma KilledOffForReal to make room for [[TheManBehindTheMan Lumine]]]], but these developments and any potential ties to [[GreatOffscreenWar the Elf Wars]] set between ''X'' and ''Zero'' have since been LeftHanging until further notice.
** ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' was originally meant to end at a trilogy, with ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZero3 3]]'' culminating in ending with the Dark Elf free, [[spoiler:X finally retiring to Cyberspace]], and the original MythArc culminating in [[spoiler:a final battle with Omega Zero [[BookEnds in the very ruins Zero originally woke up in]] during ''Z1'']]. [[ExecutiveMeddling Capcom]] had a final game produced anyways, [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools though the team was able to work with it]] since ''3'' left one giant loose end unanswered: [[HateSink The evil Dr. Weil]] still in control of [[TyrantTakesTheHelm Neo Arcadia]]. They were able to turn ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZero4 4]]'' into a true GrandFinale that simultaneously set up the next SequelSeries, ''VideoGame/MegaManZX''.

** [[ZigZaggedTrope In a sense]], the entire ''Final Fantasy'' series could qualify. Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi didn't expect to remain in the game industry for long after a floundering a bit with his earlier works, so he decided that his "final game" would be a "fantasy RPG", hence ''VideoGame/{{Final Fantasy|I}}''. However, the game was so successful that it saved the company and spawned an entire franchise. Sakaguchi would direct all the subsequent mainline installments until ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyV V]]'' and then act as series' producer until ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX IX]]'' (albeit, a very "hands off" producing role according to some interviews, as he was more focused on his ''[[Anime/FinalFantasyTheSpiritsWithin movie]]'' during and after the production of ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII VII]]''). Interesting, though, in that each installment generally stands alone with its own characters, plot, and setting, due to Sakaguchi's own distaste for sequels (hence why none of the games had direct sequels prior to his departure from Square). [[note]]While a fun excuse for the "Final" in the name this story is an apocryphal urban legend.[[/note]]
** After years of ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games existing as standalone games, the success of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' and the intrigue created by a promotional video expanding on the game's BittersweetEnding led to production of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' scant months after the game's Japanese release. Since the world had already been saved in the previous game, this sequel had a LighterAndSofter tone, especially compared to the heavy drama of the first. It also added FanService by the truck load and starred three women. Finally, it also addressed the BittersweetEnding, leading to many outcries from people that had assumed [[spoiler:Tidus died, despite the ending of ''X'' showing him returning to Spira and ''X-2'' using that ''exact'' scene to show his return]].
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' ended quite conclusively -- the heroes saved Cocoon, their loved ones they were trying to save were restored, the villains were dead, and humanity was facing an uncertain but hopeful future on Pulse. But WordOfGod is that fan demand for a sequel was high, so they made one. [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2 Said sequel]] follows the main heroine's little sister and a new character with the original party members having gone missing or playing supporting roles, features a new antagonist never even hinted at in the first game, and features a storyline almost entirely detached from the original, focusing on time travel and undoing paradoxes in the timeline. After THAT game came [[VideoGame/LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII another game]], this time focusing entirely on Lightning and wrapping up the series for good.

* ''VideoGame/{{Heretic}}'' ends with Corvus killing D'Sparil. The extra episodes introduced in the ''Shadows Of The Serpent Riders'' expansion has Corvus getting trapped in D'Sparil's domain after the final battle and having to fight his way out.

* ''VideoGame/{{Hexen}}'', similarly, ends with the player killing the second Serpent Rider, Korax, and getting trapped in the Land of the Dead in ''Deathkings Of The Dark Citadel'', having to fight their way out.
** ''Hexen II: Portal of Praevius'' is an expansion pack taking place after the Serpent Rider trilogy, and deals with stopping an evil wizard from resurrecting the deceased Serpent Riders.

* In the end of ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'', the Enclave is decisively defeated, and depending on player choices, clean, safe drinking water is returned to the Capitol Wasteland (or not) and [[spoiler:the player character may even have died]]. But fan dissatisfaction with certain {{Plot Hole}}s in the ending and the fact that ending the game meant you couldn't continue exploring the wasteland (plus desire for more of [[MoneyDearBoy that sweet sweet skrilla]]) led Bethesda to release the "Broken Steel" DLC as a sort of coda chapter. Turns out that reports of the death of the Enclave [[spoiler: and, potentially, the player]] are highly exaggerated, and they have a KillSat that needs taking down before it takes down the protagonists. The missions themselves are fairly middle-of-the-road-- not as good as the best of the game's DLC packs, not as bad as the worst-- but the ability to continue exploring the wasteland post-ending is a worthwhile addition.
* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' ends with the defeat [[spoiler:and death]] of the Joker and a cure for his Titan poisoning found and distributed to his victims, and also with the defeat of Hugo Strange and the strong implication that Arkham City will be shut down, its legitimately criminal prisoners relocated, and its political prisoners freed. But just in case you don't feel quite done, you can download the "Harley's Revenge" DLC and smack around some goons for a few more hours.
* ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' eventually got a series of DLC mini-campaigns dealing with the aftermath of [[spoiler:Batman activating the Knightfall protocol and either dying with Alfred in the ensuing explosion of his manor, or the two of them going into hiding and lying low for a while]]. Among the things that happen are [[spoiler:Oracle becoming Tim's MissionControl in lieu of Batman, Jason returning as the Red Hood and killing Black Mask, and Catwoman destroying Riddler's robot factory, draining his bank account [[PutOnABusToHell and leaving him to rot in prison with all of his resources and connections gone]]]].

* The main ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar'' story was wrapped up after the third game with the end of the Locust War and all the loose ends surrounding the characters wrapped up. The following sequel ''Gears of War 4'' took place after a twenty-five year TimeSkip and featured [[SpinOffspring the son of the original trilogy's protagonist]].
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' serves as this for [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda its franchise's]] "Hero of Time Saga". The saga itself began with ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'', the game that directly features the original adventure of the Hero of Time, while its direct sequel ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]'' would feature his continuing adventures in a foreign land. The saga was evidently meant to wrap up with ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'', as said game serves as a DistantFinale to the saga that builds on the consequences of the Hero of Time's fight with Ganon in the BadFuture, then ends on a note of "letting go of the past" with Ganondorf being permanently sealed with the Master Sword underneath the Great Sea. However, then-divided fan support towards ''Ocarina of Time''[='=]s two sequels would prompt ''Twilight Princess'' to become an alternate DistantFinale to the saga, building on the consequences of the Hero of Time being sent to the timeline of ''Majora's Mask''.

* Music/{{Eminem}} finished off a trilogy of albums dedicated to his personas and a sequel to the final album in that cycle, documenting his CreatorBreakdown, his chaotic personal life, [[TheNewRockAndRoll baiting and shutting down a moral panic]], [[InsultComic insulting]] every TeenPop sensation of the era, ending and launching several careers, and becoming enough of a threat to the Bush administration that the FBI investigated him as a potential revolutionary. Afterwards, he claimed that he felt that he had achieved everything he wanted to with rap, dropped a GreatestHits album and announced his retirement. He was reinvigorated after [[CreatorRecovery recovering from a serious pill addiction that was destroying his ability]], made a couple of {{Concept Album}}s about his addiction and rejuvenation, then followed that with ''The Marshall Mathers LP 2'', an OlderAndWiser take on his original persona. On that album's [[AlbumClosure final track]], "Evil Twin", he reflects on having [[AntagonistInMourning no more]] {{Boy Band}}s to insult and compares his situation to Ma$e quitting rapping to become a priest. His follow-up label compilation contains a song in which he [[TrueArtIsAngsty worries about how there's nowhere else for him to go now that he's so far from the trailer park]]. Eminem returned to his political satire roots on later albums and developed a new persona of an [[WhiteDwarfStarlet ageing hasbeen]] [[TakeThatCritics at constant war with the critics]], but it's common to find hip-hop heads comment that they're the results of Eminem scrounging around for subject matter because he has nothing in his personal life left to write about.

* Music/{{Eminem}} finished off a trilogy of albums dedicated to his personas and a sequel to the final album in that cycle, documenting his CreatorBreakdown, his chaotic personal life, [[TheNewRockAndRoll baiting and shutting down a moral panic]], [[InsultComic insulting]] every TeenPop sensation of the era, ending and launching several careers, and becoming enough of a threat to the Bush administration that the FBI investigated him as a potential revolutionary. Afterwards, he claimed that he felt that he had achieved everything he wanted to with rap, dropped a GreatestHits album and announced his retirement. He was reinvigorated after [[CreatorRecovery recovering from a serious pill addiction that was destroying his ability]], made a couple of {{Concept Album}}s about his addiction and rejuvenation, then followed that with ''The Marshall Mathers LP 2'', an OlderAndWiser take on his original persona. On that album's [[AlbumClosure final track]], "Evil Twin", he reflects on having [[AntagonistInMourning no more]] {{Boy Band}}s to insult and compares his situation to Ma$e quitting rapping to become a priest. His follow-up label compilation contains a song in which he [[TrueArtIsAngsty worries about how there's nowhere else for him to go now that he's so far from the trailer park]]. While Eminem returned to his political satire roots on his later albums, it's common to see them criticised as the work of someone with nothing left to write about.

* The ''Anime/{{Patlabor}}'' TV series was meant to end on Episode 35, but it was extended by 12 episodes at the last minute. Since the Griffin arc was planned to be concluded in the ''New Files'' OVA, these final episodes did not follow on it and were instead a series of one-off stories sans the two-part finale. Unlike many other examples, this was not a bad thing, as ''Patlabor'' was already an episodic show to begin with, and the "new" finale is powerful in its own right.

* The upcoming third and final season of ''WesternAnimation/{{Hilda}}'' was greenlit during the development of it's animated film, ''WesternAnimation/HildaAndTheMountainKing'' that was written in mind as a possible series ending in case no renewals happened after it.

Of course, you got cancelled, but that's to be expected. Fortunately, you had plenty of warning and were able to do a GrandFinale. It was a huge spectacle, full of guest stars and special effects and you tied up all the loose ends so that everyone could go home happy with a sense of closure. Nothing left to do now but record the DVD commentary track and sell the props on Website/EBay.

* ''Anime/Cyborg009'' was originally intended to end with the "Underground Empire of Yomi" arc, but fan outcry over the ending (which had two of the protagonists dying) convinced Ishinomori to continue it.