Top 10 Greatest Shows That Took FOREVER to End

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the TV shows that - despite their greatness - took way too long to end. Also: spoiler alert!

#10: “Better Call Saul” (2015-22)

“Better Call Saul” is the amazing spin-off and prequel of “Breaking Bad” that brought us into the life of Jimmy McGill, a lawyer with a scam artist’s soul who becomes the legendary Saul Goodman. From 2015 to 2022, its six seasons and 63 mind-blowing episodes had everyone on the edge of their seat. True fans waited two years for the two-part final season, which included a seven-week break, but the long wait was worthwhile: Jimmy redeems himself, confesses his crimes to protect his great love Kim, and ends up behind bars in a jaw-dropping bittersweet finale. The whole fandom agreed—it was an epic, emotional landing that felt like a masterpiece, even though it took forever to drop.

#9: “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (1999-2024)

HBO's “Curb Your Enthusiasm” hilariously portrays Larry David as a bolder version of himself who unleashes chaos. The comedy also features lots of cameos, and gets him into the most hilarious situations for saying what many of us think but dare not say. Running from 2000 to 2024, this series had 12 seasons - but with a six-year hiatus between Seasons 8 and 9! Just as it was being circulated that the series creator and lead actor “had had enough” of the project, season 8’s last episode concluded with what could have been a series finale. After half a dozen years went by and with fans and colleagues pushing Larry, he finally felt like picking up the project again and returned with season 9 in 2017. Meanwhile, the series' actual conclusion in 2024 not only gave a nod to the “Seinfeld” finale, a series that David co-created, but also pleased the fans.

#8: “Atlanta” (2016-22)

“Atlanta” is an FX gem that follows the lives of Earn, a music manager with dreams, his cousin Paper Boi, an up-and-coming rapper, and the people close to them in a whirlwind of rap, racial issues, surrealism, and crazy moments in Georgia. These include Van, his super-smart ex and mother of his daughter, and Darius, their strange but thoughtful friend. Actor, author, and rapper Donald Glover is the mastermind behind the series, which ran for 4 seasons and 41 episodes. Throughout its run, the surrealist comedy-drama actually went on hiatus twice: between 2016 and 2018 due to Glover’s many projects, and between 2018 and 2022 because of scheduling conflicts and the pandemic. However, the final episode’s dreamlike journey had critics raving, while others touted Glover’s genius and his unique storytelling.

#7: “Yellowstone” (2018-24)

“Yellowstone” is a neo-Western drama following the Duttons, led by Kevin Costner’s John Dutton, as they defend their Montana cattle ranch against developers, a Native American reservation, and Yellowstone Park. But it's not just the drama that's the hook for this series; the landscapes are breathtaking. From 2018 to 2024, its five seasons and 53 episodes attracted millions of viewers. The final season was split in two, with an almost one-year wait between 2023 and 2024 due to writer and actor strikes. Costner also left for his “Horizon” project during this time. The finale, which saw the ranch sold to the reservation, divided fans: few loved it, though many considered it fitting but predictable.

#6: “Sherlock” (2010-17)

“Sherlock” is the BBC's contemporary adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular character and Martin Freeman as John Watson. This duo solves crimes in a modern-day London, facing multiple perpetrators including criminal mastermind and Sherlock’s archenemy, Jim Moriarty. The leads' chemistry kept fans eagerly awaiting new episodes, with classic crimes now given a modern twist through technology. From 2010 to 2017, the show aired four seasons of only three episodes each as well as a 2016 special episode. Why so few episodes in 7 years? Sherlock’s leads are busy actors, and projects like “Doctor Strange” and “The Hobbit” made scheduling difficult. The series’ last episode, “The Final Problem,” left critics and fans alike torn, with praise for the acting but dislike for the melodrama.

#5: “You” (2018-25)

Can an obsession become boring? “You” is a psychological thriller about Joe Goldberg, an obsessed bookseller who pursues his love interests from different cities with disturbing tactics. Its gripping narrative, with interior monologues that immerse you in Joe's mind, the ongoing tension from his crimes, and outstanding performances by actors such as Penn Badgley and Victoria Pedretti, are addictive. From 2018 to 2025, the show’s five seasons and fifty episodes were delayed due to a change in networks, the writers and actors’ strikes, and the pandemic. Despite the previously entertaining seasons, the last one was described as repetitive while its finale had critics using words like rubbish and insulting.

#4: “The Handmaid's Tale” (2017-25)

“The Handmaid's Tale” is a Hulu dystopian drama about Elisabeth Moss’ June Osborne, one of the titular handmaids forced to procreate in Gilead, which is a totalitarian government ruled by Christian law replacing the U.S. after a fertility crisis. Moss's visceral performance, the show’s striking red-coated visuals and its overall raw narrative reflecting female oppression are iconic and relevant to today. The release of the series’ six seasons and 56 episodes, which ran from 2017 to 2025, were prolonged due to the pandemic in 2021 and writers and actors’ strikes in 2023. Following a 3-year gap between season 5 and season 6, the 2025 finale would be met with mixed reviews.

#3: “Arrested Development” (2003-06; 2013-19)

“Arrested Development” is a satirical sitcom about the Bluths, a dysfunctional family that loses its wealth after the arrest of family patriarch, George Sr. Responsible son Michael, played by Jason Bateman, tries to maintain the family business and sanity while dealing with egos, secrets, and absurd situations. Ron Howard's wry narration, the cast’s chemistry, the recurring gags, the handheld camera style, and hilarious cameos all helped build its fandom. Canceled after three seasons because of low ratings, the show came back seven years later on Netflix in 2013, but with a different format due to scheduling conflicts. Although the last two seasons allowed the show to have a more proper conclusion, fans and critics expressed that they didn’t quite match the quality of the earlier seasons.

#2: “Stranger Things” (2016-25)

Set in the 1980s in Hawkins, Indiana, this sci-fi/horror series follows a group of young friends as they encounter eerie events from the Upside Down. Inspired by the likes of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King, the nostalgic show features iconic characters like Eleven and a captivating synth soundtrack, quickly becoming a hit. However, once again, the pandemic, as well as the ambitious scale of season 4 led to a nearly three-year gap between seasons 3 and 4. Meanwhile, the Hollywood strikes delayed season 5, with another gap of about 3 years in between the show’s penultimate and final season, the latter of which was announced to be airing in late 2025.

#1: “Happy Valley” (2014–23)

Not all gaps between seasons are due to unexpected events or scheduling conflicts. While the seven-year-wait between series 2 and series 3 of “Happy Valley” was partially due to the pandemic and creator Sally Wainwright’s other writing projects, it was also to allow time for actor Rhys Connah to grow up. Starting at age 10, the actor played the role of Ryan, the grandson of protagonist Catherine Cawood, who raises him following her daughter/Ryan’s mother’s death. Not only did Wainwright not want to recast Connah, but she also wanted the actor to be able to tell the story they wanted to tell with the character as a teenager. The crime drama was notable for its writing, acting and intensive narrative, mixing crime with personal pain. In 2023, Catherine finally achieved some emotional peace after confronting the man who assaulted her daughter. Though some were left wanting more, many critics praised the ending.

In your opinion, what’s the greatest show to take its sweet time to come out with new episodes?

Let us know in the comments!