In Episode 105 of Good Scribes Only Podcast, hosts Daniel Breyer and Jeremy Streich tackle one of the trickiest aspects of storytelling: endings. Whether in books, television, or film, a great conclusion can elevate a story, while a bad one can tarnish everything that came before it.

From literary classics to infamous TV finales (cough Game of Thrones), Daniel and Jeremy break down what makes an ending satisfying, which stories nailed their final moments, and which ones left audiences frustrated.

Do Endings Matter More Than the Journey?

Some argue that an unsatisfying ending shouldn’t ruin an otherwise great story. Others believe a weak finale can retroactively sour the entire experience (*looking at you, final season of Game of Thrones). The hosts explore both sides, debating whether a lackluster conclusion truly invalidates what came before it.

“You’ve got to accept the horse for its whole life, not just its last race,” Jeremy quips. “But I get why people are mad.”

Daniel counters that when people invest years into a story, they feel betrayed if the conclusion doesn’t deliver. It’s not just about a bad ending—it’s about a loss of trust between the creator and the audience.

Books That Stick the Landing

While discussing literary endings, the hosts highlight some of their favorites:

• Blood Meridian (Cormac McCarthy): The ambiguous, haunting final paragraph still sparks debate.
• My Year of Rest and Relaxation (Ottessa Moshfegh): The unexpected 9/11 tie-in gives the novel an eerie weight.
• The Three-Body Problem (Liu Cixin): A vast, mind-bending conclusion that feels both inevitable and surprising.

Jeremy praises The Three-Body Problem for knowing exactly when to end:

“Some stories overstay their welcome, but this one ended at the perfect moment.”

They also discuss books that struggled with their final acts, including Tender Is the Night (where F. Scott Fitzgerald reportedly lost steam) and Crime and Punishment, whose conclusion felt too neatly tied up.

The Worst TV Endings (and Why They Failed)

Shifting to television, Daniel and Jeremy run through some of the most divisive finales in pop culture:

• Game of Thrones: A rushed final season that abandoned character arcs and world-building.
• Mad Men: A largely well-received finale—except for the infamous Coke commercial ending.
• The Sopranos: The cut-to-black moment that left audiences debating for years.

Daniel argues that The Sopranos ending was bold and brilliant, while Jeremy defends Mad Men, despite finding the final moments a bit cheesy.

“Not every story needs total resolution,” Daniel says. “But when a show stops feeling like itself, that’s when fans get mad.”

What We Expect from Endings (and Why They’re Hard to Get Right)

The episode concludes with a discussion on why crafting a great ending is so difficult. Shows like Breaking Bad nailed it by staying true to their characters, while others collapsed under pressure, either by trying to please too many people or by losing sight of what made them great.

Jeremy reflects on his own writing process and the pressure of getting an ending right:

“I wanted my book’s ending to speak to everything I was exploring. It had to be earned.”

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode

For more debates on books, TV, and storytelling, tune in to Episode 105 of the Good Scribes Only Podcast.

Click here to listen now!