Originally Posted by
Robstar
They ended Seinfeld with them all in jail - together. It maintained the show's main premise to the end in that way - humour, if somewhat less than believable.
In The Wonder Years final ep, we learn that Kevin and Winnie end up just being friends after an infatuation that goes on for, like, forever. (sounds like Ted!) Kevin's father dies (like Marshall!) The whole show was narrated by an older version of the main character (like HIMYM!) The last ep was depressing - because it was boring real life stuff.
Most shows get cancelled before they can wrap things up and we are only just now in the era of shows designed with an end in mind.