Goodbyes are never easy, even when the people you’re saying goodbye to are fictional.
A beloved character can feel like a friend, but they can’t stay with you forever.
This month, we’ll be saying farewell to several beloved TV series — some until next season, some forever.
Here are the important dates you need to know so you can watch the biggest TV finales of May 2025.
‘The Righteous Gemstones’ Series Finale (2019-2025)
Danny McBride’s megachurch comedy-drama is also coming to an end. Gemstone patriarch Eli (John Goodman), eldest child Jesse (McBride), only daughter Judy (Edi Patterson) and youngest child Kelvin (Adam Devine) are fighting to keep their televangelist empire alive after ups and downs (putting it mildly) that have nearly torn the family apart.
In the final season, we’ve learned more about Eli’s dark past, Kelvin’s sexuality (he finally came out publicly in episode 7), and the ongoing conflict with Uncle Baby Billy Freeman (Walton Goggins). There’s violence, sex, drugs and musical numbers galore on this hilarious show, so catch up now before the finale airs on May 4.
Watch the series finale of The Righteous Gemstones on May 4 on HBO or Max.
‘9-1-1’ Season Finale (2025-Present)
WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for 9-1-1 season 8.
Turn on the sirens! The season 8 finale of 9-1-1 is racing towards us at high speed. After the devastating loss of Captain Bobby (Peter Krause), the landscape of 9-1-1 has been changed forever. Viewers were so shocked by his death that perhaps they’re ready for some breathing room to adjust to this new reality in season 9.
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As season 8 wraps up, it will set the tone for how Sergeant Athena Grant-Nash (Angela Bassett) will move forward after the death of her beloved husband. Don’t miss the season finale of this intense show from producer Ryan Murphy. If you’re already missing 9-1-1 and its spin-off, 9-1-1: Lone Star, which aired its series finale in February, fear not. 9-1-1: Nashville is coming soon.
Watch the 9-1-1 season 8 finale on ABC on May 15 at 8 p.m. EST or stream it the next day on Hulu.
‘Big Mouth’ Series Finale (2017-Present)
The Big Mouth kids are all grown up and enduring high school in the final season of this adult animated series. Big Mouth, which alternates between disgusting and profound as it discusses puberty, sexuality and the problems of growing up, is releasing every episode of its final season on May 23. Nick (Nick Kroll), Andrew (John Mulaney), Jessi (Jessi Klein), Jay (Jason Mantzoukas), Missy (Ayo Edebiri) and the rest of their friends will face the end of puberty with their trusty Hormone Monsters (Kroll and Maya Rudolph) by their side.
Every episode of this hilarious series features cameos from a cavalcade of stars, including Meghan Thee Stallion, Jon Hamm, Nathan Fillion and many more. Don’t miss the end of Netflix’s longest-running scripted series.
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Watch Big Mouth on Netflix on May 23.
‘The Last of Us’ Season Finale (2024-Present)
WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for The Last of Us season 2.
The highly anticipated second season of The Last of Us is only 7 episodes, which doesn’t feel like nearly enough time to recover from the loss of Joel (Pedro Pascal) in episode 2. But with Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) on the hunt for Joel’s killer, Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), the rest of the season promises action, emotional confrontations and more mushroom zombie madness. Pascal’s IMDb page credits him as appearing in several more episodes in season 2, so presumably flashbacks will reveal more about what happened between him and Ellie before his death.
So far, the performances in The Last of Us have been incredibly moving. If the finale of season 2 is anything like that of season 1, we’re in for an emotional roller coaster.
Watch The Last of Us season 2 finale on HBO and Max on May 25.
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Series Finale (2017-2025)
The story of June (Elisabeth Moss), a “Handmaid” forced into sexual slavery after a religious authoritarian regime takes over the U.S., is coming to an end after six heart-wrenching seasons. Based on Margaret Atwood’s acclaimed novel of the same name, the TV version has progressed far beyond the story told in the novel and truly become its own beast. It’s been a difficult journey to watch, as June and her fellow Handmaids (Samira Wiley, Madeline Brewer and more) face unimaginable torture in their efforts to fight the sadistic government. But it’s also an inspirational story of resistance and perseverance.
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Some major twists, particularly one involving June’s on-again, off-again lover Nick (Max Minghella), have already shocked fans in season 6, so there’s no telling what the series finale might hold. No matter what happens at the end of The Handmaid’s Tale, however, Hulu is already planning a spin-off based on Atwood’s follow-up novel, The Testaments. Gilead isn’t done with you just yet.
Watch The Handmaid’s Tale series finale on Hulu on May 27.
