Seinfeld — "The Finale" (1998)

Seinfeld's meta-finale put the four leads on trial for their indifference, splitting 76 million viewers between those who loved the dark closure and those craving laughs. Larry David's return to write this episode resulted in a divisive judgment that outperforms #5's romantic twist by offering pure thematic consistency, with characters remaining self-absorbed to the end. A 1998 Nielsen rating showed 58% of audiences disliked the episode, yet it set a record for sitcom viewership. The trial's verdict—a year in prison for violating a Good Samaritan law—mirrors the show's cynical ethos, making it a fitting but polarizing capstone to nine seasons of hilarious indifference.