How It Ends: Exploring How Narrative Closure and Character Outcomes in Series Finales Relate to Viewer Responses and Coping Behaviors

ABSTRACT

Series finales garner much attention and discussion from viewers and the press, yet few studies have examined what makes finales satisfying. According to affective disposition theory (ADT) the outcomes that characters experience will predict audience gratifications; however, little is known about what other factors may affect responses to finales. An online questionnaire (N = 840) was administered to explore the associations between character outcomes and perceived narrative closure with affective responses (positive and meaningful), emotional distress (depression, anger, and anxiety), enjoyment, and appreciation, and to determine how these factors relate to post-viewing coping behaviors. Findings revealed that both the positivity of an outcome for a main character and perceived narrative closure were associated with heightened positive and meaningful affect, reduced emotional distress, and increased enjoyment and appreciation. Furthermore, appreciation and enjoyment were differentially related to coping behaviors, such that enjoyment was linked to decreased coping, whereas appreciation was associated with heightened engagement in these behaviors. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

Acknowledgments

I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Mina Tsay-Vogel for her invaluable assistance during every stage of this manuscript. It would not have been possible without her.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

¹ The following remaining direct effects were likewise significant: Closure on enjoyment, β = .17, t = 4.02, SE = .04, p = .016; positive affect on both mediated, β = .14, t = 3.27, SE = .04, p = .031, and general coping, β = .14, t = 3.59, SE = .04, p = .023; depression on general coping, β = .19, t = 3.16, SE = .06, p = .034; and anxiety on general coping, β = .19, t = 3.15, SE = .06, p = .035 These findings reveal that the influence of closure on enjoyment, as well as the effects of positive affect, depression, and anxiety on general coping are not entirely mediated by the other variables included in the model.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

K. Maja Krakowiak

K. Maja Krakowiak (Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 2008) is a Professor in the Communication Department at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Her research interests include the psychological and social effects of media, with a focus on entertainment and morality.