Worried about the 'Game of Thrones' finale? Here are 3 shows that stuck the landing

If the angry mob on Twitter, the television blogosphere or the Rotten Tomatoes scores are accurate representations of the global audience watching "Game of Thrones," expectations are low for the series finale airing at 8 p.m. Sunday on HBO.

Pleasing the audience with the final episode of a long-running, beloved TV show has always been difficult, even if you don't spring a snow globe surprise in the last scene. Some shows get a second crack at it in this era of revivals and reboots - and make a bad ending even worse. (Here's looking at you, "X-Files"!)

But it is possible to deliver the goods. These three shows prove it:

"Breaking Bad" (Sept. 29, 2013)

Creator Vince Gilligan's first big TV job was on the "X-Files" writing staff, and his five-season saga of physics teacher-turned-meth lord Walter White (Bryan Cranston) avoided that show's embarrassing death rattle. And how - Walter turned the tables on the white supremacists who destroyed his empire and his family, set free his young partner Jesse (Aaron Paul), ensured a comfortable life for his wife (Anna Gunn) and son (RJ Mitte), and ultimately died alone, the final victim of the horrors for which he was responsible. "Breaking Bad" was violent, shocking and twisty, but rarely felt inauthentic. The last eight episodes should be any showrunner's model for sticking the landing.

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" (May 23, 1994)

While the seven seasons of the syndicated adventures of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the Enterprise-D did feature recurring storylines, most episodes were self-contained, which alleviates much of the pressure inherent in making the final episodes of serialized shows. "Next Generation" bridged the gap with the time-bending "All Good Things," in which omnipotent troublemaker Q (John de Lancie) returns to put humanity on trial, just as he did in the show's very first episode. Scenes from that pilot are revisited, dead crew member Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) returns, and we glimpse a future in which Picard and Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) have been married and divorced. It culminates in the captain joining the crew's poker game for the first time - a much more emotionally satisfying finish than the crew's final big-screen appearance, "Star Trek: Nemesis."

"Cheers" (May 20, 1993)

Before passing the must-see TV baton to "Seinfeld," NBC's classic barroom comedy ended with a moment of quiet grace that Jerry, George, Kramer and Elaine were never capable of. After Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and old flame Diane Chambers (Shelley Long, returning to the show after years away) realize they shouldn't get back together, Sam finds himself back at Cheers, talking about the meaning of life with his friends - and giving the audience one last chance to hang out with Norm (George Wendt), Cliff (John Ratzenberger), Carla (Rhea Perlman) and the gang. Sam stays behind after everyone leaves. A late-night wanderer knocks on the door. "Sorry, we're closed," waves Sam. And he turns the lights out.

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