Few studios are as adept at using the post-credit scene to ensnare audiences as Marvel. This is true, for example, in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which has a mid-credit sequence introducing T’Challa’s son.
However, there have also been a number of television series that have utilized this device for various effects. Some of these have been Marvel productions, but there have also been others. Ranging from comedies to dramas to everything in between, these shows have used post-credit sequences, sometimes to elaborate on the story itself and, sometimes, to simply add another set of jokes to the episode which came before.
Andor (2022-Present)
Stream On Disney+
During its first season, Andor quickly established itself as one of the best shows to yet emerge from the Star Wars franchise. It was part prison movie and part character study, giving audiences a more nuanced view of Cassian Andor.
It also featured a very notable post-credit sequence, one which showed that the objects Andor was working on while in prison were in fact components of the dreaded Death Star. Shocking though it was, it was a truly poetic moment, particularly since Andor would go on to become pivotal to the Death Star’s ultimate destruction.
WandaVision (2021)
Stream On Disney+
Featuring Wanda Maximoff, one of the best female characters in the MCU, WandaVision was a haunting and beautifully-wrought exploration of the power of grief to distort one’s sense of reality. Wanda’s story remains one of the most compelling in the MCU, which makes the series’ post-credit sequence all the more significant.
As viewers would learn, Wanda has custody of the malevolent book known as the Darkhold, and given that the sequence also features sounds of her boys screaming for help, it’s clear that this will have an impact on her later character. Indeed, in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wanda would go on to try to steal the powers of America Chavez precisely so she could regain her boys.
Loki (2021-Present)
Stream On Disney+
The character of Loki has always been one of the best anti-heroes, and he remains a charming part of the MCU writ large. Though the series that focused on his adventures had relatively few post-credit sequences, it did have one notable example, in the fourth episode.
It is a fun one, as it shows the various variants of Loki that exist in the alternate universe. It was quite funny for audiences to get to see him interact with other Lokis scattered across the multiverse, including one that was a literal crocodile.
The Golden Girls (1985-19920
Stream On Hulu
The Golden Girls remains one of the most beloved sitcoms. Its narrative, focused on four women who share a house in Miami and become the best of friends, maintains its power to entertain.
The seventh season saw a shift in the show’s tone, toward more of a slapstick approach. What’s more, each episode also featured a post-credit sequence, which often elaborated on what had come before in the episode. Given that this is The Golden Girls, they were often quite hilarious, a lovely little way of bringing each beloved episode to a close before sending the audience on their way.
Doctor Who (2005-Present)
Stream On HBO Max
With its sprawling story that has encompassed decades, Doctor Who has truly become a global phenomenon. And, because it so often engages with complex questions–and often features some rich storytelling - it’s not surprising to find that it also makes use of the post-credit sequence.
In one particularly notable example, the Doctor has fallen asleep in the TARDIS, only to be awakened by Santa knocking on the door. This, of course, is entertaining in its own right, but it is also designed to provide the necessary setup for the Christmas special to follow.
The Daily Show (1996-Present)
Stream On Comedy Central
The Daily Show remains one of the best news shows. With its skilled combination of news and commentary, it has actually become one of the main ways that some people get their news of the day.
It also featured a post-credit sequence, in the form of “And Now Your Moment of Zen.” This segment is remarkable for being one of the most consistent through-lines in the series as a whole. In this case, the post-credit sequence was meant to give one final laugh to the audience, and in this it was remarkably effective.
Walking Dead (2010-2022)
Stream On AMC+
Widely regarded as one of the best TV series about zombies, The Walking Dead was remarkable for the extent to which it was able to blend together compelling human storylines while never losing sight of the fact that this is a post-apocalyptic and very dangerous world.
The genius of The Walking Dead was that it didn’t overuse the post-credit sequence. Instead, it typically utilized them to introduce a new or particularly important character, such as the moment in the sixth season when the viewer meets Negan.
Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988)
Stream On Roku
Magnum, P.I. is often seen as one of the best shows of the 1980s. With a skilled blend of comedy and mystery, it was a hit with audiences, and it also featured a very memorable performance from Tom Selleck.
The series has a particularly memorable finale, in large part because it made use of a post-credit sequence. After watching himself on-screen, Magnum turns to the camera and bids them a goodnight. As always, Selleck’s charm is very much in evidence, and it was a fittingly intimate way for this series to bid farewell to its fans.
Shameless (2011-2021)
Stream On Showtime
There’s no question that Shameless is one of the best series on Showtime. Particularly notable was its skill at highlighting the nature of poverty in the United States, as well as how such a lack of resources can distort one’s attitudes and beliefs.
It has a biting and irreverent comedic sense, one that is often as tragic as it is humorous. In keeping with its generally iconoclastic approach to most things, the post-credit sequences would often be little more than humorous asides, some of which did not even necessarily contribute anything meaningful to the story.
The Venture Bros. (2003-2018)
Stream On HBO Max
Like many of the best Adult Swim series, The Venture Bros. was an irreverent take on the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons of old. An absurdist comedy with a very stinging (and sometimes downright caustic) sense of humor, it still had its fair share of emotional moments.
Moreover, it also made extensive use of post-credit sequences. Many of these were little vignettes of their own and thus actually contributed to the story more than is usual with post-credits, even if they were often quite brief.
Source:gamerant.com