About the final episode of Maude, titled "Maude's Big Move", I was rather confused over whether it was a great way to end the series or just a poor attempt to revamp the series in a bid for a renewal for next season.

The ratings for Maude sank to new lows during its sixth season (1977-78), and at midseason, CBS moved it from Mondays to Saturdays after The Jeffersons.

In the final three episodes of the series (which aired on April 8, 15, and 22, 1978), Maude Findlay is chosen to serve in the U.S. Congress, and she and Walter moved to Washington, D.C.. All of the other characters were written out of the series.

After just three episodes in this new format, Beatrice Arthur decided not to continue with the role of Maude Findlay, and as a result, CBS decided to end production of the Maude TV series after the 1977-78 season.

So, at least in your opinion, did "Maude's Big Move" feel more like a series finale (because of Bea Arthur's decision not to continue) or just a season finale (because of the decision to change the Maude series's format)?

To me it did bring closure as we know both the Harmons and Carol and Philip are moving away and Maude is starting an exciting new chapter of life in a new city and setting with Walter. It was a better finale than just keeping everything and everyone stale in the same place. It could have been funnier and it lacked the fanfare of a finale like MTM had, but it was fitting.