This year's cliffhanger left me confused like "is it that?" It goes so fast. I don't know, I think I have to get used to it, but I think they've made more consistent jobs previously in cliffhanging, although not always the best cliffhangers are in the best season finales. Here I rank IMO what I think were the best season finales and cliffhangers of past seasons:
Best Cliffhangers:
season 4 (ross saying the wrong name) season 7 (surprise pregnancy) season 5 (surprise vegas wedding) season 1 (ross' new girlfriend and rachel waiting with flowers) season 8 (don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it, but I think it is not true to the characters) season 3 (ross has to decide between two doors. This one was effective because of the tension between R&R, but it's very simple)
Best Season Finales:
season 5 (Just because of 3 things: rachel naked dancing, Ross and Rachel embarassing each other and the cliffhanger) season 4 (Overall it was a very special and memorable episode) season 3 (Being one hour long it's easyer to be more consistent) season 8 (In the first part I laughed as I hadn't since season 5 finale) season 6 (I'm more into the funny episodes than the sentimental ones. But this one was a good mix. I would actually rate season's 3, 8 and 6 at the same level). season 1 (It's been a long time since I last watched this episode, maybe I'm underating it) season 7 (I think the cliffhanger was the best of the episode, the rest was OK) season 2 (One of the worst episodes of the 2nd season. I don't know if the "will Monica and Richard really break up"was a cliffhanger. I don't count it as that)