Throughout the series, Ellen navigates her personal and professional life with the help of her loyal friends, including Paige (Joely Fisher) and Audrey (Clea Lewis). She also deals with her overbearing parents, Harold (Steven Gilborn) and Lois (Alice Hirson), who are often meddling in her affairs.
As Ellen comes to terms with her sexuality and comes out as gay, the show explores her romantic relationships with women, including her love interest Laurie (Lisa Darr). The episode "The Puppy Episode" in which Ellen publicly comes out was a landmark moment in television history and received both praise and criticism.
In addition to addressing LGBTQ themes, the show also tackled other social issues such as sexism, ageism, and mental health. Despite facing backlash from some viewers and advertisers, Ellen continued to push boundaries and challenge stereotypes throughout its run.
The series finale, "The End," sees Ellen selling her bookstore and embarking on a journey to explore new opportunities. The finale ends with Ellen realizing that change is a natural part of life and embracing the unknown with optimism and humor. The show concluded with Ellen's signature catchphrase, "I'm gonna go out there and find a new publisher, a new writer, a new life."