Season Ending Cliff Hangers

I think the rule for season-ending cliff hangers (as opposed to episode-ending cliff hangers) is that they should work additionaly as a conclusion.

In other words, if done correctly, the last scene should work as a cliff hanger leaving the audience wanting more, but at the same time if there isn't a second season, the cliff hanger does not prevent the first season from functioning as a stand-alone story.

I don't think the scene at the end of episode 8 works in this way.