Here are some thoughts on some recent finales and the seasons accompanying them:
Community Season 4
I have...mixed feelings on everything involved with Community this season. I wanted to like the Harmon-less era. I really really did. But while the show wasn't terrible, it really wasn't the same. It just wasn't. And as such, while I kept an open mind and tried to like every episode, there was only so much I could do before each episode left me with a feeling of 'meh'. I was obsessed with Community last year. I rewatched every episode multiple times. I don't think I rewatched a single episode this season. I think the finale really demonstrated where the season went wrong. There were quite a few laughs throughout the episode (mostly brought on by Troy. In fact, Donald Glover has been one of the few consistently awesome things about this season), but the episode was also trying
so hard to be like the past seasons that it was just too much. The darkest timeline AND paintball AND Jeff's existential crisis about graduating were all competing for time, that nothing got the attention it deserved. They didn't even give Pierce a proper sendoff! Just one line about how he decided to graduate. The episode wasn't bad, but it also wasn't what I wanted either.
When Community got renewed for a 5th season, I was surprised at my reaction, because it wasn't immediately joy. I go into next season with trepidation and that makes me sad. Last year if Community had been cancelled, I would have been devastated. Now, I just hope that the writers all learned that they don't need to recreate the Dan Harmon-era. They are never going to be able to. They need to create their own vision for the show and run with it. And preferably give Jim Rash A LOT of episodes to write.
Vikings Season 1
Vikings! Yeah! *breaks stuff*
I started watching Vikings because I had the History channel on and a commercial came on for the show and it looked like a historically-accurate-Game of Thrones and I was like, "Self, how are you not watching this show?!" So I did. And I liked it! It's a good show. Often
really good when it lets itself. It also does remind me of Game of Thrones, although not quite as violent and naked-y. That's not to say it isn't without violence of course. Turns out vikings were pretty hardcore, and the action scenes on this show reflect that and are kind of incredible. It's also visually gorgeous and just really well put together (and that credits sequence! My god!). Huge huge props also to Travis Fimmel's Ragnar Lothbrok who carries the show with a constant mischievous grin and an intensity that makes him one of the most fascinating lead characters on TV right now.
As for the actual finale, well....it felt a little rushed. Actually, kind of a lot rushed, which I'm assuming was because there were only 8 episodes and they didn't know if they were going to get another season or not (they are! Yay!). As such, Ragnar seemingly choosing Aslaug over Lagertha felt like it happened too fast and was also super disappointing. So much of the reason why this show is so great is because of Ragnar and Lagertha and their strong relationship, and now I'm super bummed. And the finale could have used a lot more Athelstan, who has had such an interesting arc, and I was still kiiiiind of holding out for that Ragnar/Lagertha/Athelstan threesome that was teased at in the earlier episodes. And now it might never happen! Also, I wish Rollo would stop making terrible decisions because he is really hot, and I would like to just like him without feeling guilty about it. In conclusion, the finale wasn't that great, but the rest of the season was, and I am highly recommending it if you're looking for just some pure entertainment.
New Girl Season 2
I can't be objective about this show at all. I just love it so much and it brings me so much joy and I totally loved the finale. I always enjoyed New Girl in the 1st season, but it wasn't until towards the end of that season that I think it really started to live up to its potential, and Season 2 has just been fantastic pretty much all throughout. It might be the best live action comedy on television right now and Nick Miller may be the funniest character on TV. And Nick/Jess so far has been handled extremely well. Their scenes together are often serious and emotional, but they also are frequently dysfunctional and hilarious, much like the characters. There's a good balance there. And I think the finale demonstrated that balance well. I was kind of annoyed at their initial misunderstanding (although laughing my ass off at all "Cotton Eyed Joe" humor), but they moved past it pretty quickly, and their actual fight later in the vents was realistic and ultimately made them uncalling it at the end that much sweeter. Besides that though, I laughed consistently throughout the episode mostly because Winston being terrible/over-enthusiastic about pranks is one of the best things in the entire world. Actually Winston
killed this entire episode. The character doesn't really have much to do most of the time, but the actor is consistently hilarious and I loved everything that came out of his mouth this episode. I kind of couldn't care less about Schmidt/Cece at this point, but I really like Elizabeth and I thought that the resolution of Cece's wedding was well done, with a surprisingly hilarious Taylor Swift cameo. I'm going to miss this show this summer.
Bob's Burgers Season 3
I had to put that New Girl was the best "live action" show on TV right now because Bob's Burgers is probably the best comedy on television at the moment period. I'm not sure I can think of another show that makes me happier than Bob's Burgers. Not only is it consistently hilarious, but the characters are appealing, good people, who genuinely like each other. I think one of the best things about the show is it's not mean-spirited at all. The Belchers may be kind of dysfunctional, but they love and support each other no matter what. Not to mention the show is so weird and creative! There are always tons of things going on in the background (the reveal of the "Burger of the Week" is half the fun of every ep), and now every episode incorporates both a new song AND a brand new end credits sequence.
As to the finale, it was another great episode, incorporating wackiness, like Tina becoming addicted to espressos (which was so great. So. Great), with heart, as the family came together to help Gene succeed at baseball. And omg how happy was I that Regular Sized Rudy showed up again in the finale?! He instantly became my favorite supporting character when he was introduced in the field trip episode, and his positivity and perseverance in the face of crippling asthma has brought me so much joy.
Once Upon A Time Season 2
I'm not even sure what to do with this show. Weirdly enough, I thought the first half of this season was kind of good. And some of the middle episodes with Cora were interesting. But I don't know, this back half has just been so...dumb. It's frustrating however, because there have been little glimpses of good. Peter Pan being an evil shadow monster was interesting and I kind of like Emma/Neal? I think. And the best part of the finale was surprisingly the relationship between Hook and Baelfire. I liked seeing the softer side of Hook, even when I always expected it was there. But when every answer to every problem is "MAGIC!" it gets really repetitive, really fast, and just so so dumb and cheesy. And is Regina evil or not?! Every time the show looks like they're leading her towards redemption, they have her do something so horrible it seems like no one could possibly forgive her. Yet all of the characters continuously cut her so much slack. It's just so frustrating! And I totally screwed myself because I kept waiting and waiting for Mulan and Aurora to come back every episode and was continuously disappointed. So when we finally had confirmation that they would appear in the finale, I got really really excited and then was HORRIBLY LET DOWN when they only had one tiny scene and Mulan didn't even get a line and fucking Phillip was there. Sigh. At this point I'm kind of on the fence on whether or not I'll continue with this show next year. We shall see.
Supernatural Season 8
Wow, I really really liked that finale. Actually I've really liked this entire season. It's a general consensus that the best seasons of this show were the first 5, as they followed the original creator of the show's, Eric Kripke, overall story-arc. And I definitely agree, as while there have been moments of Seasons 6 & 7 that I've enjoyed, there was a lot of wheel-spinning going on and it felt like there was just...something missing. So imagine my surprise at how much I've really enjoyed Season 8! It started off kind of shaky with the brothers not getting along
again, but they saved it with the introduction of Benny the vampire and a mind-controlled Castiel. And I've always been very interested in the show's dealings with myth and religion and fate, so everything with the angels and the tablets and Kevin and Crowley and the trials was fascinating to me. Finally, the boys had a clear-cut goal to strive towards, and finally they were both working together and were functioning in a healthy relationship. Not to mention the Men of Letters thing was an ingenious addition to the show, and their new home-base was much needed.
So I'm glad to see the season end on a high note. There were twists and turns and excitement throughout the episode, but of course the most affecting scene was Sam & Dean's teary confession and hug at the end. They still get to me! It's why I'm not sure I'll ever quit this show. As long as Sam & Dean keep eliciting these
feelings in me, I'll be there to the end. Also, a potentially sorta-redeemed Crowley helping out the boys and Human!Cas next season would make me so so happy. Make it so!
The Office Season 9
If I attempted to write out all of my feelings on the The Office and just how much the show has meant to me throughout the years, I would never stop writing. So I'll try and keep this short and to the point. I love The Office. I've loved The Office since I watched my first episode back when Season 2 was airing. Between Seasons 2 and 5, The Office was one of my favorite shows on television, and not only was it appointment viewing for me, I pretty much got everyone I knew into the show as well. Yes, The Office declined in quality. Yes, some of the later seasons you could even describe as "bad". But I still loved The Office. Even through all of that. Even after Michael Scott left and they kind of ruined my favorite secondary character Andy and all the weirdness with Robert California. I still loved it. Because The Office consistently brought me so much joy throughout those earlier seasons (which spanned the entirety of my college career), that I forgave it everything. I loved it. And I always will.
The Office is over now. And I can't argue that it wasn't time. The show's been past its prime for a while. But I'm still sad. And it was still hard letting go this Thursday night, even though it ended so perfectly. Each character beat in this episode felt right, and I cried because I was so happy to see everyone get a special moment, but also because I was going to miss everyone so much. It was sappy and emotional and there was an overabundance of montages, but dammit, it was so good! If nothing else than because Michael came back. And him and Holly had kids! And he was so proud of his other "kids" for growing up and marrying each other. And he got to deliver the greatest "that's what she said" joke in the history of the series. It was perfect. And everything I wanted. And I'll never forget this show and what it meant to me ♥
