How often do finales live up to expectations?

Season finale season can be a lot of fun. Our favorite shows can leave us wondering “Who’s Been Hit?” Waiting for the “…dairy!” I get into the hype. Every year, I will watch finales of shows that I wouldn’t normally take the time for (Smallville, I’m looking at you). When it comes to series finales, I’ll tune in even if I’ve never watched the show (thanks, Friends …  really).

This season’s Fringe knocked it out of the park. While there was speculation that our Peter may not actually have been born in this reality, seeing the tombstone was still powerful. That scene, however, was NOT what people were talking about at the water cooler the next day. We finally meet William Bell, and the reveal that his office was in the still standing World Trade Center towers was a shocking moment. While some have argued that the scene was insensitive, I thought it was ballsy, powerful, and how a finale should be done.

We didn’t know yet if this was the last season of Scrubs, or if it would live on. Either way, I loved it. The episode was grounded in the idea that, despite major changes, the details of day to day life stay largely the same.  We learned the Janitor’s name (or did we?), and then were treated to JD’s walk down the hallway (through his past), and then his visions of the future.  Well played, Bill Lawrence. Well played.

The finale of Grey’s Anatomy was outstanding as well.  There was a tension throughout the entire episode, even though most didn’t realize it was George laying on the table (I wonder what episode of Grey’s everyone else watched. We figured it out early on that John Doe was George, and it was a great episode. I’m jealous of the people who didn’t make the connection, because I’m sure that episode was pretty darn good too).

For every outstanding season finale, though, there are ones that just don’t live up to expectations. This season’s Lost, in my eyes, doesn’t compare to the flash forward of last season, Blowing the Hatch, or “Not Penny’s Boat.” So, yes, we lost a beloved character, found out another was really dead, and a bomb went off. The game, as they say, is changed. But we don’t even have a clue as to how.  I want more.

Bones did the same thing. We’ve been building all season to Booth and Brennan, been teased with them getting …  er… “close” in the finale, only to be disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, the episode was fun. Putting the actors and recurring stars into a completely different story hearkens back to when JAG used to do it for their Christmas episodes. Unfortunately, for 42 minutes we got nothing that had any bearing on ongoing storylines. They packed a lot into that last minute, but only enough to make you wish they’d spent the whole episode telling that story.

Telling these stories well is not always about shock value.  I think its foremost important to bring ongoing storylines to a natural stopping point (not necessarily closed, but also not ignored).  Setting up the next season is important, but not necessary, but if you’re going to do it, do it right.  Half way just won’t do it.

Clacked by Ivey West
on May 17, 2009 @ 11:00 EST5EDT