Can’t help but feel this was a little bit of a dud of an ending? Not sure, going to have to reflect on this for a little while, but immediately feels like a 6/10 ending for what was overall an 8/10 show.
Edit: Having read the book ending, yeah, I'm a little let down by this one. The book basically throws in another murder that Jacob is suspiciously close to after Hope winds up dead and Laurie finds a red stain on Jacobs bathing suit. This pushes Laurie over the edge with guilt as she is now totally convinced Jacob did it, resulting in her killing him with the car crash. I feel this is much more compelling ending as it adds a pattern of similar circumstances around Jacob, but still doesn't confirm he is the killer. and further drives home some of the central points of the show. The grey area between right and wrong, the decision between what is right ethically, and what is right for the family, and how hard it is to straddle that line for the people involved. How a parent copes with loving someone that they are convinced did a horrific act. It keeps the same ambiguity of the show ending while adding the finality of Jacobs death, meaning we may never know the truth.
Although it feels like I've bemoaned the entire ending here, I still really enjoyed the show, and would probably give the whole show about an 8/10 if pressed for a score. Would have just been great for them to have gone through with the book ending as it's a little darker and much more in-keeping with the shows tone and presentation.
The episode was good although I have issues with some of the plots:
I have to say the flashbacks were heartbreaking and well acted and I hope we get more of those to really understand each person’s point of view. It was announced that this season might be a short one and I hope that is the case and we get solid episodes. Although I don’t have very high hopes since I feel they might go with having Serkan believe Kiraz is Burak’s daughter, but we’ll see…
For me, personally, this couldn't have been written any better. I loved it! I know not everyone will but for me it did the show justice. It was bittersweet and in line with how the show did things in all its seasons. When Hvitserk is given his new name 'Athelstan' I had to push back some tears. It's like the story has come full circle in a way. Ragnar took Athelstan with him on his first quest and now a son of Ragnar has taken place in Wessex as Athelstan, a name given to him by none other than his son.
Ivar's death was more heartbreaking than I could've imagined. I never thought I'd be shedding tears over him. He changed a lot during his time with the Rus and it is beautiful that he essentially gave his life to ensure that of Hvitserk. These two had such a deep bond and I wondered how it would conclude. I always thought one would kill the other but this was beautiful and tragic all at once.
The last scene of Floki and Ubbe on that beach was so well written too. When Floki tells Ubbe he looks like Ragnar, beautiful. Such a pure scene of two men with deep respect and love for each other. Ragnar would be proud of that.
Now if there is one thing I would like to have seen different it would be Ingrid, living her best life as Queen. I never cared for her though I can admit she is a force. She stood her ground against Harald and Erik but I think I never really warmed up to her because she got with Bjorn while he was already married to Gunnhild and I loved Gunnhild like I loved Lagertha.
I'll say goodbye to this epic adventure for now... probably going to re-watch it in the future and appreciate it all over again.
Nate's development is annoying, but honestly realistic. It was as Keeley put it somewhat: people like them have more to prove; Nate was literally the towel boy / kit man before his promotion and has a father whose approval he yearns for. I feel for him and can see where he's coming from, and where he wants to go. Even his defensiveness about his new position in life that he presents as cruelty to his successor, Will, and even Colin, (currently the only people he can exert some power over) is behavior I've seen in real life with people who climb up ranks. But not everyone who does this goes through a similar transformation. tl;dr Nate: Cool motive, still a dick move though.
I wonder which Ted will meet Nate in the fallout though: kind Ted who forgave Rebecca, or a rare, angry Ted who's gone through a rollercoaster of emotions in the past few months (weeks?).
I wasn't surprised he tried to kiss Keeley, too. Saw that coming the minute he asked for her help to pick out a suit. And yo, I thought Roy had good chemistry with the teacher. In my head, I immediately established it as a possible fallback for Roy if Keeley goes back to Jamie. I don't know, for some reason, I'm just not feeling Keeley and Roy this season. Roy looks so aggressive next to her lol
I loved Ted and Sharon's scenes. Their dynamic is a pleasant surprise for this season.
So over the past two weeks when the show's online discourse ramps up, there's hints from critics with advance episodes about how some criticisms, mostly of the show sinking into its own worldview, will be addressed in Episode 6 (onward?), and this very good episode really does give us that, a crisis arc that is subtly built (from Ted's little bouts of uneasiness throughout the season) but now revealed so well when in full force, and it feels gratifying unpredictable in how the particulars will play out from here.
About that discourse, let me vent a little. The crazy defensive fanboyism this show somehow can inspire in certain corners is far worse for sure, but what frustrates me about Ted Lasso discourse from non-watchers (who I see participate a lot over the past weeks) is how their perception from hype/logline is so incongruent with the show that gives us "Tan Lines" (the limit of Ted's worldview in solving his external problems) in season 1, or this week's final scene of startling vulnerability (its limit in solving his internal ones).
In a way, it's amusing how each season (or at least S2 so far) seems better suited, and the discourse of this size probably avoided, if their release formats are switched: experiencing Ted's spreading effect on other characters week-by-week in S1, and binging Ted's accumulative existential bouts contrasting with the rosy outsides world that is often effected by him, only for he himself to crack down a little, here in S2.
Oh gosh, I'm so glad they didn't kept the therapy until the last episode. The "What happened to Ted Lasso?" could be the theme of the season, just as the show, as its titular character, but it feels like it's a long time coming. I mean it's clear that the Ted Lasso way is not 100% working (we have the Roy Kent way and the wonder kid method too now), they barely scratched that last year as well, but I think the question this year was how will Ted realize that and how will it affect him. Which is a reasonable way, but this season dealt with Ted so few times and focused more on others that it felt like an eternity to get here (and still need at least one more week to get answers). And focusing on others is not a bad thing (we know Roy is the MVP this season), but the pacing is just not good, and this was the episode that showed how bad it can actually get. A number of previously started storylines (Nate, Beard, Jamie, Roy, the dating app) seem to have wanted to peak here, but the focus was just lost on all of them as they tried to climb on each others backs. Alas, Ted is the titular character, and while seeing through others how his way should not be the only way is a good thing, but him realizing that should be the biggest climax of them all - and panic attack here, heartbreaking reveal of his coping mechanism by playing with his hand there,
they both felt a bit lacklucter because of the other storylines, so at the end I was just yelling at the screen "OH THANK FINALLY FUCING GOD". And I fully meant it.
I loved that twist involving JK Simmons! Even tho his appearance was brief he did a great role!!!
So thinking about the episode, a lot of shocking stuff happened, like the truth of Patz’s suicide, Hope, the car crash, however the episode felt extremely long and kinda lost the momentum.
Reading the comments, I checked wikipedia to read the book’s plot and the ending was slightly different but so much better! Don’t get why they changed it, when they had all the elements there! It happened the same thing as with Little Fires Everywhere, they didn’t respect the ending so the show ended feeling a little inconclusive. In the book Hope dies, there’s blood on Jacob’s swimsuit so Laurie has more reasons to be suspicious and then Jacob dies in the car accident, that would’ve been incredible to watch! Hope coming back means that Jacob wasn’t involved at all, so probably he didn’t kill Ben and then Jacob being in a comma is kinda dumb. So this was a good show, but could’ve been a great show if they respected the original ending.
And I like the idea of never knowing if Jacob did it! My verdict is that he did kill Ben, I feel like Patz would’ve confess if he was guilty, he let the other kid Matt? press charges against him and never retaliated or threatened him so yeah he was disgusting and good riddance but I feel like he wouldn’t have gotten away with murder.
But again imagine how epic would it’ve been to witness Laurie having to kill Jacob to stop a murderer!
Once again they did the trick.
I wasn't expecting all of this, but I'm glad they got a closure.
This episode was more emotional than I expected, let me star by saying that Annalize's speech was amazing, that she was innocent in addition to any circumstance. She did not commit murder, so I am happy that she was released. Enough was enough, after all that messy life she needed a break and a new start.
What an amazing performance Viola Davis did during all these seasons. Bravo.
Frank ... What a character, he evolved a lot and when I thought He was going to make it another secret came to ruin his life. Maybe if Bonnie hadn't say anything, she would be alive, maybe ...
Bonnie ... She had been trough so much too, I wanted her and Frank to have a happy ending, but that would be asking for much, this was going to happen anyway but it was so sad to see them died.
Connor and Oliver broke my heart, I just couldn't see how much they were suffering, that's the true love there. They sacrifices all for each other. They will always be my favorite couple in this show.
Michaela ... I knew she would end up alone, this is how she was building her destiny, to be a fierce but also lonely woman.
I'm glad Tegan took her chance, even if it didn't end as she wanted, but it was good for her. She deserves someone who loves her as much as she does.
Laurel had her happy ending, without her messy family and the need to run away from time to time and, of course, with the adorable Christopher who ended up looking like WES. I loved that scene, Professor Castillo.
What an amazing show this was. I loved how much we played with our minds and we were always amazed at the end of each episode.
Thanks for the ride.
I am 100% satisfied with this ending. One of the best series finales I've seen and it truly did the story justice. Okay, so first of all; I love love love Bonnie. Always have, always will. Nobody will ever change my mind about this. To see her die (and I blame Frank for it) was heartbreaking. I always hoped she would have a happy ending because she has been through so much. However, I think the way they wrote it was beautiful and it made sense. To have her die like this, alongside Frank (damn you Frank!), in the arms of Annalise, it brought everything full circle. She did her part and now she rests.
I LOVE the funeral scene, seeing moments of Annalise her life with Tegan, seeing Oliver, Conner and Laurel older and CHRISTOPHER! I know some people hoped it was Wes but I like this way better. And that accent! O my god, YES and that he - of all people - is the new professor for that class, being mentored by Annalise... I cried so much happy tears.
For a moment the writers had me concerned that after all these years they would break up Oliver and Conner, thank God they didn't. This was by far the best couple on the show and I never once gave up on them. I'm also very satisfied with how things ended for Michaela, she was selfish from the start and ended up 'alone' which served her right.
So this is the end, bittersweet and I will need a moment - like days - to process this. Fantastic show, always in my heart.
