I was just thinking about how this show ended. A cliffhanger...did the Governor win the election? Did Benson win? Or did Senator Gate win?

Some people don't like the fact that the show ended with us not knowing the outcome. But I actually understand why they did it that way. The show was not picked up for an 8th season nor would it spin off into yet another show. So they just wanted to leave it alone and let us imagine what happened.

For me, I think it would have been nice if they had brought back past cast members for the final show. Marcy, Pete & Denise and maybe even Taylor. A gubernatorial race with two people they worked so closely with should have been exciting enough that they would want to pay close attention to the race.

What do you think?

if enson would have Returned for the next season I think Benson would be Governor

First off, I have to say that I’ve only been able to see the last episode, and didn’t see how the situation started. So I’m not speaking with all the facts in hand.

I actually was disappointed in the situation that evolved: the two leads not speaking to each other, great misunderstanding in the other’s feelings/motivations (“I thought we’d agreed that’s why I was running for governor.” -- "I just thought you’d withdraw and then run again in four years"), the cliques that formed around the two as the bitterness spilled over. During the life of the show, yes, there was constant bickering, even serious arguments at times, but I still felt that this people respected and loved each other at bottom. This race brought out the real bad sides of both, which is understandable in a campaign, but I’d be interested in finding out how it got to the point where they couldn’t even talk out their difficulties.

The scenes where Gene and Benson debate and later when they are in the kitchen seem too little to fully resolve the troubles. (Plus, I wondered why Benson was even there; at a time like that, wouldn’t it make more sense for him to be with his supporters and his fiancée?)

There was a line that left it open for the governor (and Katie) to stay with the show, but if he’d been defeated by Benson, what would he have done; any particular position come to mind? I certainly can’t see him staying in the capital when he has his own home and business available. Suggestions?

Anyway, for me, the actual ending was… very unsatisfying. I think my exact words as the credits appeared were: “Oh, come on!” Yes, I understand why the winner was left open, but it felt lame to me.

BensonFan, I like your idea of having the others (Marcy, etc.) come back in this important race of both their friends. That could be a better trigger of repairing their relations than was used in the episode.

Well... enough verbiage from me. :-)

There was a line that left it open for the governor (and Katie) to stay with the show, but if he’d been defeated by Benson, what would he have done; any particular position come to mind? I certainly can’t see him staying in the capital when he has his own home and business available. Suggestions?

I think he would have had to be some kind of senior advisor to Benson. After having been Governor, obviously a lesser position such as budget director or something along those lines would have been out of the question. And while people thought of Governor Gatling as "flaky", I think it was clear that he was actually very politically astute.

And I agree that I was disappointed in the ending and my reaction was the same as yours, but I do understand why they closed it the way they did.

I think Benson would have gave The Governor Clayton Job