Just watched the season 8 finale, and it plays like it could have also doubled as a series finale. Tootie is going off to summer stock and gives a tearful goodbye to everyone. And then Jo leaves for a new job in California. I think they wrote the episode so it could serve either purpose - a season finale or a series finale.

I have to say: there was no need for yet another Blair/Jo graduation episode, especially since the Eastland version was so perfect. And I don’t like what they turned Blair into during the last couple of seasons. She becomes a spoiled airhead. The episode where she tries to buy her way into law school is completely out of character for her. Jo tells her, “You’re spoiled and shallow and have never had to work for anything in your whole life.” Uh, no. Blair was consistently shown to be a high achiever at Eastland. The new writers turned her into that during season 8. Jo and Blair had become so close over the years, but during season 8, their friendship makes no sense due to the change in Blair.

I know right!

When I first saw the episode on Nick At Nite years ago, it did seem like the last one. Even not knowing what season it was in. It just felt it with that last scene.

Season 8 felt like a complete loss for me. The girls truly were all grown up. There was no need for Beverly Ann to be around. And trying to bring pills and Andy in as the “next generation” just felt odd. It was showing its age. Would have been much better to have had the girls still roommates but completely on their own. I definitely wish the finale would have been a full blown finale. The last scene feels like it’s thrown in because they finally found out they got the boot. A true finally with mrs. g’s return was what it really needed.

I see where you are coming from, the girls all said goodbye during the season 8 finale and it felt like much more of finale than season 9 gave us

I do think the last season eight episode was meant to be the finale.

I wonder if the renewal for Season 9 was still in limbo when the finale of Season 8 was filmed or written?

Season 8 felt like a complete loss for me. The girls truly were all grown up. There was no need for Beverly Ann to be around.

She wasn't just around for the girls. She was there to operate the store and she was their landlady. However, Tootie and Natalie were still teenagers and Blair and Jo were young adults. Young adults and teenagers do sometimes seek guidance and advice from their older friends, family members etc. I didn't view Beverly Ann as a mother to the girls. I viewed her as the fun, free-spirited aunt or older friend.

I don't think they planned that to be the finale. It has the 'To Be Continued..." after Jo says goodbye so they must have known they were coming back in the fall.

I don't think they planned that to be the finale. It has the 'To Be Continued..." after Jo says goodbye so they must have known they were coming back in the fall.

Yeah, that's a big factor, lol. But I do prefer the "feel" of that as a series finale as opposed to the actual series finale.

I don't think they planned that to be the finale. It has the 'To Be Continued..." after Jo says goodbye so they must have known they were coming back in the fall.
It aired on May 9, 1987, which would typically be the same week that networks announce fall schedules. So it would have been easy to superimpose the To Be Continued on or take it off months after the episode was produced, depending on renewal. I’m not saying that’s what happened - just that it’s a possibility.

If that were to be a series finale it would've been TERRIBLE! puke::barf:

Tootie is tossed out the door within the first 5 minutes and never seen again, and when it's time for Jo to go, she just hugs everyone, walks to the door, says "Bye" like she's going out for a cheeseburger and will be right back and splits.

No party, no big sendoff...just "Bye!"....Um, no no no!

After 9 seasons it deserved so much better than that. And I haven't seen the actual series finale in 30 years but I have a feeling i'm not going to be happy with that either.

I have just vague memories of Blair as the headmistress and I think the others were just gone by then. (Don't spoil me!! :lol:) and i'm half anticipating and half dreading watching it when I get to it.

If that were to be a series finale it would've been TERRIBLE! puke::barf:

Tootie is tossed out the door within the first 5 minutes and never seen again, and when it's time for Jo to go, she just hugs everyone, walks to the door, says "Bye" like she's going out for a cheeseburger and will be right back and splits.

No party, no big sendoff...just "Bye!"....Um, no no no!

After 9 seasons it deserved so much better than that. And I haven't seen the actual series finale in 30 years but I have a feeling i'm not going to be happy with that either.

I have just vague memories of Blair as the headmistress and I think the others were just gone by then. (Don't spoil me!! :lol:) and i'm half anticipating and half dreading watching it when I get to it.

No spoilers. I think it's a decent send-off.

No spoilers. I think it's a decent send-off.

I'm surprised you think that, considering most fans are so unhappy with the series finale. It's not about the girls as a group and they don't get a proper send-off. Natalie's not even there; she phones in her final scene. I know you like the new co-ed PseudoEastland, but it's looking to be a spin-off and is not a proper series finale (sadly, for all those fans who watched loyally for nine years...!).

(highlight hidden text to reveal spoilerish comment :lol:)

I'm surprised you think that, considering
(highlight hidden text to reveal spoilerish comment :lol:)

I totally get what you're saying, but I just feel different about it. :)

If that were to be a series finale it would've been TERRIBLE! puke::barf:

Tootie is tossed out the door within the first 5 minutes and never seen again, and when it's time for Jo to go, she just hugs everyone, walks to the door, says "Bye" like she's going out for a cheeseburger and will be right back and splits.

No party, no big sendoff...just "Bye!"....Um, no no no!

After 9 seasons it deserved so much better than that. And I haven't seen the actual series finale in 30 years but I have a feeling i'm not going to be happy with that either.

I have just vague memories of Blair as the headmistress and I think the others were just gone by then. (Don't spoil me!! :lol:) and i'm half anticipating and half dreading watching it when I get to it.



I DON'T understand, why EVERYONE thinks it was so terrible for BLAIR to become the 'headmistress' (don't worry cfr1970 i'm not going to SPOIL anything): i thought she made a great job then, and it was actually one of the few episodes where she didn't behave like a POD!!!!:smash::smash::smash:

It was just ridiculous - a 22 year old woman with no previous educational experience as a headmistress at a prestigious girls’ school.

It was just ridiculous - a 22 year old woman with no previous educational experience as a headmistress at a prestigious girls’ school.

That is what I said. It was totally unrealistic. No student or parent would respect a headmistress that young. The students walked all over Blair. They never did that to Mrs. Garrett.

The finale was kind of all the last episodes put together than one. This hurt the cast togetherness and vibe. I like Jo's wedding and helping the social worker. Tootie and Jeff's story would have been better though if they had gotten married and it showed her in a hit play. Why have the grandmother's broach broken for a finale plot? How stupid! Natalie's roommates don't get gel with me. Blair as headmistress is ridiculous. Why not have her use her lawyering for good to the surprise of everyone?

The finale was kind of all the last episodes put together than one. This hurt the cast togetherness and vibe. I like Jo's wedding and helping the social worker. Tootie and Jeff's story would have been better though if they had gotten married and it showed her in a hit play. Why have the grandmother's broach broken for a finale plot? How stupid! Natalie's roommates don't get gel with me. Blair as headmistress is ridiculous. Why not have her use her lawyering for good to the surprise of everyone?


You've got a good point there, nvtlover: they could have made a better use with BLAIR surprising everyone with a serious case in court (a bit like in LEGALLY BLONDE) that would have been fantastic!!!!party:party:party:

PS: i don't remember the part of JEFF's grandmother broach broken though?

And you're right about NATATLIE's flatmates: they were quite rude to her! (i remember one of them even told her to get the hell out of there, "Don't you have anything better to do than just hang out in the flat?").:mad::mad::mad:

I didn't like RICK for JO either: such a dork!!!!:eek::eek::eek:

But WORST of all, was the fact that BLAIR is the ONLY one who stays single/alone in the end......:crybaby::crybaby::crybaby:

PS: i don't remember the part of JEFF's grandmother broach broken though?

It wasn't a "part", it was a whole episode! :so

It wasn't a "part", it was a whole episode! :so


I thought BLAIR made the whole episode as the new headmistress? (i watched it about 10 years ago on YouTube and that's the ONLY part i remember):wasntme::wasntme::wasntme:

I thought BLAIR made the whole episode as the new headmistress? (i watched it about 10 years ago on YouTube and that's the ONLY part i remember):wasntme::wasntme::wasntme:

Lol, no no no, the Jeff/Tootie brooch thing is a WHOLE EPISODE!

Before the finale!

:p

Lol, no no no, the Jeff/Tootie brooch thing is a WHOLE EPISODE!

Before the finale!

:p




Got it, thanks!!!!:thanx::thanx::thanx: