I've just finished watching the Season 3 finale (the first time that I've ever seen it)....

The last scene (where the plane filled with the cast is going down in that bad rainstorm) is absolutely CHILLING!

"Wings" had several suspensful and downright FRIGHTENING moments when it looked as if the Sandpiper was going to crash due to mechanical failure or weather conditions.

When you stop to think about it, the whole premise of "Wings" (a small commuter flight service) lent itself to those kind of danger-filled moments, which really set the series apart from other sitcoms...

After all, what REAL suspense and danger could you find on a show like "Cheers"?....unless, of course you count the time Norm almost choked to death on a pretzel!
:eek:

You're right, that was pretty suspenseful and chilling. It was also a cliffhanger too. You had to wait all summer to find out what happened. I didn't see it that first time around though.

Another pretty chilling moment was when Antonio was taken hostage by the angry air-traffic controller. He was only a few moments from being shot to death before Joe stepped in and talked Bob out of it.

It's funny....when I first watched the season 3 final episode way back when on NBC, I still remember my first reaction was "oh this is silly, what kind of suspense is this? What?... the plane is going to crash and all or most of the cast is going to be killed off? Of course nothing is going to happen."

I remember just thinking this was just an attempt to be a little too dramatic for a sitcom. But I've grown to appreciate it more since then.....and no matter what, it was still a well done episode that was well acted (as usual) and I liked how Helen's voice over was bringing everything together and showing how fate played a significant hand.

I love this line by the Conductor bigshot:

"I must be as lucky as I am gifted."

Pilotguy already mentioned in another post one of the greatest dramatic moments in sitcom history.....Henry Blake dying on MASH. But that worked really well since the setting of the show was a War and it was important to stress the point that everybody didn't come home when they went to war. Kind of an obvious point, but one that is important to remember when you are dealing with the tragedy of War within a sitcom environment.

Originally posted by losthighway
It's funny....when I first watched the season 3 final episode way back when on NBC, I still remember my first reaction was "oh this is silly, what kind of suspense is this? What?... the plane is going to crash and all or most of the cast is going to be killed off? Of course nothing is going to happen."



I know that this would have completely killed the "Summer Cliffhanger" gimmick, but I think that the "plane going down" cliffhanger would have been much MORE nail-biting and suspenseful if Part 1 had been the SECOND-to-the-last show of the season instead of the LAST show of the season.

Being the season finale, you KNEW that the cast would be back for a new season in the fall....No REAL suspense there....

However, if the plane went down on the SECOND-to-last-show, with only a finale left, and viewers weren't sure IF "Wings" was returning in the fall, then the characters COULD have really been killed in a crash or ocean landing....

It would have been an AWFUL (and somewhat sick) way to end the series, but it WOULD have given the plane's descent a real "maybe they'll make it, maybe they won't" feeling of suspense!

that does sound like it wouldve worked better pilot, but who knows how public their status for returning for a 4th season was at that point. if it was already public knowledge they were coming back it wouldve been just as weak as showing part 2 in september.

I really liked the finale of season 3. Even though you knew that they'd be okay... it was still a bit suspenseful because you didn't know how they were gonna get out of it. I love the whole "Lifeboat" episode too. Especially when Helen eats the Oreos. :lol:

Jen :)