Does Watching A Show's Last Episode Get You emotional? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Wreckless · 10-04-2008, 02:47 AM

Discuss about your thoughts and emotions in watching show's last episodes. I know for some of the shows I love and watch, I wasn't around for most of the series including the series finale. But every show's finale I watch, unless it's a drama show or something, I tend to get sad lol. I don't know how other people feel but consider this. If you follow a show, through it's original airing or through re-runs/dvds etc. and you follow and fall in love with characters and their personalities, it's hard to say no more to it. It's like a life to you. What does everybody else think?

friendsfan77 · 10-04-2008, 03:31 AM

Yes, depending on the show and how good the finale is.

Wreckless · 10-04-2008, 03:32 AM

Yeah I agree. I thought the Full House finale could of been better. I loved the Wonder Years and Happy Days series finales especially and the That 70s Show one was real good, and a great way to end it.

Zoneboy · 10-04-2008, 03:44 AM

Episode 156 of The Twilight Zone ("The Bewitchin' Pool") brings me to tears because the series ended on a sour note with this clunker.

Schmoopie · 10-04-2008, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wreckless

If you follow a show, through it's original airing or through re-runs/dvds etc. and you follow and fall in love with characters and their personalities, it's hard to say no more to it. It's like a life to you. What does everybody else think?

You put that very well! I was hoping someone would bring up this topic! Thanks!

I can't remember ever crying during the last show of a series, but when "Seinfeld" ended, I did get a lump in my throat!

It was so..... final (pun intended). Although it did end on a hilarious note, with Jerry doing stand up in prison. But that scene where the camera pans back on the four of them in jail kind of got to me.

I remember the "Family Ties" finale, when Alex said goodbye and walked out the door. Then came back in and said "I really love you guys" and gave them all a hug. That was great!

One I really remember was the final episode of "Growing Pains". I didn't cry, but I remember after it was over, they showed the Seaver Family backstage hugging and crying. That really broke my heart.

Some finales I will watch even if I'm not a regular viewer of the show; like
"Cheers" and "Friends" and "Coach". After the "Full House" finale, they had the cast come out on stage and bow. I wasn't really into the show anymore at that point, but I watched the last episode because my friend told me about it.

Andrea

MusicJunkie · 10-04-2008, 04:25 AM

I think it really depends on the show, how long it ran and how the final episode coped with things.

For instance, "Sex And The City" I knew wasn't the absolute end, the last episode didn't feel like a finale at all so I wasn't at all surprised when they did the movie.

Sadly so many 70's and 80's shows have lackluster endings (Facts Of Life for instance) that there's nothing to get upset about at the end because it felt like a regular episode. But shows that go out on a grand scale such as MASH, MTM, Family Ties, Roseanne (the final episode is debatable because of how it rewrites everything, but it was a finale that you knew was the absolute end) and Friends are sure to send the audience to get some tissues and choke up. I won't lie that I didn't tear up a little bit the first times I saw the last Roseanne, Golden Girls and Friends episodes.

janet42 · 10-04-2008, 11:23 AM

I liked the way "Wonder Years", "Mash", and "Happy Days" ended their series.

GARFIELDKOOL · 10-04-2008, 02:28 PM

The final episode of Three's Company was real emotional. I am saying this because I originally saw the episode when it aired in primetime. We weren't going to see Jack, Janet, Terri, Larry, and Mr. Furley anymore.

JulieSomoski · 10-04-2008, 02:46 PM

Yeah, they do. For nearly every series finale I've seen, seeing it for the first time made me cry. Seeing it subsequently still gets me emotional, though, because you know this was it for the show. There's no more episodes after the finale.

The Roseanne finale made me cry the first time I saw it - very sad. The Wonder Years finale also gets me very emotional whenever I watch it. Same goes for Mad About You and Murphy Brown - my mood changes whenever I watch it. And show finales like Growing Pains, Home Improvement, and Three's Company were also very emotional endings.

sunshinefizzy · 10-04-2008, 02:49 PM

I do get emotional over any show ending. I don't feel sad for myself; I feel bad for the people involved. I have true empathy for them. It's not like a movie where you work on it for 3 months or whatever and you go on to your next project. If your show's a hit its a good 3-9 years before the job is over. I'm getting sad over it now.

Theda Bara · 10-04-2008, 03:50 PM

Barney Miller, had one of the best finale episodes, ever. Very well down, and emotional.

DSfan · 10-04-2008, 04:43 PM

Friends, Wonder Years had very emotional endings as some of you guys have mentioned as well.

I can't think of other shows right now but I'm sure there are others too, Fresh Prince just came to mind - that ended very well.

vtunie · 10-04-2008, 05:09 PM

Ending sitcoms produce a different effect than other types of TV shows.

If drama ends on a serious note, that's a part of the genre. Action and adventure shows are almost always melodramatic and so a happy ending is pretty well assured.

But the only proper way to end a comedy is ... to end the comedy. That's why if a sitcom is allowed a proper finale, it is usually either absurd or quite bittersweet.

I remember two shows that ended at almost the same time: Happy Days and Three's Company.

Happy Days had a melodramatic ending, happy and cheerful. with Tom Bosley addressing the audience out of character. But the way it ended really shows it had turned into a soap opera.

Three's Company ended rather sadly. For it had remained a comedy.

Much later, Seinfeld and Friends were allowed to have finales.

Seinfeld went absurd. Friends went melodramatic.

And probably the most absurd ending of all is Newhart.

If you look at sitcom endings in this light, I think you will agree that arguments about jump-the-shark moments and quality based on the way the show ends are a little beside the point. The important thing is that the laughs must be replaced by something else. Otherwise it is not a finale, but a temporary suspension.

Which is probably the best way to go if the studios want to make some extra money from movie followups.

James · 10-04-2008, 09:04 PM

No, the series finale does not get me emotional. I consider the fact that it will not be there the next season, and when it's a show I really like and grew up with like The Wonder Years that makes it like a death in the family. Because of that I don't have time to get choked up (my definition of emotional) about what happens in the episode itself.

phoebe7165 · 10-04-2008, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MusicJunkie

I won't lie that I didn't tear up a little bit the first times I saw the last Roseanne, Golden Girls and Friends episodes.

OMG, I was bawling during the GG finale!! The Friends finale was sad to me, especially when they were all leaving their keys on the counter.

The Wings finale was emotional for me, too.

10-04-2008, 02:47 AM	#1
Wreckless Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 04, 2007 Location: Banned Posts: 9,406	Does Watching A Show's Last Episode Get You emotional? Discuss about your thoughts and emotions in watching show's last episodes. I know for some of the shows I love and watch, I wasn't around for most of the series including the series finale. But every show's finale I watch, unless it's a drama show or something, I tend to get sad lol. I don't know how other people feel but consider this. If you follow a show, through it's original airing or through re-runs/dvds etc. and you follow and fall in love with characters and their personalities, it's hard to say no more to it. It's like a life to you. What does everybody else think?

10-04-2008, 03:44 AM	#4
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,352	Episode 156 of The Twilight Zone ("The Bewitchin' Pool") brings me to tears because the series ended on a sour note with this clunker.
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10-04-2008, 02:46 PM	#9
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	Yeah, they do. For nearly every series finale I've seen, seeing it for the first time made me cry. Seeing it subsequently still gets me emotional, though, because you know this was it for the show. There's no more episodes after the finale. The Roseanne finale made me cry the first time I saw it - very sad. The Wonder Years finale also gets me very emotional whenever I watch it. Same goes for Mad About You and Murphy Brown - my mood changes whenever I watch it. And show finales like Growing Pains, Home Improvement, and Three's Company were also very emotional endings.
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10-04-2008, 03:31 AM	#2
friendsfan77 - Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2004 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,165	Yes, depending on the show and how good the finale is.

10-04-2008, 03:32 AM	#3
Wreckless Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 04, 2007 Location: Banned Posts: 9,406	Yeah I agree. I thought the Full House finale could of been better. I loved the Wonder Years and Happy Days series finales especially and the That 70s Show one was real good, and a great way to end it.

10-04-2008, 04:25 AM	#6
MusicJunkie Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 23, 2008 Location: where I live Posts: 791	I think it really depends on the show, how long it ran and how the final episode coped with things. For instance, "Sex And The City" I knew wasn't the absolute end, the last episode didn't feel like a finale at all so I wasn't at all surprised when they did the movie. Sadly so many 70's and 80's shows have lackluster endings (Facts Of Life for instance) that there's nothing to get upset about at the end because it felt like a regular episode. But shows that go out on a grand scale such as MASH, MTM, Family Ties, Roseanne (the final episode is debatable because of how it rewrites everything, but it was a finale that you knew was the absolute end) and Friends are sure to send the audience to get some tissues and choke up. I won't lie that I didn't tear up a little bit the first times I saw the last Roseanne, Golden Girls and Friends episodes.

10-04-2008, 11:23 AM	#7
janet42 Three's Company Fan! Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,757	I liked the way "Wonder Years", "Mash", and "Happy Days" ended their series.

10-04-2008, 02:28 PM	#8
GARFIELDKOOL Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 02, 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 7,204	The final episode of Three's Company was real emotional. I am saying this because I originally saw the episode when it aired in primetime. We weren't going to see Jack, Janet, Terri, Larry, and Mr. Furley anymore.

10-04-2008, 02:49 PM	#10
sunshinefizzy Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 27, 2006 Location: Craptown Posts: 2,054	I do get emotional over any show ending. I don't feel sad for myself; I feel bad for the people involved. I have true empathy for them. It's not like a movie where you work on it for 3 months or whatever and you go on to your next project. If your show's a hit its a good 3-9 years before the job is over. I'm getting sad over it now.

10-04-2008, 03:50 PM	#11
Theda Bara Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2006 Posts: 7,154	Barney Miller, had one of the best finale episodes, ever. Very well down, and emotional.

10-04-2008, 04:43 PM	#12
DSfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,204	Friends, Wonder Years had very emotional endings as some of you guys have mentioned as well. I can't think of other shows right now but I'm sure there are others too, Fresh Prince just came to mind - that ended very well.

10-04-2008, 05:09 PM	#13
vtunie Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 23, 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 592	Ending sitcoms produce a different effect than other types of TV shows. If drama ends on a serious note, that's a part of the genre. Action and adventure shows are almost always melodramatic and so a happy ending is pretty well assured. But the only proper way to end a comedy is ... to end the comedy. That's why if a sitcom is allowed a proper finale, it is usually either absurd or quite bittersweet. I remember two shows that ended at almost the same time: Happy Days and Three's Company. Happy Days had a melodramatic ending, happy and cheerful. with Tom Bosley addressing the audience out of character. But the way it ended really shows it had turned into a soap opera. Three's Company ended rather sadly. For it had remained a comedy. Much later, Seinfeld and Friends were allowed to have finales. Seinfeld went absurd. Friends went melodramatic. And probably the most absurd ending of all is Newhart. If you look at sitcom endings in this light, I think you will agree that arguments about jump-the-shark moments and quality based on the way the show ends are a little beside the point. The important thing is that the laughs must be replaced by something else. Otherwise it is not a finale, but a temporary suspension. Which is probably the best way to go if the studios want to make some extra money from movie followups.

10-04-2008, 09:04 PM	#14
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	No, the series finale does not get me emotional. I consider the fact that it will not be there the next season, and when it's a show I really like and grew up with like The Wonder Years that makes it like a death in the family. Because of that I don't have time to get choked up (my definition of emotional) about what happens in the episode itself.