'The Office' Series Finale Review: A Perfect Goodbye

After nine seasons, NBC aired the series finale of The Office last night. What started off as a great show became somewhat mediocre in its second half. I still enjoyed it, but it wasn't as must-see as it was in its earlier seasons. Exit Steve Carell in season 7, and people wondered whether the show could survive. Carell was surely missed, but I think the show did well without him. He was just one actor in a very large, very solid cast, and that cast helped keep the show alive. Season 8 was definitely not the best of the series, but it could have been a lot worse. I know that a lot of people hated the odd, creepy Robert California (James Spader), but I, for one, thought Spader was a good addition to the cast for one season. Then, after season 8 ended, NBC and the showrunners agreed that season 9 would be the final season. I was excited because it's always nice for showrunners to go into a season knowing it will be the last so that they can end the series properly. Season 9 started off ok (it didn't feel very different from season 8), but by the second half, the writers kicked it into full gear and ended the series perfectly.

In the second half of this season, we were introduced to one of the members of the documentary crew, that is, the people behind the cameras that have been following these people around for 9 years. This was the first acknowledgement in a while of this show actually being a PBS documentary. Then the promos for the documentary aired and we realized that we're approaching the end. Throughout the series, we often forgot that these people were the subject of a documentary, so bringing that to the foreground in the final episodes brought the show full-circle. It was a very fitting way to end the series.

This episode takes place one year after the airing of the documentary as a sort of "Where are they now?" episode. It centered around two major events: a Q&A panel for the characters (i.e. the subjects of the documentary) and Dwight and Angela's wedding, with the wedding getting the primary focus. The wedding, although a little cliché, is a perfect way to bring back old characters, including, of course, our favorite Regional Manager--Michael Scott (Carell).

Carell's appearance, though not very surprising, was beautifully handled. Jim, Dwight's best man, had been pulling a series of "gutenpranks" (good pranks) to surprise Dwight. These included making excuses to PBS so that the Q&A panel fell on the same weekend as the wedding (so people like Andy and Darryl would be there), giving Dwight the chance to fire a bazooka as part of his bachelor party, giving him the opportunity to reconcile with Kevin (whom Dwight had fired), and making up a phony tradition that meant Michael would have to replace Jim as best man. This last gutenprank led to one of the best lines of the episode when Dwight sees Michael:

Dwight: I can't believe you came.
Michael: That's what she said.

This moment, Michael's final "That's what she said," was beautiful and completely captured the character of Michael Scott. What made this cameo great was that it was just that: a cameo. Carell had only a couple of lines, so he didn't steal the episode away from everyone else. But we did find out that Michael finally got the family he always wanted, which was a heartwarming revelation.

The other characters all got closure as well. Oscar is running for senate; Erin found her biological parents; Andy got a job at Cornell; Stanley is retired; Creed got arrested for a long list of things I can't even begin to recount (but not before singing an original song about friendship); and Jim and Pam, who had had marital struggles this season, sold their house and are moving to Austin where Jim will work for the company he helped start earlier this season. All of this closure is exactly what you want to see in a series finale, especially one for a show with a large cast of characters that you've grown to love.

The last ten minutes of the episode almost had me tearing up. Everyone got their last word in their final testimonials. And it all ended with Pam's perfect closing line about choosing Dunder Mifflin for a documentary: "There's a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn't that kinda the point?"

Although it was not a perfect series, I am very glad to have stuck with The Office through all of its ups and downs. It is and probably always will be one of my favorite sitcoms, and the finale, by highlighting all of the characters, reminded me why that is. The Office will be missed, but I can't imagine a better way to say goodbye.

'How I Met Your Mother' Finale Reaction: Buckle Up

Like my last HIMYM post, I'm not going to write a formal review because my feelings about last night's finale are mixed, and I don't really how to put them into words. Also, I want to address next season, which requires a lot of speculation. So excuse the randomness of this post because I'm going to rant.

There was a major reveal at the end of this episode, so if you haven't seen it, stop reading immediately.

I both liked and disliked this episode. I liked it because it had a good mix of comedy and drama, which is something that HIMYM does well most of the time. I loved Barney and Robin's interactions with the other couple. I also liked the more dramatic scenes between Lily and Ted, even though I'm sick of Ted pining over Robin. What I didn't like was that nothing was really resolved. I know that finales are supposed to end with cliffhangers, which this episode did, but they also should resolve the main plots of the season. It did resolve Barney and Robin's hesitance to get married, but Lily and Marshall's move to Italy was further complicated rather than resolved, and Ted's moving to Chicago came out of nowhere. In that sense, this episode felt more like a "part 1" of a finale than a finale.

That is, except for the last shot. Showing The Mother's face was a curveball I was not expecting and was a perfect way to end a finale. However, I don't know if it was the right choice given the nature of this show. For those of you who don't know, next season will be the last, so Ted has to meet The Mother next season. What worries me is when he'll meet her. Future Ted said that he meets her at the wedding, which will probably happen early next season. So if he meets her then, what will the rest of the season be about? I always thought that Ted would meet The Mother in the series finale, you know, since the title is How I Met Your Mother. I wonder if Ted will only briefly meet her at the wedding and the rest of the season will lead up to them starting to date. Or the entire season could be them dating, but  then what would be the endgame? A logical ending to that season would be Ted proposing, but to me, that would be too soon. But then again, that's something Ted would do. Anyway, I hope it's the former because I don't think I would like an entire season of them dating, leading up to a proposal. I would rather them start dating in the finale than get engaged or married. Whatever happens, I'm cautiously excited for next season. Final seasons are always a big deal, and I always look forward to them, even though it means the show is ending.

Last night's episode reminded me that we're so close. So buckle up because next season is going to be an interesting ride.

As always, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

'Psych' Review: 100 Episodes Later

On Wednesday, Psych aired its 100th episode, a big milestone for any TV series. This special episode is an homage to the 1985 film Clue. For those who haven't seen the movie, it is based on the classic board game of the same name. The episode, titled "100 Clues", featured guest stars Christopher Lloyd, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren, all of whom starred in Clue. Naturally, the episode was riddled with subtle references to the film, including a title sequence similar to the closing credits of the film. It was a great episode, but that may be only because I am a fan of Clue and appreciated all of the references.

The episode's plot was almost identical to that of Clue: Somebody is murdered at a house party in a mysterious mansion, and Shawn (James Roday) must figure out whodunnit. As an episode of Psych, it was nothing special. The twists were predictable, and the non-Clue-related jokes were funny but not funnier than anything we're used to. What made this episode great was that it was Clue-themed. I found the movie on Netflix and watched it Wednesday morning, and I'm very glad I did. I hadn't seen it since sixth grade, so I probably wouldn't have caught most of the episode's references if I didn't watch it on Wednesday. Referencing 80s pop culture is what Psych does best, so designing a whole episode around a specific piece of that pop culture is always a welcome choice. The references were both clever and funny, making it a great episode, despite the predictable plot.

What is most interesting about "100 Clues" is that the ending was chosen by live votes from the viewers. This is not a new idea, but it is a first for Psych. It is a reference to Clue, which has multiple endings. I'm not usually a fan of live voting during shows, but in this case it worked. The way the episode was written allowed for multiple endings, so I look forward to seeing the other possible endings.

My biggest complaint is that Tim Curry, who plays the butler in Clue, wasn't able to make an appearance. He is the best thing about the movie, and he would have been a welcome addition to this episode. However, he did appear in the season 2 episode "American Duos," so he would have had to play the same character, which might have been odd. That being said, Curry's presence was felt whenever Roday impersonated him (for example, running through the house to explain how the killer pulled off the murders or saying "no" in Curry's accent).

Overall, I thought this episode was on par with "Dual Spires," Psych's homage to the TV show Twin Peaks, which is one of the best episodes of the series so far. Like "Dual Spires," "100 Clues" may not be appreciated by people who are unfamiliar with the source material. However, hopefully it will bring more attention to Clue. It's a wonderfully ridiculous movie, so if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend watching it and then re-watching this episode of Psych.

'House of Cards' Review: Political Intrigue At Its Finest

Once again I must apologize for my inactivity. I've been very busy, and it has become harder for me to keep up with current shows. Also, to be honest, nothing has stuck out as exceptionally blogworthy. Hopefully now that Psych has finally started and Game of Thrones and Revolution are about to come back, I will have more to write about.

Having said all that, since I am now on Spring Break, I had some time to finally sit down and watch Netflix's second original series House of Cards. I had been waiting for this show ever since it was announced over a year ago because it stars Kevin Spacey, my favorite actor. Netflix released all 13 episodes on February 1, but I was unable to watch it at the time. I finally started it on Monday and finished it last night. I figured I would write a review of the show as a whole instead of writing individual episode reviews since very little time was spent between episodes. I know that a lot of you probably haven't seen it, so I will avoid spoilers.

House of Cards follows Congressman Francis "Frank" Underwood (Spacey), whom, although he was promised the position by President-Elect Garrett Walker (Michael Gill), was passed over for Secretary of State. Not taking kindly to this broken promise, Frank declares his distrust in everyone and devises an elaborate plot to work his way up the ranks. He is assisted by his wife Claire (Robin Wright) and his chief of staff Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly). Frank's pawns in the plan include Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara), an ambitious young reporter, and Congressman Peter Russo (Corey Stoll), a drug-and-alcohol-abusing divorcé.

The acting all-around is phenomenal. Spacey excels at portraying Frank's conniving, smug nature. This comes at no surprise since Spacey is excellent in whatever role he takes on. Wright is also excellent as Claire, Frank's loyal and just-as-conniving wife. I was not expecting to like her character, but Wright makes Claire likable, even if she is a bit controlling. Spacey and Wright are both great in their scenes together, and Frank and Claire's relationship quickly became one of the most interesting aspects of the show.

The real surprise in the acting was Corey Stoll as Congressman Russo. When he was first introduced, I didn't expect to like Russo, but Stoll won me over within a few episodes. His portrayal of the troubled and helpless congressman is fantastic, and I found myself very invested in his character.

My favorite thing about this show is the odd choice of having Frank speak directly to the camera to provide his own commentary. Frank would be in the middle of a conversation with another character when all of a sudden he turns to the camera to provide a short aside. I don't know whether to attribute this to the writers or the directors, but it was an excellent choice. These side comments and glances at the camera are where Spacey shines, and they provide some of the funniest moments in the otherwise dramatic show.

Normally I would avoid political dramas like this one because politics bore me to no end, but with Kevin Spacey starring, I had to give it a try. Needless to say, I'm extremely glad I did. With impeccable acting and smart writing, House of Cards puts itself up there with Homeland and Breaking Bad as one of the best dramas on TV around. If you have Netflix, I highly recommend watching this show. If you've already seen it, leave a comment with your thoughts.

'The Following' Pilot Review: Death with a Side of Bacon

On Monday FOX premiered its newest midseason show, The Following, which stars Kevin Bacon as former FBI agent Ryan Hardy, who is called back into action when serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) breaks out of prison. Hardy had previously caught Carroll, preventing the murder of Sarah Fuller (Maggie Grace). Carroll, a university literature professor whose hero is Edgar Allen Poe, escapes so that he can try to finish what he started, that is, kill Sarah Fuller. Along the way, Hardy discovers that Carroll had gathered a following through the internet, effectively creating a cult of serial killers.

Creator Kevin Williamson has successfully created an enthralling crime drama that seems to have a big serialized aspect to it. Unlike most crime dramas, The Following focuses on a single killer through his cult of followers. Also, Carroll's murders are related to Poe's writings, which provides a common theme in what will surely be a case-of-the-week format. This common theme, along with the serialized aspect, make this show much more interesting than most crime dramas that I have seen.

Both Bacon and Purefoy were fantastic. Bacon portrays Hardy well, even if the character could use some work. In this episode, Hardy was written too one-dimensionally. He is a typical stoic ex-cop with a drinking problem. However, Bacon was able to show some emotion in his interactions with Carroll's ex-wife Claire Matthews (Natalie Zea). Bacon was also great in the final scene with Purefoy. All things considered, Bacon did well with what he was given. Carroll, however, was written perfectly, and Purefoy was outstanding as the professor-turned-killer. He gave Carroll all the creepiness and derangement that one would expect in a serial killer. I look forward to seeing more of Joe Carroll this season and find out what turned him into a killer.

That brings me to the flashbacks. I am always a fan of flashbacks that give insight into the characters' pasts, but some of the flashbacks in this episode distracted me from the main plot. If the writers continue to use flashbacks in the show, they need to integrate them better. Well-placed flashbacks will be able to show how Carroll became a killer or how he drew people in and turned them into killers. They can also show Hardy's relationship with Claire, with whom he seems to have a history.

Overall, I was intrigued by The Following and look forward to the rest of the season. As long as the writers make better use of the flashbacks and develop Hardy into a fully fleshed-out character, The Following will be a successful interpretation of the crime drama genre. If you haven't seen this pilot, I recommend giving it a try. But be warned: it is very violent and is not for the faint of heart.