A lot of my earliest memories come from my first viewing of Top Gun on a family vacation (I was around 3?). I remember distinctly Goose dying, the love scene, and Val Kilmer telling Tom “You’re still dangerous...”

Yes.

That was meant more in terms of an “Eye for an eye”/death punishment as opposed to emotional upheaval (although some would argue losing children is just as bad, even though they’re technically still alive here).

Short conversation indeed, but I’m glad you brought up the “Stan telling Henry he shot his family” possibility of the garage confrontation! I haven’t even really considered that aspect of things until now.

This is what Fan Fiction was invented for!

That was actually my only issue with the scene while watching it too. Once it became apparent that he’d let them leave, I just kept thinking “Would Stan really do that?” Maybe his emotions over the situation could cloud the situation, sure... but certainly things like his first partner and Gaad were also weighing on…

Pretty sure I either screamed or went “Oh boy!” when Stan entered the garage!

I instantly thought of the infamous “I watched Jane die” quote when I heard him say that. In hindsight, I don’t know if it was entirely a backstab though, but who knows?

I think it was hard for a lot of us to see Elizabeth not get her comeuppance for the things she had done. And yeah, obviously Philip had his moments too... but Elizabeth still being in the game this year and raising it up a notch certainly gave a few expectations that something terrible might happen to her.

Was it Moscow at the end though? Could have been a border city, unless there was a landscape thing I missed? I didn’t see the Kremlin in the final shot, for example.

“What happens when an American, raised by Russian spies, moves to Russia to play hockey... and meets his LONG LOST BROTHER!!!!”

Yeah, I know what you mean. Personally, I didn’t need people to die or have Stan and Philip have a big fight scene... but I can see where this would seem a tad uneventful of a finale for some.

Yeah, this was the part of the finale that I wasn’t really satisfied with. I suppose it’s not important how she got back to DC to take a swig of vodka, but I can’t imagine her easily settling back into life afterward. Stan knows and will probably become Henry’s de facto guardian... will he allow Paige to see him? Does…

I like Pop even though it’s disjointed a bit, but maybe that’s also part of the appeal for some?

Yep, I posted a link elsewhere when I went to verify it. I have heard the “I love you too” line given, but apparently audio verfies this version from the script?

It was something like that, but I kind of like yours and dirtside’s lines better than “I know” now, truth be told.

I think it was just a simple “I love you too.”

Ford’s right. It was the better line.

But, you know, ratings... big names... ad money... something something liberal bias.

See Also: South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford when Michael Jackson died in 2009.