I honestly thought that the ending moment was the most effective choice of the entire finale. We heard Rebecca sing amazingly in her mind and being terrible at it in real life. The show ended exactly when the two sides finally came together, the fantasy became the reality, and it’s the only song we’ll never get to hear…

Clearly I missed a ton of good visual gags by baking cookies while the show was on. I already realized that was a stupid idea for a number of reason, but this just ads to the pile.

Thanks for the coverage Allison. This was a wonderful ending to a fantastically original and clever show. So many tv shows and films spend so much time making is ALL about who ends up with who. Let’s face it, many many people do not find their ‘one’ and stay with them forever and ever. I loved that Rebecca said…

I have to take a moment to give it up to the ensemble. West Covina low key grew into a town to rival Springfield and they did it on a budget that was threatening to replace people with brooms at any moment. Everyone stuck around, everyone had their own story and inner life. It was the game night episode that really…

On the other hand, there was no other possible ending. Choosing any one of the three guys, even with every good reason, would have felt the most banal thing ever. Not to mention, sort of (uncharacteristically) anti-feminist: the guy-driven happy ending.

I don’t think it’s so much that she dislikes lawyering (she still helps in the jail), but that she didn’t choose it. Her mum chose it for her, and even if she’s good at it, once she starts developing her own identity it feels like a burden from old Rebecca. Music is, however, the one part of her life she’s always felt…

We Tapped That Ass was one of Santino Fontana’s songs. They didn’t have Skylar Astin perform any of Santino’s songs, did they? That’s the one thing I thought the night was missing (Santino, and his great songs). But even if Santino had been available to make an appearance at the concert, that might have been…

That was so charming and understated that I have almost nothing to say about the finale. Thanks for reviewing this show Allison, it’s been a special gem for the past four seasons. I look forward to reading your song ranking. It’s impressive looking back how many numbers from this show I sing all the time now.

I can’t say anything about the episode but that it was perfect, because as you, I find myself overwhelmed by the contradictory feelings of happiness at it ending on its own terms and the sadness of seeing it go.

1) Thanks, Allison. I don’t have enough praise for your reviews. Really. I follow your other work, but there’s something special about this series and the way

That was lovely. I felt I might choke up when Paula started singing the “West Covina” reprise in the fantasy stage (despite one of her lyrics being “you’re not weird or cray”). And it was a nice moment beforehand when Rebecca solved Paula’s dilemma, to her surprise, and then waited to ask if was OK to talk about…

You too? Damn that moment was so perfect, 4 seasons and a lifetime of a conceit laid out on the open to someone you love and trust, and they get you? It was a catharsis I didn’t know I needed, a climax I didn’t even realized it was being built up since the beginning and it made me tear up so much.

Or something new.

While I did guess where the ep was going (The “community theatre” ep had already made it obvious, I thought) I liked the structure here— “Earlier” was a clever misdirect, and George’s ponytail was a fun way to express the time-jump.

This is a show I began watching a couple months into Season 1 purely due to acclaim on the AV Club, having passed if off without a second thought when I saw the name elsewhere, finally proving that despite skeptics, this place ain’t too bad. I came for the pop music satire and stayed for the honest mental health…

I was at the Saturday taping. The program looks like a true mixture of both nights. The opening number and some of the others were performed in full but cut down for time. Her parents were truly delightful. She did preform Heavy Boobs but mentioned it might not make the final program. The best moment was Rachel…

He probably did get a happy ending but Rebecca doesn’t care so we didn’t hear about it.

One of my favorite running jokes was White Josh’s exasperation/indifference to Rebecca, and his utter bafflement at why all his friends were in love with her. The only reason I *kind of* wanted the Rebecca/Darryl kiss to happen was bc I thought it’d be funny to watch WyJo lose his ENTIRE shit.

I think “Rebecca has to be in a relationship with herself” is a misread of what happens. I can see how you’d get there, but it’s not about self-care. It’s that she realizes there’s this part of herself she’s been repressing and devaluing. It’s four or five steps further into the conversation. But to each their own.

Paula being able to see the fantasy stage was perfect. I legit started tearing up. It’s a show not just about the importance of understanding yourself, but of being understood by the people around you. Rebecca slowly learns how to do that for others, and is rewarded by that being reciprocated in the most grandious way…