OK, 'fess up - Did you watch the final "Friends?"

[DaveStebbins]

Easily one of my top 5 shows and so far the best ending I´ve ever seen of a show.

I don't think I'd go that far. It was an OK ending to a very good show. I liked the final Friends episode and I've watched the entire run, but I wasn't blown away by it. These days, everyone feels like they have to have some sort of blockbuster ending. Some of the earlier sitcom endings were, IMO, better; Mary Tyler Moore, Barney Miller, Newhart. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but they seemed to end with a little more class and a little less obvious of an attempt to wow the audience. Sure they tugged the heartstrings, that is part of the poignancy of all endings. But these days, finales seems to be under pressure to produce the great big wow-surprise instead of just tipping their hats and saying good-bye.

Sorry, I'm rambling. I'll stop now.

 

[John Crichton]

John Crichton wrote:

"Of course I did. I've been watching for 10 years. It was easily one of the most consistantly entertaining shows on TV. It is an easy show to like and enjoy. It will be missed."

What the man said.

Easily one of my top 5 shows and so far the best ending I´ve ever seen of a show. I will miss it so much. They have to make a Friends movie, there can be no other alternative.

I'm glad we agree. However, I do have a question: You'd really want to see a movie? I don't, simply because I thought the ending worked just fine as a farewell. The show came full circle:

Joey started alone and ended alone but along the way he did learn how to love. They were faithful to the character.

Ross finally got Rachel. It had to happen.

Crazy Monica got her loving husband and started the family she was so desperate to have. It had to happen.

Rachel finally grew up. She got a good job, lived on her own and even had and raised a child out of wedlock (yes, she had help but the point remains).

Chandler kept being weird and it didn't stop just because he married Monica. His character may have grown the most over the course of the show (with the second being a tie between Phoebe & Joey).

Phoebe's eternal kindness and loyalty was finally repaid as she netted herself a quality guy who truly got her. She also seemed to put most of her demons behind her.

The best thing about the show was that it was consistant not only in being funny but in the plot as well. I think someone else mentioned this but it is worth repeating. There certainly was a 'Friends' universe just like there is a 'Star Wars' universe and a 'Buffyverse.' The show was rooted in reality but the show wasn't set there. It was a show of relationships and growth. We watched them all change and grow and it was very organic - not forced as it seems to be on many other shows.

The finale was a good send-off. I don't think it should be lessened in any way by making a motion picture. I don't mind the spin-off or any cameos there but this was a solid ending that ended at a proper time. The show didn't overstay its welcome nor get its legs cut out from under it like with so many other great programs.

 

[Viking Bastard]

I believe NBC is trying to get the cast together for a hour long reunion
Thanksgiving show set to air next fall. Basically to crosspromote 'Joey'.

 

[EricNoah]

Boy it really hit me today when I was going through my VCR menu to remove Thursday nights from the list of programs. Thank god for DVD or I'd have almost nothing to watch! Am I going to turn into one of those old people who goes around saying "The only good shows have gone off the air. The stuff on today is no good, gosh darn it!"

 

[Henry]

Am I going to turn into one of those old people who goes around saying "The only good shows have gone off the air. The stuff on today is no good, gosh darn it!"

Myth Busters - it's what the Man Show should've been. Thank goodness it's still on. After Angel goes, with the exception of the CSI's, I'll be in the same boat!

 

[John Crichton]

After Angel goes, with the exception of the CSI's, I'll be in the same boat!

What about shows like Scrubs, Alias & Smallville?

 

[Henry]

What about shows like Scrubs, Alias & Smallville?

My opinion, of course, but - Bah, Pflah, and Urgh!

Watched Scrubs a few times, didn't get me excited enough to watch more than once per incident. Alias is good, I'll admit, but I just can't get into it - events seem to disappear from show to show in Star Trek Voyager style, hence it doesn't interest me.

Smallville I'm currently watching, but I'm hanging on with the barest of interest, just like Tru Calling. If anything comes along even REMOTELY interesting that competes, I'd drop them with reckless abandon - they are minimally acted and minimally entertaining to me.

 

[Vocenoctum]

The finale was a good send-off. I don't think it should be lessened in any way by making a motion picture. I don't mind the spin-off or any cameos there but this was a solid ending that ended at a proper time. The show didn't overstay its welcome nor get its legs cut out from under it like with so many other great programs.

I thought it was a good send off as well, if some of the "heart tugs" were a bit telegraphed.
What I think is amusing is that they act like it's the End in the ep, but really, Ross & Monica are related, it's not like Monica/ Chandler & Ross/ Rachel aren't still going to see each other constantly.

No Joey lead in was odd to me.

I've watched the show for years, I lost track of Frasier. Scrubs is the only one of the newer shows to make it for me, and they've been shuffling it around a bit much this season.
Malcolm was good, but drags a bit now.

 

[Vocenoctum]

The finale of Seinfeld was not a clip show. They did a clip show as a preview for the finale. But the final episode was the trial.

Side note, but a lot of people consider the trial to be little more than a clip show as well.

 

[John Crichton]

My opinion, of course, but - Bah, Pflah, and Urgh!

Watched Scrubs a few times, didn't get me excited enough to watch more than once per incident. Alias is good, I'll admit, but I just can't get into it - events seem to disappear from show to show in Star Trek Voyager style, hence it doesn't interest me.

Smallville I'm currently watching, but I'm hanging on with the barest of interest, just like Tru Calling. If anything comes along even REMOTELY interesting that competes, I'd drop them with reckless abandon - they are minimally acted and minimally entertaining to me.

Ah, well I can see Smallville not being high on the to-watch list but Scrubs is one of the best shows on TV right now. Hilarious with a good plot. As for Alias, it's the best genre show on TV and has been since Firefly and Farscape were cancelled. All IMO, of course.