30 Days of TV - Day 22

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Day 01 - A show that never should have been canceled
Day 02 - A show you wish more people were watching
Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this TV season)
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever
Day 05 - A show you hate
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite TV show
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite TV show
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you've watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite miniseries
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best TV show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship

Day 22 - Favorite series finale

This was really hard, because I couldn't think of a single, perfect series finale. There are plenty that I enjoyed, but I usually can think of something to improve on. So I ended up going with, probably unexpectedly, Veronica Mars. Like I said in my first post, at the time I thought the ending was really unsatisfying. With all the things they left unresolved, it didn't feel wrapped up at all. And yet, the two-part season finale may have been the best two episodes of VM ever. Definitely in the top ten. It felt absolutely jam-packed with twisty mysteries and great emotional scenes, plus some unexpected cameo appearances. It seemed appropriate that the final episode's mystery was all about Veronica. The mysteries are definitely more compelling when it's V herself or someone close to her that's involved, which is why the Lilly Kane murder investigation worked better than any of the arc mysteries that followed.

I was pretty surprised that the season didn't end with Logan and Veronica together - since Rob Thomas seems to have a tendency to do that, regardless of what's happened the entire preceding season - and especially if it was the end of the show, I figured he'd give the LoVe fans something to hold on to. While it saddens me that now they'll never be together, the conflict definitely made for a more interesting episode.

Speaking of more interesting, I had been waiting all season for a Dick Casablancas breakdown, and we finally got in the last three or four episodes. At the beginning of the season, he had this on-the-edge attitude about him, and I kept expecting him to just lose it over all the crap that happened in season 2. Ryan Hansen knocked it out of the park in his scenes with big Dick and with Logan - and even with Veronica and Mac. I always knew he had it in him, and it makes me wish we'd seen more serious/emotional Dick all along.

And finally... Keith. What a tragic ending there. It was just so heartbreaking to see him realizing he couldn't trust Veronica, and yet still committing a crime and sacrificing the election to keep her out of trouble. *sigh* If only they had been able to communicate better - Veronica could have said, "Hey, I'm handling this, no need to tamper with evidence" and saved him from all that. I can understand her not wanting to talk about a sex tape of her going around school, but still... And then, poor V realizing that she cost him the election, and then going to vote...

Honorable Mentions: I know a lot of people hate the AtS cliffhanger (hence "After the Fall"), but I'd say "Not Fade Away" was an incredibly fitting ending for the show. The West Wing finale was good, but fairly unremarkable. BtVS and BSG were good, but flawed (interestingly, in pretty much the same way - the emotional and metaphorical moments were there, but the actual logic is somewhat lacking). I, uh, still haven't seen the 24 finale, lol.

And the rest of the days, for those who want to play along...

Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First TV show obsession
Day 29 - Current TV show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death

Comments

[dragonflylady77.livejournal.com]

I haven't watched all of season 3 yet but I knew about the non LoVe ending (maybe that's why I'm not watching it just yet. That and not having season 2).

Yes TWW finale was unremarkable... Still TWW goodness.

*can't wait to see the next few days*

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Anything in particular you're looking forward to in the next few days? lol

[dragonflylady77.livejournal.com]

Maybe...


Right now I wish the rain would stop because I have washing on the line!!!

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on VMars having a pretty decent ending. I do kind of disagree with you about Logan and Veronica, though: when she smiles at him in the cafeteria (I haven't watched it since it aired, but I'm petty sure I remember that scene), it hinted at hope for me. An "unfinished business" sort of thing.

I think AtS's ending is very, very fitting and well-done, though I think it's a very, very dark ending since I see Angel making a ton of morally wrong decisions.

(interestingly, in pretty much the same way - the emotional and metaphorical moments were there, but the actual logic is somewhat lacking). YES.

I'm pleased to know that TWW has a decent ending. I'd feel majorly let down if it didn't. REACTION POST SOON.

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when she smiles at him in the cafeteria (I haven't watched it since it aired, but I'm petty sure I remember that scene), it hinted at hope for me. An "unfinished business" sort of thing.

Oh, I agree - it definitely is open for the future. I was just expecting it to be more concrete than that.

TWW sort of has an inverse bell curve of quality. Season 5 is really the low point - it's the first season after Aaron Sorkin left (with a kind of "fuck you" ending to season 4), and I think the writers who were left were a little shaky, since Sorkin did most of the writing himself. But 6 and 7 definitely continue to improve, so that it's back at season 4 levels, at least, by the time it ends.