I thought this show was consistently great. Not every episode was perfect, but the show came full-circle in the finale, answered all of our questions, and really left little to the imagination.
They couldn't have ended it better. The first scene-- set on the beach, waves crashing, Ryan and Wilfred sitting on the couch from the basement- - provides some great dialogue that speaks to the spirit of the show and on the loss of the show... and, unintentionally, the loss recently suffered in the entertainment world (Robin Williams guest starred in season 2 of Wilfred, coincidentally, but it's the dialog I'm referring to). Ryan: "Happiness is a fallacy." Wilfred: "If I just agree with you can we just talk about something else? Anything else." Ryan: "I mean, there are things that make you happy, but it's not a sustainable feeling. Parades don't last forever. Fireworks burn out. Colors fade." (Attractive woman walking by) Wilfred: "It's not about parades and fireworks. It's about that pair of tits there, that's happiness. A scratch behind the ear. The sun in your face. A decaying seagull carcass. Happiness is in the quieter moments, mate."
The most powerful image in the finale-- most likely in the entire show-- was when the real Wilfred, a recently departed real-life shaggy, gray dog, Ryan at his side, feeling the full loss of his best friend while simultaneously getting the ultimate answer to the truth of Wilfred. It was an amazing moment, and the show could have ended there. But it didn't, it went a large step past that and brought the show back to its roots with the revival of Wilfred in the second episode of the two-part finale. He was all in Ryan's head, and therefore Ryan could conjure him whenever he wanted. He also now has more control over Wilfred, knowing he's just a figment that helps him deal with his life after attempting suicide. Episode 10 encompassed absolutely everything wonderful about this show, and it couldn't have been the amazing finale that it was without Wilfred's resurrection. And it absolutely fit in with everything we've learned in its 4-season run. Ryan's parents were both mentally ill, tried to be normal, but couldn't be happy wearing the mask of normality. Ryan saw these "normal" people who were settling for each other (Jenna with Drew) and playing it safe instead of taking a risk and being happy (Jenna being with Ryan, the riskier choice to Jenna).
Ryan decided to hold onto his happiness, even knowing it was all an illusion, a delusion. He chose happiness, and I'm absolutely happy for Ryan's character to have Wilfred by his side, in a slightly less convoluted and controlling and destructive way, full of answers, ready to make "Wilfred" (the piece of Ryan's mind that is Wilfred) keep a low profile around others.
Quick notes, the closet was just a closet, hence the couch on the beach; there was no basement, it was just a place in Ryan's head. The tennis ball was for the audience but it was also a symbol that Wilfred had returned to Ryan. When Ryan looked back, even though we didn't see it, Wilfred was sitting on that bench, smiling back at him. I don't think it can (correctly) be interpreted any other way, and reviews around the internet agree. I will have to watch it the entire series again in about a year, re-experience it with full knowledge of Wilfred.
Couple Easter eggs from this season: the first time the puppy and Bear are near each other in episode 8, the puppy begins humping Bear (as Wilfred was oft to do). Not sure if that was intentional, but it was funny and fitting. While Ryan's hallucinating in the episode where he sees Wilfred as an actor, he looks at a board with pictures on it. One of them was the Australian actor from the original AU series, and there was a large red X across the picture. Nice little tie-in.
I'm very sad to see this series go, but it went out on a high note (from my perspective), and it didn't overstay its welcome.
Goodbye, Wilfred. It was a pleasure to the end.
They couldn't have ended it better. The first scene-- set on the beach, waves crashing, Ryan and Wilfred sitting on the couch from the basement- - provides some great dialogue that speaks to the spirit of the show and on the loss of the show... and, unintentionally, the loss recently suffered in the entertainment world (Robin Williams guest starred in season 2 of Wilfred, coincidentally, but it's the dialog I'm referring to). Ryan: "Happiness is a fallacy." Wilfred: "If I just agree with you can we just talk about something else? Anything else." Ryan: "I mean, there are things that make you happy, but it's not a sustainable feeling. Parades don't last forever. Fireworks burn out. Colors fade." (Attractive woman walking by) Wilfred: "It's not about parades and fireworks. It's about that pair of tits there, that's happiness. A scratch behind the ear. The sun in your face. A decaying seagull carcass. Happiness is in the quieter moments, mate."
The most powerful image in the finale-- most likely in the entire show-- was when the real Wilfred, a recently departed real-life shaggy, gray dog, Ryan at his side, feeling the full loss of his best friend while simultaneously getting the ultimate answer to the truth of Wilfred. It was an amazing moment, and the show could have ended there. But it didn't, it went a large step past that and brought the show back to its roots with the revival of Wilfred in the second episode of the two-part finale. He was all in Ryan's head, and therefore Ryan could conjure him whenever he wanted. He also now has more control over Wilfred, knowing he's just a figment that helps him deal with his life after attempting suicide. Episode 10 encompassed absolutely everything wonderful about this show, and it couldn't have been the amazing finale that it was without Wilfred's resurrection. And it absolutely fit in with everything we've learned in its 4-season run. Ryan's parents were both mentally ill, tried to be normal, but couldn't be happy wearing the mask of normality. Ryan saw these "normal" people who were settling for each other (Jenna with Drew) and playing it safe instead of taking a risk and being happy (Jenna being with Ryan, the riskier choice to Jenna).
Ryan decided to hold onto his happiness, even knowing it was all an illusion, a delusion. He chose happiness, and I'm absolutely happy for Ryan's character to have Wilfred by his side, in a slightly less convoluted and controlling and destructive way, full of answers, ready to make "Wilfred" (the piece of Ryan's mind that is Wilfred) keep a low profile around others.
Quick notes, the closet was just a closet, hence the couch on the beach; there was no basement, it was just a place in Ryan's head. The tennis ball was for the audience but it was also a symbol that Wilfred had returned to Ryan. When Ryan looked back, even though we didn't see it, Wilfred was sitting on that bench, smiling back at him. I don't think it can (correctly) be interpreted any other way, and reviews around the internet agree. I will have to watch it the entire series again in about a year, re-experience it with full knowledge of Wilfred.
Couple Easter eggs from this season: the first time the puppy and Bear are near each other in episode 8, the puppy begins humping Bear (as Wilfred was oft to do). Not sure if that was intentional, but it was funny and fitting. While Ryan's hallucinating in the episode where he sees Wilfred as an actor, he looks at a board with pictures on it. One of them was the Australian actor from the original AU series, and there was a large red X across the picture. Nice little tie-in.
I'm very sad to see this series go, but it went out on a high note (from my perspective), and it didn't overstay its welcome.
Goodbye, Wilfred. It was a pleasure to the end.
