The Final Episode

Hi All,

I'm a newbie to this group, but definitely a long time fan of the show. Here are my impressions of the final episode in a short article I whipped up. I'd be interested in your comments...

--------------- Although any new material in the last episode really didn't get many laughs from me, after viewing the final episode of Seinfeld in length I have to say I agree with Larry David in regard to closing the show with a simple message to the public. Even though these four hillarious characters were a constant source of entertainment and laughter for close to a decade, they were hardly personalities that should be admired. The very flaws that Jerry, George, Elain, and Kramer had repeatedly pointed out in their dates and companions were overshadowed by the very flaws evident within each of themselves.

In the closing jailroom scene, David supports the philosophy that you know it's time to get out when you've come close to doing it all. I feel that the show peaked more than a season ago, and the basic plan of the "fantastic four" had always been to end the show shortly after it's crest. I was glad to see many of the familiar faces show up in the final episode that had appeared in many episodes of this classic sitcom.

I am actually saddened that some people were let down by the final episode. If you went into the show with any expectations at all, then you missed the entire point of the show. They purposely didn't simply repeat the usual antics that the "typical" Seinfeld show is laced with, but instead offered more of a chance to reflect on the show and the wonderful memories it has given us all. If Seinfeld has shown us anything, it has shown us a way to appreciate the very suttle things in life that almost everyone experiences, but rarely stop to find the humor within.

In closing, I would like to offer my congrats to Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld, and the rest of the cast/crew for many years of enjoyable tv viewing, and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

NOTE: If it doesn't already exist, I would definitely like to see at least a "Best Seinfeld Episodes" video set available, as well as possibly a "Best Seinfeld Moments" release. -----------------------

Matt writes:

C'mon, Matt -- what are you talking about? It's comedy, not some damn "message to the public". And it was a pretty cynical comedy all the way, I might remind you. Doesn't it sound a bit silly, to say the least, to produce 9 years of a sitcom where characters rob old ladies on the street of a loaf of rye bread, burn other people's houses and cause all sorts of other material and moral damage to everyone around them -- just to conclude it with a "you can go to jail for this -- don't try it at home" message?!

What I find wrong about the final episode, is that they (the creators) apparently _do_ recognize (and actually laugh at) the inheritant hypocrisy of the whole thing, the fact that neither those who testified against the 4 nor the people on the jury, nobody, would act differently in the same situation; the fact that Jerry and the gang merely represent the society where they live... but still, in the end they get punished! It's not that I'm saying "it's not fair" :) -- I happen to understand that it's just a show -- what I'm saying is that the plot is neither logical nor elegant. I was waiting till the last minutes of the episode for the jury to actually start laughing at the pathetic obese jerk (the victim of the original crime) themselves and eventually acquit the defendants.

So, to conclude my message:

FREEDOM TO THE NYC FOUR!

-L.A.

Hmmm, then please explain why they ended up on trial and were convicted guilty? That's not exactly a funny script IMO, and was partially inteded not to be. Remeber that not every viewer has the high level of "intellectual wealth" that you seem to possess. Many viewers tend to believe a bit too much of what they see on television, like it or not. Therefore the show needed some sort of a message. You don't honestly believe Larry David intended to just write another typical-antics episode do you? If so, then you missed it. I am sure he could have come up with better if that was the intention.

Well, if you are saying that you also would have ridiculed the fat man as he was being held up then you are one sad individual. I personnaly did not find that scene humorous, and do not believe it was intended to be. I also believe that the majority of people would have acted with concern toawrds the victim. I am sorry you lack any compasion whatsoever.

Matt writes:

I beg to differ. I agree with you that it was not exactly a funny script, but I believe that it was not intentional.

...

Matt, wait -- I specifically warned you in my message not to make this mistake, not to cross the line between the Seinfeld universe and the real world. In real world of course I would bother enough to dial 911 if I happened to be witnessing a robbery in progress with a cellphone in hand. And I would never ridicule a victim of a crime either. But in the Seinfeld world, everyone is like Seinfeld -- aren't all (or most of) the people who testified against them are just as much selfish and superficial themselves? And the reason for this is simple -- this particular genre is called "satire", so they don't bother to depict the world as populated by both good folks and bad folks (as it happens in real life), but aim at the bad folks and thus portray them only. So in the context of the show, I repeat, to convict them was to exercise double standards in the worst way possible.

So once again,

FREEDOM TO JERRY SEINFELD!

Luckily, I happen to live in Massachusetts (though I'm still having trouble spelling the name of the state), so I'm gonna go picket the prison sometime on the weekend. Anyone wanna go with me?

-L.

I wan to know if more people liked it than not? or was it 50-50

AiMhIgH wrote:

it wa 60-4

Altho the ep could have been tons better, what I _did_ enjoy was seeing all the old characters all together in one room. That was really neat.

Mandy

Please attach this post when you reply. Thank you.

Gone but not forgotten News:rec.arts.movies.past-films Oldies but Goodies

I thought it was really good, and yeah, i even liked the clip show. Sort of brought back all the memories. But the actual episode was cool. It brought the series full circle from the start, and actually ended it.

[email] wrote in article ...

I agree. If this was the only way to do it, then I understand a little more...

Hey, AiMhIgH ([email]), tag me in!

I give it a thumbs up. Not spectacular, but very fitting and oddly dignified. Good stuff.

Jim

Loved it!!

Trish

I liked it too...