Endings is one of those interesting happenings in life that can either be good or bad. Life changing or life improving. Sometimes both.
Some endings are a good thing. Such as getting over a sickness or out of a bad relationship.
Many are sad. Losing those we love, getting fired from a job we like, break ups.
Yet there are many endings in life more benign yet still bring a sense of loss.
Not any that you would notice any big difference, just a bit of sadness. That passing sense of loss that sweeps over you like a chilly Autumn breeze.
So many human beings are addicted to the familiar. Many of us need a certain sameness about our existence. Things we can count on and over which we feel a sense of control.
A morning routine, daily workouts; I wouldn’t know about that. A morning coffee and muffin; that I would definitely know about.
Among these are television shows and movies. Yes, we seem to attach ourselves to certain characters. We soon look forward to returning to a certain place to see people we’ve come to invest in and like. It just feels comfortable being in their presence.
There is absolutely a certain sadness finishing a movie that has completely captured your attention. We’ve become a part of these character’s existences, adventures, pain and happiness.
The ending seems so final and television is no different. Years ago, before the advent of streaming we would wait an entire week to revisit Andy and Barney and travel to Mayberry.
We had questions, most of which remained unanswered.
There was a sense of anticipation about what might happen to the Friends each week. Would Ross and Rachel get together?
Would Joey Tribiani explode from eating too many pizzas?
Would Mr. Phelps accept the mission?
Did Captain Kirk wear a girdle?
Would they ever make room for Daddy?
Would Kramer slip running into Jerry’s apartment or Elaine learn to dance?
Did Columbo ever wash that raincoat?
Would Zelda Gilroy ever catch Dobie Gillis?
Would Ozzie Nelson ever put on a suit and go to work?
How the hell Samantha stayed married to Darrin!
These shows became part of our daily lives and formed a commonality with friends and family.
How often we’d go to parties where the discussion centered around, who killed JR? Or were Ross and Rachel on a break? It as common and something shared on which to agree.
Many would merely say television became part of our culture. I believe it transcended entertainment. We came to depend on these shows each week. Much like visiting Grandma and looking forward to her amazing cookies hot from the oven.
There was a definite sadness at the end of Friends when they walked off toward Central Perk. A moment of what-the-hell-was-that when the Seinfeld cast sat in prison or an Oh-My-God moment when the lights came on and Suzanne Pleshette was in bed with Bob Newhart.
Of course we moved on after these characters left our lives, but it wasn’t without a tinge of sadness.
When something familiar and comforting leaves us, there is suddenly a void that must be filled.
We wait for a new show to catch our attention. One that will fulfill the loss left by the ones that disappeared. I suppose that’s why so many sequels and characters that move to new shows become hits. We are already familiar and relaxed with these individuals. Eager to follow their activities.
You may be thinking, this is no big deal, shows come and go and moving on is easy.
Of course we’re built to move on. But these places and people stay with us as repositories of our memories. We forget so much in life, but hearing “Hi Ho Silver” conjures up a time or special memory about our childhood.
A show shared with a grandparent or the way your father laughed when Jackie Gleason barked, “to the moon, Alice.”
We can actually experience emotion remembering something that happened in an unforgettable film.
Bambi’s mother, Old Yeller, the shower scene in Psycho, “Luke, I am your father,” Planet of the Apes Statue of Liberty on the beach ending, Dead Poets, Titanic, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Love Story (Yes, I know pure soap opera, but memorable), The Sixth Sense, The Usual Suspects, Colonel Blake’s death in M.A.S.H., The Fugitive, or who would win the American Bandstand dance contest?
The Sopranos (another what the hell ending) and any ending on the The Twilight Zone.
There are so many more that evoke memories or another laugh or tear.
Things have changed with the advent of streaming in that you can binge watch episodes without a break. Still, I’m not quite certain if part of the fun of the watching was in the waiting. The anticipation of how something would turn out and conjuring up your own scenarios.
Reruns are popular no doubt. Do we revisit these shows because we love revisiting them, like old friends? Or is it that they evoke precious childhood memories? Remembrances we so need to keep those gone from our lives with us?
Probably a bit of both. Nobody should knock nostalgia as it serves a valuable purpose.
Well, gotta go watch a Gilligan rerun. I thought of a way for them to finally get off that island.
NormaZager.com 