What I’m Watching: Wilfred (Series Finale)

Wilfred: Season 4, Episodes 9 and 10 “Resistance” and “Happiness”

There was never going to be a way that this show ended on a satisfying or gratifying note. Watching this show for nearly fifty episodes wasn’t meant to provide any sense of comfort or answers, two of the things that Ryan searched so much for over the course of his time with Wilfred. It was brave to kill Wilfred off during the penultimate installment, since his death meant a certain return to the suicidal loneliness Ryan had experienced before he met his neighbor’s dog. At least he had his romance with Jenna, which was pretty wonderful, but then Drew returned to screw it all up, consoling her and buying her a new dog at just the right time while Ryan had been respectful and taken her cue to stay away. I’m not sure that Ryan and Jenna were ever meant to be, but certainly there’s a more fitting fate than sitting on a couch hearing about how Kristen enjoys ending life more than starting it in her new career. There was that magnificent moment in which Ryan realized what he needed to be happy and immediately ran towards Wilfred, fully cognizant now that he’s all in his head. Flashing back to a few memories where Wilfred is now a dog was disturbing but enlightening, and it seems that Wilfred’s face was merely conjured from a memory of one of his mom’s cult friends during childhood. It’s far from a dynamite ending, but I’m not sure what we could have expected. This series has been consistent throughout, offering generally strong installments with a few lesser ones peppered in each season, all to create a cohesive whole of what might be TV’s most bizarre and depressing comedy. This was definitely a unique experience for American television.

Series finale: B
Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Elijah Wood as Ryan
Series grade: B+
Series MVP: Elijah Wood as Ryan
Best Season: Season 2
Best Episode: TBD