My fiance and I paused the episode at the beginning to read Kenneth's list of things not to do on TV shows and thought it was funny how true it was to 30 Rock, the obvious joke. There was one thing on the list that seemed like a throwaway, though, the last one: "No immortal characters". During the "One Year Later" epilogue, when everything got increasingly "In a perfect world-y" I realized that not only was the list referencing 30 Rock as a whole, it was also encompassing this episode, capping off the list with an immortal Kenneth agreeing to produce 30 Rock based Liz's stories as told to her great-granddaughter, complete with flying cars zipping in the backdrop behind Kenneth's head.
While last week's episode was an artfully crafted (the Willy Wonka plot and the reveal of Liz's adopted twins especially), expertly written episode, this week's finale was a messy, mushy, sentimental send-off, providing just the amount of cathartic release for everyone who has traveled on this seven-year journey with Liz, Tracy, Jack, Kenneth, Jenna, Grizz, Dot Com, and everyone on 30 Rock. It wasn't perfect. Instead, it was just right.
Some highlights and noticing's:
- Did anyone else notice how janky the green-screened Conan-Lemon scene (come on, Conan, you couldn't fly in for one thirty-second scene? Geez!)?
- Pete faking his own death, and explaining not at all subtly how great he was at faking his own death
- Cupcake sandwiches!!! I forgot that was a thing - the best of things! And how nice of everyone to wait for Liz to come back out of her office before eating (I know, I know, it was for the joke, but I still felt bad for all that cake! Less bad for the sushi because blerg!).
- I'd totally watch Grizz & Herz! And not just because I love dogs as co-stars (yes, I've seen half of a few episodes of Dog with a Blog and one of those half-episodes actually had a really great joke in it!). Also, someone really should give Grizz his own TV show. Everyone from The Office is getting an NBC development deal, why not 30 Rock?
- While the Blimpie's plotline gave Lutz a funny send-off, of course their last lunch should have come from the teamster's secret Italian sandwich shop. I would have also settled for Cheesy Blasters or Sabor de Soledad chips.
- Loved how Kenneth proved he would be able to NBC to glory by knowing exactly what would make Jenna feel real sadness (the loss of her mirror).
- Liz's chats with the moms (and Criss) on the parenting forums were priceless
- While I loved Jenna's callback to The Rural Juror, couldn't we have gotten a super sad, super spooky-scary rendition of Werewolf Bar Mitzvah instead?
- Liz and Jack love each other in, as it should be, a completely and intensely-clearly-stated platonic way.
But my favorite part? How sweet and true it was for Tracy, who has truly been abandoned, to not want to have to say goodbye ("Is this the way white women say 'I'm going out for cigarettes?'"). I don't want to let go, either, Tracy, but if we have to, you did a great job. I love you, too.
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