But then the last five minutes happened and I thought "What the fuck was that?" I liked the idea behind it but the execution seemed like a joke. You can't just put bald caps and makeup under the eyes of young actors and actresses to make them seem like they have aged. Ruth's deathbed scene was hilarious to me. Her crazy hair was ridiculously funny. Why would the producers of the show let this happen? I understand the show always has attempted to blend realism, tragedy, and whimsy but this ending just didn't feel right to me. Why mess with such a brilliant finale on such shoddy production?
However, the idea was so great that it might have transcended the silly direction of it. After reading Unwellness's take on the episode I've been convinced that the ending was a thought provoking one about mortality if not also strangely humorous. I also found it appropriate that I watched this show on the night that Summer Dan officially was put to rest.
Somehow George won't age a day in the next twenty years!
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6 comments:
The makeup and lighting were a bit over the top but I found the ending (and most of this season) very satisfying, especially after almost giving up on the show last year.
I loved the ending. I cried at least 3 times during the finale. The only thing I wonder is what ever happened to Willa?
Sia's "Breathe me" is on my itunes!
I didn't find the hair and stuff so much funny as downright creepy... dying Claire was the one who really terrified me the first several times. She looked like a skull! But the final time I watched it, I was convinced that she was actually sort of a smiling skull and then somehow I felt better.
I have almost never seen old people makeup done really convincingly, though, and they couldn't exactly use other actors or something since we wouldn't know who they were. You're right - it probably could have been done better, but I really forgave all (obviously) in the interest of allowing me some good, hard weeping.
When I first started reading this I started to get really mad at you, thinking to myself, "I just KNEW he would have something snarky to say about my favorite television moment of all time!!" But since you came around to my view, I forgive you. : )
We can make armies of orcs look realistic but aging young actors is still beyond filmaking, but WHO CARES!!!!! It was still great and the wierd makeup only added to the surealism I felt. It was a great way to end it and I am glad they said special affects be damned!!!!
HWL
I didn't see it...if anyone has it on DVR and wants to invite me over, I'll bring beer.
As I was lying awake at 4:30 this morning, my mind (trying to escape from my usual obsession this time of the month) kept coming back to your post and the old-makeup and such. And I had these further thoughts:
I think it is perfect that George won't age any more. And thinking about his facial expression as Ruth dies is the thing that can currently send me to weeping faster than anything.
I agree that the effect was surreal and kind of cool. This was even more so with the crazy "future" sets, which were all basically just modern apartments that Wes and I would kill for. Our favorite was Rico on the futuristic cruise (in his obit on the site they just say he died in Puerto Rico, but there is NO WAY that was not a cruise ship - those porthole windows, those deck chairs... I know from cruise ships, let me tell you). Wes and I look forward to sailing Future Cruise Lines.
The old people make-up in the scene where David dies, I thought, was better than the rest - I really loved Old Claire and Old Brenda talking like little old women as he keeled over.
And however creepy their floaty hair was, Brenda dying of boredom listening to Billy process was fabulous. As was their apartment.
Thanks for allowing me to distract myself by blabbing on about this.
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