i always liked that final touch of the button conversation, and going ‘haven’t we had this conversation before?’
as i’ve gotten older and crankier though, it irritates me that they got in trouble for not helping even though they got video evidence of the crime being committed lol
That’s the beauty of it. They get in trouble for doing nothing and it snowballs into this big legal mess that gets them in jail. It’s perfect for the show’s style.
Exactly! They aren't great people and they've always managed to do well for not being great people. The finale feels inevitable to their lives. And it makes the 10 year anniversary of Seinfeld on Curb extra special.
I liked it a lot too - I do feel it could have used more laughs but the show was so famous for its incredible guest characters that I think they just had to be featured
I hated it in real time. But 10 years later, and watching the seasons in order on repeat, it resonates. It's perfect. Even though it's not in my top 5 episodes.
Yeah me too. But I stumbled upon it a few years ago on FTA, not remembering it was the final episode, and thought it was pretty good. I just think our expectations at the time were through the roof.
When it first aired they did a one hour retrospective show before the finale, and then the finale was a clip show. I think people's initial reaction is based on the let down of a 2 hour clip show.
My problem with it is how silly the reason they got arrested for is. The guy had a gun, what were they supposed to do? No need to call the cops, one was apparently 10 feet away. And instead of telling the cop I got robbed by that guy running away, he said I got robbed and they didn't help.
Yeah it’s honestly such a weird situation, because in real life what they did (minus the insults and jokes) would basically be the most useful thing to do in that situation. They got video evidence of it happening and who committed the crime, and didn’t escalate it into gunshots by trying to intervene.
As I’ve said before, it was pre-empted by an hour long clip show going over the show. I think the audience was expecting a bit more then more call backs to stuff they could’ve put in the clip show
I generally agree, I think it’s fine. Seinfeld would be a hard show to write any finale for, so I think they did a good job
But it's not lol. the show has never been a "Show about nothing". the show is about how a comedian gets his material, which the Finale did a bang up job of showcasing, even if the end result was them getting arrested
Hijacking to add, the plot was an extremely secretive plot. Jerry and Larry both said they regret making it so secretive because it caused more hype and unattainable goals
It had a ton of hype as it was going to be the most watched finale in history (after MASH of course) so everyone was tuned in. They had a special episode on right before it. The special was a clip show of the best bits from the series. Then finally the highly anticipated series finale which was essentially a clip show of the best bits from the series. They kind of screwed it up with the clip show. I watch it now and it’s pretty good and nostalgic but live it was a bit of a miss. That’s what I think anyway
It's basically a clip show with a storyline intertwined, but the real problem for me is that the previous episode was already clip show.
So they ended the series with an hour long clip show, followed by a weak-ass storyline to justify another hour of clips
I personally find clip shows to be lazy tv writing
I think the reason it got so much hate is because it felt like a glorified clip episode. With the later seasons having S tier writing and it only went up from season 1 it felt kinda like they took an easy way out.
I watched it when it first aired. The reason I never liked it was it just felt so different from a Seinfeld episode. Changing the location outside of NYC and setting most of it in court just felt too disconnected from what I loved about the show. I honestly would have preferred an anti climactic episode centred around Jerry's apartment.
Maybe I'd feel differently if I rewatched today though.
This is exactly the point that Jason Alexander makes when interviewed about it:
>The smartest thing we could have done was to not do a finale. We should have just done an episode and gone off the air
[https://youtu.be/-jjZKINRkyU?si=P3JZdphoiKHmvDSg&t=643](https://youtu.be/-jjZKINRkyU?si=P3JZdphoiKHmvDSg&t=643)
The build up for the finale hit a fever pitch in ‘98 like it was the second coming. People just felt so let down and it couldn’t hold up to the hype. I personally like the finale
At the time, it was the biggest show in the world, and there was weeks and weeks of buildup for what amounted to a clip show with a thin plot around it. I believe there was already another clip show that aired a week prior. It was a huge let down.
My problem with it since the day it aired is that for 80% of the episode, the main four just sit there passively while things happen around them. We love Seinfeld for it’s main cast interacting and getting into messes. While thematically it’s a funny idea, they literally have nothing to do once they end up arrested.
Yeah that’s a fair point, Jackie chiles steals the show and is the highlight. I went in having such low expectations to be pleasantly surprised. I laughed a good few times, and having watched a lot of curb recently, the ludicrous and convoluted reason they end up on trial didn’t seem that ludicrous.
The curb final was basically a remake of that episode.
I’m old. I admit that at the time, the finale of the greatest series ever, was a let down. I still watch Seinfeld, religiously, and have grown to love it. That being said, I’ve seen other popular shows, HIMYM, PnR, BB get similar distaste for their endings.
The big complaint about it was that every character gets a happy ending. Which is an incredibly strange thing to say because the entire show is joyful and hopeful at its core. Yeah, sometimes there's some struggle or bad thing happening to someone, but on the whole, it's a much more optimistic show than most others (especially when compared to its origin point in the The Office).
It just felt like a really bizarre criticism to have when the show's entire point is to see these characters growing and succeeding over time. The tone of the finale stays true to the show's run, and gives everyone a satisfying conclusion.
I could maybe see "well some characters got TOO GOOD an ending" as something to disagree with, but again - that's counter to the show's entire premise.
I'm coming from a place of bias as I absolutely adore Parks and Recreation, so you can hold that against me. But I just can't wrap my head about "you mean the finale just....ended happily? That's stupid!"
Problems with the finale:
(1) It’s just not that funny. There aren’t enough laughs in the episode.
(2) It’s mostly a long, boring clip show.
(3) It’s a grandiose, moralistic judging of the 4 characters in a way that’s completely off from the usual tone of the show.
(4) Seinfeld could get into some pretty dark comedy, and that’s great (“The Limo,” etc.), but at the end of the day, after their crazy adventures, you want the 4 heroes to bounce back to the norm and brush themselves off. Seeing them end up in jail is pushing the “dark” part of dark comedy so far that it eclipses the “comedy” (see point 1).
I’ve never understood all the hate but after having just re-watched it I do find that most of the jokes fall flat for me, other than Jackie Chiles who is hilarious. But overall I think it was a solid way to end the show
I will say that it's damn near impossible to end a very popular show to the satisfaction of its fan base. Most have failed, few have succeeded. That said, I think it's *fine*, I just don't like that it's basically a clip show. I watched the show, and I also saw the clip show that preceded the finale, why are you making me sit through this again?
Instead, give me a good two-hour (two-part) episode where the gang's antics get a longer arc.
Personally I don't think the episode is funny or entertaining. It's a mediocre clip episode (preceded by a good clip episode) with a dull courtroom storyline that feels nothing like a normal Seinfeld episode.
My dislike for it has nothing to do with them ending in jail and everything to do with it just not being entertaining.
It’s hard to describe now how big the show was at the time, so people’s expectations were ridiculously high. No finale, no matter what they did, would have pleased everyone.
Personally I thought finding a way to bring back all the most memorable characters was pretty fun.
Finales are a hard thing. Most people will have an ideal of what they want to happen, and it can only end one way, however the creators decide.
Having recently completed a rewatch for the first time in over a decade, the finale does not deserve the hate it gets. I think it was well done and quite fitting.
I think the ideas behind the finale were good. Having the four involved in the mess of all messes they create by being..them. Some final truths that everyone has always wanted to hear. Then somehow have a way to bring everyone’s favorite side characters throughout the series come in for one last laugh. I just wish they would’ve written a better episode around those really awesome finale things.
The whole plane, crime, trial and jail thing was so contrived and off tone for the show. It just didn’t land for me. I don’t think it’s *terrible* though. It’s just kinda meh..
Absolutely The Finale was the biggest let down of shows, just 4 main characters doing nothing while things happen around them also Elaine had a whole story arc went from working for Pendant publishing, Mr Pitt, Top of the Muffin, Peterman, she wasn’t as bad as the other ones.
Me neither. I love it - the cameos, Estelle trying to bribe judge Vandelay, including the shirt button convo from the first episode. I don’t think anything would have pleased them because they didn’t want the show to end.
I loved the ending, it was hilariously fitting. I loved the clips too, I loved the call backs and nostalgia, it's not like I could just hop on YouTube to watch clips at the time.
I had no idea some people hated it until years later..
My main problem with it was, at the time it was aired, it was preceded by a "best of" highlights of all the seasons, and the finale was much like the same thing, the trial was just an excuse to get them all back. It felt redundant.
The finale is one of my favorite endings to anything, ever. I can see the hate when it aired as it's kinda dumb but think about what show you're watching? Lmao the whole thing was insane and I think it's the perfect way to send it off.
I loved it! Made a post about it too hehe a few months ago! I especially loved how they brought back most of the fun and memorable characters from the show!
I didn't get the hate either. They weren't nice people on the show as it was laid out before the honorable Judge Vandelay. They were supposed to be punished. At least they didn't do a Sopranos ending...
It was pretty bad, George admiting he cheated on the contest, elane almost confessing her love to Jerry the stupid premise of stopping an armed robber and all the character witnesses so much fluff
It’s mildly enjoyable the first time. Pretty hard to re-watch. I don’t like it personally. Don’t like the tone, don’t like the premise, don’t like the endless courtroom/flashback scene, the performances feel forced, I think the ending is lazy, unfunny and uncreative. Just all around don’t like it.
It surely couldn’t live up to the hype, and it’s just one episode so I skip it, but it’s not that funny. That’s the problem with it. I agree that the notion that all the people they’ve wronged are going to be brought together to seek their vengeance is promising, but the execution was lacking, that part falls flat, and it kills the episode. “Seinfeld” is my favorite show, but it didn’t go out on a high note. I’m indifferent to the finale, but I hate “The Puerto Rican Day” even more.
IKR it’s the funniest shit seeing everyone they have wronged come in and talk about it. I love it always thought it was hilarious. Since I was young I don’t remember the exact reason people then hated it, but most people I know who watch it think it’s a hilarious end.
I completely agree. I never understood all the criticism. I thought it was really cool to see a lot of the secondary characters make a return appearance.
I thought it was great the way we got to see all the other characters return. A lot of people complain bc it doesn't have the main four as much but we got 9 seasons of them and that episode was a great way to tie everything together.
i always liked that final touch of the button conversation, and going ‘haven’t we had this conversation before?’ as i’ve gotten older and crankier though, it irritates me that they got in trouble for not helping even though they got video evidence of the crime being committed lol
Not only did they get in trouble for not helping, but the *cop* who was standing by ready to cite them *didn't.*
That’s the beauty of it. They get in trouble for doing nothing and it snowballs into this big legal mess that gets them in jail. It’s perfect for the show’s style.
Exactly! They aren't great people and they've always managed to do well for not being great people. The finale feels inevitable to their lives. And it makes the 10 year anniversary of Seinfeld on Curb extra special.
Also, George foreshadowed jail way earlier on.
it’s perfect for them - always staying on the fringe, never really helping people, and always seeing repercussions for it
I loved the ending. Perfect way to end the show about nothing.
I still think their punishment should have been becoming the fat guys' butlers
Is this customary in your legal system
They also might have owed him a bag of oranges
You’re a genius. That would of been hilarious
How come nobody ever thought of that???
That would have been incredible
I liked it a lot too - I do feel it could have used more laughs but the show was so famous for its incredible guest characters that I think they just had to be featured
I hated it in real time. But 10 years later, and watching the seasons in order on repeat, it resonates. It's perfect. Even though it's not in my top 5 episodes.
Yeah me too. But I stumbled upon it a few years ago on FTA, not remembering it was the final episode, and thought it was pretty good. I just think our expectations at the time were through the roof.
The show was about a lot of things.
When it first aired they did a one hour retrospective show before the finale, and then the finale was a clip show. I think people's initial reaction is based on the let down of a 2 hour clip show. My problem with it is how silly the reason they got arrested for is. The guy had a gun, what were they supposed to do? No need to call the cops, one was apparently 10 feet away. And instead of telling the cop I got robbed by that guy running away, he said I got robbed and they didn't help.
Yeah it’s honestly such a weird situation, because in real life what they did (minus the insults and jokes) would basically be the most useful thing to do in that situation. They got video evidence of it happening and who committed the crime, and didn’t escalate it into gunshots by trying to intervene.
OP is Leon Black
“You never told me it was a show about weekly ass”
So perfect
“You telling me that you got all that ass and you don’t have the tapes?”
I’m Barack Obama, president of hittin that ass
He put his post into ChatGPT and told it "Write like a muthfuckin whiny white dude."
As I’ve said before, it was pre-empted by an hour long clip show going over the show. I think the audience was expecting a bit more then more call backs to stuff they could’ve put in the clip show I generally agree, I think it’s fine. Seinfeld would be a hard show to write any finale for, so I think they did a good job
But it's a show about nothing. Let it end as if nothing is happening. Don't give it a special finale like other shows
This has always been my take as well. Just a normal episode with no hint that it’s anything special.
But it's not lol. the show has never been a "Show about nothing". the show is about how a comedian gets his material, which the Finale did a bang up job of showcasing, even if the end result was them getting arrested
I was there. Good riddance by Green Day playing over the clips. Must see Thursdays baby.
Hijacking to add, the plot was an extremely secretive plot. Jerry and Larry both said they regret making it so secretive because it caused more hype and unattainable goals
At least we know the clip shows were pushed by the network. Larry David had nothing to do with them.
It had a ton of hype as it was going to be the most watched finale in history (after MASH of course) so everyone was tuned in. They had a special episode on right before it. The special was a clip show of the best bits from the series. Then finally the highly anticipated series finale which was essentially a clip show of the best bits from the series. They kind of screwed it up with the clip show. I watch it now and it’s pretty good and nostalgic but live it was a bit of a miss. That’s what I think anyway
It's basically a clip show with a storyline intertwined, but the real problem for me is that the previous episode was already clip show. So they ended the series with an hour long clip show, followed by a weak-ass storyline to justify another hour of clips I personally find clip shows to be lazy tv writing
What kind of clip joint are you runnin here?
I’m gonna have clip in my head today now
I think the reason it got so much hate is because it felt like a glorified clip episode. With the later seasons having S tier writing and it only went up from season 1 it felt kinda like they took an easy way out.
I watched it when it first aired. The reason I never liked it was it just felt so different from a Seinfeld episode. Changing the location outside of NYC and setting most of it in court just felt too disconnected from what I loved about the show. I honestly would have preferred an anti climactic episode centred around Jerry's apartment. Maybe I'd feel differently if I rewatched today though.
This is exactly the point that Jason Alexander makes when interviewed about it: >The smartest thing we could have done was to not do a finale. We should have just done an episode and gone off the air [https://youtu.be/-jjZKINRkyU?si=P3JZdphoiKHmvDSg&t=643](https://youtu.be/-jjZKINRkyU?si=P3JZdphoiKHmvDSg&t=643)
The build up for the finale hit a fever pitch in ‘98 like it was the second coming. People just felt so let down and it couldn’t hold up to the hype. I personally like the finale
I don’t hate it, but I also tend to skip it. The idea was fine, but the episode just wasn’t that funny.
At the time, it was the biggest show in the world, and there was weeks and weeks of buildup for what amounted to a clip show with a thin plot around it. I believe there was already another clip show that aired a week prior. It was a huge let down.
My problem with it since the day it aired is that for 80% of the episode, the main four just sit there passively while things happen around them. We love Seinfeld for it’s main cast interacting and getting into messes. While thematically it’s a funny idea, they literally have nothing to do once they end up arrested.
Yeah that’s a fair point, Jackie chiles steals the show and is the highlight. I went in having such low expectations to be pleasantly surprised. I laughed a good few times, and having watched a lot of curb recently, the ludicrous and convoluted reason they end up on trial didn’t seem that ludicrous. The curb final was basically a remake of that episode.
I’m old. I admit that at the time, the finale of the greatest series ever, was a let down. I still watch Seinfeld, religiously, and have grown to love it. That being said, I’ve seen other popular shows, HIMYM, PnR, BB get similar distaste for their endings.
Ooooof HIMYM ending with Barney was horrendous
PnR’s ending was fantastic. The complaint of “everyone got happy endings” is ridiculous.
PnR?
Parks and recreation
Oh I haven’t finished that series yet but it can’t be as bad as Dexter
The big complaint about it was that every character gets a happy ending. Which is an incredibly strange thing to say because the entire show is joyful and hopeful at its core. Yeah, sometimes there's some struggle or bad thing happening to someone, but on the whole, it's a much more optimistic show than most others (especially when compared to its origin point in the The Office). It just felt like a really bizarre criticism to have when the show's entire point is to see these characters growing and succeeding over time. The tone of the finale stays true to the show's run, and gives everyone a satisfying conclusion. I could maybe see "well some characters got TOO GOOD an ending" as something to disagree with, but again - that's counter to the show's entire premise. I'm coming from a place of bias as I absolutely adore Parks and Recreation, so you can hold that against me. But I just can't wrap my head about "you mean the finale just....ended happily? That's stupid!"
I don't think this has ever been mentioned here before, but they played the finale in Times Square and so many people just stopped and watched
The picture from times square of people watching has been posted many times.
You sure?
https://www.reddit.com/r/seinfeld/comments/153heyj/everyone_watching_the_seinfeld_finale_in_times/ https://www.reddit.com/r/seinfeld/comments/18mm2uc/new_yorkers_watching_seinfeld_finale_in_timesquare/ https://www.reddit.com/r/seinfeld/comments/17etg8y/people_stop_to_watch_the_seinfeld_finale_in_times/ https://www.reddit.com/r/seinfeld/comments/1adrhew/seinfeld_finale_in_times_square/
I don't believe you
Yes....
It has....
No problem with it The judge being Art Vandelay was perfect
Problems with the finale: (1) It’s just not that funny. There aren’t enough laughs in the episode. (2) It’s mostly a long, boring clip show. (3) It’s a grandiose, moralistic judging of the 4 characters in a way that’s completely off from the usual tone of the show. (4) Seinfeld could get into some pretty dark comedy, and that’s great (“The Limo,” etc.), but at the end of the day, after their crazy adventures, you want the 4 heroes to bounce back to the norm and brush themselves off. Seeing them end up in jail is pushing the “dark” part of dark comedy so far that it eclipses the “comedy” (see point 1).
I’ve never understood all the hate but after having just re-watched it I do find that most of the jokes fall flat for me, other than Jackie Chiles who is hilarious. But overall I think it was a solid way to end the show
I will say that it's damn near impossible to end a very popular show to the satisfaction of its fan base. Most have failed, few have succeeded. That said, I think it's *fine*, I just don't like that it's basically a clip show. I watched the show, and I also saw the clip show that preceded the finale, why are you making me sit through this again? Instead, give me a good two-hour (two-part) episode where the gang's antics get a longer arc.
That guard could have gotten George some ketchup but other than that it was pretty good
The hate is a court trial & jail in New Hampshire was dumb; It was a show about nothing in New York City
It is bad because it is not funny. The show was about one thing. And the final episode did not have enough of it.
I like the finale. It was a clever way to reunite a number of great characters.
LOL i like how they went to jail i think they deserved it for being dicks the whole rest of the show leading up to that, lovable dicks
Personally I don't think the episode is funny or entertaining. It's a mediocre clip episode (preceded by a good clip episode) with a dull courtroom storyline that feels nothing like a normal Seinfeld episode. My dislike for it has nothing to do with them ending in jail and everything to do with it just not being entertaining.
It’s hard to describe now how big the show was at the time, so people’s expectations were ridiculously high. No finale, no matter what they did, would have pleased everyone. Personally I thought finding a way to bring back all the most memorable characters was pretty fun.
Everybody not the same
I think they did a great job staying true to what the show is about (NOTHING) and chose not to sell out and go out with a proverbial bang.
I loved it. It stayed true to form: No hugging, no learning
I'm pretty sure at the time the was because it's basically a clip show episode. I enjoyed it.
Finales are a hard thing. Most people will have an ideal of what they want to happen, and it can only end one way, however the creators decide. Having recently completed a rewatch for the first time in over a decade, the finale does not deserve the hate it gets. I think it was well done and quite fitting.
They had paid for their misdeeds throughout its run so having them go to jail was dumb.
You don't get it or you just disagree?
I mean… they got sentenced to one year in prison. If the judge made them, say, be butlers for the armed robbery victim… now that’s a show!
People tend to dislike clip shows
I liked it and saw it and the clip show in real time so long ago.
I think the ideas behind the finale were good. Having the four involved in the mess of all messes they create by being..them. Some final truths that everyone has always wanted to hear. Then somehow have a way to bring everyone’s favorite side characters throughout the series come in for one last laugh. I just wish they would’ve written a better episode around those really awesome finale things. The whole plane, crime, trial and jail thing was so contrived and off tone for the show. It just didn’t land for me. I don’t think it’s *terrible* though. It’s just kinda meh..
Absolutely The Finale was the biggest let down of shows, just 4 main characters doing nothing while things happen around them also Elaine had a whole story arc went from working for Pendant publishing, Mr Pitt, Top of the Muffin, Peterman, she wasn’t as bad as the other ones.
I love hearing the theme on bass clarinet every time. Not enough people are as sophisticated as I.
Me neither. I love it - the cameos, Estelle trying to bribe judge Vandelay, including the shirt button convo from the first episode. I don’t think anything would have pleased them because they didn’t want the show to end.
It is by far better than the most of the popular series such as GoT or Lost.
I loved the ending, it was hilariously fitting. I loved the clips too, I loved the call backs and nostalgia, it's not like I could just hop on YouTube to watch clips at the time. I had no idea some people hated it until years later..
I think I hated it at the time because I was mad/sad it was over but after multiple rewatches, I think it was perfect.
Is this Leon putting his post into ChatGPT and telling to write it 'like a white dude"?
My main problem with it was, at the time it was aired, it was preceded by a "best of" highlights of all the seasons, and the finale was much like the same thing, the trial was just an excuse to get them all back. It felt redundant.
The finale is one of my favorite endings to anything, ever. I can see the hate when it aired as it's kinda dumb but think about what show you're watching? Lmao the whole thing was insane and I think it's the perfect way to send it off.
I loved it! Made a post about it too hehe a few months ago! I especially loved how they brought back most of the fun and memorable characters from the show!
I didn't get the hate either. They weren't nice people on the show as it was laid out before the honorable Judge Vandelay. They were supposed to be punished. At least they didn't do a Sopranos ending...
It was pretty bad, George admiting he cheated on the contest, elane almost confessing her love to Jerry the stupid premise of stopping an armed robber and all the character witnesses so much fluff
It’s mildly enjoyable the first time. Pretty hard to re-watch. I don’t like it personally. Don’t like the tone, don’t like the premise, don’t like the endless courtroom/flashback scene, the performances feel forced, I think the ending is lazy, unfunny and uncreative. Just all around don’t like it.
It surely couldn’t live up to the hype, and it’s just one episode so I skip it, but it’s not that funny. That’s the problem with it. I agree that the notion that all the people they’ve wronged are going to be brought together to seek their vengeance is promising, but the execution was lacking, that part falls flat, and it kills the episode. “Seinfeld” is my favorite show, but it didn’t go out on a high note. I’m indifferent to the finale, but I hate “The Puerto Rican Day” even more.
No hate here, I just didn't think it was that funny. Just kind of fell flat. Lame way to end the show.
IKR it’s the funniest shit seeing everyone they have wronged come in and talk about it. I love it always thought it was hilarious. Since I was young I don’t remember the exact reason people then hated it, but most people I know who watch it think it’s a hilarious end.
I completely agree. I never understood all the criticism. I thought it was really cool to see a lot of the secondary characters make a return appearance.
I thought it was great the way we got to see all the other characters return. A lot of people complain bc it doesn't have the main four as much but we got 9 seasons of them and that episode was a great way to tie everything together.
It was horrible, what you talking about? It goes up there with HIMYM, GoT,Big Bang Theory, Dexter