#13 Back to Reality

Many SEINFELD viewers were extremely surprised and let down from the sitcom’s final episode called “The Finale.” Why was there such a depressing ending to such a light-hearted sitcom? The four main characters are all found guilty for not implicating a so-called “good Samaritan” crime, therefore the show ends with them all four in a jail cell together. This seems to be contradicting what critics called “a show about nothing.” After all, an ending where the four characters end up in gloomy place does not seem like nothing to me. I argue that this is what makes SEINFELD unique. Most people would think that at least Jerry and Elaine would end up together, or George would end his deceitful behavior. However, the writers of SEINFELD chose to take a different route with the ending of this sitcom.The show has always revolved around a simple and care-free life about nothing, but now they are facing something big such as jail. Therefore, SEINFELD's final episode brings the audience back into reality. These four childish adults end up in a “time-out” which reminds the audience that there is no such thing as an easy life forever. The final episode of SEINFELD might not have been ideal and expected, yet it exemplifies that these characters are there for each other in the end. They make the best out of nothing and they realize that marriage and jobs does not make one’s life meaningful. It is friendship and being there for each other that is most important, even in a jail cell.