One Episode Left

I experience a sense of grief every time a great TV series ends. The sadness that there isn't going to be any more of it, the irrational feeling that there's never going to be anything as good, and the sensation of emptiness inside. It's a strong emotional response, not very different from losing someone you love, with the obvious differences in intensity.

I don't like things becoming other things, or going away suddenly. When I find something I'm content with, I want that thing to stay the same forever. I have my bar, and my beer at that bar. I have my favorite breakfast, lunch, and dinner restaurants, and I know the exact menu item I'm gonna pick the next time I visit any of them. If any of those items are suddenly discontinued, I'm not gonna be happy. If one of those places closes, much less.

I just watched the second-to-last episode of The Bear. There's just one left. Forever. And I'm dying to watch it, but at the same time, I don't want to. Because then, it will be gone.

It's happened before. With Lost, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Mr. Robot, and a long etcétera. I know that, in the end, it's gonna be ok. It always is.

Maybe this has nothing to do with TV. Maybe it's just another manifestation of my own aversion to change.

And I'm a hypocrite. I'm always saying I love it when TV series end when they should, instead of being stretched forever until nobody cares anymore. But when it's actually happening, I can't be happy about it.

I'm going to the next stage of fandom. That magical moment when the show comes up in a conversation and the other person hasn't seen it. And then I get to recommend it and talk about it for a while.

I'm not going anywhere with this. There's no conclusion. I just wanted to share this bittersweet feeling of watching one of the best things TV has given us, and grieving its end at the same time.

Am I being too dramatic? Yes, yes I am. I know that. This reminds me of my son crying over a playdate ending, not in a tantrum, but in a manifestation of true sadness for having to stop seeing his friend for a couple of days.

"It's just a couple of days, baby. You're going to get together again soon".

It's just a TV show, Axel. You can watch it again (and you will) whenever you want.