Farewell Everwood (Series Finale Recap) - Give Me My Remote : Give Me My Remote

Farewell Everwood (Series Finale Recap)

June 6, 2006 by  

It’s over. One of the best written and best acted dramas on TV just ended, and it didn’t have to. Shame on you CW for letting Everwood go in place of some other, less worthy shows. I think this is a decision you will come to regret. Man (and woman) can not live on Chad Michael Murray alone. Oh, and thanks for the salt in the wound with all the CW promos during the show. Classy.

On to the recap….Julie took this one after some technical difficulties on my end (which almost led to a nervous breakdown as you can imagine), and I think she did the series finale of Everwood justice. Share your thoughts on last night’s series finale either in the comments or in the Everwood thread in the GMMR forums.

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Title: Foreverwood
Original airdate: June 5, 2006

Welcome to the finale of Everwood.

Before on Everwood:
Amy and Ephram were meant to be, but recently he’s been dating Stephanie (aka Kat from Battlestar Galactica). Jake and Nina were planning to go to California, but Andy bought a ring just in case.

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Kitchen cleanup in the Brown house. Stephanie’s fitting right in with the rest of the Brown squad as they discuss Delia’s bat mitzvah, which they’re holding at the carousel of the fairgrounds. Delia invites Steph, which Andy seconds, though he’s upset that they’ve got the guest space since Jake and Nina won’t be coming. Heading outside, he takes out his aggressions on the trash, insisting to Ephram that things are better this way and he’ll return the ring tomorrow.

Ephram has a nice butt. Sorry, but I’ve got to inject a little bit of levity into this, since things are threatening to get a little heavy here.

The house formerly known as Nina’s. Nina’s pulling a Lorelai and is severely hopped up on caffeine, doing some serious packing. Hannah brings up Andy and inspires Nina to go off on some lovely verbal diarrhea about her romantic history with Andy, ending by telling her about the engagement ring Andy’s holding onto for her. They decide to do some sleuthing to check out the ring, which goes predictably well: Andy arrives home while they’re sneaking about, and Hannah accidentally smuggles out the ring in her shirt, though she ably distracts Andy so Nina can sneak out. She’s cuckoo for cocoa!

At the medical office, Kathy, whose husband recently died, is worried about caring for Lily, her new baby. Dr. Abbott tells her the schizophrenia medication is working and she’ll be okay, but she’s not convinced. You know, all babies are cute, but Duncan’s baby Lilly is way more adorable.

As Ephram relocates his stuff to Reid’s old room, Amy stops by their apartment. Amy isn’t particularly psyched to hear that Ephram has plans with Stephanie, or that she’s coming to Delia’s bat mitzvah. Later, as Hannah’s packing, Amy does her typical overanalysis and bordering-on-jealous obsession about whether she’s really over Ephram.

Jake says goodbye to Edna and Harold. He tries to lure her to CA, but she ain’t interested. She’s still really sad about Irv, but she’ll get through it, she says. Looking at his picture after Jake leaves, she can’t control her tears.

At Sam’s restaurant, Jake bumps into Ephram. After making some veiled comments about how sudden Nina’s departure is, Jake tells Ephram:

“I bet you’ve got a picture in your mind about how everything’s going to turn out–what you’re going to do, who you’re going to be with. And I’m sure your dad had a picture too. But…sometimes you’re just afraid to change the picture. You know what I’ve learned? Life is too short.”

Stephanie and Ephram are shopping for a present for Delia when Andy notices his ring is missing. Steph and Ephram have a nice little moment while buying the gift, which I’d probably enjoy if I didn’t want to trip her and push her out of the way so Ephram could make out with Amy.

Breakfast time Chez Abbott. Bright goes out to get the paper, and finds baby Lily with a letter on their doorstep instead. Turns out Kathy left the baby with Dr. Abbott, saying he could take better care of Lily than Kathy could. Rose immediately takes to the baby, saying that they shouldn’t involve the authorities just yet.

Ooh, commercials. That kid from The Omen remake looks exactly like my friend Corey as a kid. It’s kind of freaky. I’m going to check his forehead for a trifecta of sixes the next time we do lunch.

Up in Hannah’s room, Jake finds the ring. Thinking it’s from Bright, he starts to show it to Nina, but she stops him before she can look at it and explains it’s Andy’s, for her. In a huff, Jake rushes off to return it to Andy, who it turns out is surprisingly cool about the whole thing. Don’t you love it when people on TV don’t overreact and create big misunderstandings, but just stay honest and level-headed? It’s so refreshing and so rare. Andy says he would never give it to Nina while she and Jake were together. He’s accepted that she’s going to California, but he thinks she made a mistake. “I think I love her more than you ever can or will. But it’s over, Jake. You won. Nina chose you again.” But Jake wonders if Nina keeps choosing him, why does he keep arguing about this with Andy?

The day of her bat mitzvah, Delia is on a tight schedule. She rushes the dolled-up Brown clan, Steph in tow, out to the car. Andy notices a note addressed to him taped to the door, but he leaves it at home. The Abbotts + Hannah are also getting ready to leave. Rose stays home to take care of her new charge. Nina, Jake, and Sam depart the house for good. One long, lingering look at the Brown house and they’re on the way to the airport.

Delia rocks the bat mitzvah, reading from the Torah and lighting the candles like a pro. She also gives a little speech about how she feels like her mom is still watching her, still a part of the family and always will be. It’s a nice bit of sentimentality before she gets picked up in a chair and pranced about the dance floor. Stephanie does some nice bantering with Ephram before inviting him to dance. He accepts, but my sentiment is more like “whatever, placeholder chick.” Amy and her new best friend, kosher wine, feel the same way.

At the terminal, Jake asks Nina what she would have said if Andy had asked her to marry him. She tells him no, but he presses her. Is she still in love with Andy? The look on her face says it all. Nina says a small part of her will always feel something for him. But Jake, being a stand-up guy, tells her he doesn’t want just a part of her heart – he wants all of it. Jake says when he came to Everwood he tried to pretend he didn’t have a drug problem, but he couldn’t ignore it forever. He doesn’t want to be with Nina and keep pretending the thing with Andy doesn’t exist. He tells her:

“I want you to know these last two years have been the best years of my life. I never expected to find love here in the first place, or to find myself, and I did both of those things because of you. You changed my life.”

Wow…the screen’s getting kinda blurry here. I knew I needed that optometrist appointment. I must have something in my eye.

Meanwhile, kosher wine and Amy have reeeally gotten to know each other. She gives Delia a big old drunken hug and congratulations, then gets Ephram to dance with her. The upbeat song transitions to Dave Matthews’ Band’s “Steady As We Go”, a slow one. Amy and Ephram hold each other and sway to it. It’s intense—maybe as much as the LoVe Sway dance, but in a different way.

Later, Drunk Amy and sober Hannah walk through the fairground and Amy admits she’s still in love with Ephram. Hannah looks surprised. Didn’t she get the memo that they are MFEO?

Delia and Andy arrive back at home. I’m itching for Andy to read that letter, but he wanders into the kitchen instead. There in the darkness, sitting at the kitchen table, is Nina. Holding the letter, she says he doesn’t need to read it after all. Nina explains that she and Jake just didn’t feel right. She’s sorry, but she didn’t know where else to go. Andy insists this is exactly where she’s supposed to go, no need to apologize. Everything about him is full of love and support, and it’s awesome.

Stephanie leaves the apartment, after spending the night. She and Ephram have a totally chemistry-free goodbye, then Bright applauds Ephram for her overnight stay: “That’s like the first unrecycled action you’ve had in this apartment all year.” Ephram explains there was no action, then casually segues into checking up after drunk Amy to make sure she got home okay. When Bright calls him on it, Ephram says he felt like there were feelings during their dance, but Bright says no, it’s over “there is no juice left in that box.” Leave it to Bright to make an analogy appropriate for an elementary-schooler. I’m going to miss how his mind works—or doesn’t. At any rate, after Bright points out that Ephram really put himself out there and Amy blew him off, Ephram somewhat reluctantly agrees to give it a chance with Stephanie.

Meanwhile, Hannah encourages Amy to pursue things with Ephram, because during the dance there was “a flame that will not die.” I’m betting Amy had a few sweaty feelings too. This is enough that Amy decides she has to tell him. She knows it isn’t just jealousy.

It’s “how Ephram makes me feel: not just safe, but happy. He makes me laugh. I know he’ll be there for me when I cry. He’s always been there for me. I’m just finally realizing how rare that is.”

Rare in the real world, maybe, but there seems to be plenty of it in Everwood. Lucky bastards.

Harold stops by Edna’s with Lily. Edna’s packing–not just for a vacation, but to move to Africa to live with her daughter and be a nurse. Harold thinks she’s crazy, but Edna blows him off. When Harold calls his sister, she’s totally ignorant of Edna’s plans. Edna lied, but why? When Harold confronts her in the RV, Edna breaks down. She says she’s grieving, she’s been disguising her true feelings. The truth is she feels awful: sad, angry, and like there’s no hope of feeling better any time soon. “I feel like half a person.” Harold tries to comfort her, but she pushes him away, saying she needs to be alone right now. She’ll just get in the RV and drive, who knows for how long, since without Irv around she won’t last long. She won’t be a burden. Edna, you need a hug.

Everwood Series Finale Recap Breakfast in the Brown house.
Nina’s looking through the classifieds for an apartment, but Delia says they can stay as long as they want. They plan to head to the mall before going to pick up Andy’s present to Delia. It’s a surprise – just like the mysterious plane trip Andy has scheduled. Later, Delia and Andy drive out to get the surprise gift. On the way, he gives her a sweet speech about how their relationship will change, and things will get harder, but whenever she needs he’ll always be there for her. “When you think I’m not listening, I am. And when you think I’ve forgotten, I haven’t.” Oh, Andy. You’ve become such a good dad. And I’m not just saying that because you bought Delia the pony you once promised her. Though that is part of it, you big softie.

At the mall, Hannah explains to Bright that she got a full scholarship to Notre Dame, but she’s torn between there and Colorado A&M. Somewhat later on, Bright offers to help Hannah go through a list of pros and cons to help her choose one. She says it’ll be weird, since he’s on some of the lists, but he tells her “your ex-boyfriend, El Jerko, is on some of the lists, and he should be” but Bright will be there as a friend to help her decide. They go through the list, but it basically comes down to Notre Dame is better for the academics and A&M is better for the proximity to people she’s come to know and love. She’s torn.

As part of Operation Get Ephram Back, Amy has coffee with Stephanie and explains that she still has feelings with Ephram, and that she kind of has to tell him because of their history. Steph takes it in stride: “If Ephram wants to get back together with you, there’s nothing I can do to stop him. But I really don’t think that’s what he wants anymore.” I guess Steph must have been in the bathroom during the dance, because the entire town knows how these two crazy kids feel about each other. She’s delusional if she thinks Ephram will pick her.

However, there’s extreme awkwardness when Amy bumps into Stephanie and Ephram at the movies. Amy compliments Ephram on a jacket he’s wearing. Apparently Steph bought it for him. Figures–I mean, it’s nice, but it’s no Logan Kiss Jacket. As the “happy” couple walks away, Amy and I think the same thing: that Steph can go stuff herself. We are so on the same page, tonight, girlfriend!

At the office, Harold heckles Andy about not making a move on Nina yet and taking off for a couple days right when Nina’s finally in sight. “You, Harold Abbott, are a hopeless romantic.” There’s some cute reminiscing about how they got to know each other before Ephram whisks Andy off to the airport. Guess where he was headed? His wife’s grave, where he gives her a speech that absolutely does NOT make me cry:

Everwood Series Finale Recap“I’ve changed a lot, Julia. I’ve learned that being a good parent and a good friend make you sleep better at night. I’ve learned that what bothers you about your kids is what you have in common with them and what you love about them the most is stuff that you have absolutely nothing to do with. I’ve learned that pain and suffering are unavoidable but ultimately they are what bring you closer to other people. And lately, I’ve learned that it’s possible to fall in love again. I tried hard not to, I really did. It’s so unfair to you, you know? It was you I wanted to be this guy for. I’m so sorry I couldn’t when you were alive. But I love her, Julia. I love her and I’m going to ask her to be my wife. If she says yes, I’ll take that as your blessing. And if I’m going to be the kind of husband to Nina that you’d want me to be, then I think that this should probably be our last goodbye. Thank you, sweetheart. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for teaching me what love is, in your life and even more so in your death. And thank you for blessing me with two exquisite children, in whom your spirit will always live on. Goodbye, Julia.”

And he holds her gravestone, kisses it and leans his head on it for the last time, maybe. I’m so proud of the man Andy’s become. That Nina is a lucky lady.

At the Abbott’s, Amy is bed-bound, contemplating how she had Ephram and she lost him. She tells Rose: “Now Ephram has become “Stephram” and you can’t just go up to Stephram and be like, hi, I’m in love with you again.” Dude, you so should. I’d die to see the look on Stephram’s face if you called them that. Rose cottons on to the fact that Amy loves Ephram, and tells Amy she just has to tell him how she feels. That will be enough, Rose thinks, but Amy disagrees. “Saying the words doesn’t even come close to how I feel about him. And besides, this is Ephram. Grand gesture Ephram.” She just wants a way to show him she remembers everything he’s done for her and she’s not going to forget. When her mom leaves, she thinks back to their history together and we get a montage of all the important Amy-Ephram moments: ice skates and gazebos and ferris wheels and plane rides and kisses and necklaces and…suddenly she pops up. She’s got it.

Everwood Series Finale RecapOn a hike in the mountains, Bright tells Hannah she should go to Notre Dame. He says he wanted to tell her to stay, but he was being selfish.

“If there’s anything you taught me, it’s when you love someone, you put them first….The only reason you wouldn’t go is because you’re afraid you’re going to lose us. Come on, Hannah, that’s never gonna happen. I’m always gonna be here…It’s always going to be me and you, just best friends for life, okay?”

Tears in her eyes, she hugs him and repeats it: “For life.” The next day, we see Hannah happily drop her A&M acceptance envelope into the mailbox. I guess Hannah figures you can get an education anywhere, but you can’t replace people you love.

Edna arrives at the Abbott house, where Rose and Harold surprise her with a newly decorated bedroom and ask her to move in. They give her the hard sell: Rose says she can use the help, especially with Lily, and Harold says he doesn’t want to lose any more time with her. Edna agrees to stay.

Ephram gives Andy a pre-proposal pep talk. However, it manages to morph into him asking his dad for advice.

“Everybody’s got that picture in their mind, the one of how they think their life is supposed to be. It just makes you wonder if I should hold out for my picture a little longer. Amy and I.” Andy, in typical wise fashion, responds: “The thing about the picture is: how do you look in it? It’s not about who you’re standing next to, or what’s in the background. It’s: are you smiling? Are you good with the choices that you’ve made? Because if you are, it doesn’t matter where you’re standing or who you’re standing next to. It’s a good picture.”

Nervous but ready, Andy heads downstairs. He pulls Nina outside to the spot in front of her house where they met. He tells her it wasn’t just a coincidence he bought that house–it was fate. “You know how I feel about you, Nina. I’m in love with you. I have been for a long time, and I can’t think of anyone on this earth I’d rather spend the rest of my life with.” Andy busts out the ring, Nina takes a deep breath and says yes. The recapper searches for a tissue, napkin, or, in desperation, sleeve.

Ephram’s running late leaving his apartment to see Stephanie. Amy, who has figured out her Grand Gesture, is anxiously waiting in front of his building…with a ferris wheel right behind her. When Ephram spots it, he’s bewildered, but Amy tells him not to say anything yet.

Everwood Series Finale Recap

He looks up at the wheel warily as she tells him:

“Four years ago you came to my little town and you changed my life. I never thought that one person could do that to another, but you did. And from the moment that I met you and each moment after that, somehow everything that happened to me kept coming back to you. I don’t know if the ferris wheel reminds you of anything?”

She’s so hopeful. He remembers. “I remember everything about us, Amy.”

So does she. (So do we.)

“See, that’s the thing. Every time I try to forget the feelings that I have for you they keep coming back and now they’re back. I don’t want to push them down anymore. I don’t want to run away from this. ‘Cause I don’t want lose you again. I just want to be with you, next to you, wherever you are…I love you, Ephram.”

He moves in and kisses her passionately, full of love, his eyes wet.

“Is it my turn yet?” He asks. “Good. Because I love you too. I knew it then, and I know it now. I’ll know it always. You’re it, Amy. You’re my one. You always have been.”

Amy is glowing. Funny how love will do that to a girl.

“Want to go for a ride?” she asks him, as they stare up at the ferris wheel, amused. “In a second.” And he just goes back to kissing and holding her like it’s the only thing he ever wants to do with his life. The camera drifts up over the town, scattered below the base of the mountains, with lights warming the darkness of the night, as welcoming a place as you could ever hope to see. I’ll miss you, Everwood.

Filed under Everwood, TV Drama

Comments

21 Responses to “Farewell Everwood (Series Finale Recap)”

  1. theTVaddict on June 6th, 2006 8:35 am

    Great Recap! I can’t believe Stephram was actually KAT from BSG! I thought she was so cool watching the show (even though I’m totally for Ephram/Amy, but with that Battlestar Connection, Kat got even cooler!

  2. brandy on June 6th, 2006 8:59 am

    Nicely done and such a beautful episode. Everything really did come full circle.

  3. Julie on June 6th, 2006 11:54 am

    Haha…TV Addict, I had the opposite reaction (as you could probably tell from my snide comments during the recap). I kept imagining Kat/Steph was going to go off on Amy about how she was a better pilot than Amy was, and Amy was going to have to clock her one. 😉

    She did a good job with the character, though. If I weren’t so pro-A/E, I’d probably have liked her.

  4. duckyxdale on June 6th, 2006 12:41 pm

    Totes didn’t realize Steph was Kat. How funny is that! I’m still numb from all the crying. I look like I was beaten this morning with the red eyes. Damn! I too wrote a ton on the finale if anyone cares to read up on my “War and Peace” like finale thoughts!

    Yeah and um, GMMR why don’t you put your thoughts down on here? Love Julie’s but I know you weren’t over at my site not a couple hours ago ripping me to shreds for not having a posting up yet and when I come to you, this is what I get? Julie’s awesome recap and not a word from you. I see how it is.

  5. GMMR on June 6th, 2006 12:46 pm

    Julie and I share a brain, so she said everything I wanted to during the recap.

    The only thing I wanted to add was that while out looking for a new job, Gregory Smith should eat a friggin’ hamburger. He is looking VERY Ellen Pompoe-ish. Did you see him in that scene with Steph when she leaving his apartment? Skinny MOFO.

    Duckster..do you have BSG on DVD? Because if so, I have to borrow it!!

  6. mg714 on June 6th, 2006 1:49 pm

    Just wanted to add how much I loved the finale too, but hated that it was the end. There’s so much more from those “Everwoodians” that I would love to see next year. I heard only about 4 million people watched the finale according to the ratings, so it might not be enough to force the CW to change their minds. It’s really a travesty to see such a graceful and elegant show leave the air for the talentless 7th Heaven. At least Everwood was allowed to leave with class, something the CW obviously knows nothing about, with the exception of bring back Vernoica Mars, of course.

  7. duckyxdale on June 6th, 2006 2:03 pm

    I have the season 1 boxset which includes the mini-series! If you’re lucky maybe.

  8. Julie on June 6th, 2006 2:25 pm

    I’m sure Gregory Smith has just thinned down from all the stress resulting from Everwood’s cancellation. Maybe he’s on a hunger strike. 😉

    And I sure would be disappointed if only 4 million people watched the finale. Not just because it’s not enough to bring Everwood back, but because a lot of people missed out on some really great TV.

  9. duckyxdale on June 6th, 2006 3:57 pm

    I don’t know if he was stressing that much. When he was on the TVGuide Podcast he seemed really way too okay with it ending. Basically being like, “As an actor its good to branch out and not be tied down” I think our beloved was ready to move on.

    But yes, in the coat Steph bought, he was manorexic!

  10. Morgan on June 12th, 2006 6:25 pm

    Thanks for the re-cap…I didn’t even know there was a series finale until it was too late. I missed it and cannot find it anywhere. This was the next best thing. Thanks

  11. chanie on June 12th, 2006 6:44 pm

    hey,
    thanks for the summary! i wasnt able to watch the episode =( but this helps a lot.

  12. jane on June 12th, 2006 8:05 pm

    I truely will miss this progam—it was a good family program–
    i loved the finale——–

  13. Sammy on June 30th, 2006 11:47 am

    i can’t believe i missed it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Such a great ending to an amazing show ! …and great job recapping it ……i’m still teary eyed !

  14. Jay on July 2nd, 2006 1:22 am

    Can anyone please tell me the name and artist of that last song on the Series Finale. What a great list of songs that helped make this show so great.

    I will miss the show and the music. Thanks

  15. Celestia on July 21st, 2006 1:15 am

    marvelous job.

    i wept.

  16. Cheryl on January 2nd, 2007 7:18 pm

    I am completely sad and upset that Everwood has ended. They brought back 7th Heaven but left Everwood off….I’d rather have Everwood back than 7th Heaven!!!! Bring it back!!!!!

  17. laura willshaw on February 11th, 2007 7:51 pm

    why oh why did you take it off the air?
    please, please bring it back. it just got good. please, please bring it back.i would rather see everwood than 7th heaven or smallville or lincoln heights please keep gilmore girls and everwood.

  18. Amanda on February 20th, 2007 5:56 am

    I really enjoyed the show and I would rather watch Everwood than Smallville. There are not many good shows to watch and you just ended a very good one. I do watch gilmore girls and wildfire but I rate Everwood #2 on my lists of shows to watch. I was watching The O.C. and I quit watching it I hope you bring Everwood back. IT’S A GREAT SHOW!

  19. Hannah on March 19th, 2007 1:13 pm

    Everwood was such a great show….I really wish their could be another season,maybe a little about amy and Ephram going to college and Hannah and Bryte in college. Dr. Brown and Nina’s wedding. Delia getting her first boyfriend. Sam jealous but their in fact step brother and sister know.It would be one of the most awsomeous things……My family and I miss it so much we would watch it everyday at 6:00pm. I think we’re all sort of depressed that the series is over their could be so much drama in the show….. Please write another season…..I’m sure everyone would love it….

  20. Melinda on April 20th, 2007 4:49 pm

    I really miss Everwood and wish you could bring it back. Please bring another season back. It was such a great show and family one at that. There are not much good family shows on telivision anymore wish you would bring that one back.

  21. Shelly on June 27th, 2007 4:00 pm

    How can I get a copy of two episodes of Everwood’s last season: “An Ounce of Prevention” and “Across the Lines”.
    I moved from one country to another and missed these two and really would like to view them. The country I’m in now is showing the last season, but my recorder did not work for these. Plesase let me know if someone has videod them, I’d be happy to pay a small fee. Thanks,