THE FINDER Series Finale Recap: 'The Boy with the Bucket' - Give Me My Remote : Give Me My Remote

THE FINDER Series Finale Recap: ‘The Boy with the Bucket’

May 12, 2012 by  

Well, dang!  When I’m thinking of watching a TV show again, for me it’s always “Do I want/need to know more?” And while this season of THE FINDER has been up and down for me, when the final scenes were occurring — starting at the moment where Walter emotionally said goodbye to his father and ending with the final black screen – I kept thinking, I want more.

As you probably know, THE FINDER has officially been cancelled by Fox (details on this and other Fox cancellations/renewals found here), so there won’t be any more knowing, which is a bummer. I have to say though, Fox, if you are reading this, running an ad for THE CHOICE a new reality show you have on the books, during the closing credits of a show you’ve just cancelled seems cruel. WTF? Enough of that, let’s discuss the episode.

If I had to pick a theme for this episode, it would be a toss- up between family and identity. Additionally, the episode had three strong storylines:

  1. Walter’s brother arrives to ask for his help in fulfilling their dying father’s wish — to find the mother who left them.
  2. A local art curator tells Walter that a painting he found for them four years ago was really a forged version—meaning the item he was paid to find is still missing.
  3. Willa receives an invitation to her own wedding to Timo. She must decide what to do.

There is a LOT to discuss, but the bottom line is that I really enjoyed seeing Walter reconnect with his brother Langston (played by Geoff Stults’ real life brother George Stults). His parents were less than desirable people, which I thought was interesting. Walter’s father was very negative, even expressing that he’s lost his son, and his mother was very emotionally spastic and unlikable. I didn’t care much for the way she treated either of her sons.

I also really liked the case portion of this episode. Patrick Fischler is a great actor who turned in some good work on BONES in season three and again in this episode of THE FINDER as the art analyst who convinced Walter, Leo and Isabel that the museum’s painting was either real or created by a clone of Winslow Homer.

As Leo and Isabel and Willa help Walter find the truth — in this case that a man in a psychiatric facility spends his time convinced he is Winslow Homer and recreating his works, Walter and Langston search for their mother. This puts them in a dangerous path, and some of Walter’s armed forces skills comes to light. Without Leo around to do the heavy hand-to-hand combat, Walter’s darker side is revealed.

Willa is the character I’ve liked the least, but in this episode, she was useful to the case while also feeling her way through how to deal with her future. It was an interesting turn of events when Uncle Shadrack told her she is worth an incredible amount to the family…worth three Timos, in fact. The entire arrangement to marry them off centers entirely on her. I wonder if that fact is what actually gave her the motivation to leave. I think she genuinely loved Timo, in some way, and she knew he’d never be truly happy with her. Eric Roberts (always great) was cruelly compelling as Uncle Shadrack and I’ve really enjoyed Amy Aquino’s progression as Willa’s annoyed then supportive parole officer.

Walter’s finder power, and its potential to do him harm if he CAN’T find what he’s looking for, has been a recurring theme this season. But (correct me if I’m wrong) I think this episode was the first to mention that he was very different before his accident. I always pictured Walter as somewhat of an eccentric, kooky kid, guy, whatever. That his laughter and fun (at times) personality is also a result of his accident is very fascinating and gives us another clue as to why he is so insistent at keeping that mojo intact — even at the loss of his natural family. That these new qualities of his are what endears him to his Ends of the Earth family could also play in to why he’s so keen on making sure they exist. Additionally, it gave more meaning to the impetus for the Walter/Leo relationship. Leo and Walter both have the physical strength to do a lot of damage to people. Leo has the heart not to, and Walter relies on Leo to do the hurting when necessary, which in turn prevents him from doing any hurting. It’s a good relationship until they are split apart, even for just one case.

The only negatives in this episode are the “heavy on the exposition” car scene between Leo and Walter and the awkwardness of Isabel’s characterization — she was never a solid character this season. I’m not sure if that was writing or acting or what.

The series ends with Walter being arrested as Isabel and Leo are forced to look on. Isabel has to turn in her badge and gun and neither of them can do anything while Walter resists. Only when he’s knocked to the ground does he catch sight of Leo and Isabel. This episode was full of some really, really good subtle work from Geoff Stults, and the final moment where he sort of relaxes and smiles at the sight of HIS “family” was very excellent—at least, that is what the look on his face represented to me. Thoughts from you?

Meanwhile, Timo delivers bad news to Shadrack and gets punished for it, and we see Willa on the road, trying to hitch her way somewhere…anywhere else, I’d imagine.

This isn’t the part of the post where I say THE FINDER never really had a chance to find an audience/get footing, etc. I think it had quite a few chances and guest stars and writers and directors, etc. It just didn’t stick. Tough business!

Enough from me. How did you like this episode? Which elements of “family” and “identity” stuck out to you most, if any? And since this is likely the last time we’ll discuss THE FINDER here, what are some of your favorite moments of the season?

Filed under The Finder

Comments

10 Responses to “THE FINDER Series Finale Recap: ‘The Boy with the Bucket’”

  1. Kath (canakatydid) on May 12th, 2012 6:12 pm

    First thanks to you Sarah and the whole “Give me my Remote” family for all of “The Finder” scoop, interviews, and recaps. I’m really going to miss this show.

    I agree with your comments about Geoff Stults subtlety and Walter’s search for both identity and a sense of family. (Can you really separate those two themes in the grand scheme of life, on tv or otherwise?)

    I can’t believe we are left with so many unanswered questions and I went to bed last night a little worried about Walter’s fate…I guess we’ll never know.

  2. Denise on May 12th, 2012 6:26 pm

    WTF made the writers think “The Boy w/the bucket” would be a satisfactory ending episode for the Finder? …the only way this works is as a set-up for a follow-up show or movie, and I hope USA or some other savvy thinker will take the bait. Otherwise, as a big fan of this show, I’m just left pissed off by the tacky teasers & loose ends…

  3. Robin on May 15th, 2012 9:55 am

    what is the name of the song that played at the end of the last episode. Yes I will miss this show, and I am pissed off that it wont continue.

  4. Debra on May 16th, 2012 1:55 pm

    Season Finale song
    Is It Like Today – Eliza Gilkyson
    Paradise Hotel”
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHNXE7waflY

  5. Eric on May 17th, 2012 8:10 pm

    So wait a second, who ended up stealing the painting and how did they end up finding his mother? This episode was really good, almost tears at the end! damn! someone please reply and answer these questions I have 🙂 thanks!

  6. Brooke on May 21st, 2012 3:22 pm

    I really think the finder should be on USA. The show would do much better with that audience. Hoping there is a chance it will get picked up somewhere else, I need to know what happens next!

  7. Steve on May 24th, 2012 1:32 am

    I really hope that the Finder is picked up by another network, however with the tie back to the “Bones” universe I don’t see it likely. I am only now getting to watch the “Finder” finale because I DVR every thing I watch and watch them as I have time. I wonder if that is taken into consideration in the ratings. I really liked the show because of the mix of characters that felt real with strong emotional connections, the humor wasn’t forced and I kind of know people a lot like these characters which made it better for me. The show really reminded me of the show “MacGyver” for some reason, which happens to be one of my all time favorite TV series, it had a quirkyness to it that matched “MacGyver” . Since I was backlogged with the show, I knew that the it had been cancelled but still had 5 episodes to watch so I marathon-ed through them. It really is different watching a show that you know was canceled and actually made me appreciate it even more. It has happened before with so many shows and I usually just delete unwatched episodes but I just had to finish this show I think I had/have the mindset that it will somehow find its way back.

    So as far as the last look on Walters face. It felt to me like he had snapped to either crazy or a portion of his old self came back. I felt he had the same type of snap when he killed those 3 cult members.

    I am going to definitely miss the show.

  8. lojlin on June 17th, 2012 12:00 am

    Move Finder to another network
    LOVE the premise of the show!!!!

  9. Debra on January 16th, 2014 2:28 pm

    This was the most hopeless and depressing ending of any show I’ve ever seen. I thought they must have planned to continue, because there was to much un( or poorly,) finished business. Then I felt that maybe it ended because Michael Clark Duncan died, and they needed to find someone to replace him. It turns out, the writers obviously just wanted to sink viewers into a sea of hopeless despair. Thanks a lot…

  10. David on September 7th, 2014 6:52 pm

    The ending for this show is right up there with Farscape, before we knew a movie was in production.