The second season finale of Party Down may be the last episode of the series, period. And I have to say, what a coda it would be. Party Down caught me with its humor and wit, suckered me into an understated and well-done romance, and by the end of the series I was like – holy fuck, I actually care about these characters. So even a part of me actually hopes there ain’t a third season. Let the shit stand as it ended in this episode.

The most remarkable thing about this episode, and where it really underscored the evolution of this show, is that it really wasn’t that funny. Not in the sense that they threw up shit jokes and, but in the sense that the episode was more about the relationships of the various characters.

I’ve always been diggin’ on Casey and Henry because I have a big sloppy heart, but the way they were handled in the end was pretty legit. No enormous denouement, no explicit exposition. If you’re a mouthbreather, you probably missed the subtleties. But Casey’s grin cutting to Henry walking into the casting office caught the show in a bag – inexplicable why-the-fuck-not hope in the face of raging monotony.

That isn’t to say the episode wasn’t full of its comedic beats. Kyle’s New Found Glory analog busting inadvertently into an Aryan war cry was great, as was Constance’s continual dismissal of Lydia. It’s like they almost knew how irrelevant I found that character. But Roman? God damn man, Roman, he sealed the deal.

If the show is ending, then it seems fitting that Roman finally pens his magnum opus. Tweaking the fuck out of weed brownies, and dictating it onto a roll of toilet paper (as most sci-fi belongs on), I half expected the dude to never see his script again once he sobered up. Thankfully the dude will get to once again realize they are the serpents in the mirror since Kyle finally did a solid and saved the entire thing for him.

Hope springs!

And that was the most unexpected, and for me, enjoyable beat that the show hit in the season/series finale: some odd shred of optimism. Roman has his script, Ron’s got his babe, and Henry’s trying out. Maybe it’ll all unravel into catastrophe, but seeing the suggestion that even these hapless characters flouting the odds may succeed? Filled my little idealist heart with glee. I don’t need to see anything more. Party Down’s one of the smartest, quietest shows I’ve seen in a while, and even if it ends here, I’m cool with it. They told their story, filled with existential crisis, projectile vomiting, orgies, and porn stars.

Shit was magnicifent.

- Caffeine Powered