Phineas and Ferb - Last Day of Summer Ryview

Hi Everybody!

Phineas and Ferb aired its final episode on Friday. It was very sad, and an amazing piece of television.

Finales are hard to get right. You have to find a nice balance between fan service and art. You don't want to have a normal and/or forgettable episode, but you want to stay true to your formulas and your fans. That balance is what separates good finales from bad ones. If you don't answer any of your series mysteries, or if you leave out important story threads, you're going to have a lot of angry viewers. And if you have an episode that feels nothing like the rest of the series, you'll have a lot of confused and angry viewers.

Phineas and Ferb was one of the very rare examples of a show doing it right. It felt like an episode. The majority of it would have been at home in the middle of any of the seasons, and it wouldn't have felt out of place. They stayed true to all the characters, giving most of them satisfying lines and jokes, and keeping their voice consistent with the series. And through all that, it also delivered an emotional, powerful story that left me satisfied and greatly appreciative.

Greatly appreciative that in 2015 they remembered the hoverboard. [1]

For the uninitiated, Phineas and Ferb is about 2 brothers who spend their summer days building fantastic contraptions and having the best day ever everyday while their big sister tries to bust them. Oh, and their pet platypus is a secret agent that fights a comically evil inventor.

The show lasted 8 years (ish) and it did nothing but improve upon itself the entire time. Several of my favorite episodes are from the last dozen or so (with over 200 to choose from), and the comedy stayed fresh and vibrant the entire time. It not only proved that cartoons can be fun for kids and adults, but also that cartoons can make you laugh, cry, sing, dance, and empathize all in about 12 minutes.

The finale had wonderful jokes, memorable songs, and a high stakes storyline that had me at the edge of my couch. It was well timed, well written, and well acted.

The show will be missed, and for anyone who hasn't seen it, you're missing out on something truly magical.

Thanks for 8 great years, kids. [2]

I know it's off topic, and has nothing to do with video games. Sorry everybody.

But seriously.

Watch the show. It's amazing.

Then go back to reading E3 coverage.

You're welcome, internet.

Until next time,

Ryan

Images courtesy of Wikipedia except where sourced