monoceros blogsI put up post-it notes to remind myself about the final episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. Monday night, CBS, 9 p.m. I forgot about the special documentary before it though. But that's okay. I loved the finale. Ray had warned that it wouldn't be something huge and overly dramatic. It would be like another episode but with a sense of life carrying on - ours and theirs - even after the show ends.
Ray isn't know for articulating his emotions and in this episode, after a near brush with death and learning of his wife's, Deborah's, reaction, he uses sign language to tell her how he feels. Even Frank, his boorish father, manages to be nice to Marie for a little while. It was all very touching without being sappy.
I'm going to miss the show. I think I'll go look for some DVDs. 9 years, 210 episodes of good writing and great acting. It's often been said that each of the five actors could be stars of their own sitcoms. Putting them altogether in one was genius. The show's ratings arguably saved CBS.
Despite it all, it never seemed to have gained the kind of attention that Friends and Seinfeld enjoyed in their days. I actually prefer Everybody Loves Raymond to the two said sitcoms. I'm not saying this to be contrary; I just enjoy this show more. I like the characters a lot more - Ray's a simple, family man, Deborah struggles to run a household, Robert - Ray's brother - is a ham, Ray's parents are lovable if infuriating neighbors. I suppose I like the domestic scene, the family relations. I didn't always find the characters on Friends very sympathetic, and their New York lifestyle seemed a bit much. My brother will think I'm crazy for not liking the show, but I'm sticking to my guns. I got him the show's finale on DVD last spring; this year, I'm going to get the ELR finale DVD for myself.
Posted by Monoceros at May 16, 2005 11:43 PM