Men Of A Certain Age is a special show, there's no doubt about that. It clearly came from an important place in Ray Romano, and from co-creator Mike Royce. When you sit and watch Romano's Joe Tranelli at any point throughout the story, but especially in his moments of despair - you are watching a layered, believable, relatable character that is utterly convincing as a real person. The performances from Bakula and Braugher are spectacular, of course, also, but there were moments when I looked at Joe and thought I saw beyond, into Ray's soul, and you really can't help but feel attached to Joe and indeed the rest of the characters until the end of the show. This season they made the wise choice of combining the season-long subplots of Terry and Owen to make the most out of the car dealership set and its associated supporting characters. It must have taken a brunt of the budget to be able to maintain just for one of the three main characters, and Terry works well in the dynamic - clashing with Marcus and Owen Sr. but eventually becoming a solid part of the team, as he develops his chemistry with the other actors. Naturally I still think the scenes when all three of the main characters are together, taking a hike or sitting in the diner, are the best the show has to offer but this season proves once more over that each of them stand perfectly well on their own.
I was wondering how they were going to close up the stories of these characters and whether any loose ends would be left hanging - really I just wanted a sense of closure from this episode, and I think it definitely achieves that at least. It was clearly going to be a positive ending, I think that was always inevitable, but in what way I was not sure. I suppose it was a little bittersweet, showing that some things will never be exactly like you want them - with the car dealership and Owen's father, though its important that you keep trying and believe in what you're doing, which is the message that subplot leaves us with - and its never too late to make a change - as Terry decides to delve once more into the creative industry, but it is a new, more focused and mature Terry that makes that decision, and he finally finds a way to be comfortable with himself and his age. Finally, there was the matter of Joe and the senior tour gold qualifier. With this being the eventual goal from early in the first season, and the result being the catalyst of whether Joe dived in with both feet or fell back to gambling, I was most interested to see if they would give him the happy ending that, really, he deserved for being a good guy in the rut of his life. Of course, they do the fake-out loss, but the moment where hope resurfaces is especially poignant, and I didn't feel cheated - a lot built up to that moment, and I don't think I would have wanted it any other way.
All spoilers aside, you absolutely do not have to be a man, or a person of a certain age to enjoy this. I am twenty-one and I found each of the main scenarios to still be relatable and thoroughly interesting, regardless. The characters that are constructed and developed throughout the course of the programme are layered, complex, effectively real people - and you will follow them through their highs and their lows and ultimately, I think you will be a better person for it. I certainly won't be able to not see these characters whenever I next see Romano, Bakula or Braugher in a role, and I have a sneaking feeling that these same characters will always hold a special place in their minds as they do in ours.
I was wondering how they were going to close up the stories of these characters and whether any loose ends would be left hanging - really I just wanted a sense of closure from this episode, and I think it definitely achieves that at least. It was clearly going to be a positive ending, I think that was always inevitable, but in what way I was not sure. I suppose it was a little bittersweet, showing that some things will never be exactly like you want them - with the car dealership and Owen's father, though its important that you keep trying and believe in what you're doing, which is the message that subplot leaves us with - and its never too late to make a change - as Terry decides to delve once more into the creative industry, but it is a new, more focused and mature Terry that makes that decision, and he finally finds a way to be comfortable with himself and his age. Finally, there was the matter of Joe and the senior tour gold qualifier. With this being the eventual goal from early in the first season, and the result being the catalyst of whether Joe dived in with both feet or fell back to gambling, I was most interested to see if they would give him the happy ending that, really, he deserved for being a good guy in the rut of his life. Of course, they do the fake-out loss, but the moment where hope resurfaces is especially poignant, and I didn't feel cheated - a lot built up to that moment, and I don't think I would have wanted it any other way.
All spoilers aside, you absolutely do not have to be a man, or a person of a certain age to enjoy this. I am twenty-one and I found each of the main scenarios to still be relatable and thoroughly interesting, regardless. The characters that are constructed and developed throughout the course of the programme are layered, complex, effectively real people - and you will follow them through their highs and their lows and ultimately, I think you will be a better person for it. I certainly won't be able to not see these characters whenever I next see Romano, Bakula or Braugher in a role, and I have a sneaking feeling that these same characters will always hold a special place in their minds as they do in ours.