Saturday, May 25, 2013

TV TALK #11 - MY FAMILY SERIES FINALE SEASON 11

SERIES FINALE SEASON ELEVEN



And so we come to the final season of MY FAMILY series eleven and whilst there's still lots of laughs to enjoy there is no build to the finale at all, the last episode simply being called Darts All Folks.

There were several plot lines that could have nicely served as the final episode and if truth be told there was a lot of changes to the broadcast schedule in the final years and the season finale was an episode originally scheduled to be on air 3 months earlier. So in terms of broadcasting, the official series finale was Episode 120 "A Night Out"even though this was not the final episode made.

In series 11, Kenzo is just starting to get get interesting, cute, and funny in this series so it is a shame for Taylor Marshall's sake that the series ended here. But all the kids had moved out and Susan hadn't convinced Ben to take in anymore strays and their marriage had been completely tested by the end of the series. There was simply no more room to move without going over old ground.

There were 9 episodes in the final series however the broadcast saw several episodes from season 10 carried forward into the same broadcast year as season 11. Keeping in mind they were both filmed in one year then split for the broadcast.

Ben still works for Cavitex and really pushes the envelope with the management, Susan does the same in her Art Gallery job. Michael is out of work and Janey still works for the public health system however she does land a different job in the first episode.

It would have been great seeing some of the old cast come back for the last season but they all had well and truly moved on, although Susans mother Grace both returns and moves on in the one episode. :-)

So without further procrastination lets list the final episodes in order of broadcast.

Episode #112 "Labour Pains"
Ben decides to lead his union members against the management of Cavitex then finds himself offered the role of head of Human resources within the company. Feeling betrayed his ex-colleagues are fuming but Ben does a betrayal of the management instead.

Episode #113 "Accussin' Susan"
After working back late at the gallery with a younger male colleague, Susan finds herself accused of sexual harassment the following morning. She tries everything to get the man to withdraw his complaint and even enlists the help of Janey.

Episode #114 "Germs of Endearment"
This is another one of those disastrous holiday episodes for the Harpers as Ben and Susan end up quarantined in a Spanish airport as theres a suspect viral strain detected on their plane. I am never a fan of the disaster episodes.

Episode #115 "Relationship Happens"
So Michael is dating guys and his latest breakup ex wants to remain friends with Janey, but eventually Janey realises why she shouldn't. Ben and Susan go to a Yoga retreat and they get kicked out when they laugh through a meditation.

Episode #116 "Facebooked"
Susan gets forced on to Facebook by Janey to get her friend count up and is re-uinted with an old school beau. Ben is away and so she meets up with him and he asks her a favour, to deliver a parcel to a friend. Susan is then arrested for drug dealing and discovers the truth about her ex-bf.

Episode #117 "A Decent Proposal"
This episode marks the death of Grace Riggs, Susan's mother who featured in many episodes of My Family as the drunk-before-noon lush. Michael is keen on a guy at the funeral parlour and tells him that he is dying to get his attentions. Susan's long lot father offers her two million pounds to divorce Ben, but when he dies on the sofa they discover he never had the money.

Episode #118 "Darts All Folks"
Susan gets a French guru who subliminally sells her products to nickel and dime her. Meanwhile Ben gets into the local Pub darts team before being dumped for a woman. Roger's team snaps Ben up and they go into training to bet the team that dumped Ben. Susan's guru turns out to be a huge fraud.

Episode #119 "Susan For A Bruisin'"
Susan wants to look her best for an upcoming school re-union she has been asked to speak at and Ben offers her a new treatment they have be given at the Dental surgery called Cavitox. Eventually she gives in to try it and result is scary, but not as scary as the rest of her former classmates.

Episode #120 "A Night Out"
The majority of the Harpers are out for the night, Susan and Janey go on a hens night, Michael is going out somewhere too and Roger is on a blind date with a girl he met on the internet. Ben is watching Kenzo who manages to lock him out of the house and do what he likes.


It's a shame that such a brilliant comedy series seemed to limp out on such a messy schedule with no build up or fanfare to herald its conclusion and no closure in the writing.

Some episodes are sheer classics however and some brilliant quotes will forever remain. But I think it's departure from the screens is best summed up by Ben.


Ben

I am not having people witness my life. It's bad enough that I have to see it.


For a final sample of My Family I have included the episode that farewelled Grace Riggs. 
EPISODE 117 A Decent Proposal

I hope you have enjoyed sharing the Eleven years of My Family with me.

Next week to wrap it all up will be a summary of the entire series and a ranking of best ever episodes.

J G S





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