'Will and Grace' Finale

Thursday's series finale of Will and Grace had moments reminiscent of nearly every episode of the series before it: There were moments of side-splitting laughter and teary-eyed emotion. It's the incredible writing that made me a fan of the show in the first place, and it's incredible writing that brought an end to the show's long run on NBC. WARNING: Here be spoilers.

Going into this finale, the fate of Will and Grace's friendship was up in the air as each wanted to do their own thing to pursue happiness, but also wanted to remain together as best friends. The finale takes us through their lives from present day to 20 years in the future. After Leo returns and gets back together with Grace, there's a couple years that W&G don't speak to each other. Finally they make up but never have what they had over the course of the series.

Then there is a question: If "fate" brought them together and "fate" was going to keep them together, why was there this separation for so many years? It turns out that Will's son and Grace's daughter end up meeting on their first day of college in an identical way that W&G met. The children go on to marry each other, sealing the connection of W&G 'til death do their children part. I thought this was a very sweet way for the show to end and interjects that surprise element that the 'West Wing' finale didn't have (see previous entry).

The tables turn when, in this look into the future, Karen loses all of her money and Jack becomes sole beneficiary to Beverly Leslie's fortune. Don't ask. In the end, Karen, Jack, and Rosario end up living together for decades as a happy, slightly twisted family. The finale had another special moment as Jack and Karen sing "Unforgettable" to each other, with Sean Hayes (Jack's actor) seemingly playing the piano part himself live.

In the end, the four characters have a drink to the lives they've lived, the friendships they've bonded, and happiness they've given to each other. A great ending to a great show. My grade for the finale: A solid "A."