Fortunately, some moments stand out amongst the rest, and it’s easy to see why. From Pose to Squid Game, these shows traverse genres but have in common the ability to make viewers sing, scream, and cry… a lot. They may not be the happiest moments, but they are the most impactful. And for that, they deserve credit.
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Groundbreaking FX drama Pose, which made history for having the largest cast of trans actors in series regular roles, delivered in its finale which saw fan-favourite Pray Tell (Billy Porter) duet with other fan-favorite Blanca (MJ Rodriguez) to Diana Ross’ “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
With its focus on New York City’s underground ballroom scene, drag performances of the sort are a regular occurrence; but this one is particularly special. Sandwiched between two heavy moments — an ACT UP protest and Pray Tell’s sudden death from AIDS — it is a celebration of the two things which have/will pull the characters through such dark events: friendship and community. As Pray Tell “sings” to Blanca, “Just call my name, I’ll be there in a hurry, on that you can depend and never worry.” For a fantastic character, it is also a fitting send-off. Complete with air blowers, indoor waterworks, and bejewelled, skintight fits, Pray Tell’s last performance is a theatrical masterpiece, and one that (he will be pleased to know) won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Another finale that had fans reaching for tissues and/or clutching their rosaries was Netflix’s Midnight Mass. The series’ themes of horror, faith and fanaticism culminate here, as religious fanatic Bev (Samantha Sloyan) burns down Crockett Island’s homes, forcing the vampirized citizens to take shelter in the church. Her plans to play God are cut short however when the building is also burnt down. With nowhere to hide, Bev and the turned people of Crockett Island must reckon with the fact as soon as the sun rises, they shall die.
The final moments of Midnight Mass see the community gather to sing “Nearer, My God, To Thee,” and Ali’s son (Rahul Abburi) return to his faith and worship in Muslim tradition alongside his father (Rahul Kohli). Meanwhile, Bev, who is alone, fails to bury herself in sand and is the first to die. Put simply, it’s a very Flanagan ending; satisfying, deeply poetic, and moving, it rivals others of its genre. It’s also visually remarkable.
HBO’s Mare Of Easttown is full of unpredictable twists but its biggest comes in its finale. It’s not the killer (whose reveal was pretty anti-climactic), but the photo that shows murdered teenage mother Erin (Cailee Spaeny) in bed with John (Joe Tippett). Not only did this photo unmask John as the father of Erin’s baby, but it also made him the new prime suspect in her murder whereas up until this point all fingers were pointing at his brother Billy (Robbie Tann).
Suddenly both viewers and Mare (Kate Winslet) were forced to rework their theories to fit the new piece of evidence, and in this game of “real life” Clue, Mare won against many when she identified John’s upset son Ryan (Cameron Mann) as the accidental killer. Not the best ending, granted, but a really fun way to get there.
Freeform thriller series Cruel Summer had an equally shocking moment of truth. When it seemed the big twist was over — that accused witness Jeanette (Chiara Aurelia) wasn’t the hooded figure who saw and left kidnapped Kate (Olivia Holt) — an even bigger twist came. She might not have seen Kate, but she heard her cries for help… and ignored them. This is revealed in the series’ final moments when, through a flashback, Jeanette enters kidnapper Martin’s (Blake Lee) house, hears someone downstairs, and goes to open the basement door. When she realizes it’s Kate, she stops.
Just as viewers begin to feel sorry for Jeanette, initial suspicions that she’s a sociopath are confirmed. And before the scene cuts to credits, she even gives a menacing smile. It’s an ingenious way to end the series as it proves a point reiterated throughout: appearances are deceptive. As is discovered early on, Kate and Jeanette aren’t as perfect as people think, and as is discovered in the finale, one is far more imperfect than the other (though, to the public, the opposite seems true).
No “best of 2021 TV” list would be complete without a Squid Game entry. And while there are many fantastic moments to choose from in the hit Netflix series, one stands out amongst the rest. That is, of course, Il-Nam’s (O Yeong-su) “death.” This scene occurred moments after viewers watched Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and Il-Nam compete against each other in a deadly game of marbles, and Gi-hun cheat. Taking advantage of the older man’s declining mental state, Gi-hun continuously tricks Il-Nam into giving him his marbles, feeling guilty all the while.
The sequence is a hard one to watch as not only do viewers feel sorry for Il-Nam who is destined to die, but their hearts break for Gi-hun too. After all, not long before, the two established themselves as “ggangbu’s” (best friends). When Il-Nam is shot offscreen Gi-hun feels the weight of his guilt and sobs to himself; meanwhile, viewers are a mess, taking to social media to protest “he deserved better.” As it turns out, he didn’t, so there is some solace in that at least.
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