Saying goodbye #andamovie

It's no secret that Community is my favorite show. It has been ever since it's premiere in 2009. It's clever writing and quirky characters won me over pretty much right away. It's equally hilarious and heartfelt. The TV series has had a troublesome history with the looming sword of being cancelled hovering over it's head for many seasons. Fans, cast and crew rallied with a campaign of #sixseasonsandamovie.

What's awesome is that despite poor TV ratings the campaign really did get the show six seasons! The sixth season had it's finale this past tuesday. The finale was emotional, hilarious and heartbreaking. It was saying goodbye without knowing if it really is a goodbye or not. Everyone is moving on to a new chapter of their lives. In a literal sense, whether or not Yahoo renews another season is up in the air. It was an almost satisfying end to the series.

I still want a movie.

That's right. I went there. Feel the heartache.

There are plenty of TV shows--and video games, cartoons, etc--that I love that have a premature end. Firefly is the obvious one. Glad we got a movie with that one and some closure in the follow up comics. Another favorite is Young Justice which cartoon network cancelled after 2 seasons. It was a brilliant show with brilliant animation and writing. Ugh. Dollhouse only ran for two seasons as well. They got to have an actual ending though unlike Firefly.


There are other parts of my life that I felt had premature endings: my childhood in Maryland, friendships I shared growing up, dating relationships, job experiences and amazing adventures in far away lands. When a dating relationship fizzled out I wouldn't want to date for months. I remember I had the opportunity to visit my cousin in Colorado but I didn't want to go because I knew I would only get a few days and have to say goodbye again. I didn't want the heartache.

Oh gosh, it hurts. Stupid Disney.

You could say I'm allergic to goodbyes. Tears will come to my eyes. My nose will start to run. The only remedy is complete detachment and that has some pretty awful side effects. I think the toxicity of numbness and loneliness aren't the best trade offs. They prevent you from making new connections and finding a quirky new TV series to fall in love with. The coincidence is that being "too attached" has the same effects. Holding on to something because you miss it so much? It can be easy to not move on because your mind is still on what's left.

So what's the solution?

Well, understand that heartache is to be expected. It always will be--even in a small amount. It has to be if the connection and attachment was real. The other thing to remember is that letting go doesn't mean detaching. I can let go of Community and Firefly but still love the series. I can let go of an ex-girlfriend and still appreciate the connection we shared. No, she may not be part of my life anymore and that's okay. I may even try to reconnect with her from time to time. That's okay too. Letting go means that I don't let the attachment rule my life and prevent me from enjoying everything else I have going for me. Letting go means I do not allowing the premature end stop me from developing new friendships, relationships and passions.

"There is skill to it. More importantly, it has to be joyful, effortless, fun. TV defeats it’s own purpose when it’s pushing an agenda, or trying to defeat other TV or being proud or ashamed of itself for existing. It’s TV, it’s comfort.

It’s a friend you’ve known so well, and for so long you just let it be with you and it needs to be okay for it to have a bad day or phone in a day. And it needs to be okay for it to get on a boat with LeVar Burton and never come back. Because eventually, it all will."

Abed Nadir (Series Finale)

I still want a Community movie. I want to say goodbye to these characters I love in the best way possible. And if I don't get it, I'll be alright. I'll remember the good times. I'll re-watch favorite episodes. I'll revel in the fact that we got six seasons! Don't forget about the good times and good friends. Don't close the door on them either. Such things may or may not be absent from your life but never your heart. Some things may have to come to an end, say goodbye. New things will come in to your life, let them in. Try something new. Familiar things may return, embrace them and help it renew.

sixseasons

#andamovie

-Stephen