Stella

I thought they were sitting adjacent on the plane? Maybe? What worries me is where the heck is Lily? Another point to ponder is that it's been 7 years now since the departure. And I thought it was only 3 or 4 years in season 2. So room for lots to have transpired.

Mind blown, again. Can't wait!

This. It left me feeling strangely empty. I love the show dearly and I am grateful for the final season even though somehow it never felt fully in sync with the others. I will not rant on Chloe again other than I feel the character did not feel very true to any previous impulse of the show. I liked that there was a certain amount of closure yet somehow it felt forced. Agree. Tawney is a character that I basically have no experiential connection to - not being at all religious. The show conveyed her purity of belief in a simple yet complex way that I could understand and admire. And her connection with Daniel was amazing, moving and I felt that a continued friendship between them would be important. Same.

Yes to all of this. George didn't know who killed Hannah but he did bear tremendous guilt for testifying against Daniel, not mention he was a part of the rape for which he got off. When Trey and George first meet by the river in season 1 they ask the other if the other had killed her. I really believe George didn't know but Trey may know. Trey may be the killer but I'm not totally convinced yet.

Wonderful analogy. Agree completely.

Yeah me too. My dislike is not about the actress, only the character.

Me too. I cannot understand how this show peopled with painfully realistic characters added this fantasy woman in the final season. She is definitely a dream girl. Of course she has an album collection. Of course she's living in a funky artist's loft. Of course she is cooler than cool. Of course she's pregnant. Of course she's having the baby. I will be disappointed if we have to see her again. Hopefully she will have moved by next episode. When they first introduced her I had a feint hope that she would introduce Daniel to making art. I could see this as a therapeutic process for him and certainly he strikes me as having an artistic soul. A friend would have been good. That would have felt true to me but this faux relationship stuff - ugh. It pissed me off that they had the dance scene. We had that lovely dance scene with Tawny and Daniel. At least do something different with Daniel and Chloe. The connection Tawny and Daniel had was so beautiful. It makes me angry and sad that we likely won't see them together again, shallow or not. I do feel really good about Tawny's path though. Teddy's reaction was exactly how I felt.

LOL it maddens me that I have watched the entire series at least 3 times (except the current one) and I am constantly forgetting details I should know. I too have thought Trey was a bit too obvious. Someone pointed out I think on this board but not sure really, that Hannah's bedroom door had a whole slew of locks on the inside of the door. Like at least 5 and when I watched everything again before this season I noticed them in the scene where Jared explores her room. That seems an interesting detail to include for no apparent reason. I'm not ruling out anything yet. And I'm confused about the DNA too but I know the sheriff told Trey his wasn't found. Not sure about George's - another detail poorly remembered.

The implication was to me that Chris's father either got wind of the situation (probably from Foulkes)(or less likely Chris) and then forced Chris to tell him what happened. The implication to me was Chris's dad was a hard ass guy, Chris was afraid of him I think the sheriff said. Then the dad colludes with Foulkes to manage the outcome - Daniel's "guilt". I kind of agree with this in that Trey never fingered Daniel. All 3 guys probably raped Hannah, even though only Chris's DNA was found. That doesn't mean Trey and George didn't rape her as well. They were testing a clothing garment which apparently only Chris handled, wiping himself or something like that. So all 3 were scared and probably were trying to keep their stories consistent. But when George fingers Daniel I think Trey is surprised and unwilling to lie on that point. So it seems if Trey was under pressure from Chris's dad he would have also confirmed Daniel as George did. But this makes sense too: And also if both Trey and George raped Hannah then they would go along with the plan for obvious reasons. I am not convinced about Trey's involvement. One mystery still is why did Trey go back? He could have either killed Hannah then, or witnessed the killing - probably Chris?

It was very moving. And for me it encapsulates why Daniel being cleared would actually mean everything for his future. It may be a bit anticlimactic but I think it would matter tremendously. All the damage done, all the pain, heartbreak, wrecked lives, etc. will always be there, that is certain. But if Daniel was exonerated I believe it would be far easier for the entire family to move forward. Daniel deserves that truth be told.

Zeke's house was wonderful! I couldn't help but wish that Tawny could live there. Zeke's house seemed to radiate love and a full happy life. (Which was surprising in that he came across as such a crotchety old man.) Tawny and Teddy's house is so generic and sterile. Obviously Daniel would benefit from therapy. I think it's shocking he wasn't required to have some sort of counseling when he was released from death row. And even more surprising that his mother in particular wasn't strongly encouraging him to see a professional. It seems as though Jon was the only one who was suggesting Daniel get some help. It's unconscionable to me that a person could be on death row for half his life and then just be turned loose, as if he can easily acclimate to society. I just can't get behind Chloe as a character. I mean she was right to confront Daniel on this but to me the character and her dynamic with Daniel doesn't ring true to anything else in the series. I think had it stayed strictly friends it might have been more believable. But her character is fairly unrealistic to me. The Previously TV critic's review summed it up perfectly:

Just a note that we did meet Chris last season. He was in the 5th & 6th episodes last season. He is a doctor, has a respectable life with a lot to lose. The sheriff goes to his house I believe and he is later brought in to make a statement.

For some reason I thought Amantha and Teddy were probably the same age or one year age difference at most. Their relationship being so antagonistic I just assumed they had to deal with each other while attending the same high school If Teddy is 3 years younger then the overlap would be only 1 year and easier for her to ignore him. I can imagine a middle school step brother being a huge pain of course but your analysis is not what I imagined. Now I feel like I want a complete bio on all the characters!

Thank you for this post. I have the exact same questions.

This idea was revealed when Tawny picks up Daniel from his road trip with Trey. She mentions that Ted talked about opening a 'branch' in Florida but it didn't work out. Something along those lines I think. I don't recall any other mentions about this plan. As to Teddy's mother leaving I too am a little vague. There is a scene in the kitchen in season 3 between the Teds but I'm not sure which episode. It's definitely after the remodel is complete or nearly so. They talk about the mom and I think your recollection is pretty close. LOL I just watched everything before this season began and still am not 100% on this point but your description is ringing bells.

rue721 you made so many good points about what Teddy's feelings and motivations may have been in a couple scenes. He is a fascinating character, that's for sure. I felt that in addition to feeling that which is certainly possible, I felt he was on a sort of ego high in that scene. He thinks of himself as a pretty smart guy and definitely way smarter than Janet or Ted Sr. about the tire business. It was so important to him to get that rim expansion going that he mortgaged his and Tawny's house to do so. At that time he pretty clearly thought that Ted Sr. didn't have the business acumen and forward thinking to make good business decisions. So when he has "done his homework" and is pretty puffed up to present his findings to Janet and Ted Sr., I couldn't help but see this as ego driven. "Look at me and how smart I am. Especially compared to you 2 who know so little about business." He came on strong in that meeting first with the parents and then with the lawyer partly to demonstrate how smart and capable he is. Looking to be validated and basically getting owned in that meeting.

Agreed. I get the need to introduce new characters at the house where Daniel lives now but adding new potential relationship partners for Daniel and Amantha is unnecessary and for me unwanted. I love this show so much and I am overall still very happy with how things are unfolding but it seems like cramming in something that wasn't needed in any way.

I'm finding it as difficult to admit these new characters into the show universe as the difficulty everyone in the story is having adjusting to Daniel's banishment, trying to get on with their lives. I really enjoyed the first 2 episodes and felt it was a necessary touching base with the central characters. But now I'm uncomfortable with these new situations/characters to the point of disliking them and perhaps that is intentional. Forcing me as a viewer to be just as viscerally effected as the characters by the banishment. I guess this is one reason I love Jon's scenes because he is the only character still immersed in the 'old' story of Daniel's case. These scenes bring everything back to the core story. Both Amantha's and Daniel's new friends are an intrusion. Billy seems to be a pretty great guy, possibly just the perfect type of person for Amantha to connect with, at least for a while, maybe long term. And since she split with Jon she certainly could be getting involved with new people. Not what I was hoping for however. But Chloe is utterly annoying and it's difficult to see what this character is adding. It's obvious I guess that Daniel would be meeting and getting to know new people too. Him stumbling into an artists den is pretty believable and I liked that. But Chloe, her pregnancy?!, her attitudes - I see why some are labeling her a manic pixie dream girl. Kind of fits. And definitely dislike her - she is a man's fantasy character IMO. I had hopes for Teddy. He seemed to be progressing and maybe he is but the old Teddy was sure present in this episode. And the fact that Tawny left the message was very much old Tawny. She is as afraid of being with him as she is of being without him. I wish she could let him go. Were we supposed to accept that the several times that Tawny and Daniel acknowledged to each other last season that "they couldn't be together" as final? I sure as heck don't feel resolved on their story. And I'm still waiting for Chekov's letter to reappear.

The therapist seems to be walking a very fine line of affirming all her feelings as valid which includes both Tawny's fear of and acceptance that she basically wants a D-I-V-O-R-C-E. I think in a way the therapist is an audience stand in, at least for me. Because I just don't see how the marriage can go on. At least now. I think Tawny and Teddy both need to be truly on their own and separate. It's unlikely but not impossible that they would come back together eventually. It was at once comical and touching that divorce is like a bad word for Tawny.

I agree with this statement. This is the first scene in the entire series which felt forced and false to me. Hopefully the more honest ending propels any further interactions between Daniel and Chloe, but for now I have no sense of why they brought in this character nor do I look forward to seeing her again. Really? I thought she was providing some balanced space for both Tawny and Teddy to gain insights. I also don't really have clear understanding for what a solid therapy session should be so maybe she is useless. I loved Jon coming into Carl's office with his fight mode in gear. Looking forward to more of this.

I love that the show has spent the time bringing every character's story forward. I think this was important ground laying for the rest of the season. I have become so attached to all of these characters I needed that. Seeing the fallout from Daniel's banishment illustrates the profound effect it had and continues to have on his extended family. I had been so looking forward to Jon making good on his threats to the senator. To not quit till the entire truth was exposed. I'm wondering if he will go so far as to leave his job and go back to Paulie. I hope so, I don't think he will ever feel satisfied otherwise. Teddy's story arc is pretty interesting. Will he continue on this more stable and balanced path, especially if he and Tawny divorce (which I fully expect)? His growth since Season 1 has been fascinating and just one of the many ways the show is so amazing. Living, breathing real characters that grow and evolve.

Absolutely agree if the letter was from anyone in Daniel's family, Jon, Melvin etc. there would be a return address. The only one who may not do so is Tawny. But I wonder if it is an anonymous letter with some reveals about the killing. Just a thought. I certainly lean to the Tawny idea.

The IMDB page for season 4 shows 8 episodes. I had read there would be 8 back when the final season was announced. So it seems certain to me there will be 7 more. It was a powerful moving episode for me. Yes slow but it goes so deeply and movingly into his psychology. I'm so happy to watching it again!

Maybe Anna's "someday" winning an Emmy will be tonight! I would love to see her win, she would be so adorably emotional. I kind of doubt it will happen but the category doesn't seem to have a favorite so the odds are fairly equal for all nominees. As a non-fan of Season 5 I am rooting for another show to win for Best Comedy. I don't even care which one. I am being petty and vindictive towards my once favorite comedy show. I won't forgive David H. Mandel for turning some of the best characters ever into one-note caricatures of themselves. But I am rooting for all the cast nominees to win. Except maybe Julia although she deserves to win it is nice to spread these prizes around a little.

Hmm....very interesting. I doubt the brother for same reasons you suggest. I suppose he could have abused her but isn't it pretty certain one of the group killed her? I don't recall her brother being present or mentioned as having been part of the events by the river. Maybe the mother had a boyfriend around? It would be a surprise twist to have it be someone close to home. Of course not unusual for this sort of crime. I am so looking forward to the final episodes, although I hate for it to end it will be satisfying to have things wrapped up. Hopefully.