brightknightie | Most Satisfying Endings

What are your favorite endings to FK episodes? (Or FK fanfiction.) What about them satisfies you? In general, I'm looking not for 'shippy scenerios that satisfy very straightforwardly by uniting favored characters, but rather endings that offer other (or added) compensations.

I heard Henning Mankell, the author of the "Wallander" mysteries, interviewed on an NPR program this past week. He made some far-reaching claims about the essential nature of the creative process that many would dispute, but one happened to be true for me as for him. He said that he always knew the endings of his stories before he began writing them, that he could not get anywhere without knowing the ending; it was like wandering around without a map. Elements may be discovered along the way, of course, but without a known destination, he can't well begin.

I work like that, too. I need to know a story's heading. My ancient December 1998 FK novel "Fireweed" could have been '96 vintage, except that I forgot what the ending was supposed to be, and had to drop it in the middle; I couldn't pick it up again until a conversation triggered my memory of the planned endgame. I'm presently feeling a bit of that wading-through-mire with my 2011

fkficfest/

fkficfest story in somewhat the same way, as I did on my most recent

oldschoolfic story, and I diagnose myself as mapless. I need to spot the ending.

What endings "pay off" best? How, or why?

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The best one, IMO, was Dying for Fame. Nick actually won, for a change. The good ended happily and the bad ended unhappily (that is what fiction means! LOL), which was kinda rare even in the first season, before LaCroix came back and they killed off the comic relief and the whole deal became an unalloyed tragedy.

"Dying for Fame" is my favorite episode! I also experience that conclusion, and especially the tag, as uplifting and satisfying. The reward for Nick's efforts and the validation of his hopes -- projected from himself to Rebecca -- is inspiring. Triumphant!

However, the DFF conclusion is structurally precarious. I don't mean the arguably unfortunate editing choice in the Canadian cut that makes Nick go back to the loft to moon around for hours while Rebecca is missing, nor the shifting between reality and imagination/symbolism, but rather that we never learn the motivations of the tattooed guy, nor even whether he knew he was killing Wendy or thought he was killing Rebecca. Deux ex machina to the max. So much about those events remains unresolved!

So it's interesting to note that those structural objections do not impede the grin of satisfaction that DFF draws every time. The triumph overrides the irresolution... perhaps because the tattooed man and other plot elements are irrelevant to the theme? Yes, that's probably it. Good endings should be theme-driven, theme-encompassing...

"Ashes to Ashes"

I consider that entire episode crucial to a redefinition of the relationship standing between LaCroix and Nick. The ending sparked MUCH fic between my late partner and I.

Edited 2011-06-26 13:44 (UTC)

Would it be correct to interpret that what you like about the way "Ashes to Ashes" ends is that it has ramifications outside the bounds of the individual episode unit?

Yes, sorry, was just coming in from work when I answered.

Oh, no "sorry"! I'm just being analytical, trying to figure out what formula satisfies the most people, the most often. :-)

Father's Day -- I don't know, but it just seemed to be like a better status quo

May I ask, do you think what you like about how "Father's Day" ends is more that the protagonist and antagonist re-state their differing positions in an "under a white flag" manner -- that is, the tag scene itself? Or is it more that you enjoy the implications of the establishment of the "truce" approach that overlays Nick and Lacroix's interactions for the rest of the series -- that is, as a continuity landmark?

The second one more than the first, although the two concepts are sort of hard to tease apart.

I should really go and re-watch it, just to make sure I'm clear on this....

*g*

Father's Day was one of the other two I considered adding in. (Cherry Blossoms being the final one for consideration)

Cherry Blossoms is another one of my favorite episodes. You know, it was interesting that the question was about the ending, which made me really have to think. Sometimes I like an episode for something in it, rather than the way it ends.

I liked the question, because I find that I prefer shows that use episode tags, and that those tags can make or break the impression of the overall episode for me. I can't think off my head of one in Forever Knight, but when a tag hits a different note than either the final scene or the overall tone, it can leave me unsettled.

Harmony is a key to satisfactory endings, then...

Still analyzing! Don't mind me. ~g~

;-) Any excuse to rewatch FK is a good excuse. ;-)

Thanks for sharing!

Most Satisfying Endings

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FK's DFF

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FK's AtA

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FK's FD

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