probably the best ‘last series’ of a tv show in my opinion is series 3 of yes minister. it’s technically a cop-out, since yes PM follows, but every episode perfectly sets up and illustrates the character development we’ve seen, and hints at how dynamics might work in their later positions.
jim acknowledges how he’s having to let his morals slip to keep up in politics (the whiskey priest), but is ultimately fine with it, so long as there’s self-gain (the middle-class rip-off, etc). humphrey’s scotland office panic (skeleton in the cupboard) sets the groundwork for some of his more dramatic YPM breakdowns (the key). bernard, i think, goes through the most development, with the moral vacuum (the whiskey priest) and politics discussions (the middle-class rip-off), as well as his much-increased scheme-y-ness, really setting up his larger role in YPM.
they also work together much more this series, i think, like it or not (the moral dimension). like overall, i just feel like each episode’s ending is such a good summary of and closing point for each character, with an even-ish number of ‘wins’/‘draws’ between humphrey and jim.
kinda interested in making a chart tallying wins/losses/draws/them against other characters.