Ahhh, Fitton! How I love thee! If Abu Dhabi introduced the hilarious comedy, and Douz introduced the sense of adventure, then Fitton finally completes the whole sense of the show, by bringing in full force the heartfelt character moments and thought-provoking philosophies.
John Finnemore has mentioned that one of his reasons for including the birdstrike in St. Petersburg was that both of his other finales were centered specifically on having nothing to do; he wanted the third one to have higher stakes and a sense of excitement. However, even though the entire episode is basically just about waiting, I would hardly call Fitton an anticlimactic finale. There is so much development evidenced in the characters, in their relationships, in the show itself, that I could honestly never wish for a more ideal closing to season 1.
So the first thing I want to mention in talking about Fitton is this. I once sent John Finnemore a tweet asking if, as I suspected, "Mr. Goddard" is intended as an allusion to Mr. Godot of Waiting for Godot. And as could only be expected, his answer made a perfect episode even better. During this rewatch, of course, that new knowledge gave me quite a kick, when I noticed that Douglas immediately called out Mr. Goddard and their waiting as the bull that (in Godot, at least) it is. I bloody love Douglas.
That being said, even before I had confirmation of my suspicions, I have always wished that Mr. Goddard never actually did show up. I get that the ensuing panic allowed for a climax, but frankly I'd have preferred it if, as per the play, the client truly did keep them waiting indefinitely. On the other hand, there is a chance that Finnemore was making a point by having Goddard show up. That maybe our waiting isn't indefinite and it does have a purpose. And why should we complain anyway, while we're waiting we have a chance to do things like take baths that are just the right temperature and juggle apples?
And speaking of apples, I would just like to say that I basically owe my soul to John Finnemore for the "motivational seminar by Forrest Gump." When I discovered Cabin Pressure I was doing literally nothing with my life. I had lost my job, I already had my associate's but couldn't go on to a higher level school, I was aimless and purposeless and the one way I could stay happy was by taking that Arthur Shappey viewpoint. And it was just so nice to actually hear somebody saying that, yes, that is enough, when it has to be.
But even that is not the reason why Fitton is a perfect season finale; no, that honor goes to Martin Crieff. THAT END SCENE!! When Martin goes to Douglas' house and realizes Douglas's big secret and actually has a one up on him, I fell apart!!! It was as intriguing and stimulating to me as any other cliffhanger could have been. The fact that, even though being a captain is like the absolute most important thing to Martin's identity, he still knows when it's important to sacrifice that. He still lets Douglas get away with it. He lets himself look the fool - again - so that Douglas can look like a hero - again. I spent most of yesterday's review gushing over Martin's understated heroics, and I'm still even more impressed by him here! What a magnificent character!
But getting back to why that makes Fitton a perfect finale, the sense of suspense that you're left with when the episode cuts off, Martin standing on Douglas's front porch possibly with the future of Douglas's marriage in his hands, and then the season cuts off before you get any of the impact of that? THAT IS HOW YOU DO A FINALE. YES.
That is the main reason that I loved Fitton as a finale. But there is one thing that I absolutely loved about this being the end of the season, and that is "My Jet Now Air." If you didn't notice, Carolyn's message to Gordon is actually the very first time the audience hears what MJN stands for. I think it's totally brilliant! To go through an entire series - a third of the show to date - with the random, unexplained letters as the center for the entire series, and then to reveal all the emotional implications it has with Arthur's dad and the divorce and how it's like the one thing Carolyn has managed to hold on to - and it is Her Jet Now. That's amazing! Gushgushgushgushgush!
So the next one of these I'll post will be Gdansk (YAY Gdansk! I love you!) since we're going in the intended air order rather than the realized one. My posts have been a day behind since Douz, but I have indeed been listening on schedule. Maybe I'll have time to write up Gdansk's tonight, but more likely it will have to wait. One way or another, just know that I'm loving doing this with all of you, and I have come to the conclusion that a CP-episode per day is like an apple a day for the soul :) I should do this forever. Lol!
