Wilfred

"Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them."

- Leo Tolstoy.

And so, another amazing show has come to an end, adding to the many legendary programs I've recapped the end of on this blog. Wilfred's series finale has got to be one of my all-time favorites. Above, is the theme song. When listening to the theme song after the finale, it becomes playful, haunting, and mystical. Which is what the finale (and all of Wilfred) was. The quote was the last intro quote ever used. The series finale was titled Happiness, the same title of the pilot. Although, Wilfred aired the penultimate episode, Resistance, before the finale for a one-hour block. And boy was it amazing.

This was the first scene of Resistance. Wilfred and Ryan sitting on the beach on the couch from the basement. This was also the last scene of Happiness. Let's just get to the recap, though.

Oh, by the way:

*COMPLETE SPOILERS AHEAD*

Ryan lays with Jenna. After all, they had a...passionate embrace in the previous episode after finding out Wilfred (now a three-legged dog) has stage-four lung cancer and is dying. When Ryan told Wilfred about it all, it was one of the best scenes in the show's history. The two are under the deck and here's the conversation.

Wilfred: "Did you do it before or after you found out I was dying?"
Ryan: "...Wilfred..."
Wilfred: "Before...or after?"
Ryan: "After, but it's not what you think. We were really upset about you. Are you mad?"
Wilfred: "Mad? I'm not mad, mate."
Ryan: "I don't understand."
Wilfred: "Don't you see? I lead you to happiness. I am a god..."

Haunting and amazing conversation. So, in the next episode, Ryan lays with Jenna. While on a walk, Jenna insists she doesn't want to try any types of medicine and would rather have Wilfred go in peace. The two then share a heart-to-heart conversation (while Wilfred talks to other dogs) about how Jenna can be herself with Ryan. She says Drew would never respect what she needed when she was sad and would try to make herself feel better. Jenna also remarks that she wore a mask in that relationship, but not with Ryan.

Ryan and Wilfred then head to the basement once again and discuss the painting on the wall that Wilfred never remembered being there. He says it looks like a great place to curb stomp ducks. So, you know. A bit of heart, a bit of a terrible Wilfred-ism. He then makes Ryan believe he's dying after refusing to eat carrots followed by an amusing, "Gotcha." At Ryan's mother's house, Jenna asks about Ryan's baby pictures and Catherine promises she'll dig them up once her and Dr. Cahill unpack. Dr. Cahill then talks about how his three-legged dog has had cancer multiple times and knows of some treatments that could save Wilfred's life. Ryan wants to try the techniques, but Jenna has no interest. She really has no interest in saving Wilfred's life at all because she's awful and selfish.

Wilfred is concerned that Ryan will try too hard to save his life and cause a rift between he and Jenna, making Wilfred's mission of leading him to happiness pointless. Unfortunately, just then, Drew returns to say goodbye to Wilfred, the latter not caring about the former. Drew makes casual conversation and recognizes a squirrel he used to see often. When Ryan offers to let Drew stay on his couch, Wilfred kills the squirrel and puts its head on the couch. This, however, causes Jenna to offer for Drew to stay with her instead. The two are also going to yoga together in the morning. (I also must say, the fact that Drew wore a knee brace because of his broken leg in the second episode of the season is one of the best continuity moments in television history.)

Now Wilfred is completely distraught, believing himself to be a failure and he starts wreaking havoc on the basement, shouting and over-exerting himself. This is arguably the best acted scene in the history of everything, further proving the brilliance of Jason Gann. Collapsing on the floor, Ryan rushes Wilfred to the vet. Here, the doctor tells Ryan, Jenna, and Drew that there is nothing to be done for Wilfred and Ryan decides to stay with him as he is put to sleep.

Ryan then joins Wilfred in a dream sequence. The location is what was depicted in the basement's painting. Regarding his death, Wilfred tells Ryan to have a good cry and move on. Ryan responds by asking if the basement is heaven or not, but he quickly tells himself it is not. Another great Wilfred-ism comes into play here. "Answers are like the missing kids on milk cartons...They'll come when they're ready." Ryan and Wilfred conclude their final meeting by talking about their times together and saying thank you and goodbye all while playing fetch. Ryan throwing the tennis ball to Wilfred, followed by Wilfred catching it and then walking it back is a brilliant touch. Once Ryan goes to throw again, Wilfred says he's done for now and he wants Ryan to keep the ball. Then, we return to the vet's office with one of the most jarring, heart-breaking scenes in the entire run of the show. Just take a look.

Yes. That's how everyone else saw Wilfred. The physical entity of Wilfred has died. Heart-wrenching scene.

Then, we cut to Ryan and Kristen on a bench by the beach and they talk about Wilfred. Kristen says she didn't think he could love another dog as much as he loved Sneakers, so perhaps he could fill the void again, but Wilfred was "special," as Ryan says. They also talk about Jenna and Drew about to sign their divorce papers and how Kristen is happy with her new job at the abortion clinic.

Leaving Kristen, Ryan arrives at Jenna's home where he sees a new dog, Jordy, that Drew bought. Confused, Ryan asks if Jenna really got over Wilfred so quickly, but he learns the two didn't sign the divorce papers and will be getting back together. Here's that exchange.

Jenna: "We couldn't sign the papers, Ryan. This week's been so awful and Drew's been so great."
Ryan: "You told me you needed some time alone so I stayed away. I didn't try to fix you."
Jenna: "I know and I thought that's what I wanted, but-"
Ryan: "I can't believe this."
Jenna: "Drew and I have a history together and most of that history is really good. It just got bad when we came to L.A."
Ryan: "What about the mask? What about being who you really are?"
Jenna: "I overstated that. It's not true."
Ryan: "Yes. It is. I think that's maybe the only true thing you've ever said to me."
Jenna: "I know you're hurt-"
Ryan: "You said you were finally finding yourself with me. Why don't you want that anymore?"
Jenna: "You don't understand."
Ryan: "No. You know what? I think I do. I think I finally get it. I'm in love with a fantasy. That smiley, bubbly persona is just bullshit. You want to run back to Wisconsin and play it safe instead of taking a risk and maybe finding real happiness."
Jenna: "I'm sorry."
Ryan: "Me too. Sorry for you."

FINALLY. He said it. Jenna is a garbage person and Ryan knows he's better than her. Then, Ryan is running on the beach aimlessly as a montage of past scenes from Wilfred plays, culminating in Ryan breaking down, throwing the tennis ball into the ocean, and collapsing in the sand. This leads us into the true finale. Happiness.

Happiness begins the same way the last Happiness, the first episode, did. Ryan is preparing for a suicide attempt as he prints out his final draft of a suicide note. Once again, he watches Jenna from his window, making spiteful comments this time. He adds two bottles of pills to his death smoothie and only takes one sip before his mother, Catherine, knocks at the door. Kristen told her about Ryan's depression with the loss of Wilfred and anger toward Jenna. Ryan once again asks about baby pictures following her comment, "Some people believe animals choose us. They come into our lives when we desperately need them and they help us find our way to happiness. And when they die, they're not really gone. They just move on to someone else." This leads Ryan to believe she knows about The Flock of the Gray Shepherd. Finally, she breaks down and tells him the truth.

Kristen was the reason the relationship between Henry and Catherine deteriorated. This lead Catherine to Charles Smith, the leader of The Flock. They both stayed for three years which allows Ryan to realize his biological father is Charles. Not Henry. She continues to tell him about how Charles would receive revelations about a talking dog God, Mataman (Matt Damon), would lead a Chosen One to happiness. When Ryan was born, he was believed to be the cult's prophet. Then, Charles started to lose it and become really protective of Ryan, causing Catherine to contact Henry who had Charles arrested. Henry adopted Ryan and received full custody after representing Charles' tax evasion case. Catherine finishes by saying Charles died in prison and she leaves, with Ryan forgiving her.

This allows for one last callback to the finale, when Ryan hears Wilfred and turns to see him smoking from the Gatorade bong. He blows it into Ryan's face and says, "Lights out, Ryan." In the next afternoon, Ryan wakes up and they go for a walk where Wilfred reveals that he is Mataman, but it is also learned no one can see Wilfred anymore. Wilfred claims to be in between bodies and his next subject will be someone named Nazeem. Funny opening for another Wilfred show if Jason Gann ever desires. Upon learning about the break-up, Wilfred is determined to find another way to lead Ryan to happiness.

The two go on a long drive and arrive at the Blue Barn, so prominently symbolized throughout the show. Wilfred disappears at this point and Ryan approaches the barn. The owner approaches him with a shotgun, but following a lie, allows Ryan inside to make a "phone call." However, Ryan notices many photographs on the nearby mantle which feature the logo that was on the seal of the envelope he found. There is also a photograph of Ryan with Kristen and Catherine, the first baby picture he's seen of himself. The man sees Ryan and informs him he is Charles Smith.

Ryan connects with Charles over a photo album of pictures from Charles' times at the cult. There are more baby pictures of him, but also some more notable ones.

Like that one. That's Richard, the man who played Mataman in the cult's rituals. Yes. It's the manifestation of Wilfred, as well. Charles describes him as a "prick who always told people how to live their lives." The dream neighbor from season one is also pictured alongside the two people from Ryan's trip from season two, The Man in the Dark Room and The Native American Spiritual Guide. Bruce is also in one of the pictures and Charles reveals he is actually Shane. Shane played the evil trickster dog God, Krungel, in the rituals, just like Bruce said to Ryan. He was also the one who blackmailed Henry for thirty years, constantly threatening to tell Ryan about Charles. That old man who told Ryan he was "crazier than his mother," was elderly Shane. Charles finishes by telling Ryan how Henry was such a good man who even let him see Ryan one last time. Upon learning of Henry's death, Charles talks about how he had saved both his and Catherine's life. Now, the only crazy thing he does is talk to his dog. But the dog doesn't talk back. Then, as Ryan leaves, we hear Charles' last words to Ryan over the scene.

"There is no Chosen One. There's no dog God. I just made all that up. All just the insane creation of a very sick mind."

Then, we're thrust back into Ryan's psyche as we see a flashback of multiple, notable scenes throughout the show as they truly were. Ryan shocking himself with the shock collar and Wilfred, the dog, just sits there watching. Everything Ryan's done with Wilfred hasn't really happened. At least, not for Wilfred. Take a look at this:

So it's confirmed. Ryan is absolutely insane. But no sooner does he realize this, then Ryan sees Wilfred again. What follows are multiple scenes of Wilfred trying to get Ryan's attention, but it's all kind of heartbreaking. Eventually, Ryan sees Wilfred on a rooftop and Ryan thinks hard about Wilfred's non-existence. Wilfred fades away. He's not real.

Now, once again, Ryan and Kristen are sitting on the bench by the beach and Ryan tells her how glad he is that she's happy and she wishes the same for him. Kristen tells Ryan she's glad she has such a supportive brother to help her through some things and asks what would make Ryan happy. He sees Wilfred standing in the distance and realizes that's how he can be truly happy. Running after him, Wilfred disappears and Ryan goes home to search for him.

"I miss you, Wilfred. Without you, my life is so ordinary and flat and dull. I need to know that you're still here."

When Ryan opens his eyes again, Wilfred is sitting on the couch next to him and Ryan is thrilled. Ryan tells Wilfred he wants him back, but things can't be as crazy as they were before, to which Wilfred agrees to lay low every once in a while. Upon going to grab a coat, Ryan looks at the door to the basement and opens it to learn if it's real or not. And obviously it's just a closet as we've known many hints of that throughout the series, but there's ambiguity there for those who want it.

Now, we return to this.

Ryan and Wilfred are on the beach with the couch from the basement. And here is their final conversation.

Ryan: "So where do you go when you're not around?"
Wilfred: "I just hang out in your head. You know, sometimes, I'll check out your hippocampus, see what I can find. For example, I just came across that incident when you walked in on your Uncle Larry. Yikes."
Ryan: "What incident?"
Wilfred: "You know, when you were six, and you walked in and he turned around, but it was too late because he was already there."
Ryan: "Already where?"
Wilfred: "There...Oh...Shit. You repressed that. My bad. Whoops."
Ryan: "Wait, what are you talking about?"
Wilfred: "Oh, nothing I just made all that up."
Ryan: "Oh, God."
Wilfred: "Sorry, mate. Can't put that one back where I found it."
Ryan: "Ugh...So, my iPod wasn't stolen?"
Wilfred: "Nope. Nope. You just set it down on the men's room counter at The Bungalow when you were washing your hands and you just forgot about it."
Ryan: "I just left it there? I don't remember doing that."
Wilfred: "You may not remember, but that's what happened. Trust me. It's all in there."
Ryan: "Huh...Who did I loan my Polanski box set to?"
Wilfred: "Jamie Fowler."
Ryan: "Jamie Fowler! Of course...What's that?"
Wilfred: "I think that's a question you can answer for yourself."

Then, we see Ryan walk down to the shore and pick up the tennis ball, which has returned. He picks it up, smiles, and looks back at Wilfred, all while this song plays.



And that's the end of the series.

And, man, what an ending it was. Some people might be disappointed by the "simple" ending of how it was all just in Ryan's head, but it was far from simple. Not only was it logical, but all loose ends were tied up! Completely. We learned that Wilfred, the manifestation, is in Ryan's head, yes, but it's also what brings him his happiness. And it's not Ryan accepting his insanity, but moving past it. He's getting better and healing, that's why he can now control Wilfred, but there's nothing wrong with having a friend to go through it with, and that friend is Wilfred, who makes Ryan happy. Truly happy. And that's not the ending I hoped for or the ending I expected. To be honest, I don't know what I hoped for, but that ending. That ending is the one I needed, wanted, and loved. It was amazing and perfect.

Just like the show.

Thank you, Wilfred.

"Happiness and sanity are an impossible combination."

- Mark Twain