Goodbye Ugly Betty

Review By: Manju

Ugly Betty

Season 4, Episode 20: Hello Goodbye

It's always extremely difficult to say goodbye to a show, any show, that you've stuck with from beginning to end for four years. Thinking back to a flashing America Ferrera on Times Square just remembers how popular this show once was. But it's the story with every break-out hit; people forget. Through four seasons, the core fans went through creative ups and downs, heartbreaks and goodbyes, loving moments and self-reflecting career moves. What makes Ugly Betty stand out from other shows is that it was eccentric. Bright colors, a lot of fashion talk, and always with a warm feeling and constant guidance of excellent music by Jeff Beal, the show was really not for anyone who prefers stone-cold action above loving reconciliation. But if you look past the female touch, you still find an amazing character-driven drama show, or telenovela. Past the story of a young woman trying to make it in the world, there was an outstanding supporting cast that made the world of Ugly Betty so much prettier. Much like the show, the finale was about Betty, but thank Horta there was still proper amounts of goodbyes to all the amazing characters that made you love them.

In the final act of the classic story of an ugly duckling in a beautiful world, Betty has to make a choice. Until the final moment, it is up in the air whether it is professional and personal, but whatever Betty choses, it's defining. From the very moment Betty walked in Mode with a poncho, red glasses, braces and a self-proclaimed confidence that still couldn't stop her from walking into a glass door, the show was telling the story of her working on herself. The finale reflects that more than anything. Betty made the people in her world accept and love her. She changed herself, probably more than she could've imagined, but she also changed others for the better. And in an episode that was really one big farewell, every single thing you loved about this show, gets a chance to shine while Betty makes the final career move on the show.

Because there are other things to get to. Just like the first, genius, season finale, the previous episode featured a gun shot, leaving the viewer wondering who survived. To nobody's surprise, the series finale opens with a funeral, and the show isn't pulling a second 'How Betty Got Her Grieve Back'. There are many Mode-politics to get to and Claire and Daniel will have to act or react to whatever happens with the company that has been the decor of a lot of drama on the show.

And let's not forget about Amanda and Marc, the two who even in the dullest moments still offered so much comedy that nobody can ever get bored, whether it's on a podcast or in interviews, they had the best humor. Luckily, they aren't done yet. Mandy still has daddy-issues to get through and Marc is faced with relationship issues. True, both story lines weren't dealt with in perfection, but considering the time there was left to deal with it, there aren't any complaints here.

As for the Suarez family, nobody expects a sad ending here, otherwise they haven't been paying attention. Because wherever Betty goes, Ignacio, Hilda and Justin have always had her back. And so did Daniel, who plays a key role in the final conclusion of the series.

For anyone who spend the last four years watching an modern fairytale develop, this finale is rewarding and intriguing. There are tears, there is laughter and there's the ultimate Betty feeling of having accomplished something. This was a goodbye, to an unique show that was entertaining, funny, loving and bright. But most of all, it was beautiful.

Overall Grade: B+