2. It's A Portrait Of Despair... But Also Hope
The Christmas specials all but close the door on Brent's career as a motivational speaker. Instead, he's forced into a lonely life on the road. By day he's a travelling salesman, and by night he's making one demeaning guest appearance after another alongside similar D-list celebrities. He snaps at his agent, is unwelcome at the office and is slowly realising that he has indeed lost everything. He turns to the camera as though it were his only friend, too proud to admit defeat even now. These scenes are especially hard to watch; for as much as he denies it, his future is increasingly bleak. Yet hope arrives in the form of Carol, a rare hit from the blind date agency, who is able to bring out the best in Brent without the show succumbing to sentimentality. Of course, life isn't perfect for him- why should it be?- but it's a shot at redemption, at least. And for all the show's cynicism, it was nowhere near heartless enough to simply leave him- and us- without a reason to smile. In the first Christmas episode, we learn that Dawn and Lee have moved to America- but are easily lured back to the office Christmas party when the Beeb offers to foot the bill. Tim, having lost the only light in his otherwise dull day, is pleased to hear the news- but saves the biggest smile for when he's off-camera. In the second, Dawn returns to the party- but doesn't stray far from Lee's side. When he tells her that they have to leave, she makes her awkwardly rushed farewells and disappears once again. The camera lingers on Tim, who is staring at the door like a lost dog waiting for its owner. At this point Dawn returns, kisses him, and, taking his hand, leads him away into the night. It's something we had anticipated from the very start and yet it seems so sudden. Few television shows, much less sitcoms, have produced a more heartwarming finale.