Gavin and Stacey Finale

flicked on to it a couple of times

tedious melodrama shite

I’ve thought it’s a bit crap so far, apart from being completely obvious where it’s going

What was the first must watch ?

Wallace & Gromit obvs!

Rob Brydon is great as always. Genuine lol when he came out in the Strava top 🙂

Rob Brydon is great as always. Genuine lol when he came out in the Strava top

Genius

Loved it tbqh! I thought they did a fantastic job. Wrapped it perfectly, bit of excitement and redemption for Dave with the coach rallying, plenty of fan service.  Brilliant final episode. Tidy.

Crackin

If only James Corden wasn't in it I might be tempted to watch it . You can't miss it was going to be on they've been banging on about it for so long. " Must watch" ? Each to their own it's a good job we don't all like the same thing.

It could have easily been done in 30 mins . the first 3/4hr was just cringe and pointless

And what was with the Tug Boat at the end , should have been a cargo ship

It could have easily been done in 30 mins . the first 3/4hr was just cringe and pointless

Lots of stuff for the fans, but each to their own.

The more mature Gavin bore an uncanny resemblance to a mate of mine. An idea that has made a couple of mutual WhatsApp groups blow up overnight!

Was a bit slow and a bit predictable but one for the fans and was watchable and enjoyable. As ever the side characters made it, especially Bryn

I watched it as the rest of the family wanted to, but I'll be honest I've never been a fan of the show.

The whole premise that Smithy could be in a relationship with someone for 5+ years and only realise on the wedding day that person isn't the one for you didn't sit well.
Or that Smithy didn't get any vibes from friends and family that they didn't like Sonia. There would have been get-togethers in that five years.
Or that Sonia is even the type to wait 5 years for a wedding!
The timeline didn't need to be linear, it could have been set a few months after the last ending.

I'm with FunkyDunc - it was a hour of padding for a 20-30 min show.

Genuinely confused as to why people are bothering to open and post on Gavin and Stacey thread to say they don't like Gavin and Stacey - I mean what's the point?

I watched it last night and it was good but not their best episode - the conclusion was kind of obvious (but then there would have been no way to make this episode without that issue as it's kinda been tho whole point of the entire show from the start).

Taking the hype and excessive build up away it was a nice enough episode and rounded off the whole show.

I mean what’s the point?

I mean, you could level this at half the threads in the chat forum. And ALL of the political ones.

Crackin episode. Definitely one for the fans and worth rewatching for the subtle jokes and references.

appreciate it's lost on some here but the show has a real heart to it.

Ruth Jones is a massively underrated actor. In any other hands Nessa would be a joke, but she can portray real emotion with just a look.  Tidy

I think my total Gavin and Stacey watching has come in Xmas specials. I don't really watch much telly. It was an Ok enough way to spend an hour.

I liked the Strava top bit, nice way to pisstake cyclists but even this devoted mamil could laugh as he was trying to rock the rainbow bands too, non cyclists wouldn't get that, was a nice touch.

I can’t seem to stop using my very weak impression of a Valleys accent.

Felt it was a lot of filler. Ended the show predictably.

My takeaway from this thread is that the more subtle nuance of this TV, beyond the literal mainstream storyline, is lost on our more 'spectrum minded' forum members  🙂

Good TV full of likable characters and satisfying conclusion. And  if you have a James Corden phobia, it's worth getting past to enjoy what might be the last British great sitcoms. The streaming era is unlikely to generate them.

Nice write up - https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/dec/25/gavin-stacey-the-finale-review-you-will-be-forcibly-moved-to-tears?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

There was so much hype and an almost pathological certainty everyone would be watching it.......I just assumed it was the prelude to an alien invasion and everyone who caught sight of it would wake up blind this morning.

100% @convert

I thought itwas lovely. Predictable doesn't mean it can't be lovely!

the subtle nuance

This. For me the show isn't, and never has really been about the "plot". A bit like the Detectorists, not a lot really happens - the story is just a vehicle.

The irony about the whole series is that Gavin and Stacey are actually the worse, most annoying and boring characters in it !

The irony about the whole series is that Gavin and Stacey are actually the worse, most annoying and boring characters in it !a

I was going to add something the same, but different!

One of the subtleties is that the series is not named after the main characters. G&S are the vehicle akin to an Ernie Wise to an Eric Morecambe.

And what was with the Tug Boat at the end , should have been a cargo ship

Is that the only unrealistic part of the middle aged woman who works in an amusement arcade suddenly restarting a career at sea with a 6 month tour that you noticed?

And if you have a James Corden phobia, it’s worth getting past to enjoy what might be the last British great sitcoms.

I can tolerate him until he starts singing in a car, which pretty much ruins G&S.

We still never got to find out what happened on that fateful fishing trip though?

I watched it last night because others were. It's the first time I've ever seen it. I thought it was OK, I can imagine how it would be an emotional payoff if you've been invested in it for however many years it's been running.

@Cougar2 - if you hadn’t watched all the previous ones, I’d imagine a lot of it would be completely lost on you, ie the fishing trip references with Bryn. As with all long-running series really

This is peak Gavin and Stacey for me, because it’s difficult to argue with Smithy on this one… 😀

Is that the only unrealistic part of the middle aged woman who works in an amusement arcade suddenly restarting a career at sea with a 6 month tour that you noticed?

Get outta here. She’s only twenty nine.

Loved it, very well written. Ness talking about the year she had wth Hale and Pace, Strava, reference to the fishing trip. Was a nice was to round it off. And we all

And what was with the Tug Boat at the end , should have been a cargo ship

The cargo ship wasn’t alongside. The tug was taking them out to the anchorage. HTH

The whole premise that Smithy could be in a relationship with someone for 5+ years and only realise on the wedding day that person isn’t the one for you didn’t sit well.
Or that Smithy didn’t get any vibes from friends and family that they didn’t like Sonia. There would have been get-togethers in that five years.
Or that Sonia is even the type to wait 5 years for a wedding!

It's not like it was a factual documentary.....

They faked the end location, was supposed to be SOuthampton but actually filmed in Newport! 😮

They faked the end location, was supposed to be SOuthampton but actually filmed in Newport!

None of the Essex scenes are shot in Essex.....

They faked the end location, was supposed to be SOuthampton but actually filmed in Newport!

None of the Essex scenes are shot in Essex…..

Get away. You'll be claiming that Nessa and John Prescott wasn't real next

Hang on a minute?….

Is the Hale and Pace stuff not true either?

Is the Hale and Pace stuff not true either?

I did wonder if the BBCs lawyers have to get permission for some of Ness' "disclosures".

we recently re-watched the first series and one of the first “Nessa and famous person” claims was with “the little fella who runs Harrods “.  Talk about fact and fiction etc.  And surprised nothing emerged at the time on that one.

It’s not like it was a factual documentary…..

If it was there’s zero chance Rudi and her screaming sprogs would have been allowed to come to the wedding. It’d deffo be a no kids event! 🙂

They faked the end location, was supposed to be SOuthampton but actually filmed in Newport! ?

That makes more sense now, no way there’s a direct bus from Barry to Southampton

Tidy

The Mrs and I have loosely done the GnS advent thing (watching an old episode a day up to the Xmas special) and have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Identify more these days with Pam and Mick in the old episodes ... Oh my Christ !!! The wife recognised the "buffet flow" in this special but it was nice the get back to identify with GnS and SnN, especially their pride in Neil the baby.

Ruth Jones and James Cordon were on Classic FM on Christmas Eve picking their Christmas classical classics and talking about the show and the final episode.

There was obviously a whole lot of love and emotion in that show behind the scenes which made it so special, for fans of course.

(I realise I might have outed myself as a Classic FM listener, and a Gavin and Stacey fan.  But its Christmas innit.)

I realise I might have outed myself as a Classic FM listener, and a Gavin and Stacey fan. But its Christmas innit

It's OK, this is a safe space....

• Gavin and Stacy
• Kardashians
• Love Island
• Game of Thrones
• Zombie apocalypse series (too many to mention)

Things I have not watched one single episode of.

Thank you for this important information.

Things I have not watched one single episode of.

Well done you and thanks for taking the time to demonstrate how cool you are,

I shall keep the still of Bryn in his bike helmet to show my kids and grandkids "that's why you have the straps done tight under your ears. Or you'll look like a dork!"

It can now replace the similar image of Alun Armstrong in New Tricks.

Things I have not watched one single episode of.

Watched it because Mrs STR has recently got into it and wanted to watch this one.

What a load of shite

I thought it was quite lazy. Not bad, Just fine

I did genuinely quite like it when it was fresh but the last few specials etc have been grim watching. Just so many forced continued jokes, and predictable storylines.

A few good jokes. A few great nessa moments and I actually thought James Cordon was decent.

They should have left it complicated at the end of the series.

I enjoyed the program over the various series and think it has some great characters but this end episode was pretty disappointing in its predictability. It delivered the ending that fans wanted but I think that missed the opportunity to do something memorable. Certainly not going to be remembered like the last episode of Blackadder Goes Forth.

The best bit was the Dave Coaches/Gwen arc.

Certainly not going to be remembered like the last episode of Blackadder Goes Forth.

Would definitely have been better if one if Nessa's spurned celebrity lovers had blown them all up....

I nearly baled I did. Full Gareth.

Certainly good to see Julia Davis back on the TV.  A few lol monents for me, that'll do. Baba ganoush is a private joke I particularly enjoyed.

Larry looked a bit unsteady at a few points, hadn't realised he'd been ill. (Hes getting on a bit too)

I thought the scene of the lads in the nightclub was quite appropriate for the series. I've enjoyed G&S in the past but this felt tired and predictable, some good performances but it's definitely run it's course.

kelvin

Full Member

Watched it last night and really enjoyed it.

Disappointed not to see Michael's SAAB 900S on the drive though.

Genuinely confused as to why people are bothering to open and post on Gavin and Stacey thread to say they don’t like Gavin and Stacey

It's Cwissmiss Family Viewing, which means a lot of people end up watching it because the rest of the family does.

I've watched previous series but I had to wander off after the first half hour. I just find the Gavin and Smithy characters so repellant and unlikeable. Rob Brydon brilliant of course.

Not many valleys in Barry, but!

Vale of Glamorgan, if being pedantic. Anyway, the accent I’m talking about continues North inland more than East/West along the coast, for all sorts of historical reasons. So much variation as you move along the coast. It’s Bryn’s accent that I can’t help escape. His is a Valleys accent for sure (and you’ll hear it lots in Barry). The other characters use voices from all over though, mostly Cardiff & Newport… far softer and less addictive.

[ source … being smashed to pieces in local school Rugby competitions as a teen ]

Having read the thread at far, I have nothing new to write.

I just find the Gavin and Smithy characters so repellant and unlikeable. Rob Brydon brilliant of course.

I watched it. Quite enjoyed it, and quite enjoyed the other episodes I have seen.

What is it about the characters you didn't like? I just saw a couple of old mates going through life.

It's an entirely subjective thing that I'm sure other people will disagree with, but they both give me the ick.

It was alright. Twee as you like and obvious, but yeah I enjoyed it.

I'd have done two endings something like this:

Give them the good ending first as Bryn's dream, as he wakes up crying first thing in morning. The police roll up to his gaff to arrest him for being the park bicycle flasher, who has been exposing himself to kids in parks up down wales on his bike rides.

Just before the house party at Pam's, they all go and visit Mick at the nursing home where he can't remember his own name.

Gav and Stacy have been going through tough times since Gav had affair with someone at the office, culminating in Stacy filling for divorce.

Nessa has taken up with a lesbian lover (smackhead) referred to as having a complicated personality and the cause of frequent dramas. Nessa brushes it off, as the way it is/she had a difficult childhood as she goes to the police station to bail her out for shop lifting. She obviously knocks back Smithy's offer, given her sexual awakening and leaves to do a six month stint on cargo ships.

A better ending I think you will all agree!