Bygones

Season 5, Episode 22, Aired
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Episode Summary

After Maddie passes out, Ally finds out she is suffering from a nervous reaction to all the changes in her life, so Ally decides that the only way she can help her daughter is to move back to New York. While the news come as a big shock to the firm, Richard anticipates his wedding with Liza so Ally can attend the ceremony. While spending her last hours in the town, Ally gets a visit from Rene, Georgia and later Billy as a ghost.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (3)

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  • After going downhill for the best part of its 5th season Ally McBeal's last episode ever partly redeems the show, its creators and the actors that needed to. There are no perfect endings. But there are hear-warming, back to good ensemble acting ones.moreless

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By cryptobuddhist, Mar 03, 2011 Report Abuse
    Because of her daughter cannot adapt to Boston, Ally decides that family matters most and a move to New York will be their next step.
    Things other than long lost daughters matter a great deal too, of course. Nobody really wants Ally to leave regardless of wether this is sincerely expressed in higly emotional scenes or has to be masked behind a mask of sarcasm.
    In the end even marriages are brought forth and more than ever Ally's influence on all her friends is brought home to them.
    Old friends drop by - and boy are we glad to see Rene and Georgia! Even Billy has a literally otherworldly special comeback. Or does he?
    The very last scene is moving - a tearjerker perhaps - but funny in that sort of way the show seemed to have lost a few seasons back.
    And when Ally walks away from her friends she is confident, happy, nostalgic. So are they. So is the audience.
    Thanks for the good memories Ally McBeal.moreless

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    10 2

  • Bye Ally.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By dmarex, Mar 03, 2011 Report Abuse
    Even though it may not have been the happily-ever-after finale some viewers may have been hoping for, the series finale of this show definitely left a good impression on me. As many others, I also didn't think season five was everything it was supposed to be, but all in all in was an okay season.

    The only thing that matters was that this episode really made me feel as if I was losing a friend. Watching Ally was always a fun time for me as a kid, and ever now after I've watched the entire series again.

    The series finale gave me everything I could hope for, yet it left so much story yet to be told. I will always be sad about the fact that Ally never reunited with Larry. Now, as for the series ending, everyone was exactly like I remembered them. Nelle was the usual sarcastic herself, Elaine was showing just how much she cared for Ally, Richard was still bedazzled by women (now with just the one, the magnificent Cristina Ricci - isn't it weird how you just know this would have been Ling had she stayed?), and we had many others appearing; from Rene, Georgia, John and even Ghost Billy... it was really everything I could hope for concerning this show's finale.

    Goodbye Ally. You've been a great joy.moreless

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    1 0

  • Goodbye Ally....

    10
    "Perfect"
    By farscapefanuk, Mar 03, 2011 Report Abuse
    The final in finally here, and although it wasn't as good as the writers wanted it to be in turned out pritty good. Sadly for Ally Larry didn't turn up, but Maddie is having a breakdown and Ally must leave her job to care for her daughter. Ally slowly has to say her goodbyes to everyone she has met over the past five years even Billy who died!

    I was crying by the end everyone sad godbye, John, Richard, Neill, Georgia, Renee everyone. It was so sad and hard to say goodbye after five seasons. I never realised i liked this show that much. I think in a way five series is enough for this show, if any longer it might have gone down hill. Ally never found happyness but who knows in the future... goodbye Cage, Fish and Mcbeal... I 'm gonna miss you.moreless

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    8 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • In the final goodbye scene, all members of the original season 1 cast are present. Portia de Rossi is the only cast member added after Season 1 to appear. Edit
    • The show finishes with Vonda Shepard singing "In the Neighbourhood," the first song ever played on this show. Edit
    • Calista Flockhart has the last line on the show ever. Edit

  • Notes

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  • Quotes

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    • (last line) Ally (V/O): Looking backwards, many of the sadiest time in my life turned out to be the happiest. So I must be happy now. Yeah. This is gonna be good. Why else would I be crying? Edit
    • (on an office meeting) Ally: Uh, thanks everybody for coming. Sorry about the short notice but it's important. Nelle: (ironically) You're changing your hair color? Edit
    • Richard: All right, uh, everybody's here. Seats please, I have an announcement. Nelle: Don't tell me, you changed your name to Fish, McBeal... and Bump. Lisa: Oh, that hurts my feelings, Morgan. Nelle: I apologize, Debbie. Edit

  • Allusions

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    • Title: Bygones. This is a reference to the "Bygones" quote, repeatedly said by Richard throughout the series. Edit

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