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MEDIUM “Me Without You” Review

MEDIUM "Me Without You" CBS

MEDIUM “Me Without You” Season 7 Episode 13 – Many brilliant shows are dealt a swift death after their first season. Even worse are the shows with enormous potential which do not survive long enough to see their potential realised. Worse still are the shows which started brilliantly but linger on until even the most ardent fans are sick of it. Medium managed to elude these television tragedies. Sure, it had some stinker episodes, but it rarely felt complacent. It always pushed the boundaries and took risks thematically and stylistically. When people talk about the lack of depth in network television, they clearly have not seen Medium.

As creepy and dark and twisted and downright scary as Medium could be, watching it was unlike watching a cheap thrills horror. This is because Medium was so firmly and eerily grounded in banal domestic life. This episode ended going right for the jugular: threatening the relationship between Joe and Allison. They ended the series on a swooping, eternal kiss. I have said it before and I’ll say it again: Joe and Allison are easily one of the best television couples ever. An episode without Joe is always a lesser episode of Medium. An episode without Allison…well, Arquette is the show, isn’t she?

In this episode Joe’s plane goes down and he dies. Allison refuses to believe this after a dream (seven years later) which shows him washed up on a beach. Scanlon and Devalos were each given their final stoic scenes.

I was sad that the last scene we would ever see of the adorable Marie and the scene stealing Bridgette DuBois was so short and dismissive, but it was completely in keeping with the tone of the show, which has made drastic efforts to steer clear of easy but forgettable melodrama. Ariel returns in the seven years later segment for a brief pep talk with her mother, and then she was gone. Instead we were left with a pleasant but unfamiliar older actress to play Marie while the three girls who have grown up over the past seven years on our screens bid farewell not with tearful, self-indulgent scenes, but with the memories we have of their characters’ lives.

It was a solid episode of Medium, an entertaining and sad final episode. I will miss it.

What did you think of the finale of Medium? Sound off in the comments below.

Follow me on Twitter @CiaraMoyna

By | January 22, 2011 | 36 Comments
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  • Theother4rays

    Hated it! Felt forced and rushed and did not do any of the characters justice! And Joe dead?? Really, they did that??

  • Kate

    I was not aware this was the final episode til the very end. It left me sad and shaken. As all episodes, it was well written. I was stunned as Medium had a loyal following and showed no signs of writers losing creativity nor did they even begin to hit the boring repetitiveness other long lasting shows reach after a few seasons. Given the loving family life mixed with the reality of every day problems/arguments families tend to go through it always left me with the feeling of closeness to its characters. At times it left me with the feeling that Joe and Allison could have been my next door neighbours. Only excellent writing and having proper characters in place to play the parts could have done that. I am extremely sad the show will no longer be a part of my Friday evenings. Hope they bring it back.

  • nannypaula

    It makes me sad that Allison spent her last 54 years without her beloved Joe. I am sorry I watched.

  • Nmhall001

    I did not know the show had been cancelled so I was absolutely stunned with the realization. However, the last episode was par excellent, not contrite. We lose someone we love every minute of the day and we must carry on until we’re called. Kudos to the cast, writers and crew for an evening of mystery, drama and lightheartedness, and oh yes, I cried.

  • Gmcafoos

    I, too, was smacked in the face at the ending of my very favorite series. This show has never failed to entertain us, and to illustrate the love and conflict we experience in our everyday lives. The relationship among the family members was exquisite. I can’t say how much my husband and I will miss our Friday night date with Allison and Joe.

    • Utzi5

      I am so sorry to see the end of this series. I looked forward to seeing it each Friday night. Although I found out earlier in the day that it was the last show I was also shaken by the outcome of the last episode. I was so hoping that Joe’s death was only a dream. If enough people protest the end of the show is there a chance it will return?? I can only dream

  • Sunny

    Blah,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    I agree it seemed like a rush job.
    Using a plane crash ………..please. Joe deserved better than that.
    For a series with a consistent brand of creative original scripts, this finale was a major disappointment.

  • http://twitter.com/chelanxar Jimmy Bilenko

    well I guess they threw the “based on true story” bit out the window…

  • LC

    Being that it was the series finale, I really thought the network would have thrown us a bone and given it a 2 hr send off. I mean really, after 7 years, was that too much to ask? I never really felt that 1 hr was going to be enough time to give it a proper send off.

    Watching the episode, I was completely shocked and heartbroken about Joe’s death. I suppose there weren’t a lot of other catastrophe’s that they could have put in the episode but overall, I wasn’t a fan of that storyline. HOWEVER, when Alison started dreaming of Joe, I thought…..YES! A worthy happy ending/storyline. And then to find out it was all a dream…..cruel and just awful.

    Also re zapping us into the future. I understand they doing it but A) I didn’t like the extremely short screen time that Marie and Bridgette got, B) the fact that we never saw Bridgette again and C) that they didn’t actually bring Ariel back, she simply had her phone scene. I personally was hoping that they’d send Ariel off to college and she’d get home sick and come home or that she’d come home just for vacation or something. Maybe they had planned to do something like this but since the season was shortened, they had to expedite their plans to wrap it up (shortened season- also not fair).

    Overall, I wasn’t ecstatic about the ending of the season. There wasn’t enough time at all. I think the beginning started out strong and then once they knew it was being canceled, it was just a race to wrap it up. It’s too bad since Medium was a great show and I agree, Allison and Joe….possibly one of the best tv couples of all time.

  • sad2cthemgo

    I have mixed feelings about the ending. Obviously the writers wanted to make it look like Allison and the girls did live their full and happy lives as Joe predicted, but where where Allison’s “happy photos.” Otherwise we’re left with the image of Allison alone all those years — very “The Ghost and Mrs Muir.” But I guess it would have ruined the romance if she had remarried. Joe and Allison were definitely one of the best and most real married couples on TV.

  • Denise

    Hit to close to home for me. I lost my first husband in a plane crash, he also came to me in my bedroom doorway, just before the state police came to my door. I really wish they would have ended it on a happier note with the possibility for the girls having a show of there own in the future. How does the real Allison and Joe feel about the ending? I have been a faithful viewer from the very first show and never missed one episode, I understand what they were trying to do, but come on..this show deserved a better ending.

    • Dr-solo

      My father and brother died when my dad crashed his airplane. So I too am sensitive to these kinds of endings. I simply hated the ending and wont watch anything written by Glen Gordon Caron or produced by Grammnet/Kelsey Grammer, they are sadistic. Now I have to start weeding thru the series I watch to get rid of them in my “lineup”.

  • Pammy327

    I HATE when they kill a major character off that we’ve grown to love over the years. It’s one thing if they leave the show at some point along the line, but this was the last one. Now anytime I watch the reruns I will think “Joe’s gonna die.” Also, that ending where Allison dies & becomes her younger self & is reuinited with Joe–straight from “Somewhere in Time” with Christopher Reeve & Jane Seymour. And if they WERE going to kill Joe off, why did they have the little narrative at the end saying that the real Allison, Joe & their children live in southwest U.S. I think the writers WERE rushed–the show was only cancelled a few weeks ago I think. Anyway, for a show I loved, the finale sure put a bad taste in my mouth.

  • Maeggg

    I am sick that Medium has ended. This was the most realistic family show. The relationships between the parents and the children was true to life. I don’t like it when they digress too far from the script. I hate the sitcoms with all their canned humor and scripts. I hope the writers can come up with a comeback show soon. Allison could have just dreamed it all or something. Come back soon Allison and family.

  • http://twitter.com/cmetian Chris

    It was a cruel thing to do to the fans, especially with all of the real life tragedy this country has suffered recently. If they were determined to rip out the hearts of fans and stomp on them, then at least give a 2 hour segment so it isn’t so abrupt, forced and traumatic. If we didn’t care about these characters, we wouldn’t have watched.

    • Dr-solo

      I didnt hear any announcements of the end of the series so it was a huge shock by itself.
      The ending was just brutal for those of us who cared.
      It was unnecessary because the “real” Allison, Joe and kids are alive and well.
      I hate this ending so much I am going to dump the “complete season” DVDs I have, wont buy the last couple, I wont watch any reruns or “made for TV” movies.
      I am going to find out who the person is made the decision to end it this way and make sure I NEVER watch any series HE writes and/or produces for. I know it is a HE because no woman would wrench the feelings of the mostly female audience just for shock value. That person is sadistic to say the least.

      • Disgusted

        Sorry but that’s the most f***ing ridiculous thing I have ever read.

        It was their show; they wrote, scripted and created these characters you care so bloody much about, they have the right to end their show however the hell they want. If they’d left it all sappy with some cliched happy ending everyone would be complaining they went out without style, flair or true Medium grit. At least this episode challenged us and moved us in the way we’ve known the show to do for its seven season run. If you truly loved this show and its characters so much, you would not completely disregard the entire series as a result of one episode, one character ending that you disagreed with.

        And you know what? That’s life! People die! It’s f***ed up and it hurts and it can ruin things but it happens, and Medium was always about the reality of life. There’s nothing ‘sadistic’ about that. What’s more, the writers of this show, whom I’m sure would have made a joint decision regarding its final episode, are quite obviously a talented bunch, and I personally would love to watch any of their future productions.

        So get the f**k over it.

        A

  • Mediumsucks

    I’m glad it ended. The series sucked and I’m surprised it lasted this long.

  • http://twitter.com/tomalakgeretkal Tomalak Geret’kal

    It did, indeed, feel a little rushed. This was due to real-life circumstance, of course. Still, given what had to be done, I felt that it was executed in true Medium style: with heart. In a lot of ways have I grown up with this show, and in the same year that I am changing continents it’s an added weight that Medium is to end now. It will be sorely — and fondly — missed.

  • Richdragons

    I hated the ending. I was left sad and crying and wished I had not watched it!

  • Anonymous

    I am a huge fan of this show. I watched the pilot and every episode up to this last one. For me, it was bittersweet.

    On one hand, Ariel, the eldest daughter, has moved out to go to college. The family unit was splintering off as it does in real life, and that the family was really the foundation of the show. Without Ariel, it was missing one of the main ingredients.

    On the other hand, while all things must come to an end, I was very upset and disappointed that the network chose to pull the plug on this show mid-season. It would have had a more graceful and less abrupt conclusion if the writers had a bit more time to pull it all together. I also agree with the comments that asked for a two hour long finale.

    That being said, it was a very touching and moving finale. I am grateful that CBS picked up the show for two more seasons. Hats off to all of the actors and writers. Everyone was so well-cast and the show was so well-done. I will miss every character.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001459531011 Sheryl Shanell Stmichel

    i Cried When I Found Out Joe Really Died. Through Out The Show iThought Allison Would Wake Up And It Would Be Over . Im Going To Miss This Show . iWatched EVERY Episode And Want MORE But iGuess I Cant . =(( This Show Will Be Missed .

  • Theresiaazzopardi150

    I cannot believe it ended :( It was one of the greatest shows ever, I used to watch it every week for nover 5 years now. The story is amazing and the actors are great too :( … I did not know it was going to end… this makes me really sad :( I WILL MISS IT BADLY !! :(

  • Larrybendoregon

    I wasn’t prepared for the show to end so ubrubtly. I thought it still was going strong. It’s one of the few shows my wife and I equally enjoyed.

  • Kamyers1030

    It was a very amazing, and emotional show that i looked forward to watching with my family every friday night. I can’t say how great of a show this was ! in a way, it was part of my life, and i will never forget it.
    I was very sad that it had to end that way, but it was great. Thanks for an amazing show!

  • Linglover82

    I completely agree with this review! What was so great about the show was the interaction between the family members, it felt like a real family. Although the show’s formula was pretty much the same, it never felt that way. Although Joe’s death was sad (I couldn’t believe it!), it made the point that Allison and Joe loved each other so much, that nothing could keep them apart. I really loved the series and will miss it.

  • Gwennm

    This ending was so sad that I could not sleep the entire night after watching it. I loved the relationship between Joe and Allison and how their entire family interacted, I wish I had never watched this ending, I would have been fine to believe that they would spend their lives together instead of denying Joe of his mortal time with the love of his life, children, and grandchildren. Too painful an ending, and I hope to forget it very soon. What was the reason to make everyone sad?

    • Bettamc

      I was upset for the rest of the day….. and still am…. whether the episode was written well or not, directed well or not, acted well or not,….. breaking up the family like that was the one thing I cannot accept…too darn sad! The fact that the Dubois still turned out ‘successful’ in their lives (the message the pictures of the kids and their families were trying to convey), didn’t at all change the fact that Allison had to spend her life without Joe. So why the happy music at the end!?!! Who helped her out when she had another out of body experience or any of the weird stuff that would happen to her on a regular basis? Are they assuming she would be normal and stop dreaming because her sidekick wasn’t there anymore?!! W/o Joe she would not have gone on to live another 41 years. It’s simply not believable considering the amount of times he saved her life by just understanding/believing her, she would have died way before that… and then you would have orphaned children with powers and no family….. I know I’m rambling! BUT DID THEY HAVE TO KILL JOE!!!! :( ((((

  • Lauren

    Glad she didn’t remarry. Glad he waited for her. Sad, especially if you watch Joe on the plane as he says to Allison, “I love you very…” Great acting. I cried. Amnesia felt forced, but that makes sense since Allison was doing the forcing. Joe is the model of the hero husband, friend, lover. /sigh I’m lucky my husband has so many of those same qualities. ;)

  • Jervn2086

    Hated it, too! Reminded me a lot of the Mash episode where Col. Blake’s plane is shot down as he’s going home. I loved this series and am VERY disappointed that it won’t be back – ever considering this last episode.The Dubois were like family and the long-suffering Joe – whose one of the best characters on TV, got it one more time. I never understood why the writers seemed to pick on Joe. Oh well, to the cast, crew and everyone involved with the series – Thank you. Would a happy ending really have been inappropriate? I don’t think so.

  • http://www.staceyarcangel.com S.S.A.

    Being a professional “psychic/medium/intuitive” myself I felt this show was very real & impressive! I’ve been hooked from the first ep. They could have done much better with the finale of such an incredible show ~ killing off Joe was not creative, it was just sad! Oh Well ~ at least we have all the other great episodes!

  • http://www.staceyarcangel.com S.S.A.

    Being a professional “psychic/medium/intuitive” myself I felt this show was very real & impressive! I’ve been hooked from the first ep. They could have done much better with the finale of such an incredible show ~ killing off Joe was not creative, it was just sad! Oh Well ~ at least we have all the other great episodes!

  • Beanie12549

    It was sad, but true to the family that we grew to love over the years. I know that it’s just a show, but it leaves you hopeful that you truly never leave the ones you love. Cried my eyes out, but enjoyed the episode. I also enjoyed the good-bye from all the main actors.

  • J. P.

    I have loved this show and am sad to see it end. It was just a show but for an hour every week I got to be somewhere else and visit another family. This last episode left me feeling like “what was that?” It had an unreal quality to it and somehow felt more like a pause than an ending. I also agree this episode could have been better… much better. I will of course watch the reruns, and probably invest in the rest of the series… however, that episode I will never watch again….

  • Nerrf

    I loved this show. It is the only good dhow on TV, so I TIVO it and watch it when I can completely relax. What a smack in a face!! I had no clue it was the last episode. It was a well written episode as all of them are, but WOW!! I will really miss the show. What a waste to cancel it. I wish the cast the best and thanks for such quality entertainment. It was a breath of fresh air and a complete joy to watch you every week. What a wonderful couple. I hate that Allison and Joe had to die in he end. That was a drag.

  • Rose

    hated the ending , why kill joe?? very rushed

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