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Bonnie Plunkett endured a veritable cocktail of intense emotions during Mom‘s series finale – but never once did she consider pouring herself a stiff drink.
In the CBS comedy’s farewell episode, Allison Janney’s alter ego gained a new outlook on her sobriety after a whirlwind 24 hours. First, she met fellow addict Shannon (played by Two and a Half Men‘s Melanie Lynskey) and convinced her to give Alcoholics Anonymous a chance. (It was no coincidence that Shannon’s complicated relationship with drug-addled mom Jolene, played by Mike & Molly‘s Rondi Reed, mirrored that of Christy’s pre-recovery relationship with Bonnie.)
Bonnie also found out that Adam has lung cancer. But rather than spiral out of control, she remained calm and told her husband they’d get through this together. She eventually filled Marjorie, Tammy and Wendy in on Adam’s prognosis, but kept it from Jill for now, as not to ruin her spur-of-the-moment wedding day.
Finally, as this 170-episode journey drew to a close, Bonnie got up and gave an inspiring speech about her eight years in AA, which alluded to her relationships with her daughter Christy — whose absence is explained here — and grandkids Violet and Roscoe:
“This has been quite a day. I think I’ve had every feeling a person can have — some of them great, some of them just awful — and never once thought about drinking or using. But that’s not the miracle. The miracle is I never thought about myself. I was thinking about the people I love, and how I could help them…
When I walked in that door eight years ago, I was so filled with fear, self-loathing, shame… But now, I kinda like me. I kinda love me. I love my husband, I love my daughter, my friends, my grandkids…
I’ve always heard people in meetings say how they’re grateful alcoholics, and I never understood it. It actually kind of pissed me off. But now I get it. My name is Bonnie, and I’m a grateful alcoholic — and if that pisses you off, just keep coming back.”
Below, series co-creator Gemma Baker explains why it was important to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Bonnie, and ruminates on Mom‘s legacy.
TVLINE | Why was it important for Bonnie to encounter Shannon at this particular moment in her life?
It is definitely unusual to introduce new characters in a series finale, and we knew that going into it. But we thought it was a way of honoring the idea of giving back to a newcomer, and that this continues to go on [even after the show is over]. The relationship between Bonnie and a newcomer also shows so clearly how [Allison Janney]’s character has changed over the years.
TVLINE | Adam’s lung cancer prognosis is hopeful, but his fate is technically left in the air. Why is that?
For this show, it didn’t feel accurate to wrap everything up with a happy ending, or tie it up all in a bow. That’s not life how works. In recovery, people have to face life on life’s terms. Some of the things that our characters are going to face are going to be happy and joyful, and some of them are going to be terrible, but they’re going to be able to face those things together.
There have been a lot of characters in sobriety, in other shows and films, where the minute there was a crisis, that character relapsed. Showing Bonnie facing something really difficult, and going through it sober with the support of her friends, can give the audience a feeling that no matter what, Bonnie is going to be OK.
TVLINE | I couldn’t help but contrast how Bonnie composed herself here, in a moment of great uncertainty, to how she struggled to compose herself in the wake of Alvin’s death six years ago…
When Alvin died [in Season 2], Bonnie was tempted to drink. There was a scene in a bar with Christy and Bonnie. She actually didn’t drink then, but later that season [she] got into some trouble with medication… The way she handles the situation with Adam definitely is different. With Alvin, she went off by herself, and with Adam, she turns to her friends. So I think it does demonstrate how much she has grown.
TVLINE | So much of Jill’s journey since we first met her in Season 2 has revolved around her desire to have a family. Of the core characters, was it most important to you that Jill got her happily-ever-after?
We have watched a few attempts by her to start a family that haven’t worked out, and it was important to all of us that she had some success in that department. We all felt that the audience would love knowing that her dream of becoming a mother was going to come true. And also that she found a healthy relationship [with Andy].
TVLINE | Can you talk to me a bit about the importance of Bonnie’s very last share in AA?
Mom started out with the idea of doing a sitcom that was about hope and redemption. Bonnie’s last share, at the end of the episode, addresses both of those things. That’s not something we were conscious of when we were writing this episode… Chuck [Lorre] joined us to write the finale, which was wonderful, and it was only after we shot the episode that I really could tell that both of those things [were present] — the redemption, [in terms of] how far this character had come, and hope, in that recovery was possible. We know that recovery is possible for [Jolene and Shannon] because we know how far Bonnie and Christy [had come].
TVLINE | Why end the series not with Bonnie’s share, but with Wendy stepping up to the podium and asking, “Who else would like to share?”
We aren’t going to see new stories about these characters, but we wanted this episode to express that the journey continues — and I think that last line tells you that it keeps going… It’s funny, it’s actually the first line and the last line of the episode, which was not intentional, it just happened.
TVLINE | How do you want Mom to be remembered?
I hope Mom is remembered as a funny show that was really about something… It was a show that portrayed recovery as a place where there is light and laughter. And hope. And compassion. And friendships. And that chance at a better life.
What did you think of Mom‘s series finale? Grade it via the following poll, then drop a comment with your full review.
In my opinion, the new comers ruined it. The main characters, all of them, should have been the main focus.
Chuck Lorre could have done a better job of this great show finale. Basically, I expected more.
I like the newcomers because it gives us a reminder about where these characters came from. That scene in the diner with Shannon was fantastic, with the girls telling her, “We’ve been where you are, and we’re still here.” Almost every week after watching this show, I think about what a wonderful organization AA is for people in recovery. This episode – while not the best finale I’ve ever seen – does a great job of showing what that recovery process looks like and how it never really ends. I’m not saying I don’t have critiques of the episode. I do. But I think the newcomers were a brilliant addition to just kind of cement that message and mirror where the ladies began their journeys.
Agree.
I agree.
This to me, was intended as a season finale.
A series finale, when planned, always has closures and not leave plot holes with the main characters.
The entire episode was rushed and didn’t seem to focus as much on the main characters as it should have and a cameo from Anna Faris, a former star of the series, would have been welcomed and would have brought the series to a proper conclusion.
These shows are taped well In advance, so I’m certain this was not a true planned series finale.
Given the show, it wraps up the characters in a very real way.
I think they found out after the fact. They need an hour long special where everything is resolved as much as can be.
I agree with this, I was waiting for the next episode and to my shock this was the last episode.
Agree. Thay all came a long way. In a world where many people find hope hard to come by, this was a great message.
Agree 100%
As Viewers & Fans of “Mom” I definitely felt we were let down in the season finale.
It was basic.
We, The Viewers invested 8 years in this show.
It didn’t have to have a happy ending.
Life is Life.
Also, When Bonnie tells the new comer, “call me anytime”
She does & Bonnie blows her off.
However, to not experience the Birth of Jill’s Baby.
Does Adam Die?
I did like the show better this season without Christy.
So, I guess “That’s a Wrap”
Thanks for 8 years of your support.
& “We’re Out”
J’sayin
The Writer’s, Producer’s & Cast
Hurried through this finale.
A let down at best.
In My opinion.
I liked Christy for a while but her character got tired! The constant complaining and her bagging on how bad Bonnie was as a parent yet saying she was putting it behind her and then bringing it up again was too much! Also the amount of times she acted like she was better even though she was just as bad was frustrating too lol Anna Faris played her well though!! I actually didn’t realise how much I hated Christy till I wrote this lol
I actually needed to hear those scenes. That’s how I felt about my mom my whole life.
Watching Bonnie and Christy get close and move on has helped me forgive my mom
I have never liked the character Christy,I find her rude and disrespectful to her mom, Christy is not a good mom,and she can’t blame her mom.I agree with Lisa.
I agree! Although I did like bonnie’s segment, I would have much preferred more time on the other characters instead of these goofy new ones.
I felt ripped off and me and my daughter looked at each other and said “ are you sure that was the finale?”
Agree!
I felt like part of it was to show contrast between classic Bonnie and Christie and Bonnie now, thinking of someone else’s daughter before herself… probably comparing the daughter to Christy, etc. but I also agree with you
Several addicts in my family and this show … not to sound cheesy.. it was a real treasure. Something special
as a recovering alcoholic, I totally agree with you.
Thats how i took the ending too… Kind of like Bonnie & Christy before and after…
Addiction runs through my family too so it was quite amusing to see it all out there
I agree. I think the newcomers made a nice parallel between their story and Bonnie’s and Christie’s but it also took time away from the main characters. I had hoped that they would do a one hour finale. Maybe they could have had a phone call from Christy or a final “ghost” visit from Alvin to assure Bonnie.
Same.. my husband and I googled it immediately cause it seemed so incomplete. But after some thought, I get it. Still sucks it’s over!!
let down.
In Bonnie’s speech, she could have added an update on whats up with Christy? What happened to her nonexistent grandchildren?
Ugh, I hate when artistic people think leaving things up in the air/to our imagination is a good way to end the series.
Adam was awesome, what a terrible way to leave his story.
Nonexistent grandchildren? Don’t you remember Violet and Roscoe when the series first began?
I remember the grandkids but all of a sudden they were gone. I think the boy moved in with the dad but what happened with the granddaughter, did I miss that episode? All of a sudden the kids were gone and never mentioned again.
Violet wanted nothing to do with Christy which was in season 6 when Christy was on Violets podcast (the mother of all problems)
from experience, I will tell you that most of the time children and grandchildren have you in their lives for a little while and then go off to live their own lives. That might be next door or across the country. I think that Bonnie handled them in a very real way.
I want more….
I was saying the same thing the actors deserved a better ending
Definitely! And I could almost feel the “real feelings ” of Janney and Johnston! Rotten way to surprise the stars of show with sudden cancellation when show is still popular with fans,!!
This was more like a season finale. NOT a series finale. I understand the concept that recovery is ongoing. But that’s not what the fans wanted. We wanted to see that as the characters entered into new circumstances, situations, and relationships, we would see each character use the steps, tools, and relationships to gird themselves and each other up. Complete and total disappointment. Left us all hanging!
I thought it was a good episode but not a great finale. I been watching this show for a long time and although liked Christy character I did not miss her. I think it was because the episodes were so solid and actor did a wondeful job. We enjoyed seeing other characters. I mentioned Christy absence to my husband and he said oh that whose missing. I Hope this show gets picked up by a cable channel. Yea likely not happening but one can always hope.
I totally agree with everything you’ve stated. I too, would love for a different network to pick up the show and continue on with the same characters. My favorite show, always looked forward to watching it because it was like hanging out with a group of my girlfriends for the evening.
You obviously have never been in a 12-Step program. That’s the heart and soul as evidenced in our 5th tradition: Each group has but one primary purpose – to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
I think that the new characters are a mirror. A way to see how far the main characters have come from the woes in their lives. And it also shows that the carousel of life doesn’t stop. I loved this show and it taught me an appreciation for individuals who really need AA. I used to make fun of it, thinking as I don’t need it so what’s the harm? I apologize for such idiocy and hate that this show is ending! Thank you for a wonderful show!
I think the show was excellent even the last one and did you ever think it was ending that way in hopes that maybe another station with TV broadcast station would pick up the series? But it would seem that nbc,fox or abc broadcast TV what a picked it up and again in the old days people used to protest to keep a program on I know this household protested keep Star Trek on however people like us are not listen to about anymore and never would have been any other Star Trek programs or movies if it wasn’t for people like us I complain to the TV stations and wrote to them. We and our neighbors will miss this program it was funny and if hit hard making good points.
I would have like to see Christy daughter come back and and announce that she reconciled with her mother in Washington DC. See Roscoe growing up. It would have great to see Wendy get more respect from her “friends”.
I’m not sure how to grade it. I really wanted an hour finale. I really wanted to see Christy and the grandkids. I do agree with them on not having everything in a perfect bow, but I wanted the finale to give us glimpses of what’s going on with the people that had been part of it through the years.
That said, I’m glad they gave some characters a bit of happy ending – Jill and Tammy more so than the others – while also recognizing that addiction/recovery is ongoing. I did like having Melanie joining in for the finale. It was a well done finale.
Perhaps a well done season finale versus a well done series finale, from which I hoped for more.
This is a tough one for me to grade too. There was a lot going on. I don’t particularly dislike anything in particular, and I think they generally did a good job. But they really needed an hour for this. It felt rushed. They introduced two new characters, had two meetings, a diner scene, a cancer scare, and a wedding all in 20 minutes. It was a lot.
I will state once again ending MOM was a stupid decison by CBS. The last episode was a nice wrap up but it felt more like a season not a series ending. So one of the best shows on TV comes to an end. Unless there is a some sort of follow we will never know Adam’s fate.
I agree. I think it was a mistake ending a really great show.
I totally agree with you! I loved this show and it’s cast! They all had such great chemistry together! It was not right to end this show with so many things left unanswered. I and so many others loved this show! Shame on you CBS, this is the BEST COMEDY besides The Big Bang show you guys have ever had in recent years.
I agree ending mom was a wrong and stupid idea. Just cause Cristy left didn’t mean the show had to end. I love all of the girls and they where amazing and the show would have been just fine without Cristy.
Really dumb and cruel way to end a great popular show!
I agree with you on everything except the Adam comment. Sadly, I think we do know Adam’s fate.
Fingers crossed its picked it up sometime down the line… I mean they wont stop picking up sex and the city and other series/movies that should be completely finished! So who knows! I also wish we saw some growth with Wendy! She was the only character we didnt know much about or who had moved forward in life… Its like her character was just written as the joke of the series.
Depends on you view the show.
If it’s all about Bonnie, they nailed the ending with her journey with addiction and personal growth.
If you include other members of her family it’s a complete fail.
So either a ‘C’ if you’re being generous, or an ‘F’ if you average in the unresolved the dynamic with the rest of the Plunketts, (Christie, as well as Violet and Roscoe).
It did become all about Bonnie, didn’t it.
It’s been all about Bonnie for a while now. I actually think they made the right decision to end the series and let it be while it was still watchable. It was getting kind of stale for me and got to the point where I couldn’t miss an episode to,really didn’t matter if I did. And,that was before Anna left. That said,I do think they deserved an hour series finale. Jmo.
Excellent. I am going to me these ladies.
Goodbye Bonnie, Christy, Marjorie, Jill and Wendy. You will be dearly missed. Thank you for everything.
I’m underwhelmed. It felt more like a season finale than a series finale. Last week’s episode felt more like a finale than this one.
I really wish CBS had given them more time to prepare a more complete finale. You would figure that after 8 years they would have been treated better. Should have had an hour and felt more final.
I totally agree! I have watched this series from the very beginning and would have liked a more involved ending with more of the past and present cast characters involved. At any rate will miss this show 😔
I agree 100 % WHY CBS this was a great show i ksughed and cried with this show and you just let it go why becauseof christy leaving!?? This show wasn’t all about her it just makes me shake my head big mistake CBS
The show should have ended with Jill giving birth and becoming a Mom. I figured that’s what the plan was going to be. But nope, we got this weird ending instead.
Good but missing something without Christy, Roscoe, Baxter and Violet. I know some of them have been MIA for several seasons but I still missed them and wished at least one or two of them were a part of it
Does Adam even know Bonnie’s grandchildren? Are they living in Siberia?
Why O why did they stop taping Mom episodes. It has always been my favorite show!!! As a recovering addict it hits home like no other show.
I hope another network picks it up !!!!
It is too soon to go. There is so much more to say and talk about. You know what I mean. Please don’t let this show go!!! Heartbroken I am!!!!!!🙏🙏🙏
I totally agree with you. There is no other show on television that deals with addiction. Bad move on CBS ‘ part
I didn’t mind the introduction of a mom/daughter pair for Bonnie to help given the full circle feel…but the new characters were too over the top and distracting. Had they been more subtle and more in the background it would have worked. But they were a bit annoying and took away from the others.
I hate finales that don’t wrap things up.
That’s the lazy way out. Life doesn’t have wrap-ups.
I wish it had been an hour long. Should have had Christy come back to be with her mom to help Adam. Love that Jill ended up happy, but i think they still had so much all the ladies could have shared. Sad to see show end.
This seems like an episode that was written hoping for a cancellation reversal.
Either that or a spin-off or reunion in the future
I’m so upset this show is ending! Big mistake! Huge! Still had a lot of life left in the characters.
It was a great episode, I feel like they wrote it before they were cancelled, Christy should have returned for the finale. Way to good of a show to be cancelled! #MonDeservesBetter
I can’t believe CBS cancelled the best sitcom on TV!!! I hope they reconsider ..
Wow. The EP explains everything, and people still miss the point!
I don’t know when we got trained to expect that a series finale is supposed to “wrap everything up,” but those endings always seem forced, and that’s not how life works anyway.
Bonnie went from a life of being self centered to someone who is committed to being supportive of those around her. And without relapsing into drugs or drinking. THAT’S the happy “wrap up” ending.
Yep.
YES… so true!! I have a better unerstanding reading the EP, was a little dissapointed at the ending but after reading Gemmas reasoning behind it, makes TOTAL sense now!
Considering the pressure of writing an ending of a show, when it should have been a series finale I think it was great!!
Great job to everyone involved and hope FOX or ABC, SOMEONE picks up this show, it was too great to be ended so abruptly
The series finale,felt rushed but loved to see how much Bonnie has grown and happy Jill married Andy. Bringing the kids back would have been out of context from what the show became. Will miss this show!
Thank you. She’s so effing tough now, she can handle Adams prognosis and has the support to really make it.
I’m happy it ended on a good note, with lessons for all, but I wished the show had gone on longer, as it could have had so many more lessons. Told with the humor and wonderful acting, these lessons resonate well and potentially help those in need.
I wish the ladies a farewell on the ending. The ending wasn’t too my satisfaction. Will miss them all. A baby shower and the results of Adams biopsy.
Disappointed for adding new person to the final episode. She was a distraction from watching the ones that we all love for the last time.
I hate thar this show ended. I also wish it would have been longer and we would have known about the kids. The new characters were like an introduction of here we go again. Disappointed in general about the cancelation
PLEASE RECONSIDER! This show is needed now more than ever! With the recent PANDEMIC and the ISOLATION reality comedy this good is almost a must! I am a grateful alcoholic who will NEVER understand why you cancelled an Emmy winning show with GOOD ratings up until the very last episode! 😪
My problem with this is that it felt more like just a regular episode. I didn’t dislike and realized while watching what they were doing with the newcomers, however I think a bit too much of a focus was put on them—especially during Jill’s wedding. It almost felt like what they would do for a planted spinoff. Didn’t hate anything but nothing really felt like a final episode. Would have like something a little more from this episode.
This was such a good show. But too much for one 20 minute episode. I understand the intention to leave the show open to the future but it felt like a 20 page paper that wrapped in the last 2 pages to meet page requirements. Another 18 or 20 minutes would have allowed the show to feel full and ready for the future.
It worked as a finale. It’s a shame Jill didn’t get a better wedding. My biggest complaint is that Anna Faris didn’t film a cameo. It could have been a video phone chat… this show solidified her stardom and it would have been nice if fans could have been treated to a proper farewell.
I can understand CBS not wanted to fork out the cost for diminishing returns, but a Mom movie where we learn Adam’s fate and the gang all heading to Georgetown for Christie’s graduation would have been a better send-off for a staple series.
This show did not solidify her stardom. She was a star and that’s how she got the show to begin with.
Why are you so offended by what P said? Solidified means that it made her already strong career even stronger. It wasn’t an insult.
Yes I agree, Christy always said that Marjorie saved her life being her sponsor and friend. They should have brought her back for the finale in some form to honor Marjorie. To me Christy was the shining light of the show. Gonna miss these girls and their journey. And Adam too! When Adam and Bonnie meet those are still my favorite episodes 💖
I felt the legal ceremony showed her growth. Her vanity was a real demon, fuelled by a seemingness endless bankroll of cash. For her love for Andy and want of a better life to break through that…. was amazing to me.
I agree that I would have liked to see Anna and wished it was an 1hr double ep