Ugly Betty: Bring on the Movie!

What a final episode. Ugly Betty may have drawn to a close on 14 April in America, but for this fan downloading from my laptop, it was 1 May 2010. The reactions of both sets of watchers were probably very similar- laughter, crying, more laughter, more crying, finished off by smiles.

 

If a show running more than 3 years can produce smiles of contentment at the end of its final ever episode, then you've done well. Did anyone ever watch the final episode of the L Word? Terrible.

Even though the heartbeat of the show is upbeat and adorkable Betty Suarez, I love how UB credited its awesome ensemble cast of characters with their due attention and story development.

Here's my brief summary:

Wilhemina Slater emerges from her coma revitalised by love (hot Connor) and becomes sole Editor-in-Chief at Mode Magazine; Daniel eventually lets Betty go and leaves the mag to start something new; Amanda finds out who her real father is; Marcs' DIY dating therapy succeeds with him ready to pursue a relationship with Troy/Trey; Justin comes out (those scenes in the last three episodes- tears, I tell you); Hilda and "Barbie"/Bobbie get hitched; Ignacio gives his blessing for the girls to move out.

As for the heroine, Betty realises her work at Mode is done and takes up a new job as Editor at a new start up in London. Predictable as the manicurication of Betty from red poncho wearing mess to the sleekly tailored and spectacled woman is, its well done and mighty satisfying to see. Bubba has grown up and the London scenes (contrast to Hilda's stag hol featuring every Britain-for-American TV cliché out there) were surprisingly realistic.

What I liked most, and the reason for posting, was that I loved the ambiguous feel of the ending. Betty bumps into Daniel around Trafalgar Square, where they have a chat. Mother Meade Claire's suspicion that Daniel harbours hidden feelings for Betty has been a running theme through the last last few episodes. When Daniel says he wants to stay in London for 'a while' and asks Betty out to dinner that evening, it hints at the possibility that a romance could blossom between the two on a new, level footing, without conclusively shoe horning us into the fact. For all the storylines, there is enough suggestion about what comes next once we leave them that it leaves a distinct window for a...MOVIE! Sex and the City did a similar trick on their closing episode, but failed to capitalise on the fans goodwill by taking so long to bring the first film out. SATC II, nearly 10 years after the series end, has the distinct feel of a pimped and tired pony taking another lap of honour, not realising its heyday has gone. Not even the accompaniment of a catchy mainstream hip hop ditty on a promo can mask that.

I know audience numbers were dwindling which forced the hasty end of the show, but I would so love to see What Betty Does Next at the cinema. With its technicolour hyper stylised feel, Ugly Betty has the resolution to handle transfer onto the Big Screen. Its roots in telenovella, creative licence and escapist nature are perfect movie fodder.

C'mon, people. DO IT DO IT DO IT. Just don't wait forever...