Hap and Leonard Season Finale Review: Eskimos

ThisHap and Leonard review contains spoilers.

Hap and Leonard: Season 1 Episode half dozen

It was initially surprising that the concluding showdown with Soldier and Angel was more than or less over in the first fifteen minutes of the finale. Merely as I've said before, this bear witness has never been about the stolen coin. Rather, Hap and Leonard is about old flames and lifelong friendships. And and then we commence on a slow denouement that seeks to patiently necktie up loose ends for characters in desperate need of closure. It's hither that "Eskimos"—and indeed the entire season, truly shines, unapologetically bringing the states 1 emotional moment later some other. It'southward not money that holds this big earth together, information technology'due south love, in its many bruised, damaged forms. Hap and Leonard revels in this notion, that broken hearts still beat, pounding out a rhythm of hopefulness despite a lifetime of regret. I'll say this right now: I miss this damn bear witness already. Information technology exceeded every expectation I had for information technology, delivering 60 minutes after hour of well-crafted drama and humor. If I could requite this season finale vi stars, I would happily do then.

One of the great things about Hap and Leonard is the passage of time is so fluid and so tangible that information technology could very well be its own character on the bear witness. Throughout the season we've been pulled forth with the narrative every bit it flashed back twenty years to Hap and Trudy as idealistic newlyweds. Sometimes the jump dorsum was more dramatic, to a fourth dimension when Hap and Leonard were boys whose lives unexpectedly collided on the side of the road 1 rainy night. In the example of "Eskimos," the episode opens on the ruins of Leonard'due south house, stale blood and police tape everywhere. Hap'southward in bad shape, besides. He's picking upwards the pieces in the aftermath of their fierce showdown with Soldier and Angel. But Leonard'south nowhere to be found. The fashion the scene is framed, it sounds like Leonard didn't survive existence shot. I don't arraign the writers for doing this—it keeps viewers riveted—but deep down I knew Leonard couldn't be dead. To impale him would fly in the face of the time this show has invested in creating a lived-in, realistic relationship between two men who will likely grow old together. But more on that in a flake.

In the concurrently, the story brings united states back to where last week's "State of war" left off, with Hap and Leonard left high and dry by Trudy to confront Soldier and Angel on their ain. Jimmi Simpson is dandy however again every bit he waxes philosophical well-nigh what he considers the free-love aspect of Eskimo civilization. His assay is reductive, of grade, focusing on what he considers a swinger lifestyle among simpler, archaic folk. Soldier is no fool, though; his rambling monologue is a distraction for his avenging Angel to deadfall Hap and Leonard. The ensuing melee is violent and all also intimate as the three grapple and contort in a bloody heap on the flooring. Hap is no slouch—he tin can give as adept equally he gets in a fight—just he'south incapable of taking a life. Leonard, however, has no such qualms, and he ends the fight by snapping her cervix.

Equally far as character deaths go on this bear witness, Chub's was the most unexpected, Howard's the almost efficient, and Paco's the about grisly. Soldier'south decease, though, is the most cathartic, especially given that Hap simply cannot pull the trigger. Some might view this inability to kill equally a weakness, or a liability, but I think the opposite is true for Hap Collins. Killing is only a line he chooses not to cross. Information technology's a good affair for the fellas that Trudy's alter of eye brings her back to Leonard's, because she ultimately succeeds where Hap failed, finally taking downwardly Soldier with a single bullet. It's a short-lived victory, given that she herself has taken a bullet.

Again, this all occurs within the first fifteen minutes of the episode. From this indicate on, we go 1 bloodshot moment after another, starting time with Trudy'southward confessions, the most important i being that she still loves Hap. He hears none of this of form, which is plumbing fixtures in a fashion—he and Trudy were just never meant to be. When she appears to him in his infirmary room, a glowing vision of a younger Trudy in her nuptials dress, we understand this is their final goodbye.

More than poignant still is seeing Hap out of the hospital, sitting at a table covered in bills, the recovered cash beside him. He ponders many things—getting out of debt, taking a holiday. He even considers turning the money in to the FBI. In the end, he sets a bit of the cash bated but donates virtually of information technology to the Children's Charity Fund, in Trudy's name. At the stop of the twenty-four hours, Hap Collins is a decent homo. And information technology's tranquillity, heartfelt moments similar this one that brand Hap and Leonard standout television worth watching. Like Hap, the bear witness wears its ragged heart on its workingman'south sleeve.

But at that place's still the affair of reuniting Hap and Leonard. As much every bit Leonard hated Trudy, and despite nearly getting killed because of a get-rich-quick scheme gone wrong, he's still genuinely sorry for Hap's loss. This is a tried and true friendship, for sure. Raoul is lurking most, though, and he's far less charitable toward Hap, insisting he stay away from Leonard. To his credit, Hap wants what'southward best for his friend, so he doesn't argue.

This brings us to the season'south concluding death—Leonard's Uncle Chester. Again, these are very bittersweet moments that come up from the heart. We want Hap and Leonard together over again, only not like this. Yet it's plenty to finally reunite them, with Leonard telling Hap, "You're the one family I got at present."

The finale'due south terminal scene is pitch-perfect, with Hap and Leonard staying overnight in Uncle Chester's apartment. They've been through a lot together, these two men, and one senses they will see more adventures together. Only rather than dwell on all that went so wrong in their recent by, they instead discuss the merits of the show Leave Information technology to Beaver , and how Wally and the Beav moved on after every episode with no baggage.

True enough, Hap and Leonard are not just friends, they're brothers—and we wouldn't have it any other mode.