Tonight, CBS aired the final episode of Medium. After seven seasons and 130 episodes, it was time to say goodbye to Allison DuBois (Patricia Arquette), her husband Joe (Jake Weber), their children and friends. The series finale of Medium is called “Me Without You.”
As the episode begins, we see Allison having an evening phone conversation with Joe who’s at the start of a flight home from Hawaii. Later, Allison is awoken by another call from Joe. His flight is arriving early and then it hits turbulence, and crashes into the ocean. The episode flashes forward seven years and we learn that Joe indeed died. Allison is now a lawyer involved in a big drug case. Her boss, the district attorney, is killed by the leader of a drug cartel who’s on trial. Manuel Devalos (Miguel Sandoval) is the mayor and Lee Scanlon (David Cubitt) is the chief of detectives.
Allison begins to dream about Joe and realizes that he’s actually been alive in Mexico with amnesia. The drug lord has been using him to transport narcotics across the border. She ultimately decides to throw the case so that she can reunite with her husband. She and daughter Marie drive to Mexico and she is reunited with him, finally.
Unfortunately, it’s a dream. She awakes back in the present and Joe is there, as a ghost. He did die in the crash and he tried to send a message to Allison about how good her life will still be, even without him. Unfortunately, her mind couldn’t accept it and concocted a way for him to still be alive. Joe tells her how much he loves her and that the loss will hurt for a long time but it will get better. Though she pleads for him to stay, he needs to go.
The scene flashes forward to 41 years later. We see a very old Allison, surrounded by photos of her children and grandchildren. She dies peacefully. Allison appears as her younger self and looks at her now dead body. Joe appears to her, just as he had been. He waited, of course. She asks, “Do I get a kiss?” He replies, “From now, until the end of time.” The two embrace and kiss. They are together, forever more.
The episode ends with brief scenes from the show’s seven year history and each castmember silently saying goodbye to the camera and faithful viewers.
What do you think? Was this a satisfying conclusion to Medium? What did you like or dislike about it?
Image courtesy CBS.
I adored this show, it made me feel that my marriage and children and gifts were okay and normal. Although I often got irritated with Joe as he never believed and always went for the “Oh it is a dream” scenario. However I was completely horrified to hear the show was ending, and I think one of the writers saw “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” and Alison and Joe’s ending reminded me of that, I have to say it is sheer romance, and it was a good ending. I had not thought of the issues with Mr. & Mrs. Kelsey… Read more »
I think someone at CBS has really lost his (her) mind! To cancel Medium when other garbage is left on. I never thought of Kelsey Grammar’s divorce as having anything to do with it until I read one of the other comments, but now I wonder… I dont care anything about the “real” Alison. To me it was a beautifully acted make believe that was a perfect way to end the week. PLEASE have one of the other channels pick it up!
I cannot believe a terrific show like The Medium was cancelled!! You cannot possibly replace this hour of television with anything comparable. Bring this show back!
I watched EVERY episode of this show from January 2005 til its finale. I am curious as to why this show was canceled. In my opinion it was one of the best shows on tv and the best on CBS. I sobbed from the time the plane was crashing til the very end. I’m sure all hopeless romantics felt the same way about this finale.
I, too, was unaware “Medium” had been canceled and so did not realize I was watching the series finale. Therefore, I kept expecting Alison to wake up with Joe next to her and in present time. Although I started suspecting something else was happening as the show neared its end, I was not positive this was the finale until the very end, with the long kiss and the actors waving to the camera. By this point, I was crying: it’s silly, but I felt close to these characters, as though they were part of my family. (I don’t have similar… Read more »
I loved the beginning and the end. I loved the reunion after death. The only problem I had with the finale was that I thought that Joe was out of character during that part where he said he was “sending her dreams to show her life could be full without him” routine if I heard correctly. I believe he would have come to her earlier, told her he would wait for her and that she needed to move on for the girls…. I agree with Marie, Dad should have made an appearance to at least one of them. But then… Read more »
Viewers tastes vary, currently it’s big on sports, crime drama, etc. The last Medium episode pulled in over 7 million viewers, didn’t come close to Two and a Half Men, unfortunately.
The cancelling of Medium. Was it due to something other than ratings? Could it be that the production company that produces the show is owned by Kelsy Grammer and his wife Camille. Who as it seems are getting a divorice due to Grammer cheating on his wife and calling off the marriage in such a dreadful way. Or due to the fact that the real Allison’s behavior was less than flattering on her appearance on The Real Housewife of Beverly Hills. Since she is a friend of Camille’s maybe Kelsy just wanted to cut the cord, or due the divorice,… Read more »
I didnt know there was a final episode or that Medium got canceled. Im so glad I stayed in. I thought the ending was wonderful. You may have expected live happily ever after . You wouldnt want any discord, drama, and divorce. I think the ending was beautifully done and they did live happily ever. I cried ! The writers and director for this show are outstanding, so creative. Each epidsode last year held my attention. Its a shame that shows with this caliber of writing , talented actors get canceled and you have these reality shows that have people… Read more »
I am really disappointed. I watched this show faithfully.
Bawled at the end from the point that dead Joe and Allison embrace to the silent farewells. Thank you to cast and crew for a really well done show with great chemistry between the beleivable players. My wife and I will miss all of you. Unfortunately we all must walk into the light at the end of the clearing at some point, whether we like it or not.
A totally unexpected and disappointing ending.This show kept me glued to the TV without fail for each episode. Loved the entire cast of characters and how their growth as part of this extraordinary family played out. I will truly miss this show and CBS has to review its other options of cancellations before axing one of the better ones.Hope NBC picks up the reins again and shows CBS what a bad choice was made.
I liked nothing about Medium ending so abruptly or at all. Bring them all back!
I loved the family part of Medium. Joe and Allison were a great family and their kids were not all beautiful which is down to earth. I didn’t know it was the last episode. It was such a shock and I cried. It’s like my friend’s moved away.
I thought the show as a whole was great. I am thankful we don’t have to watch Allison grieve over the loss of Joe, but what a sad ending. It was a great run!!
I too enjoyed this show and really liked the suspence in all of them. You never knew how it was going to end! I wish they could have gone forward with more shows, the writers were great, not to mention the cast!
January 28, 2011
I was the best fan. However, they could have ended it happily. That was the worst ending i have ever seen in a tv show.
But it did have a happy ending.
I agree. It was an Awful finale. It’s like the writers intentionally tanked it out of anger. A growing trend it seems.