fter three seasons and two networks, the series that hovered near cancellation almost from its inception finally returns to its roots with the romantic and exciting series finale, "Graduation," that ushers those angst-filled teens into adulthood. Having just dodged a bullet when Tess sacrificed herself to destroy the Air Force base, "Graduation" begins with the entire gang at different crossroads regarding the future as they approach their high-school graduation ceremony.
While Liz (Appleby) gets accepted at Northwestern and Jessie (Adam Rodriguez) receives a big job offer in Boston, the rest of the group are unsure about what to do next. But when Liz begins to have premonitions that come true, figuring out their future becomes the least of their problems, because
they may not have one. Liz has a vision that Max, Isabel, Michael and herself will be killed.
Indeed, the Air Force has found evidence at the destroyed base that leads them to believe the four are dangerous aliens, responsible for the destruction. Liz is able to pinpoint when the attack will happen and the four realize they must leave Roswell right after graduation if they are going to survive. Still, that creates a crisis for Maria (Majandra Delfino), Kyle (Nick Wechsler) and Jessie. They appear to be safe from the Air Force, but they aren't sure they want to be left behind.
As graduation approaches, all involved find themselves in a struggle with the decisions they must make before they attempt to escape the attack, because if they do survive, those decisions will affect the rest of their lives.
A superb ending for an uneven series
Roswell seemed like a different show every year it was on. Its first network, The WB, was never quite satisfied with it, and even in its third season, when UPN let the producers do what they wanted, the series never managed a consistent tone.
In an attempt this year to go back to the show's origins, the producers focused on the characters. However, it seemed ridiculous to go from saving the world on a regular basis to worrying about whether or not mom and dad would find out the big alien secret. Too much of what happened this season seemed
unimportant compared with previous events.
Still, executive producers Katims and Moore have to be given credit for writing a superb ending to the series. They knew the series was going to end, and they went out of their way to make sure the fans would have a satisfying conclusion. While the three episodes leading up to the finale went back to
the tone of the beginning of the series, "Graduation" gives every character a moment to shine, bringing resolution for each and hope for the future.
There couldn't have been a better way to end the series. The talented young cast make the most of their moments, with Behr and Appleby especially strong as the star-crossed lovers Max and Liz. When the two look at each other across the room during a moment of great danger, their look is so full of love that the moment is one that seems destined from the very first episode, when Max saved Liz's life and we discovered how much he'd always loved her. And that's what this series was really all about.
