There’s a moment in the Gavin and Stacey finale when Smithy and his gaggle of stags are stood in a nightclub watching the foam party happen in front of them. There’s a sudden realisation that this chapter of their life that they once enjoyed so much is over, and they simply must move on. This is how I feel about the BBC show itself.
17 years ago, we were first introduced to the titular characters played by Mathew Horne and Joanna Page. We’ve had front row seats to their first date and their ticking off the traditional milestones of engagement, marriage, and pregnancy, while merging their loved ones into a big clan.
The Shipmans and Wests, and the colourful characters in their lives quickly became a part of British culture. The show’s impact cannot be underestimated – an astonishing 18 million people tuned in for the 2019 Christmas special.
When the credits rolled five years ago, I was part of the fandom pleading for a continuation of the story. It didn’t feel done when it came off screens in 2010, and likewise, it was unfinished when they got back together for the one-off reunion.
I previously thought I’d want sporadic Gavin and Stacey newness forever, but now I have to admit it has to be over. Creators Ruth Jones and James Corden, who also play Nessa and Smithy, are in agreement, declaring this really is the end.
The beauty of Gavin and Stacey is that it’s always felt truthful. Audiences have seen themselves or people they know reflected in the characters – I personally like to think I’m a Pam.
We’ve seen pretty much every scenario that the ‘every family’ faces, and as much drama that can be squeezed out of it has been.
They are all now happily married (or cohabiting in the case of Gwen and Dave Coaches) and have reached a point of equilibrium. Changing that once again for the sake of more episodes feels like a disservice to the story so far. Each running joke has been taken as far as it can be, and before they push it too far, the team are bowing out on their terms. The viewers are left with positive memories, rather than a feeling they must keep watching out of loyalty rather than actual wanting.
It’s time for viewers to move on, but to be able to happily do so, they needed a perfect finale and that’s what has been delivered. The 90 minute special was the goodbye we’ve always craved.
The last reunion finished with Nessa confessing her love to Smithy and proposing marriage. It was one of the biggest cliffhangers ever, and left us with more questions than answers.
The latest episode picks up five years later, and as the group discuss their excitement for an upcoming wedding, viewers are tricked into believing that Smithy and Nessa may finally be giving their relationship a proper go. That’s when the first big twist takes place and we learn Smithy is marrying Sonia (Laura Aikman), who we originally met in the 2019 episode. At an early screening for the episode that I attended, there were audible gasps in the cinema, which I’m sure was echoed in people’s living rooms across the UK today.
They became louder when Gwen’s (Melanie Walters) secret boyfriend was revealed to be Dave Coaches (Steffan Rhodri). The excitement was then palpable on the third and final twist – Smithy finally admitting to feeling something for Nessa.
Of course, this is a drama so he only realises the breadth of his love while standing at the altar with Sonia. He then races to the port to stop Nessa from boarding a boat for six months, and this time, he proposes marriage. TV’s most unconventional love story finally got its happy ending with a joyful wedding.
The big moments and fun comedy (Uncle Bryn and Dave Coaches’ inability to get along being a highlight) will be the talking points, but the quieter intricate details were what made it such a fitting ending; Mick (Larry Lamb) opening up about his struggle to have a second child with Pam (Alison Steadman), and Smithy filling the void they had. Nessa telling her son, Neil the baby (Oscar Hartland) ‘I loves you. Genuine’ before he leaves Barry Island to start an apprenticeship with Smithy. Gavin reassuring Stacey he fancies her just as much now as he did when they met 17 years ago.
Love in all its forms is fully on display.
Long-term fans will also appreciate the many easter eggs dotted throughout the episode. From the first scene being a phone call between Gavin and Stacey – just how most episodes have begun, to Pam telling Mick to ‘get a life’ as she did in their initial on-screen moment all those years ago, and Nessa packing Tic Tacs instead of a toothbrush for a trip to Essex just like before her first ‘date’ with Smithy in London. There’s also a throwback to the corn of the cob being used as a metaphor for romantic relations between Smithy and Nessa, with the pair struggling to decide whether to order one at a KFC drive-thru. Of course, the fishing trip gag rears its head – one thing we know for sure is that we’ll never know what happened, and it’s funnier this way.
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The whole thing comes to its crescendo with a closing montage at Smithy and Nessa’s wedding reception. As they hug, sing karaoke, and laugh it feels like we’re not just seeing the characters, but also the actors who’ve brought them to life. They’ve been on a crazy, fun journey together for almost two decades, and this was also their chance to say goodbye.
It’s undeniable that the show has meant a lot to me over the years, as it has to many people. It made me laugh on days where I couldn’t find joy in pretty much anything else. It was my original and ultimate comfort show, so it’s natural I always wanted it to stick around.
But now, after three seasons, 22 episodes, a trio of which were Christmas specials, we’ll no longer be able to see what’s occurin’ with Gavin, Stacey and their loved ones but that feels right. It was certainly well lush while it lasted.
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Gavin and Stacey is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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