Breeders Series Finale Recap: Luke Breaks Down, as Jackie’s Mental Health Deteriorates — Grade It!

The series finale of Breeders homes in on what every parent (and grandparent) already knows: Parenting is the job that never ends and your children — no matter how old they are — will always need you.

At the top of the final episode, Luke is continuing to struggle, as he attempts to juggle new fatherhood with his studies. Thanks to a connection of Paul’s, the school will let Luke defer his spot for up to two years if he needs to temporarily drop out now. Luke is relieved, but Ally is pissed. She doesn’t think he’ll want to go back to school once the baby is a toddler, and she’s frustrated that Paul made a choice that they didn’t agree on.

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Paul finally learns of Jackie’s deteriorating state when his dad tells him she left the gas on for five hours. Jim wants to step up to handle the cooking and the cleaning, but the man has never done any of these things in his life. Lesson No. 1: How to chop an onion. (Spoiler alert: It does not go well!) Jackie walks in and immediately balks at the idea. “You’ll cock it up Jim. Paul will shout at you. You’ll tell him to eff off. There’s knives lying about. One of you will commit murder!” She may be deteriorating mentally, but she’s still pretty sharp… most of the time, at least.

Jackie admits to Paul that sometimes she feels a bit “discombobulated,” and that the day prior she was looking for their dog that died in 1981. He hugs her tight and tells her he loves her.

Luke and Maya are moving into an apartment and her parents have agreed to pay for it all. Ally thinks they should help pay the rent, but Paul worries they’ll need about $70K a year once his parents need proper caring.

Meanwhile, when Ava gives Jim his second cooking lesson, Jackie disappears. Panic sets in as they begin to frantically search for her, but she returns home shortly after, angry that everyone seems to be threatening her independence. Jackie assures them that she’s still “got some marbles left,” but when Jim unpacks the groceries, he finds that she bought their aforementioned late pooch some kibble. He hides it under the sink, so it doesn’t upset her.

At baby Jay’s naming ceremony, Paul apologizes to Ally that things have been so hectic for them lately. The pressures of watching after elderly parents while still caring for their kids has them both on edge, perhaps even more than usual.

With Holly planning a move soon, Ava has been wondering how to best tell someone “I love you.” But by the episode’s end, it’s actually Grace that she confesses her love to, saying she loves being with her “more than just a friend.” Ava takes off before Grace can respond, but we see the girl turn around and smile.

Luke and Maya are having a tough time getting the baby to sleep through the night, and the sleep deprivation is getting to them. When Luke takes the baby outside to calm him down, Paul witnesses Luke screaming at the baby at the top of his lungs. Luke ultimately breaks down crying as his dad hugs him. The next day, Paul sympathizes with his son. Clearly, they share the same rage issues. He then tells Luke that he and Ally will take the baby for a couple of nights so Luke and Maya can catch up on some rest.

In the series’ final moments, Jay cries in the middle of the night, while Paul and Ally decide on whose turn it is to calm the baby. They decide to go together since they’re both up anyway, showing that caring for your loved ones is a task that never ends.

That’s all she wrote for the Breeders crew! Grade the finale and season below, then tell us what you thought in the comments.