If you’re worried about the fate of “Life Unexpected,” the ending of the first season couldn’t have made you feel too good about its chances for renewal by The CW. Baze bursts into the church right after the minister’s classic “Any objections?” line that only happens in movies and TV shows. Cate stares at him for a moment … and then kisses her groom, Ryan.
I think Liz Tigelaar, the show’s executive producer, suspected this would be the final scene of the series and she wanted to make it clear that Cate chooses Ryan. As of this writing, “Life Unexpected” hasn’t been renewed or canceled, but I always assume shows of this quality will be canceled. That way, it’s like a gift if it is renewed.
When Tigelaar is asked by interviewers, “Is Cate meant to be with Baze or Ryan?” she doesn’t hesitate to say “Ryan.” So rather than having the series end with a question mark, she opted to put a period on it.
One of the most famous love triangles in TV history, Angela’s choices of Jordan or Brian on “My So-Called Life,” ends with a question mark. That’s part of the show’s mystique. To me, it seems like Angela would’ve chosen Jordan. She is moony-eyed about him all season long. The idea of boy-next-door Brian being a possibility surfaces in the final episodes, and we never get to fully explore Angela’s feelings on that issue.
Although one might argue that Angela should have ended up with Brian (the solid, reliable guy as opposed to the dreamy, rebel guy), love triangles don’t always end that way. On “Dawson’s Creek,” Joey should have chosen Dawson, but she chooses Pacey.
Sometimes love triangles end in a way that makes it seem all is right with the world. It took her seven years, but Lorelai does choose Luke — whom we know is her soul mate as early as the first season — on “Gilmore Girls.”
Sometimes it’s hard to determine who our heroine should be with. There’s no formula to it. In the case of “Gilmore Girls,” one could argue that Lorelai should’ve chosen Christopher, because he is Rory’s dad. But that never felt right; Luke felt right.
“Life Unexpected” is a parallel to “Gilmore Girls” in that way. One could contend that Cate should choose Baze because he is Lux’s dad, and therefore they could be a happy family. It’s something that Lux dreams of, that Baze mulls over, and that Cate — on some level — thinks would be nice.
The final episodes establish that Baze has feelings for Cate. When he says, “I don’t love you, Cate,” it’s one of the most “aw”-inspiring romantic lines in recent TV memory. Baze loves her, and therefore doesn’t want to make her choose between him and Ryan. (Later, of course, he changes his mind, hence the church-door-bursting scene.)
Likewise, it’s clear that Cate has feelings for Baze. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have driven to his place the night before her wedding to ask him if he loves her.
That having been said, Cate and Ryan have the SHOULD BE TOGETHER label. They are co-hosts of a relationship-themed radio show who fall for each other. It’s too much of a delicious fairy tale for it to not work out.
Also, the creator of the show has flat-out said Cate should be with Ryan. However, if the show returns for a second season, don’t assume that Ryan and Cate will live happily ever after. I have a “Dawson’s Creek” book in my home library that quotes Kevin Williamson as saying Dawson and Joey are meant to be together. A few years later, he penned a series finale where Joey chooses Pacey.
In other cases, series are canceled at a point where the character doesn’t choose her soul mate, but it’s only because of unfortunate timing. “Privileged” ends with Megan choosing heartthrob Will over lifelong best friend Charlie (the “should” in this equation), but I don’t see that as the intended ending to the show. It’s simply a case where the show was canceled in the middle of its narrative.
Tigelaar, understanding that this could be the final episode, didn’t want “Life Unexpected” to end ambiguously or with a moment where Cate chooses Baze. So she designed a scene where she clearly chooses her soul mate.
Or perhaps it’s not so clear. A case could be made that “Life Unexpected” — if it gets canceled — still retains some of that Jordan-or-Brian mystery. Cate shares a long look with Baze before she kisses Ryan, and long looks are ripe for fans and critics to supply meaning.
(But for the record, I think Cate chooses Ryan.)
What did you think of the season finale of “Life Unexpected?” And what are your favorite TV love triangles, past or present? Share your thoughts in the comment thread.