GlastoEls

I'm still processing my full thoughts on the finale but as a huge fan of the show who has been watching it and eagerly awaiting each new season since its release, I have to say I was hugely satisfied with the ending. It's true that there are some things that I didn't entirely like and that perhaps it was a bit safe in some aspects, but that doesn't bother me at all, as we got an epic conclusion to the confrontation with the evil forces at play but also a really emotional sendoff for the characters, which is what has always grabbed me the most about the show.
 
The final 30-40 minutes of the episode felt like a gift for long-time fans, a final measure of peace and happiness where you get to spend a few minutes with these dear characters before saying goodbye. And in fact it does seem like even the actors were saying goodbye to the characters as their emotions felt so real through these scenes. I love that they ended the show just like it began, with the kids playing D&D, with Mike's sister and her friends then entering the basement as they leave, offering a nice passing the torch moment that gives the scene a bittersweet feeling. Their childhood is over, but Holly and her friends are now ready to embark into the beautiful journey of growing up. I was deeply emotional through the second half of the episode and regardless of the flaws, I loved it and this will remain one of my favorite shows.
 
Also, I loved the music in the finale, both the score and the needle drops. Purple Rain was unexpected but oddly effective, as was Iron Maiden in the graduation speech. As for the score, lots of nice callbacks to familiar themes in new variations, with some beautiful orchestral arrangements that I read where done by Dan Romer, just like Rob Simonsen did in season 4. I hope these variations (Eleven, Kids, etc) get released at some point, as well as the Simonsen cues, as I feel they're a big part of the emotions felt in the finale, especially with the emotional Kids variation in the final scene.
 
Will probably some more thoughts down the line, but I was satisfied with the conclusion to the show.

All his life he looked away… to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing!

All his life he looked away… to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing!

All his life he looked away… to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing!

All his life he looked away… to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing!

All his life he looked away… to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing!

I’ve been wondering the exact same.

All his life he looked away… to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing!

All his life he looked away… to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing!

Now I’ll need to eat my hat and be laughed at… But I was never happier to be proven wrong 😊

Now Disney Lucasfilm, New score releases next!

If only John Williams had scored Mr. Baseball and not Jerry Goldsmith...! 
 
 

Let's say JW releases a statement tomorrow saying he had a stroke or a heart attack or whatever. I don't see how that would possibly change anything or have any real impact on what we do already know. He suffered a medical issue which has visibly taken a toll and has caused some mobility issues. But he is not housebound and the fact that he has written a score to an upcoming movie means his mental faculties are intact. Knowing the exact nature of that medical issue is irrelevant.

More importantly, will this soundtrack be released on CD? 😂

Mine arriving today from Amazon in the UK - looking forward to it!

Mine arriving today from Amazon in the UK - looking forward to it!

No.

Was only a brief couple of years, but I feel so lucky to have followed JW around Europe with Vienna / Berlin / Vienna / Milan after the bitter disappointment of 2018 in my home town London. 
 
Never to be forgotten - glorious nights with great friends. 
 
Shame for those who were attending this time, and for John.

Was only a brief couple of years, but I feel so lucky to have followed JW around Europe with Vienna / Berlin / Vienna / Milan after the bitter disappointment of 2018 in my home town London. 
 
Never to be forgotten - glorious nights with great friends. 
 
Shame for those who were attending this time, and for John.

It is such a pity he never rescheduled a return to London after having to cancel in 2018. It is very doubtful he'll ever be back again now.

Thank you very much for your heart-warming concert review, I most certainly can relate...
 
...and having experienced amazing emotional experiences with or concerning Williams (looking at you, @GlastoEls especially, @Biodome for sure, @BB-8 - nice to have met you, @Burtie - so many thanks to you and your father for making the impossible come true in a once-in-a-lifetime-experience for Stefano, @TownerFan - at least me and our daughter met you briefly in Vienna, and all you other amazing people I didn't mention explicitely) over three and a half decades I still had tears of joy running down my cheeks when I first watched your video moments ago!
 
Many thanks for all this! *sigh*

So excited to share my experience at this concert! I'm sure some of you saw my poll that I posted a few weeks ago, but I attended Thursday night's performance. To say that that night changed my life would be an understatement.
 
This was my first ever concert experience with the LA Phil at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and it did not disappoint. I had the privilege of sitting in the very front row, directly in the middle. I was right in front of the conductor's podium on the stage. Looking back at how I got this ticket, I'm still in shock that I got so lucky. I had purchased the ticket directly from the LA Phil's website on August 20th, and it was somehow the only ticket available when I checked out.
 
Before the concert started, I had a lovely dinner at the on-site restaurant "Asterid." The food was amazing, perhaps a bit expensive, but well worth the convenience and quality of food. Next, I listened to Jon Burlingame's 30-minute talk about John Williams' career and concert piece selections. Mr. Burlingame really knew his research, and it was a pleasure getting to hear him discuss the history behind each programmed piece.
 
Moving on to the concert itself, I was absolutely blown away! The musicians of the LA Phil were fantastic, especially the winds and percussion. My favorite piece of the night was Adventures on Earth from E.T., closely followed by Yo-Yo Ma's incredible performance of John Williams' Cello Concerto. Being a few feet away from the stage allowed me to see the expertise of ability and musicality that Mr. Ma possessed; every facial expression and finger movement was meticulously synchronized to the music that was being made.
 
As the night went on, I truly did not expect Mr. Williams to make an appearance. Of course I really wanted to see him, but I knew that after they removed him as being conductor from the program that there was a slim chance he would show up. To my great surprise and delight, Maestro Dudamel pointed out Mr. Williams in the crowd during the middle of the concert, and the roar of applause that came over the hall was electrifying! I could not believe what was about to happen next.
 
After the encore of the Main Title from Star Wars, John Williams was brought on stage. He was situated right in front of me! I knew that I had to do something, and so I raised my fist to get a fist bump, and the rest is history.
 
I got a fist bump from my greatest inspiration and hero.
 
When I tell you that this concert experience will forever be my most cherished, I truly mean it with all sincerity. From the quality of the music to the beauty of the hall to the fist bump with the musical legend himself, this night will live on forever in my life. I'm so thankful to the lady next to me for capturing a great angle of the moment on video, and seeing people upload pictures and videos from elsewhere in the hall gives me goosebumps over and over again. It's hard to believe that I was sitting face to face with John Williams, and I am the luckiest person in the world to get to relive that moment over and over again through video!