A Farewell to 'Blunt Talk'

​Written by John Edward Betancourt

​Whether we like to acknowledge it or not, there is a darkside to being a geek...the fact that our favorite stories eventually have to come to an end. For the most part fans handle these kinds of moments in stride, simply because we understand that nothing lasts forever, but some stories...well they find a special place in your heart to the point where that eventual ending ends up hitting you harder than expected because you and that story connected on a level that you simply didn't think was possible. 
 
We've all been there at some point or another. I can distinctly recall droves of Harry Potter fans telling me how the final book more or less broke their heart when it came to the ending and the Battle of Hogwarts. I know fans that broke down and cried hard last year when that big moment arrived in The Force Awakens and for me...one of those more sorrowful days as a geek arrived today with the sad news that Starz will not be renewing Blunt Talk for a third season and the season two finale will now serve as a series finale and well...this is a tough one to swallow...because I absolutely adored this show. 
 
When I first heard from my close friend and fellow NTG writer Scotty that Patrick Stewart was going to be starring in a comedy on Starz, my curiosity was piqued simply because while the talented Mister Stewart has done comedic roles before, the thought of him being the lead in a sitcom sounded too good to be true and well, from the moment I tuned into this show, I was hooked for several reasons. For starters, the pilot episode was downright hilarious but there was something more to it, an intelligence that I had rarely seen when it comes to sitcoms and as I continued to watch season one and eventually season two, I truly appreciated the fact that this was a sitcom that appealed to essentially everyone. If you wanted a hearty laugh, you'd find that no problem, but there was subtext and social commentary to be found here as well, alongside relatable characters that were so endearing and genuine on screen they found their way into your heart.

It was that more cerebral side to the show that instantly appealed to me because that's such a rarity in sitcoms and I truly appreciated the gentle life lessons it sent our way around love and relationships, life in general and perhaps the greatest message of all...that it's never too late to change in life and be the things we dream of being and well...it was simply refreshing to settle in and watch a series that set out to accomplish one thing...bring the audience joy and hope, and the more I think about it, the more I realize that Blunt Talk is simply a series that was ahead of its time, a revolutionary sitcom by design and while it is indeed disappointing that the show will not continue on for a third season, there's a lot to celebrate about this series when all is said and done. 
 
Take for example the fact that this is one of the few shows out there that actually had a chance to tell a complete story and inadvertently give us a proper ending, since everything in the season two/series finale was wrapped up in a neat little bow and Walter's journey came to a lovely, perfect and complete conclusion. That's something you don't often see when a show is cancelled and it's yet another item that the show can add to its impressive resumé. Plus one has to look on the bright side, while we may not be joining Walter and his friends on any new wacky adventures, the DVDs will always be there to allow us to reminisce and smile and laugh heartily whenever we need a pick me up. 
 
But make no mistake about it. I am sad to see this series go off the air, but I am thankful I had the opportunity to be drawn in by such compelling characters and stories and my thanks once again go out to Jonathan Ames for helping bring it to life and for crafting (and helping craft) such incredible stories and to Patrick Stewart, Adrian Scarborough, Timm Sharp, Dolly Wells, Jacki Weaver, Mary Holland, Karan Soni, Romany Malco and the countless guest stars and supporting cast members that found their way onto this show. Without their genuine and powerful performances none of this would have worked quite right and of course, Starz deserves my thanks as well. They took a chance on this show and helped us all to experience something incredibly beautiful. This really was one hell of a ride, and it is a shame I won't be spending a half hour of my Sunday night laughing to the point where my sides ache while enjoying a story that celebrates the best parts of the human condition...so with that in mind it's time to bid farewell to the Major and say goodbye to the wonder that was Blunt Talk...