The following article contains spoilers for the Trying Season 4 finale
Trying Season 4 changes its tone significantly from the first three seasons, leaning more toward drama and farther away from its wholesome appeal. While the series has often had its finales end with cliffhangers, none have been as jarring or heartbreaking as what we witness in “Scott of the Atlantic.”
Still, this is Trying, after all, and isn’t the entire show’s appeal about the enduring hope that prevails during desperate times? While it’s understandable why the series would present its audience with more drama this season, it’s slightly taxing when we can never be sure whether a TV show will return. We live in a weird age where even when there’s a renewal, executives can pull content just as quickly as they renew it. So, in short, the Trying Season 4 ending treads on murky waters, leaving us with the kind of feeling none of us expected from this show.
What Happens to Scott? Is He Really Dead?
The biggest unanswered question that arises after the Trying Season 4 finale is whether Scott is dead or badly injured. My TV motto since the dawn of time has often been: “No body, no death.” Thus, the decision can go two ways here. One, the season alludes to Scott’s death from the very beginning. The seeds are planted, so while it’s not entirely out of the blue, the necessity of it is still questionable. [Why can’t we just have happy stories?] Scott is a fascinating character that the show often uses as a punching bag, so if he is dead, this could be a riveting way to look back on his accomplishments without laughing at him so much. It could change the characters in how they examine life, other people, and their own selfishness, which we see clear as day in “Murder at Slaughterbridge Manor.”
No one in the series actually takes time to understand Scott properly, not even his wife. Yet, Trying Season 4 shows us that there are two people consistently rooting for him: his daughter Stevie and, surprisingly, Freddy. Karen finally steps up when she realizes she could lose him, but sometimes, life shows us that it’s too late. With this, if the show returns, it can go in a myriad of ways, reminding viewers to cherish people while they’re still with us.
The same can be said if he’s badly injured and something changes drastically about his life. However, with the way that the Trying Season 4 finale sees him sailing across the Atlantic Ocean it does make it seem like his time has come. Yet, for the time being, let’s hold onto hope for a little while longer. Maybe he’s merely in a coma, dreaming of sailing across the Atlantic, but he’ll wake up. And through this storyline, we’d still get the same growth for characters as the show wants them to have if he were dead.
Does the Trying Season 4 Finale Hint at a Rift Between Nikki and Princess?
This is the part of Trying that’s making me most anxious because Nikki’s relationship with Princess is the rockiest one. It has been from the very beginning. She feels closer to Jason and even more so to Karen. Thus, the detail that she learns about Nikki and Kate’s adventures through photos instead of directly from her mother tells me the fifth season could be the show’s most dramatic turn yet.
Nikki’s heart is in the right place when she lies about being unable to find her. It’s understandable that she’d believe Kate would leave again and for good. It’d also be worse for a kid to learn that her mother doesn’t want her than to think that no one can find her. Yet, the worst part is that, at first, this lie could cause a massive strain because Princess expects more from Nikki. She trusts her fully, and this could fracture that trust for a beat. It could change their relationship entirely.
At the same time, Kate’s choice to come back could heal Princess and Nikki’s relationship. Perhaps the decision to talk to her daughter would allow Princess to understand why Kate isn’t meant to be a mother and why Nikki is. It’s hard to imagine that the show would take away these kids from Nikki and Jason after everything they’ve been through. At the same time, they could come to an agreement, too. Nikki and Jason sharing the kids with Kate in the future could allow for stronger bonds between all parties.
The riveting story that Trying Season 4 presents with this arc is that neither woman is wrong. Some are born to be mothers, and others simply aren’t. It’s okay not to want kids, and it’s okay to want them with every bone in your body. If the show plays its cards right and explores the nuances of these characters, it could make the series even more gripping than it already is. There’s a plethora of potential to dive into complex matters that help characters grow into better versions of themselves, and Trying is the type of show that’d do it remarkably.
Trying’s Season 4 finale won’t be the same comforting watch as the Season 3 finale was, but it’s a compelling episode, nevertheless, with astounding performances, writing, and directing. The tonal change showcases the creative team’s chops, and it’s one to value as a critic. For what it’s worth, I watched this episode months ago, and still, it haunts me. If this is not thought-provoking storytelling, then I don’t know what is.
Now streaming on Apple TV+: What are your thoughts on the Trying Season 4 finale? Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: Apple TV+