Wilfred: "Secrets" Review

Note: Full spoilers for the Wilfred season finale follow.

With the ongoing references to Ryan's dad, Kevin's lawsuit and Jenna and Drew's wedding, we knew that Wilfred's second season was building toward something big. At the beginning of the season finale, Wilfred presented Ryan with what eventually became the crux of the episode: Ryan's childhood drawing of Wilfred.

Of course, the implications of this were temporary deflected thanks to Ryan's rather clever Battlestar Galactica reference, allowing the wedding to continue, seemingly without a hitch; Ryan and Wilfred sidestepped a near-disastrous confrontation down the aisle, while Jenna and Drew's vows were skipped over entirely.

In fact, the real conflict didn't emerge until James showed up at the reception to deliver the bad news to Ryan that Ryan was the one who framed Kevin for selling out the company. Naturally, this lead to Ryan's own accusation of Wilfred. Once again, Ryan was confronted with the same heady questions he always faces, without ever getting any actual answers. However, the truth behind the matter turned out to be much more interesting this time.

I must admit, when Ryan confessed everything to Amanda about Wilfred, I didn't expect her to react so positively. Although, thinking back on previous episodes, it actually makes sense that she could speak with Wilfred, too. The evidence was definitely seeded throughout the season: her initial discomfort around him, her private sit-downs with him and her immediate turnaround on getting back together with Ryan.

But as we soon learned, Amanda's Wilfred wasn't at all the same as Ryan's Wilfred. Initially, it seemed unfair to paint Amanda as the actual crazy one, when, after all, Ryan himself is likely just as mentally insane. Of course, Amanda was the one who scammed the company out of $10.2 million, so I guess it's understandable that Ryan would turn her in to the authorities. I think Wilfred summed it up best when Ryan asked, "What's the difference between me and Amanda?" Replied Wilfred, "Some people can't handle Vegas... You can."

It is a shame, though, because it seemed like Amanda's character was drastically altered to fit the delusional caricature that was needed to carry out the final few moments of the story. I almost wonder if the show was onto something with having two versions of Wilfred (one with a French accent, apparently). A fresh take on the character may have made for an interesting change-up in a subsequent season.

Generally speaking, the finale also felt a little rushed, especially since Jenna and Drew were hardly featured at all.  As viewers, we were never really given enough time to digest what was going on, leaving Amanda's abrupt departure feeling tacked on and somewhat inconsequential. Honestly, the episode probably would have benefitted from a two-part season finale.

Having said that, all the ingredients were definitely there. While I would have preferred a more direct confrontation between Ryan and his father, the events that followed were still quirky, funny and satisfyingly resolute. All in all, this episode was a great way to wrap up the summer's seasonal arc.

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love on Twitter and IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com