MovieChat Forums > State of Play (2003) Discussion > Well... That was rather anti-climatic. (...

Well... That was rather anti-climatic. ( Spoilers, obviously. )

posted 16 years ago by Havoac
10 replies | jump to latest

From what I've read over the web, it seems like everyone - and I mean Everyone - felt that the ending was satisfactory. I was kinda let down.

Although it was just as technically brilliant as the build-up, the whole " It was Collins all along and he knew the hitman from his past... " conclusion just felt underwhelming. It was nice that they played it small, because all the time you were expecting this huge government conspiracy, but they didn't play it close enough.

Anne Collins was sadly wasted in the conclusion. If they wanted to play it small and personal, they should have included her too.

Think about it; she would've known about the hit - and maybe even would've pushed Stephen into it in a Lady Macbethesque twist -. Their objective would've been a clean state - a new beginning for their marriage - which was possible, now with Sonja out of the way. Sonja was also a potential future obstacle on Stephen's past. It is always mentioned that Anne was the driving force behind Stephen's ascension into his current position, so why not just get rid of her?

Also, Anne's relationship with Cal would've been a charade to manipulate him. This tension would've given birth to wonderful scenes. Plus, it would've further solidified her as the calculating and cold person - as opposed to Stephen's hot-headed personality.

The treads of conclusion then would've been unraveled when Stephen learned Sonja was pregnant - an information Anne perhaps knew before they agreed on the hit. Anne's relationship with Cal already troubling him, Stephen would've begun his descend. Yet, at the middle of all this would've been Ann, trying to play Cal and Stephen against each other.

Anne also had a contact with the spin-doctor, so maybe she would've blackmailed him to keep Stephen under wraps. But instead, the spin-doctor would've tried to tell the story in such a way that made Anne the sole responsible person for the hit...

I mean, hell, I'm just rambling here but the original ending just felt cheap. You have all these wonderful wonderful characters - especially Anne - and you leave them out on the cold like that?

Anyway, all this being said I'm still hoping for the speculated second series. The first one was excellent despite the weak conclusion.

[–] agnes_g 16 years ago

I agree. I was waiting from about midway on for Anne to be involved someway. They kept showing her in all kinds of sneaky ways. Then - pfffft. Nothing.

I was a little disappointed at the end, but loved everything leading up to it.

[–] anglophile81 16 years ago

I agree about Anne. At the end of the third episode, I actually thought she was solely responsible. Like, how did the hitman get in the hotel room? She was obviously searching for what Cal knew constantly. In the commentaries, they said that the writer got the idea to have Stephen responsible at about the 3rd or 4th episode, so maybe all her suspicious behavior was leading to her involvement until he changed his mind.

[–] linda303 16 years ago

After all the hype, the ending was a bit disappointing. Easily figured out, and no added twists. Still, the show was exciting and kept you on the edge of your seat.

[–] Byronik 16 years ago

I've never been one of those people who spoils his own enjoyment by guessing what the twists are going to be ahead of time. But I have to say that, during episode one, while Collins was convulsing with remorse over Sonia's death, it occurred to me that his eventual confession was an obligatory scene for later on.

http://byronik.com

[–] britishfella 15 years ago

I think the hidden beauty of State Of Play is that it doesn't go for the traditional high notes.

In a way, it is more realistic as a result. Life doesn't always tie itself up nicely, logically, satisfactorily. Many of the situations we find ourselves in are messy, unresolved and blown out of proportion. SOP reflects this.

Just look at your average conspiracy theorist. They want to believe in a grander force at work, this notion of the all-knowing puppeteer; but in reality, they struggle to put together a watertight theory that seamlessly connects with the facts at hand.

SOP was exactly like this. For all the big government and big oil shady-ness, the writer refused to go with the convenient, hackneyed and unrealistic master puppeteer device. Instead, he brought it right back down to earth; that in the end, it was just a weak man with a sordid little connection that was responsible.

The same can be said of Anne Collins. Turning her into a Lady Macbeth figure would have been dramatic, but too neat. But having her as a woman whose world is shaken, who tries to remain strong, who both hates and loves her husband...that kind of ambiguity is much more faithful to gritty reality, don't you think?

So I won't argue that the end is unsatisfying...but can it not be satisfying BECAUSE it is unsatisfying? It makes us think and reflect in threads such as this one. Life isn't perfect, life isn't always immaculately wrapped up, and I guess that was the real twist at the end.

[–] Opwiz 10 years ago

I thought it would end in a way that "deflates" the puffed up story. But was hoping for it would turn out the killing of the girl was random, perhaps an accident.. but it still was enough to shake things up at every level - because people have their stories in how they believe the world works and is using the event to support their beliefs... in that way the end not even the good journalists gets away clean as they thought they had this big story and it turns out to be just an ordinary accident. I'd say that would be a more ballsy ending.

[–] Barrrrrrt 7 years ago

This reply is a few years late but I just wanted to say that I love what you're saying here. And I agree: I love that this series felt like it's close to reality.

The only thing I sort of missed was some insight into the impact of the story. Like that Energy minister being in trouble, a frowning US-EX woman reading the paper, Cal looking at Anne's picture realizing he'll never get with her again after publishing this.

The final scene made me sad, really. Cal seeing the fruit of his work - best article of his life, but it costs him a friend and a lover..

Wonderful series :-)

[–] mmciv 15 years ago

Also thought Ann would be revealed as the killer in the final episode. Otherwise what is the point of her character at all?

Also what exactly was Dominic Foy arrested for? What will he be charged with?

[–] Cademon 9 years ago

Yeah this series wasn't all that, overhyped imo.

[–] dary-merckens 7 years ago

Ever seen The Ghost Writer? Sounds like you might enjoy it...