I know I'm not alone in this...

Yeah, most of the time I just pretend the fourth season doesn't exist. They changed all the characters to make them more...controversial, or something. It was like: suddenly Belle dresses 'like a prostitute' (even though the in the first episode she said escorts should be "fabulous but forgettable") and Ben is completely reneging on everything he's ever said about Hannah's job.

Plus, even though I found the clients interesting, I felt they were overshadowed by that weird controversy with Charlotte and the sub-plot with Poppy. Kick that bitch out of your house, Hannah! You actually have no obligation to her, you know!

Oh, and what drove me crazy about Hannah was that she wouldn't talk to Ben about anything, she'd just clam up and pretend nothing had happened, whether it be work or personal stuff between them two, or fly off the handle and sometimes then realize she was being a bitch and try to apologize. But she never learned to actually do that useful thing, what's it called?--oh right, talking--that others have actually mastered. Instead she runs off to New York, or makes excuses to see clients, or gets distracted by Poppy....

Basically the fourth season I think the writers got bored and were like, "What the hell, it's ending anyway," and just wrote whatever they wanted. That being said, I do try to enjoy bits that I can, like the gay guy coming to Belle to see if he was really attracted to women. That was funny and poignant (although honestly every 'poignant,' 'revalatory' scene the writers wrote in season four felt forced, like they were trying to say, "Hey, we're still the same show even though we *beep* everything up!")

Oh, and one more thing. I really really hated how Belle was rude to, like, half of her clients. She used to be nice and say things like "There's no judgement here,' or something to that effect, but in the fourth season she got weirded out over just about everything and let it show on her face (the guy staring at her b/c he couldn't place her (and later realizing they went to elementary school together), the guy with the headset in while they were having sex (although I thought it was reasonable for her to ask about his job, I was just wondering why she had that look on her face the whole time), and I'm sure there are others but I can't think of them right now.)

To me, Belle just seemed rude to all or most of her clients--oh, like telling Charlotte they'd have a showdown in front of that one client when that's obviously not what he wanted. He just wanted her. I also didn't like how she manipulated him into getting away from his job to come see her just so she could have that stupid show down. I could get if she was doing it for the money; It's just unprofessional that she did it for her own personal battle with Charlotte and then continued even though he was obviously not enjoying their little battle 'over him.'

Ug, so as you can tell, I obviously didn't like this season too well. Strangely, the only thing that really saves it for me, even though I hate it, is the last scene with Hannah and Ben. I hate all that ultimatum crap Ben pulled and the fact that Hannah is now utterly alone. But what I couldn't get over, it's saving grace, was how good the acting was in that scene. Iddo Goldberg and Billie Piper really nailed it and I actually teared up even though I thought it was a bunch of *beep* Belle's walk alone--that super long walk right after it where you're expecting *beep* to happen and then it never does--was a bit of a drag, but that scene with Ben and Hannah....

So I hope you actually come back to this board and look at this reply, good lord I went on forever! Lol.

Yeah, but she's our witch. So cut her the hell down.

This is why I kind of ignore the last season. I remember watching the last episode of that season and being like... what happened to Ben? Did I miss something?

All through the seasons he knew what she was doing and, in a way, accepted it. At the end of season 3 he was completely ready to do anything to have Hannah with him. He said he didn't care about she did with these other guys as long as she came home to him because he knew it was just a job for her. He was her best friend. He loved her.

Then, season 4 comes along and Ben's jealous of her job and acts so differently toward her. He treats her just like the other men she had been with. Like a whore. Ben had never seen/treated Hannah that way before, why would he now?

As we all know, people change, but Ben did a complete 180. Ben just seemed completely different from all of the previous seasons. I knew there would probably be some problems in their relationship(Plus, it's tv, of course there must be some drama), but I didn't think it would turn out the way it did and that Ben would act the way he did.

I just feel bad because the writers left Belle/Hannah pretty much alone. Since they never mentioned Bambi and Byron (from what I remember), I'm assuming they don't keep in contact. I just couldn't believe Ben would treat her like that AND leave her. He doesn't seem like he would do that.

So first off, I too, sped through the series and quite honestly, got through the first 3 episodes of the final season, and then put it off. I looked and went, "Wtf, it's only lasting for 8 episodes, and the show is over after it... 8 episodes, times roughly 20-30 min is 160-240 min... okay so in reality, they're giving Hannah and Ben's relationship 2.7-4 hours total. ...This can't be good." And I was right! Like everyone's been saying, Ben's been that guy from the beginning who knew (**important point I thought about somewhere in Ep6/7, that someone pointed out--BEN'S TAKEN PART IN HANNAH'S JOB, ACTUALLY HELPING HER WITH A 4SOME!**) and didn't judge Hannah on it and was always there for her through thick and thin.

The funny thing I'm realizing now though, the writers kind of explained away their crappy ending of the series in their arguments! Ben says, "I don't hate your job, I just hate what it's doing to us!" and "When we were friends you used to tell me everything, about your life about work, and now... I feel like I can't trust you..." Honestly, Hannah wasn't being the client-addict she was being while she was dating Alex and trying to make it work, like in Season 2, but it was just like Ben said and people on this board have complained, that instead of talking to Ben, Hannah ran away and/or clammed up (which I blame on the writer's *beep* writing).

The thing is, in a totally heartbreaking and satisfying yet disappointing way, this is how Ben and Hannah's relationship should've ended. It ended because it wasn't really about Hannah giving up her job or choosing Harry or whatever. It was the simple fact that Hannah knew she couldn't make Ben happy. That selfless moment of doing what was right for Ben instead of making herself temporarily happy, Hannah told Ben she wasn't what he needed and she couldn't be what he needed, which in it's own way, has been evident from the beginning. It's that tragic story of that person, who under different circumstances, is our soulmate, yet our paths don't end up continuing in the same direction, only intersecting for a moment, and then diverging. And as it's been previously stated, Billie and Iddo really sold the scene. It was heartbreaking. And even though I was sad that Hannah had to end up completely alone, it would've been totally inappropriate to have her rush into Harry's arms seconds after breaking up with Ben. I mean I think the writer's would've had an angry mob stalking them, I sure as hell would've put my butt on a plane to the UK if that'd happened.

On another note, I agree that I was somewhat disappointed with the subplots for the finale season. The whole plot line with Poppy just went the wrong way after she kissed Ben. The sleeping with the guy from the bar is one thing, calm the *beep* down Hannah, she's 19 *beep* years old, she's not like 14, and it's actually somewhat believable she did that because it was immediately after seeing her mother in prison, which I thought both actresses-Poppy (Lily James) and Stephanie (Cherie Lunghi)-killed, especially Poppy, who I feel like has great potential as an actress and had great potential with her character until they turned her into the little puppy dog pining after Ben and following him around. And seriously, watching Hannah arrive home THEN crawling into their bed made me want to punch her in the ovaries. I swear, I seriously had a mini-bitch fit, not just with the character, but with the writers.

Also, I was kind of intrigued with this character of Harry, which they introduced rather late, but I was amazed at the amount of chemistry he and Hannah (or should I say, Belle, as he seemed to make a point of taking an interest in more in Belle than Hannah and calling her Belle) had, although I do admit, that first episode they had sex was pretty steamy the way he surprised her then cast the bate then took it back very fast, then cast it out again to reel her in. And he could've been a Duncan-type frequenting call girls the way they interacted in the elevator when she was going to meet another client and it was kind of ambiguous as to what he was up to. But then he seemed really concerned about her, like her mental state and well being, after the client up and died, and was there for her when Ben wasn't, but then he pulled that weird roof stunt, which was weird and kinda out of character if you ask me. I mean I got the metaphor, but it was a little extreme, he hadn't done something that physically dangerous before so it was really weird to be suddenly dangling her over the edge of a roof top, especially when she had heels on. But at the end, it was interesting to me what he said to her at Stephanie's ball: "I don't want you to give up your life, I just want you to be in mine." That to me, read as him feeling a deeper connection to her than physical attraction. He didn't want someone to be a fast *beep*, that didn't feel like a proposition to be *beep* buddies; he actually seemed like he wanted to BE WITH HANNAH... (which I feel like he said at some point--in Hannah's house? By the mantle?)

I am also very disappointed (like so many others) at the disappearance of Bambi and Byron. Their relationship actually gave Belle hope in love, albeit hope in love with Duncan the Dick, but that would've been an interesting relationship to serve as the shining beacon of hope to her and Ben's somewhat strained relationship. I would've bought that, especially since Bambi and Byron were so *beep* adorable together and from the day they met, you could tell they just meshed. At the same time, someone said it seemed like Belle/Hannah and Bambi were only friends at Bambi's insistence and Belle seemed to just go along with it, which I utterly disagree with. Bambi and Belle's relationship is so much more different than any other friendship she's had because Bambi actually saved her from being raped, remember? Yes, Ben was there for her afterwards and spent the night with her, yes yes good good, but Bambi was the one that actually pointed a *beep* gun and came to Belle's rescue and got her the hell out of there. Only true friends are born from situations like that, hence why Belle went to their wedding even though she at one point discouraged the relationship.

As a whole, I'm kind of accepting the series as is, but I'm a little disappointed story-wise. Like someone said, visually it was stunning, but the story kind of peetered off a bit. And we lost fun Belle, the one that was dressing up as a James Bond villain, and getting all dressed up just to throw jello and pudding around her house, and really just let go?? We got a glimmer of that old Belle when she and Charlotte were taking care of the really nice plastic surgeon, after being ridiculous and trying to one up each other, we got the old Belle going, "No no, wait we have to do something to fix this... because he's a great guy," and you could tell that really made him happy and he appreciated it. Just like that Indian client who she bonded with (before the other blonde stole him) that she listened to and got along really well with.

“I think she’s having hysterics. Maybe you should slap her.”–Alice Cullen