The Kominsky Method Season 3

The Kominsky Method series finale strikes a fair balance in detangling the mess that the show creates throughout its runtime, while keeping a short but satisfying end to this popular dramedy. Michael Douglas keeps everything in check with his trademark run-down tiredness and cowardice, while continuing to develop as a character, built up by an amazing circle of co-stars who make his journey through grief all the more heart-warming. It is an interesting adaptation that plays upon the Shakespearean relationship between comedy and tragedy – transitioning all the way from a funeral to a marriage. This equilibrium is important because if not done right, this season could’ve easily fallen into the traps of straight tragedy.

One of the strengths of the programme is how the light and funny tone clashes with the very subtle omnipresence of darkness and satire. This creates an awkward tension between the script and acting which highlights the emotions of each and every character, especially in moments of impact. The coordination between the neutral colours of clothes, backdrops and scenery, alongside the camera filter, creates synergy, making every scene poignant. The perfect use of audio – creating calculated seconds of silence utilising white and background noise, and timing the occurrence of music – further elongates the humorous moments and creates the perfect atmosphere in which emotions can play out.

A downside to this finale is the series of time skips in the last episode; it would’ve been better if these were dispersed evenly across the season. Although this is understandable as it contains the concluding episode while covering a variety of different events, it still feels jarring to suddenly oscillate from one strong emotion to another – evoking the psychological equivalent of whiplash in what could otherwise have been the perfect ending. That said, the script adapts and evolves to accommodate societal changes. But it also brings up the generational differences between the characters, without cutting it too close and crossing over any boundaries. This helps maintain a steady sense of humour and creates opportunity for parallels among the characters and their varying situations.

One particularly captivating moment is the billboard cross-cut between Sandy and Margaret. These scenes really bring everything full-circle, enforcing the simplicity of the lesson learned: “I’ve lived my life with a broken heart. This late in life, I don’t know how to deal with a dream coming true”.

Mae Trumata

The Kominsky Method Season 3 is released on Netflix on 28^th May 2021.

Watch the trailer for The Kominsky Method Season 3 here: