30 Rock (Season 6, Episode 21): Avery returns

This week NBC renewed 30 Rock for its final season. It’s been the dreaded upfronts week, and Community and 30 Rock were both given orders of 13 episodes. Some fans are lamenting this, but I think it’s about time that 30 Rock ended on a classy note. The show was much stronger a couple years back, and this is supported by how few people actually tune in lately. The ratings have been weak. This being the season finale of the sixth season, the cast and crew knew they had to go out with a bang.

The show this week saw the return of Avery (Elizabeth Banks), Jack’s wife. Because Jack can’t accept anyone being better than him at anything or the idea that he has to submit to a woman in any sort of permanent situation, he challenges her to a duel of wits to see who’s cheated on who in her absence. “I’m sorry I taste like Korean cigarettes.” bemoans Avery. Nothing has changed in their relationship.

Meanwhile, Jenna, who continues to be the most entertaining character on the show, is having her own marriage crisis with Paul. Paul wants to get married on a farm down South, while Jenna decides she’s classier than that. Kenneth and Tracy intervene in an attempt to try and bring out Jenna’s southern roots, which they succeed in doing. It’s looking like Jenna is finally going to get hitched.

It seems like relationships took the center stage all around in this week’s ep. Liz too was having problems with her boyfriend, Criss, who believed that her power position at work was emasculating him. Things work themselves out as they always do, and Criss endeavors to broaden his hot dog business.

If this had been the end of 30 Rock (with Liz rejecting Chris Brown’s comeback) I think a lot of people would have been disappointed. After gems this season such as the “Woggles” episode and the live show chock full of cameos, this one wasn’t really holding my attention, which is never a good sign for a season finale. 30 Rock often tries to be emotional and sappy, but they don’t play it up quite enough for the viewer to take it seriously, but lately they haven’t been funny enough for us to laugh at every joke. Ouch. I’m excited to see what the next season brings.

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