How Will 'Grace' Wrap it Up

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

In light of the recent news that this third season will be the last for Grace Hanadarko, I have to say I'm looking at this past week's episode a little differently.

We recall I've continued to talk about the maturing of the character, and her subsequent embracing of her new role alongside Earl as his co-pilot in the do-good-for-others department. We now have about nine episodes left to figure out what that really all is going to mean.

And what legacy Grace Hanadarko will leave behind on the television landscape.

But more immediately, what exactly is Neely going to do - or not do - to this partnership between Grace and Earl? And what is Neely going to become to Grace?

What - if anything - is Johnny going to contribute as the go-between for both Grace and Neely (all the while still not realizing he's actually met Earl, which I think is one of the best B-storylines going on the show at the moment - next to Rhetta's personal troubles with her soon-to-be-ex husband)?

And what about Ham seeming to start living a life outside of the mind-numbing, energy sucking, codependent mess of a relationship he obsesses over with Grace?

The fact the case this week was an odd role reversal of an abusive relationship - that is, a lesbian couple, where one partner beats the other and/or takes things a little too personally when someone else might get close to her - kind of paled in comparison for me as I now start to wonder how this series is set to wrap up.

We recall back during season one, we posed the question is Grace really worth saving? And if so, once she's "saved," would that be the end of the show?

I now think the answer to both those questions is yes.

She's proven she is worth saving.

And she's moved more into the "saved" direction than not.

Next week's episode is set up as the summer series finale; it teases us with the idea that Grace could die trying to save a jumper. We obviously know she won't, but give it nine episodes and maybe we'll be singing a different tune.

One thing's for sure, the Saving Grace folks will keep it interesting until the very end.

New episodes of Saving Grace air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on TNT. You can watch full episodes of the show anytime over on the show’s official Web site. You can also visit EmbraceYourGrace.com to share your stories of how you embrace your inner-Grace.