The Comeback Finale Recap: Only Human

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Like many of you, I find myself reading the comments, even though it’s probably not the best use of my time. It’s been interesting to see such different reactions to these recaps. Some of you feel this season is as good as the previous ones, while others wish The Comeback hadn’t been revived. I expect the finale will also spark debate, and I understand both sides. While I don’t think the show ended particularly well, there were definitely parts of the episode “Valerie Cherish” that I enjoyed. Ultimately, I’m just glad we got to see more of such a fantastic character.

The new sitcom, How’s That?!, is getting a mixed reaction from viewers, judging by what Val sees online after its first episode. She’s more upset about the negative comments than she is about the show’s unsettling use of an AI version of herself, which appears to advertise NuNet – a hint of things to come. The next day on set, Val surprisingly becomes the calm voice of reason, using lyrics from Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” to reassure the cast about any bad reviews. I personally connected with her feeling of scrolling through harsh comments, like someone saying she “can’t act,” just to find a slightly better one (“yeah, she’s old, but I’d still do her”). Ultimately, the online criticism doesn’t matter much because the show is a success for NuNet. Brandon Wollack reveals in a video call that the first two episodes were aired together, and an impressive 72% of viewers watched both. (Which is a bit strange, considering how streaming usually works!) This is enough to guarantee a second season of How’s That?!, and Brandon asks Val to join him for a celebratory press conference to announce the renewal.

Valerie, recently criticized online, receives a surprising invitation to meet with Jack Stevens, a highly respected TV producer, along with two other influential writers, Ben Morrow and Matt Wright – considered the most powerful figures in television writing. They’ve called her in because of the publicity surrounding her show’s use of AI scripts. They want her to publicly speak out against AI writing, fearing that if her show, How’s That?!, succeeds, more shows will follow suit. While I doubt her statement will make a significant difference, I’m hoping she’ll take a stand. It’s clear these men are trying to protect their careers. Jack dramatically warns that AI represents an “extinction event” for television, and Matt emphasizes that the future of the industry rests on Val’s decision. Back home, Val confides in Mark about the pressure she’s under. Mark, unsympathetic to writers, points out that none of these men have ever cast Val in their shows, implying she wouldn’t have needed to do The Comeback if they had. Val defends her pioneering work, noting she was a trailblazer in reality TV and now again with AI. Mark responds with a harsh analogy, comparing her situation to being the first to resort to cannibalism in a desperate situation.

Behind the scenes at the season finale of How’s That?!, Billy tells Val he can’t attend the press conference because he’s been invited to the Marc Jacobs show in New York. While Val initially congratulates him, she soon learns he’ll be in the audience – and has secured second-row seats! Billy excitedly imagines this could lead to opportunities to attend fashion shows worldwide, but it comes with a catch: he’s quitting his job as Val’s manager, a role the show hadn’t even mentioned he still had. They share a surprisingly emotional goodbye, which feels unearned considering their strained relationship throughout the season. They dramatically declare “This is our last show,” and though it’s clearly a reference to the end of The Comeback, it’s unclear what we’re supposed to make of it. After a season of focusing on Billy’s inflated ego and lack of helpfulness, the show ends his story with a sentimental moment with Val. It’s disappointing that Valerie doesn’t take charge and end their partnership herself.

Honestly, she’s so much better off without him, and it’s not like she hasn’t been handling everything herself all along. But the finale taping was a disaster – that line about the smell being in lost and found just completely flopped! I mean, seriously, couldn’t anyone have caught that at the table read? Then, of course, the AI system went down when they needed to rewrite it, and it turned out the studio was skimping on the budget. It was heartbreaking to see Evan, who’s given up on his writing dreams, just shut down. Val had to give him this incredible pep talk – she even asked him what would happen if a space war knocked out the satellites! Who would write the sitcoms then? She really pushed him, reminding him that he would be the one to make people laugh when they needed it most. She even cleverly used a line from Matt, and it actually worked! The line Evan eventually wrote wasn’t a laugh riot (“I thought that smell was me”), but the audience laughed anyway, so who am I to judge? Seeing Val tell a now-energized Evan that he’d written for a real show and was eligible for the WGA was amazing. I just adore how supportive she is of this young writer, especially knowing he’s her son in real life. It’s just so sweet and heartwarming to watch!

Before the press conference, Val meets with Brandon and accidentally reveals the studio heads want her to speak for the writers. Andrew Scott delivers a fantastic performance as Brandon, who subtly falls apart. He complains about the writers being overly sensitive, insisting this is a business issue, not an emotional one. He defensively claims he didn’t create AI and isn’t responsible for the situation. It’s clear the show portrays Brandon as a CEO who thinks he’s a genius but can’t handle any criticism – a sadly common type. He ironically admits to reading every online comment while simultaneously complaining about the fallout. When he expresses feeling villainized, Val tries to reassure him, a move she’ll likely regret. Brandon then childishly says he needs a hug, but can’t ask for one in their open-plan office. Val offers a verbal hug, leaving the viewer to ponder how the show is addressing the #MeToo movement this season. With Tommy’s sudden departure, Val’s comment about a past relationship with a writer, and Mark’s revelation last week, it’s clearly a theme, though the show doesn’t seem to be making a specific point beyond acknowledging that things have changed. In other news, Mark receives an apology and a job offer from the man who previously fired him, suggesting a resolution to that storyline.

The press conference is here, and Brandon is adamant that the show, How’s That?!, isn’t an AI-created sitcom. He emphasizes they have a full, human crew and cast, even though the scripts are generated by AI. He clarifies that NuNet still needs writers for truly impactful, culturally significant content. Brandon explains they can fund these ambitious projects because shows like How’s That?! are cheaper to produce and don’t require top-tier talent, a comment that visibly upsets Val. When asked about working with an AI writer, Val unexpectedly reveals they ran into a problem during the finale taping – the AI hit a limit and they had to bring in a human writer for jokes. She ends with a simple, “Support human writers!” I was hoping for a bolder statement from her. I thought this press conference would be the turning point of the episode – a dramatic act of defiance, like walking out of the Emmys – demonstrating how much Val has changed. Instead, her response was surprisingly mild. It makes you wonder if she would have said anything at all if the AI hadn’t failed during the taping.

Brandon was already angry, and he summoned Val to his office after the press conference to complain that she’d undermined years of work and investment in Comspot’s technology. Val stood her ground, insisting they needed a dedicated showrunner for a second season and that she wouldn’t accept Brandon’s willingness to settle for mediocrity, arguing that truly great sitcoms can be as impactful as dramas. Val challenged Brandon’s claim of being ambushed, saying she felt betrayed. The conversation quickly escalated, with Brandon informing Val she was free to leave if she didn’t want to return for another season – they could simply use the AI recreation of her created from a full-body scan. While Val acknowledged the public’s perception of AI wasn’t great, Brandon pointed to the show’s ratings as justification. The resulting standoff was bleak, culminating in Val calling Brandon a villain. He defended himself, claiming he was simply looking out for himself and acting like a human. Val, clearly upset, stormed out, but promised to call the next day with her final decision.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how this season would finish, and whether Val would learn from her initial mistake with the show, How’s That?! While I don’t expect my characters to be flawless, after the dramatic ending of season two, I hoped for a conclusion that would feel satisfying after three seasons of growth. That didn’t quite happen. Val and Mark talk through her choices, and he suggests she simply quit – they don’t need the money, and she shouldn’t do something that makes her unhappy. However, Val admits she’d be bored without work. She’s frustrated that she feels stuck with no other options, asking herself why she should sabotage herself to avoid a difficult situation. Then, she receives a text from Jack, who has a new project and wants Val to star in it – a role requiring a strong, mature woman. Suddenly, another season of the sitcom feels unimportant, and Val realizes they can even use her digital double. She accepts that AI is changing things and decides to move on. While I don’t dislike the convenient timing of the job offer, the ending feels a little underwhelming. Even when she decides to quit, it’s only because something better unexpectedly comes along, leaving me wondering what the point of everything was.

It’s 2026, and things are falling apart – even in the entertainment world. Maybe a disappointing conclusion is all that makes sense for The Comeback. The frustrating part is the show seems to think a happy ending is enough, quoting a line from Cheers instead of Shakespeare. The final interview with Jane is clearly meant to portray Val’s situation as a success. Jane says, “It all worked out. You’ve really grown,” praising Val’s stand against NuNet and her new job. But the show keeps insisting Val is amazing without actually showing how. She was ready to go back to Brandon, and now NuNet can use her image forever!

The final interview with Val remained deeply affecting. Like anyone, I was touched by her story. Jane mentioned watching Val navigate a harsh industry for two decades, filled with public embarrassment. Val herself explained that she believes you have to actively accept humiliation, and she never consented to that. She simply did her best with the hand she was dealt, which she feels is fundamentally what it means to be human. What I’ll remember most about Valerie Cherish is her refusal to be the target of jokes, despite constant attempts to make her one. Even though I wasn’t entirely satisfied with how the season concluded, I’m still inspired by Val’s resilience. She emphasizes the importance of adapting and persevering, and that’s exactly what she tried to do.

Give Her Another Take

Overall, the season wasn’t very funny, but the final episode had some genuinely good jokes. Commenting on online criticism, Val recalled that when she did Seeing Red, it coincided with a shift where everyday people began to feel their opinions were important.

I was struck by how she rephrased the well-known quote by Martin Niemöller. She put it this way: ‘When they came for the writers, people just accepted it. When they came for the actors, they still said nothing. And when they finally come for you, there will be no one left to speak up.’

Tommy returned for the final taping and jokingly commented on Billy’s unconventional outfit, saying, “Back when I was growing up, men weren’t even allowed to wear lip balm.”

The episode concluded with a clever reference to a memorable scene from The Comeback. When Jane announces she’s succeeded, Val immediately asks her to deliver the line with more enthusiasm.

She made it even more charming by calling it a “Comeback callback” and then clarifying that a ‘callback’ is a term used in sitcom writing.

The show actually ends with an update: How’s That?! is still going strong in its third season, but now features a completely digital cast. Plus, Val’s show, The Judge’s Table, has received several Emmy nominations, including one for Val herself.

• “No A.I. was used in the writing of this series.” Let’s be grateful for that.

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2026-05-11 07:56