I think it had to do with Ted reiterating early in the show that wins and losses did not matter to him…also in the final season trailer, the song that was played was rolling stones “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just mind find, you get what you need.” I think this show celebrates struggle, and overcoming struggle…it also defines characters as works in progress…the show, even though they didn’t win the title, proves the team is STILL a work in progress. While I didn’t like that Roy didn’t actually wind up with keeley at the end, I liked that he was going to a therapist to work on his problems. I even enjoyed that Ted, at the end, was half happy, half sad being back home…because when he started the show, he was half happy, half sad (happy because he was learning this new life, sad because he missed his family…whereas when the show ended, he was half happy to be back with his son, but sad that he left another family he created). This show really hits on the fact that not all of life is perfect…not winning the title, not being COMPLETELY happy, not winding up with the girl at the end…there’s just a lot of reflection of real LIFE in this show…and you can take that or leave it, but I feel like it’s pretty darn good.
Onward…forward.
The only real bastard in the show is Rupert, and he got what he deserved. (well, I take that back, Dr. Jakeass was equally on that level, manipulating Michelle, but I digress).