The Hills Finale

So I took a day to gather my thoughts on how I felt about the series finale of The Hills - mostly because me and my friends talked through the entire thing and I didn't know what happened until the last scene. Although the craziness that developed over the years eventually made me a casual viewer, I can't help but feel a little bit sad over the loss of this show. I stopped to think about the fact that essentially I've watched these people from when I was in high school - and though I hate to admit it, that's kind of a while ago. Point is, I feel like I grew up with these people, and though we lead completely different lives and theirs are very difficult to relate to, I feel there was something to admire about these characters.

When I first started watching Lauren and Kristen on Laguna Beach, it was as if they could have been anyone that I grew up with. They were going through typical teenage drama, but at the same time they were trying to figure out their place in the world and what would become of them post-high school. I doubt any of them imagined they would have continued to be on television, and most (or umm some) went off to college to lead regular lives. I liked how we knew from Laguna Beach that Lauren sought to work in fashion and that she actually went out and pursued a career and got an education in the field rather than completely using her circumstances to take advantage (yes I know that her being on TV helped her out a lot, but at least she did try on her own).


It's the work aspect and the desire to succeed that differentiated the Hills of the past to the Hills we said goodbye to Tuesday night. As the years progressed the drama level and staged feel increased, and I don't think its a coincidence that this resulted in a dramatic drop in viewers. We weren't cheering for anyone anymore, we weren't living vicariously through Lauren's mistakes and triumphs, instead we were watching the changing faces of each character as their noses got smaller, boobs bigger, and personalities cattier.

In the last scene of the series finale, we saw Brody seeing Kristen off to Europe. The camera panned out to reveal they were on a set at a movie studio. They were trying to poke fun at the rumors that the Hills was fake and completely scripted, and I don't necessarily mind that they tried to be clever, but it took away any emotion that I personally felt. Some viewers are staunch supporters of the fact that the show WAS reality. How should they have felt that we put so much time into rooting for these people to succeed to then find out it was completely fabricated? I did feel however this finale was appropriate for the Kristen "era" of the show. I don't think Lauren would have approved of such an ending, because I think she is more authentic than that. Knowing everything that's happened behind the scenes of the show, I think everyone can agree that for the most part Lauren's struggles were more real than what the show developed into.

Without an aim, or someone to root for, the show couldn't possibly go any further, it was time for it to end. Which is why I ask, WHY THE HELL IS AUDRINA GETTING HER OWN SHOW? So she can date/undate Justin Bobby for another 5 years. So we can stare into her lifeless ceiling eyes? Why should we care to watch Audrina?

Apparently the show will be called 'The Colony' (thanks Christina <3). How many different ways can you refer to a city? I feel like if Audrina was interesting or charismatic enough to carry her own show then she would have taken over as narrator after Lauren left instead of Kristen. I think MTV perhaps needs a new development team to come up with some more original ideas, because reusing tired ideas does not equal ratings.

Frankly, the only thing that's going to suffer from the finale of the Hills are Canadian viewers who will no longer get to watch Dan and Jessi on the Aftershow. Sad :-(

Now it's time to go watch reruns of Laguna Beach....