Snowfall (TV Series) The Struggle (2023) User Reviews

Great ending

[pattypinky · 10/10 · 24 April 2023]

At first I was thinking the ending wasn't good either, until I sat and thought about it. People are missing the point-Franklin, is not a hero. The ending should not have reflected him, his mother, or Louie as such. What message would this send if Franklin got the $37 million or anything at all? When you sell drugs it never ends well. It makes me wonder about the mentality of people when they think this should have ended with Franklin painted any differently. Their is a saying "when you live by the sword, you die by the sword." They had all of the money, and other material things, but they never had peace. They were constantly looking over their shoulders. Louie definitely got what she deserved. People may not want to hear this, but the wages of sin is death, and this is the pathway that this lifestyle will lead to. No matter how the drugs arrive in the US, doesn't mean our community have to take part. When will we learn we're only destroying ourselves and our own people. Franklin, although a fictional character is great example. Great ending!

One of the best endings to a series.

[mywakinglife01 · 10/10 · 8 June 2023]

So spring of 2023 had a lot of great shows ending. I don't think enough people talked about what a phenomenal ending this was to a show. I've seen a lot of great shows wrap up this spring and this has been the best one by far.

When a show ends even if it isn't the outcome we are hoping for it shouldn't negate it's impact. I've seen a lot of low ratings for this finale but come on people. Did we really expect things to work out for Franklin our anti hero? After everything that's happened did we expect him to run off and live happily ever after?

This ending is bleak and dark and full of despair. We watch Franklin destroyed by his greed and obsession. He had a few life lines here and there but he wanted it all and he wound up with nothing. Nothing. It was sad and heartbreaking but to have anything else would have been a Hollywood fairy tale. It would have taken away from the grit of the show.

In this situation Franklin wouldn't have been a winner. And that was the right call. Life isn't sugar and spice and everything nice. This ending was powerful and impactful and accurate to the real life events that occurred during this CIA war.

This is an ending that stayed with me. I had trouble falling asleep thinking about it.

It should also be mentioned that Damson Idris absolutely nailed this role. This man deserves all the awards. My breath was held throughout watching him descend into madness and despair. He was absolutely phenomenal and deserves any acting accolades out there.

Well ...

[suryaprakash-46109 · 9/10 · 20 April 2023]

I know that this sort of conclusion will be controversial amongst the fanbase. For what the story is, I think that it's a fitting conclusion. Franklin Saint is one of the most well - written characters I have watched in television. The more I think about it, the more I realise that this bears some resemblance to Breaking Bad's ending but has its own unique touch. I must say that i think the director made a huge improvement on their filming, editing and overall choices for the last two episodes. You can tell that there is more tension when there isn't multiple storylines going on at once. Overall a fitting conclusion to a decent show, well done to all the cast and crew.

Snowfall comes to an end and not the end you expected but what pride and ego leads to, a powerful performance by Damson Idris

[Holt344 · 9/10 · 25 April 2023]

It begins shortly after the events of the previous episode in its final minutes, something you could easily say was a controversial way to end it but in my opinion it felt so human. The way Teddy said it to her, with no remorse in his voice, only the ice running through his veins as he said a sentence which cost him his life. I think many would have done the same in Cissy's shoes. That cliffhanger was unpredictable and in my opinion, quite impressive. In the end credits, we heard the sound of the phone instead of the normal music, that to me made it even stronger. Onto the series finale, an episode I've looked forward to but not wanted, Snowfall have been a show I've followed since 2017 and have inspired me in many ways. I really hope John Singleton would have appreciated the ending, Eric Amadio and Dave Andron were the two other co-creators and it was the latter one who wrote these two final episodes. I think Dave Andron's writing was great! From the story to the dialogue, honestly, more build up and perhaps another season to flesh out Franklin's development and arc would have helped. But I'm fine with what we got, I've enjoyed the story of this season and most importantly the story and writing in this episode.

This whole season have looked incredible, with mesmerizing and spectacular cinematography, the grand finale keeps the cinematography and direction but also its editing to a high. How they use the camera, it amazes me, and should be done in more shows. Snowfall have always looked great but this season, they went above that, the camera angles in this season feels reminiscent to Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, I mean the cinematography is perfect and stunning.

Alright, let's talk about Damson Idris acting performance in this episode as Franklin Saint, the protagonist since day 1, his acting is superb and deserves an award for his performance. But to explain the reasoning, we have to understand Franklin Saint after the cliffhanger of the previous episode and what he went through in this and the prior season. He is obsessed with money and in this episode, his obsession along with the addiction to drinking and the money, we get to see someone who is everything he never wanted to be but someone evil. He have grown into someone even worse than the people who molded him, or, did he always have that in him? It's been a couple of seasons and its been incredible watching him delve deeper into the darkness and everything obsession leads to. This performance, this character, Damson Idris have always been among the best parts and this episode shows he became the best part. Ultimately it was his pride and ego which made one of our protagonists, Franklin Saint, go down into a dark road which led in bloodshed. This was a character who was the same age as me when the show ran, it was thus the character I saw myself in, I never thought his arc would lead him down this road and it made it so much better. But now when we see where Franklin Saint ended up, was it the right place? From a writing point of view, yes. What Damson Idris did with the character, what the writers wrote, how the directors directed Idris in the role. It have been incredible watching his performance. This episode focus almost solely on Franklin Saint but there are so many great performances in this episode, particularly Isaiah John and Michael Hyatt as Leon and Cissy respectively.

Not everyone will like the ending or the direction this season took, but if you look at the characters, it works. Snowfall have always been about its characters and how their lives intersected, when Franklin's intersected with Teddy's, we knew he would never be the same but yet we hoped he would and then we hoped he would redeem himself. The world isn't easy like that, it isn't black and white, it's grey. John Singleton knew it and so does Eric Amadio and Dave Andron, the latter wrote the two final episodes and I think there's nothing wrong with the writing. I just think no one expected this nor the cliffhanger in the prior episode. I liked it and thought it was great!

For John Singleton.

Certified Tv Classic

[johnmock2465 · 10/10 · 20 April 2023]

10/10 Snowfall finale has put itself in the league with the greats like breaking bad the wire and the sopranos. Seeing the rise and fall of Franklin saint is one of the hardest things to watch in tv show history. A full circle ending for Franklin becoming like his father and facing the consequences of the community and neighborhoods he destroyed. No one expected this route for Franklin, we all thought it would be the cliche and repetitive route some of these tv shows take either being killed or going to prison. At the end of snowfall we see Franklin even as an alcoholic happy fans may not like it but he's happy that's he's free from all of it. The money was his crack and now he has no chain of it around him.

👍

[tben-31057 · 9/10 · 24 April 2023]

I knew after the war Franklin killed everyone in his path during the last 3 episodes that he was not going to just ride off in the sunset cash in hand. I honestly thought he would end up being killed. One thing I loved about the last episode was the nod to the late creator John Singleton. Not sure how many of you notice but the movie they were filming by his house was Boyz in the Hood. You can tell by what the 3 boys that were standing by the directors chair were wearing and of course that had to be John Singleton in the chair. Awesome show, lived every minute of it. Except for the uncle getting killed.

Many People don't get it

[Shazam1303 · 9/10 · 22 April 2023]

I'm shocked by some of these negative reviews so I feel the need to say some things:

If you haven't been around family members or people that have resembled Franklin in the end, it is hard to appreciate that ending. Through television and media People are raised to believe that drug dealers either end up in prison or dead and that these would be the worst consequences for drug dealers not knowing that this fall from grace is also a harsh reality. There's a bunch of franklins wondering around the hoods in America, may I say even worldwide and are by far one of the worst consequence of this drug epidemic that has hit in the 80.

People seem to forget that Franklin was only strong with his muscle and money. That was the only power Franklin had. From the beginning of the series he by himself was never the guy who was the treath. We've seen it when he got to jail and faced his consequences the first time. He was bait. He led himself to believe that he was the one that was feared and strong but the truth is the people around him saw that he benefited from them the same way they benefited from him. He was never a force. When his muscle died (Jerome, Kane) and Leon said that he wasn't gonna give him the money, Franklin was practically already dead. He had nothing left and no one to protect him. Franklin was never the tough feared guy and I think he led some of the viewers tk believe that, which is why people don't like the finally or assume that the downfall was too quick. But the truth is, his downfall started when he went to war with Louie, Jerome and Teddy. This whole season was a downward spiral and if you see it how it really is, you'll appreciate it even more.

Perfect Ending

[zayjit · 10/10 · 20 April 2023]

10/10 One of the most Realistic Endings to a character we have seen. Snowfall was written to see the rise and fall of Franklin Saint. In the first episode snowfall franklin wanted freedom, at the end he got it but in the worst imaginable way. Following in his fathers Alton's footsteps we see the most depressing falloff of our character. Franklins story is one to remember because we have seen countless story's of characters either getting arrested at the end or getting killed. Snowfall did a amazing job giving us an unexpected ending of Saint being Chained at the top of the world to being Free at the bottom.

Heartache

[gunkshotbabyyeaight · 10/10 · 20 April 2023]

One of the best shows I've ever seen, with a painful but beautiful ending.

Franklin said "nothing tears a family apart like money." And it's exactly what happened. When Wanda was about to leave Leon, he gave her money and told her half of what he has is hers. When Veronique confronted Franklin about his money, he made sure to remind her its HIS money, and if he wanted to burn it he could. How God punishes the egotistical.

Instead of being grateful he was out of the game with no one coming for him, and a woman bearing his child, he didn't see that as enough for happiness but instead he wanted money. Money was more important than family. To Louie, money was also more important than family, and she ended no better.

I could go back and watch the show again.

"Nothing tears a family apart like money"

[spelerspage · 10/10 · 21 April 2023]

When the bills start piling up, Franklin Saint becomes increasingly uneasy, to the point of threatening his mother, his best friend, and the woman who is carrying his child. Although he is given multiple outs, his unstoppable desire to live out his dreams keeps him from giving up. What was once one of Franklin Saint's greatest virtues is now slowly driving him mad. It's hard to watch a teenager you've loved and rooted for from the start turn into a monster willing to do whatever it takes for paper with white peoples faces on it. After being betrayed by everyone close to him, Franklin Saint embodies an image he's always hated, that of his homeless and alcoholic father. The ending shows the harsh reality of life and the consequences decisions can have on a person. This isn't a fairytale, this is the story of Franklin Saint, a man that will live the rest of his days poor, miserable and alone, but at least.. finally.. free.

Underrated!

[jaydrowley · 10/10 · 29 April 2023]

I'll start by saying I get why people are upset, but when you actually look at this episode it is very realistic, he became the same man that he hated his father for being, when you look back at the wedding episode it's rather smart since that episode was foreshadowing what was to come, the ending Franklin was finally free on his own terms, sad but true.

The whole episode had a sense doom to it, it was dark and realistic when you look at what happens to people who go down this path in real life

Damson idris gives a phenomenal performance and shows just how much depth he has an actor

Don't expect a happy ending.

Last 2 Episodes Went The GOT Way

[sumtim3s00n · 20 April 2023]

We've had interesting complex characters, we've had quality twists, mostly unpredictable, we've had underlying moral notes and commentary on the drug scene and government, race, society, violence.

The last 2 episodes they completely dissolved, especially Franklin, into a incoherent mumbling fool,creating melodrama for melodrama's sake in most scenes and did every cliche thing to achieve a conclusion based on boring, tired tv show tropes instead of continuing with intelligent and genuine story, leaving the viewers with a conclusion perhaps in the grey area or with open ethical ending to mull over in the next days,weeks.

Anything but this worn out finale of emotional Cissy, Teddy downgraded into a onedimensional villain and Franklin suddenly becoming so obsessed that he became stupid based on some latrine 101 psychology txt book, creating forced conflicts with his wife just for melodrama and tearing him down for lame stereotypical wrap up. The fact is his path was smart, it would have been A LOT more interesting if they warpped up where he got the money and then we see him down the line whether he could stay off the drug game or not. Or perhaps Franklin realizing that the money, realestate game is a drug game but only in a different disguise. Or whatever except this lame, tired drugs are bad, obsession with money(which he never was, money was a vehicle to his goal which was legal financial security) is bad, blablabla.

There was nothing authentic or organic about this conclusion. It was forced and ridiculously poor writing. It seems like someone else wrote and developed the characters all these seasons of the show but then another writer came, one with no experience, love or feel for the material, who wrote the most generic and basic last two eps.

Good message, still frustrating

[agitalikorkmaz-49266 · 7/10 · 26 April 2023]

Not the end we wished, but the only one which makes the most sense.

-Poverty and oppression creates cohesion, focus on goals, money and power.

-Prosperity and Power creates greed, disloyalty and betrayal.

He simply would not have come up with any other way to reduce or even eliminate the greed and betrayal of his closest.

And this is reflected in the real world. There's just no happy ending, all the blood, sweat, tears, murder you shed. You can't profitade from it on longtime.

All in all an ok ending with a good message behind it and very reflective, but still frustrating not to see a happy ending for franklin after 8 years of snowfall spectacle lol.

Terrible ending to an otherwise brilliant show

[lorraineweymes · 2/10 · 21 April 2023]

So disappointing, as I was watching the finale I couldn't help but thinking it didn't match the rest of the show, especially Franklin, it's like they were writing for a completely different character.

Yeah, yeah I get it, he ended up like his father etc. Etc. But none of it made sense given how Franklin behaved in every other episode.

The timeline jumping seemed lazy.

And Louie???? I mean come on her ending deserved better.

For me the ending doesn't gel with the rest of the series, I didn't want nor expect a happy ending, but I definitely expected it to fit with the rest of the show. I wish I hadn't of watched it and stuck with the ending I imagined in my head instead!

Devastating

[pancolart · 9/10 · 23 April 2023]

Oh my, i will need a week or two to come over this ending. Don't get me wrong, it was well made and in accordance with previous writing but so dark. Indeed a proper criminal story, this younger breaking bad version should have a moral. Or should it? It was obvious in last episodes that main characters will face downward spiral of a sort. His actions considered, a deserved one. But still one has hopes for him. For some kind of insight, revelation, change. He is so smart and through early seasons he tries to do right in chaotic and vicious world, he does not hurt innocent and has visions of future that transcend criminal everyday. But last season huh, lays heavy on the viewer. Awesome, quality series till the bitter end.

Wow just wow

[brandonneicke · 10/10 · 13 November 2023]

That is how you end a show like this. I figured Franklyn would have been a crack head at the end just for added irony and I still think that is possible due to the condition of his teeth and we didn't see him long enough to know forsure he isn't on the rock. That being said it was a beautiful ending, very very sad but much more authentic and realistic than most shows. There's a lot of gangsters like Franklin that made millions and millions and at the end they almost always lose it all. This show didn't glorify selling drugs it only showed you the dark side of it. There was no happy ending except for Leon which was beautiful and we already could see he was the only one left with heart. Almost a picture perfect show. It's right there beside breaking bad and dexter.

Peak Cinema

[ashioyajotham · 10/10 · 26 July 2023]

The writers outdid themselves. We didn't see anything coming; his wife abandoning him, him slowly crumbling to poverty slowly as he watches his life stagnate, being high on his own supply i.e becoming a drug addict and the final scene being in touch with his friend broke me. The writers did not go the route of sought of glorifying the lifestyle completely; rather chose to show the other dark side even though he is sought of happy that he is 'free' from his drug dealings, he ultimately pays for it by becoming his customers. The episode is a different take on the eighties; the good and the ugly.

A Show That Feels Human

[wickedjr33 · 10/10 · 15 February 2024]

Just finished the series a hour or so ago and it was exactly what I was hoping for. A great character drama with consistent in world rules and well written characters.

I feel the need to talk on the shows end since it's most recent in my mind and it seems a few people have a problem with it.

I thought it was a Phenomenal final episode with a sad but realistic ending for a character like Franklin Saint. I see people saying they wish Franklin got his "happy ending" but I don't understand where that thought process is coming from. Yes I love Franklin as a character but he is not a morally acceptable human by the end of the show. He done horrible things and got consumed by the game; I think his ending is great.

The final events of the show felt a lot more authentic and just a whole lot more human than most shows. The show in general did a great job of not glorifying selling drugs; it showed you a dark side of it when it felt appropriate while still giving lots of moments where you're still rooting for our protagonists even though it's not morally right.

I was happy to see Leon and Oso each get their "happy" ending though. Not to say they didn't do a fair share of bad throughout the show but even combined it doesn't amount to Franklin. Speaking of secondary characters this show did a great job of really fleshing out all of it's characters by the end; especially Leon. I loved his arc throughout the show. Even characters like Skully I eventually cared for.

If you're looking for a gritty grounded character drama that's written exceptionally well then I think this show is definitely worth a watch.

This is so real

[Funkaairo · 10/10 · 23 September 2023]

Franklin was never in the wrong, but he made the grave mistake of not feeding in to his peers' sense of greatness due to the power and money he gave them. Instead of supporting their delusions, he gave it to 'em straight.

That can't be all, right? Of course. His family could never trust him either, not because he had not done them right, but because they could not understand his drive for money.

We all will get alienated from our loved ones if we pursue things that are out of their scope, because they'll never understand why you do the things you do. They are comfortable with normalcy while the ones who want to get ahead, not get in line, will go to severe lengths and risks to achieve what they want. In Franklins' case, the lengths in question were countless of bodies.

Make no mistake, though, he didn't get betrayed by everyone because he killed people. He got betrayed because he claimed all his hard work was just his hard work. Reality is everyone had a role in the greatness. It was just Franklins' idea, but everyone together got them to where they are. Some did more some did less, but either way they're going to want to be recognised for the work they've put in. Franklin couldn't do that properly and so they turned on him.

Moral of the story? Let your friends do whatever they want to do, and deal with the consequences. Franklin couldn't afford the consequences because his game was ruthless and he'd be in a body bag by S1 if that were the case, but most games aren't. Whatever you lose can be built back up, as long as you make sure your loved ones stay close with you.

These are just my first impressions right after finishing the series. Consider my thoughts provoked. Thank yóu for an amazing show. I'll grow after this.

I expected just a little more

[noawareness · 8/10 · 20 April 2023]

Great final episode but not as good as I think it could (or should) have been. The time jumps left a let to the imagination, which could have been used more effectively. This felt like 2 parts of separate episodes, welded together. By all rights they should have done a 2 episode conclusion. The first episode ending right after Franklin realises Peaches spent all the money then the second episode starting 2 years later. But what do I know?

I've seen way worse series finales and maybe I just really didn't want to see Franklin become what he became but I genuinely feel that Snowfall as a series deserved something with just a little more substance for its final episode.

Yes they tied up many loose ends (like Louise and Oso) but it felt a little shoehorned in. These plot points would have covered in more depth over an extended period.

A little rushed and a little more shallow than the series deserved but still a solid 8/10 episode in a 9/10 show.

Cliche

[VH1jesse · 2/10 · 21 April 2023]

This was truly one of the worst endings I've ever seen. Wow. Let's see, they turned Franklin into his father who he hated. Tried to turn Cissy, arguably the worst character on the show (only rivaled by Franklins dad), into some kind of hero. She ruined her sons life because the CIA killed her deadbeat alcoholic husband. Then they screw Franklin in every possible way while turning him into a vagrant within a year. Doesn't make sense. None of the ending made sense. They just forced Franklins downfall. At no point was he ever making decisions that stupid. V robbing him and taking off was also forced. Realistically what would've happened is Franklin would've regrouped with V, figured something out and kept his legal business going somehow or just sold his share and reinvested his money elsewhere. All of a sudden Franklin has all this pride that's forcing him not to take deals and make stupid sales and not consult with his girl who he has been working with closely the entire last season. He just throws everything away with a single shot of whiskey. It's like they made up their minds that the series ends "full circle" with Franklin losing everything and turning into his father without putting in the work of changing his character. Franklin was the same successful, well thought out person he always was until legitimately the last episode and everything went out the window. It's so frustrating when shows do this, such a complete waste of time to just flip the script on everyone in the series finale. Trash ending to an otherwise great series. Franklin should've won or at least made it as a legitimate businessman in a bittersweet ending.

Excellent show that hit every trope on the way down in its finale

[kmaestro27 · 1/10 · 21 April 2023]

I just finished the series, a show I looked forward to every week it aired, and I am so angry with the ending. I'm not a writer so I can't provide an alternate ending I would have liked to see but I know the finale shouldn't hit every trope on the way down. I was waiting for Franklin to be hooked on crack at the end but it was just alcohol .., just like dear old dad. I find no "ooh" or "ahh" moment in Franklin's demise. It's pure schlock. Franklin Saint was, for five seasons, a strong determined character. His unravelling happened so easily and rapidly I didn't recognize him at all. I didn't expect a happy ending but I didn't expect. Or want, the exact opposite. Now, go ahead and hit that thumbs down.

Good ending horrible climax

[Mike56_ · 5/10 · 29 May 2023]

The show was very good and enjoyable I just had one issue, that being the climax that led to Franklin conclusion. The climax I am speaking of is Cissy killing Teddy. Now this doesn't mean I dislike the conclusion itself. I liked Franklins character conclusion a lot which is why I am rating it a 5, despite highly disliking the climax. I just found it nonsensical with the way it happened. The way Cissy saint killing Teddy was just lazy writing. I will give a detailed explanation as to why I think that.

Worst mother of the decade she screwed her son so hard in the dumbest way possible and the justification of it made my brain hurt. She literally is the definition of a hypocrite. I literally don't understand how she thinks what she did is saving her son. I mean seriously how does she think her useless sacrifice is helping her son out? Her reasoning for not allowing Franklin to have the money is stupid because it gets heavily contradicted in the same episode which I will explain later. So you are telling me after all this time she finally decides to kill Teddy? It had to be at that exact moment where she finally decided to be the hero. As soon Franklin was at his lowest she back stabs him. When Franklin was at his highest she had no problem quitting her job and using his money for real estate and the shelter. Her flip flopping earlier or in the midway point would have made sense. Flipping sides when her son was vulnerable is proof she is a selfish hypocrite. Now my issue isn't with her killing Teddy, it's her not wanting Franklin to have his money. Key word his. She also somehow thinks by killing teddy in front of high ranking CIA official in broad daylight , is the best day to save her son. And to make matters worse she goes in a court room and starts snitching about the CIA. I mean did she not learn from her husband death? They easy killed that man and she wants to start yelling about the CIA secrets. She is just putting more danger towards her son. Killing Teddy after he transferred the money was all she had to do. He was Ex CIA so they didn't care much about him. But yelling about the CIA selling cocaine to its own people is asking for trouble. They can easily have her and her son killed. By doing this she is just adding more risk to her sons life who can't do nothing about it because he's broke, due to his mother's selfish actions. She was dumb enough to actually believe Teddy didn't kill her husband and once he informed her he was lying she made an irrational decision. She lucked out that the CIA didn't do anything towards her or her son cause of her irrational actions. Franklin is the guy to thank for that because he gave up the Russian agent which caused the CIA not to throw Franklin in a cell or worse be killed. She left him broke and alone cause of her selfish actions.

Now onto the contradiction of her actions. During the finale when she talks to Leon, Leon says he will start funding the homeless shelter and Cissy praises him for it. Which makes no sense cause last I checked, that money is blood money that she didn't want Franklin laying his hands on. How is okay for Leon to use cocaine money but not Franklin? Does she think Leon money just grows on trees? Just like Franklin, Leon killed, and committed many crimes to earn his money. She hates that Franklin sells cocaine to his own people, but doesn't bat an eye when Leon does it? I mean she was speaking to him like he was Mr. Rogers. Seriously lazy writing. According to Cissy it's okay for Leon to use that blood money, but god forbid Franklin from using the money. While talking with Leon She essentially admits she was selfish and irrational. "I did the only thing I could possibly do and still live with myself." This proofs that she was only thinking about her self and not Franklin. I mean she couldn't wait five seconds? You are telling me that in her mind her killing Teddy before he could give Franklin the money was the only action she can live with? Leaving Franklin without his own money is the action she deemed best? You are telling me she waited until Franklin amassed a fortune to let him know the money is "bad" for him. It's like I said she had no problem with it before. Gracefully spending his money on the shelter and real estate. I just don't understand at all how she thinks this noble sacrifice of hers helped Franklin. I mean Leon tells Franklin that she did it to keep everyone safe but how is not allowing Franklin is have his own money keeping people safe. It was clear as day he was going to use that money for investments not cocaine like Leon who she praises like he is Mr. Rogers. Also want to add that the CIA never cared about the money, they literally told Teddy to give the money back after Franklin killed Teddys dad. They just wanted the Russian agent that's it. All she had to do was wait for the money to be transferred. Meaning this was a selfish choice and she deluded herself into thinking she did what was best for Franklin. Overall a good conclusion. Just the build up to it was a bit lazy.

Worst finale for this show

[addictedus · 1/10 · 20 April 2023]

This is GOT all over again, i'm so sick of great tv shows being ruined at the finish line by lazy writing and stupid storyline. After all of these seasons, this is what we get???? Every single character Franklin has trusted just suddently make the most stupid decisions and just ruin absolutely everything and destroy Franklin? To be honest i know Franklin was a bad guy but oh boy i wanted him to succed, and appearently the biggest threats to Franklin weren't even his enemies...te police, Teddy or any other drug dealers...his enemies, his true enemies were in fact all the people that he loved and he trusted. I cannot believe after everything he did for them, ALL of them turned against him and actually screwed him over and destryoed every chance he had to recover his money. This is absolutely ridiculous and this season felt sooooo empty, a lof of characters died, there were only a handful of characters left alive, and at the end they all left Franklin sink. This show was absolutely amazing in the first 2-3 seasons, it all went downhill from that point but this season was the worst, the story was garbage, the conclusion was unsatisfying, the characters motives were so stupid...and to give an example, Leon coming back...just WHYY???? He came back, only walked from place to place, didn't even helped Franklin, then...when Franklin asked for his help he was like...nahhh bro, i m out, and leaves again. This season would've been 100% the same without Leon in it, Cissy ruined everything, such an annoying written character, this ending is absolute terrible. I will always cherish what the first 3 seasons made me feel, like...i was so hyped for a next episode each week, but this season was just a middle finger. I m so sorry for all the actors that did amazing, it's not their fault. Damson Idris wa PHENOMENAL, he stole every scene, but they made his chahracter a total idiot...he was so calculated every season, he was always smarter than everyone...until this last season when they turned him into a total idiot, that got screwed by his own family. Shame to the writters, whoever give this episode a high rating doesn't have 2 brain cells to know what good writing and a good ending actually looks like. I m so sorry for wasting my time with this show. So much potential down the drain, this could've been the next Breaking Bad but no.....it's the Game of thrones runner up for the most trash ending of all time.

Derivative End to an Uneven Series

[bkkaz · 5/10 · 20 April 2023]

I've watched Snowfall since the beginning. It was never in the same league as Breaking Bad or even The Wire, but the first few seasons were good. Then it wandered all over the place and got increasingly more tedious. I don't know that I've ever seen a show about drug dealers that spent so much time talking about what they're doing rather than, you know, doing it.

The show's creator, John Singleton, created an interesting group of characters, and he further cast the show with some great actors. They all did excellent work. But after those first few seasons, the writing really became more and more pedestrian. Derivative. Aimless.

This season has been all over the place. Some episodes haven't been bad, but the last few episodes have all seemed like they're rushing to wrap it up. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul had a similar problem, but at least the previous seasons were all consistently good. Even if the last few episodes felt rushed, the argument could be made the series took some time to develop the story in a cohesive way.

So, this finale for Snowfall is what it is. We see Franklin Saint -- who never seemed to get to enjoy any of the millions he made outside a house he bought -- doing what he usually does, which is walk around in a jacket and square off against this or that person. Some of the characters are no longer around on the show, and it feels empty as a result. Sissy Saint is in prison for what she did to get justice for her husband and to save Franklin. Teddy got what he deserved if not in the way he deserved it. Things were never going to end well for him, but he was reduced to a two-dimensional bad guy in the last few seasons compared to how he started.

It's a little sad to see Steven Williams looking old and frail -- I've followed his work since at least The Equalizer.

The finale suffers from a lot of the same problems of the past few seasons, which is lots of dramatics and not much story. There are so many angry Franklin Saint exclamations of "So, you're doing this to me" to all the people he thinks betrayed him, you could have a drinking game. In fact, the characters in these last few seasons of Snowfall only seem to have one of two emotions: anger or regret.

The best scene in the finale is when a desperate Franklin tries to get into a safe. It's filled with genuine tension, as well as a sense of actual plotting instead of the usual stalling. There are some very modern references -- "anxiety" -- that weren't commonly tossed around in the 1980s, which take us out of the moment. Throughout most of the series, the writers have shown they either don't know or don't care much about the 1980s, as there's an inauthenticity to so much. But if you don't know, it won't change anything. When Franklin starts laughing over the irony of how little money he finds, it seems lifted straight out of a similar scene in Breaking Bad. How the scene ends is predicable but still shocking. And it tells us how things are going to end for Franklin.

But a time jump at the end is close, where we find out what the life has done to Franklin. Let's just say he's finally his father's son in some ways. In much the same way Jesse is a kind of moral conscience in Breaking Bad, Leon was a kind of moral conscience in Snowfall, and it's good to see his life turns out better. There's a kind of not-so-subtle cheap shot at Korean Americans at the end, though I suppose someone thinks they're making a poignant political message.

So, that's it. A series that started out not bad, sagged in the middle, and produced a finale that was like an encapsulation of that run. It ends on the right note, and that's good.