User blog comment:Mattalamode/A Second Opinion: The Finale/@comment-30307603-20171222000855/@comment-31194372-20171222200313

I definitely think that, more rationally speaking, there are issues with characterization as there have always been throughout Season 2, but from every source I pulled - and this was greatly researched to support my little tirade - the broader issue was intense discussions on the fourth wall, what the ending meant, and why it was "unequivocally terrible." Check HERE, HERE, and HERE  (though some users here figured it out) - there's actually minimal discussion on the characters themselves.

Obviously, as people who review the show and spectate upon every angle, the characterization stands out more, but the largest factor was just people either not getting the punchline or thinking it was some unintentionally terrible ending (which it wasn't). The one review of the episode online very narrowly misses the point, but focuses more on the continuity aspects, which is more where you think people would cite issues, but again, he's a reviewer too. Perception is odd, but you have to monitor every angle.

In my defense regarding the ending, I wasn't really watching the show with any contemplation when I was younger, taking it more as funny and not much else, which means there wasn't a chance I would get the joke without the built in hand-holding of the credits. The largest factor is that the ending is deliberately abrupt, but not pointing towards resolution - you need the credits to actually pull the curtains closed and make that whole aspect clear, because otherwise, it just looks like the show literally gets cut off prematurely, and it's not clear how intentional that is. But hey, if you got it, good on you for being smarter from the start. I was, quite frankly, not the most analytical knife in the drawer.