Gavin & Stacey Bids Farewell: After 17 Years, Did Smithy Seal the Deal with Nessa?

It has been five years since we last reconnected with Gavin and Stacey, and, more significantly, since Nessa bent down on one knee to propose to Smithy.

Left hanging on a festive cliffhanger, it hasn’t been since Rachel disembarked the plane that the country has been so engrossed in the destiny of a will-they-won’t-they situation. While Gavin and Stacey charmingly united the lives of Billericay and Barry, the non-romantic dynamic between Nessa and Smithy brought a comedic core to the show.

During a screening just prior to Christmas, the series’ creators and stars, James Corden and Ruth Jones, were both visibly moved as they reflected on their farewell. This series holds great significance for its cast, creators, and the millions who have followed it.

Thus, seventeen years after that memorable first evening in a central London hotel room (and en suite), one of Britain’s most cherished comedies has ultimately reached its conclusion.

* Caution – potential spoilers for Gavin & Stacey: The Finale ahead *

Gavin and Stacey are busily preparing for a wedding. Conversations about suit fittings, bridesmaids, and Smithy positioned at the aisle’s end abound.

On the eve of the stag and hen parties—a significant event in its own right—Gavin’s mother Pam is anxious about the “buffet flow” back in Essex. With Dad Mick now retired, her personal space is now cluttered with golf balls and “Sky Sports blaring”. Meanwhile, in Wales, Stacey’s mother Gwen appears to possess a secret, while Uncle Bryn frets over his roof rack and if everyone will be ready to depart in three hours and eleven minutes.

It appears that Smithy indeed accepted the proposal. Hurrah! However, does this develop feel slightly too simple? While at John Lewis for official wedding list matters, we finally get a glimpse of his future bride.

And… she is not Nessa. Instead, she is Sonia, the girlfriend he briefly introduced five years prior, who departed early from the 2019 Christmas festivities. At that time, they didn’t seem to be a couple destined for greatness. Have circumstances altered?

“I’m so thrilled,” Sonia expresses to her fiancé. “Someone’s already purchased the handheld Dyson.”

Smithy’s thoughts are primarily on his stag—”the most monumental day of my life”.

Meanwhile, Stacey aims to invigorate her and Gavin’s intimate life, Dawn and Pete have finally dissolved their marriage (while continuing their bickering), and Nessa and Smithy’s son, Neil the Baby, is now sixteen and preparing to embark on a plumbing course.

Throughout the hour-and-a-half journey, viewers discover what transpired five years back and what Smithy did, or did not, relay to Nessa. In an unforeseen twist, Cossack dancing comes into play. Presently, she is contemplating skipping Sonia’s hen do—”going full Gareth”—and later reminds Smithy that she will not be attending the wedding, but not due to any alternative agenda. “We both know that.”

As relatives and friends gather for a wedding, the finale bursts with familiar faces: Budgie and the gang return (naturally, when a stag do is involved), Smithy’s younger sister makes an entrance despite being blocked by him on Snapchat, and Dave Coaches takes on an unforeseen new role…

We also hear further celebrity stories from Nessa—she “completed The Knowledge back in the day” and operated a black cab, which led her to “collide with Hale and Pace”—along with jokes that reference everything from Byker Grove to Baby Reindeer.

And certainly, the notorious fishing trip. The finale teases the revelation of what occurred, but Bryn is conveniently interrupted; or in this instance, by Gwen’s omelette and a fire alarm.

As ever, the episodes are rich with both humor and stirring emotion.

are flawlessly coordinated, with a particularly enchanting moment arising from Mick’s speech during his stag do. He shares with the guys that he and Pam were unable to conceive another child after Gavin, but when a seven-year-old Smithy entered their world, “it felt like everything was complete.” However, there’s little opportunity for melancholy – especially when a foam party nears.

As the significant day draws near, Smithy’s companions begin to express their uncertainties. It’s revealed that he still possesses Nessa’s ring. Yet she’s contemplating leaving Barry and heading back to the ships…

During the preview screening, Corden and Jones were accompanied by their co-stars, who recounted their experiences while filming the concluding scenes.

“I remember reaching the end and thinking, my goodness, I’m never going to manage that,” expressed Joanna Page, who portrays Stacey, reflecting on her initial reading of the script. I [knew I was] going to find it incredibly difficult to film, since they are all my friends and evoke such memories.”

Larry Lamb, who plays Mick, referred to the script as “another marvel crafted by the visionaries” Corden and Jones, and grew emotional as he remarked: “I can’t recall ever being this moved by something I’ve been a part of or even something I wasn’t involved with.”

Alison Steadman, playing Pam, expressed that she was “utterly overwhelmed” while rewatching the episode. “This experience has been one of the highlights of my entire career,” she shared. Additionally, she mentioned it was never challenging for her and Lamb to embody a “husband and wife” dynamic.

Right alongside gifts, turkey, and Wham!, festive television specials have become ingrained in the UK’s Christmas traditions every 25 December. The most memorable, from the dramatic tales of EastEnders and Coronation Street to the humor of The Royle Family and The Office, remain cherished.

In bidding farewell to Gavin and Stacey, Nessa and Smithy, Corden and Jones have gifted viewers with an exceedingly satisfying conclusion. Laughter, tears, happiness – it encompasses it all.

The finale encapsulates the essence of a series centered on family – both the one we are born into and the one we create. Gavin & Stacey resonates with audiences due to its relatability, especially during Christmas, perfectly depicting those cherished moments spent with diverse friends and family members whose lives might otherwise not intersect.

“You desire it to feel fulfilling,” Corden remarked regarding the finale. He noted that the last day of filming was, “probably the most emotionally charged set I’ve ever experienced.”

Anticipations surrounding the concluding episode of a show of this stature are invariably elevated. Get it wrong, and you might find yourself facing a petition.

Did Corden and Jones accomplish this feat?

Let’s just say it was truly brilliant. To be honest.