Just my luck – I start watching a show that’s already been established, get completely involved in it and then it goes away. Such has happened with the superlative WB drama Everwood, which aired its final episode last night. I got sucked into the show last year thanks to my wife, and I am saddened to see it go. Everwood had that rare blend of quality acting, writing and storytelling. It was light when it needed to be, and the moments of drama were indeed powerful.

I was going to go off on a rant about how unfair it is that Everwood didn’t make it to the new “CW” network while crap like One Tree Hill will live on. But that would miss the point, which is to offer a brief testimonial to one of the best TV shows I’ve seen in years.

I can’t offer a comprehensive review of the series, mainly because I only started watching it during the 3rd season (it made it through four). And of course, only the 1st season is available on DVD. I would like to think that some network would see the value in a quality show like Everwood and would be willing to resuscitate it. But I don’t see that happening.

One of the weird things I often do with shows (dramas especially) is wonder if I could see myself living among the characters. This is not my way of judging the quality of a show, mind you. I love Grey’s Anatomy, but I would have to smack most of those characters if I knew them in real life. But I could see living in a town like Everwood, and with people like the Brown and Abbott families. They were flawed, but decent people. When Irv Harper died in a recent episode, I almost felt as if one of my friends or family members had died. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a show where I felt like that. I imagine I would have with M*A*S*H, but that was a bit before my time.

So at the risk of sounding too maudlin, I’ll just say thanks. Thanks to the actors, writers and creator of Everwood for giving me a reason to think that television still has something great to offer.

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