Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney bid farewell to Catastrophe with an emotional and optimistic tribute to the late Carrie Fisher.
The Star Wars actress, who played Delaney’s mother Mia on the show, died before the fourth and final series was filmed.
Many wondered how the Bafta award-winning Channel 4 sitcom would deal with her absence.
In an deftly handled finale, the pair arrive in the US just as Fisher’s character dies, upsetting their planned family trip and causing them to reassess their relationship.
Catastrophe told the story of an American advertising executive and an Irish schoolteacher’s one-week-long journey from accidental pregnancy to marriage.
Going full circle, the final episode saw the pair embark on raising another child together after another accidental pregnancy.
It ended with the pair swimming out into the sea before being swept away on a rip tide.
Fans hailed the show’s “poignant” ending, suggesting that Horgan and Delaney’s characters fight against the sea current was symbolic of their turbulent relationship.
They wrote: “Poignant ending to the final ever #Catastrophe As Rob and Sharon swim against the ‘current’ – as they’ve done since episode 1 – to overcome their differences and save their marriage.”
Poignant ending to the final ever #Catastrophe As Rob & Sharon swim against the 'current' – as they've done since episode 1 – to overcome their differences & save their marriage 👏👏👏👏👏 🏊♂️🏊♀️
— mark foley (@mecafolidas) February 12, 2019
Another viewer labelled the final image of the couple “beautiful and romantic and tragic and scary”.
They added: “Rob wading in after Sharon despite the dangers. The two of them trying to stay afloat together. Dark and unsentimental but lovely.”
There was something beautiful and romantic and tragic and scary about that final image: Rob wading in after Sharon despite the dangers. The two of them trying to stay afloat together. Dark and unsentimental but lovely. #catastrophe
— Laura Starkey (@LauraStarkey) February 12, 2019
Others who analysed the ending thought it might show how they had been swept away by meeting one another.
They said: “I chose to believe the rip current is like fate/destiny it takes you where it wants no matter how much you try fight it and Rob went into it with Sharon like he did when she found out she was pregnant.
“Being swept away together in the beginning and end.”
I chose to believe the rip current is like fate/destiny it takes you where it wants no matter how much you try fight it & Rob went into it with Sharon like he did when she found out she was pregnant. Being swept away together in the beginning & end #catastrophe #morrisnorrislives
— Aisling (@AislingMc23) February 12, 2019
Another fan of the show admitted its finale had brought them to tears, writing: “There’s always a point in every episode of Catastrophe when the emotional authenticity makes me cry.
“Last week it was Chris’s “it made me want to be your husband again so badly” dick speech. Bravo.”
.@SharonHorgan I love your & @robdelaney's show so damn much. There's always a point in every episode of @catastrophe_tv when the emotional authenticity makes me cry. Last week it was Chris's "it made me want to be your husband again so badly" dick speech. Bravo.
— Katie Puckrik (@KatiePuckrik) February 12, 2019
Speaking last week, Horgan did not write off a return to the programme.
However, she confirmed the show was certainly finished for now, saying: “It doesn’t mean that it’s dead and over for good forever. But it just means that’s it for now.”