Summary
Welcome to Wrexham’sseason finale caps Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s first two years as football club owners with the ultimate prize, a coveted promotion for the Red Dragons. However, despite the last few episodes teasing that ending, FX’s season finale puts together a solid show that really underlines just how big of an achievement this is for the club.
ThroughoutWelcome to Wrexham’sentire second season, the National League has been clearly defined as a two-horse race, with only the spectacular Notts County being able to match Wrexham’s performances. Yet, despite each taking a win from their matches against each other,Ben Foster last-minute heroics saw Wrexham enter the finaltwo games with their soccer destiny in their hands.
RELATED:EA Sports FC 24: The Best Bundesliga Team Builds for Ultimate TeamPerhaps this is the reason why “Up the Town?” kicks off with an inside look at what this season was for Notts County and its fans. Although initially established as enemies, here viewers get a more humane look at Wrexham’s rivals, whose fans and staff feel almost cheated by fate. After all, were it not for Reynolds and McElhenney, this would be their record-setting season.
As Wrexham learned last year, the National League does not hand out second place awards. Instead, missing out on the championship means having to go through the play-offs, which for Wrexham previously meant pure heartbreak. Notts’ die-hard fans and their players know what this means, viewers will see it on their faces and on the pitch as the team does its homework to put pressure on Wrexham.
The Red Dragons need one win from two games, and up next is Boreham Wood, a defensively tough play-off team with nothing to lose, tons of physicality, and one of the few to rescue a draw from Wrexham earlier. At times,Welcome to Wrexhamfeels like a perfectly scripted Hollywood drama, and seeing Wrexham concede a poor early goal sets up the perfect fairy tale finale.
Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s utter look of dismaycaptures the despair Wrexham’s players must have felt that night, it’s the same one seen on the many fansWelcome to Wrexhamhas put on screen, it’s the fear that Wrexham could bottle it again. It’s 15 years of anguish, of hanging on to the lowly National League, and the feeling that lady luck could take promotion from their hands one more time.
Every Wrexham resident feels the same. Wayne the pub owner; Millie, the autistic Wrexham fan; the entire Declan Swans lineup — the show does a great job getting viewers to walk these fans’ shoes. And then, it cuts to the men on the pitch, to the stories behind them, Elliot Lee’s wish to match his father’s legacy, Paul Mullin’s newfound comfort with his family in the city, homeboy Jordan Davies’ and his partner Kelsey’s troubled pregnancy.
It all clicks in thisWelcome to Wrexham finale, and the juxtaposition of the individual stories with Lee’s equalizer, the fans celebrating, and the sheer joy of Reynolds and McElhenney is a treat to see. While it may be hard to build up excitement for a show whose ending can be spoiled with a simple Google search, the way the series uses the game footage will have most people regretting they ever followed up on Wrexham news.
Of course, every sport’s story needs a hero, and sinceWelcome to Wrexhampremiered,Paul Mullin’s star had matched Reynolds and McElhenney’s, as proven by the go-ahead goal he sends to the top right corner. If there was ever a goal fitting Wrexham’s accomplishment, it’s surely this screamer.
As fans, whether it’sDeadpoolorIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiafans, or as locals from Wrexham, and even for those who never knew of this Welsh city beforeWelcome to Wrexham, watching the actors fall in love with this project has been an amazing ride. Seeing their enthusiasm and their attachment to the club grow until this magical moment is priceless, and while Wrexham was initially meant to be a business venture,it’s hard to imagine Ryan Reynoldsand Rob McElhenney ever parting ways with the club at after watching them fall in love with the sport in real time.
Jordan Davies’ newborn baby girl andthe sound of “Going the Distance” fromRocky-undoubtedly one of the most epic sports and film songs ever-, the fans storming the Racecourse pitch and the celebrations that ensue are only a small part of the larger Wrexham story. After watching all this, it’s hard not topick Wrexham when playingEA Sports FC 24.
WhenWelcome to Wrexham’sseason 2 finale aired, the team were sitting second in English Football League Two, with (spoiler) Notts County a couple of places down. Since the fourth division guarantees promotion for the three top teams, plus a playoff spot, it’s safe to say Wrexham’s dream will still be going strong when the show returns for season 3.
Welcome to Wrexham
Cast
Welcome to Wrexham shows the greatness of sporting achievement and the season finale will turn anyone into a Wrexham fan.
