Summary
Merry Happy Whatever Season 1, Episode 8, “Ring In The New Year” ends the Netflix series with the key message of being accepting of others.
This recap of Netflix Series Merry Happy Whatever Season 1, Episode 8, “Ring In The New Year” contains significant spoilers. You can read the recap of the previous episode by clicking these words.
New Year’s Eve is approaching and Don (Dennis Quaid) gets a taste of his own medicine. Emmy calls out Don on his controlling behaviour, claiming he tried to stop her relationship and control her life as soon as she arrived home. Don consults with the in-laws and Kayla about Emmy’s accusations, and they agree. There’s also this sense they are scared of him, and he is irked by that. Emmy also gets a job offer in London, which would change everything, forever.
So Don goes to LA to right the wrongs of his controlling behaviour. He meets Matt and tries convincing him to return to Philidelphia and makeup with Emmy, but Matt states he cannot control outcomes anymore. The two share a guitar session together in a rare bonding moment.
On New Year’s Eve, Nancy turns up to the Quinn household after the in-laws convinced her to give Don a chance. Don asks everyone to reveal their New Year’s resolutions as part of a yearly tradition. In an emotional moment, Kayla bravely tells everyone that she is gay.
Predictably, Matt arrives and Emmy is over the moon. He reveals Don went to go see him and then he found a jigsaw piece on the floor and knew what was missing in his life. Emmy hugs her father, delighted that he put her first for once. Matt gets down on one knee and proposes to Emmy. When Emmy reveals she is taking a job in London, Matt declares that he will join her.
Merry Happy Whatever Season 1, Episode 8, “Ring In The New Year” ends with the family taking Matt and Emmy to the airport. Don gives Kayla a key to the home with a rainbow keyring to represent LGBTQ+. The last episode of the Netflix series was mostly about a stubborn, traditional man finally becoming accepting of his children’s choices.
You can read the full season review of Netflix Series Merry Happy Whatever Season 1 by clicking these words
