Summary
Bringing one last fight, the finale is predictable but highly entertaining, leaving viewers wanting more.
Now that it has been established that it was the Future Scott Pilgrim who kidnapped Scott to stop Ramona and him from ever getting together, the ending of Season 1 establishes who is stopping Ramona and Scott from kissing each other via an enforced force field. The finale of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is not about a shocking twist. That was all brought to the audience in the penultimate episode. The question in Episode 8 is: why can Ramona Flowers and Scott Pilgrim not kiss each other? What is it about their future that is so damning? All relationships have potentially bad junctures, and this anime series relishes in that irony.
The Season 1 finale also brings an intriguing mid-credits scene that appears to be a lead-up to a second season.
(L to R) Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona Flowers and Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off – Image Courtesy of Netflix
Table of Contents
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Season 1 Episode 8 Recap
The Season 1 finale of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off opens at Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Musical. Scott tries to fight all of his evil exes before the show begins, but it’s pretty clear very quickly that none of them know about the force field preventing him and Ramona Flowers from kissing. Maybe it’s for comedic effect, but he should have known who was stopping him from smooching the love of his life.
Even Older Scott Pilgrim Versus Everyone
Scott Pilgrim, Ramona, and his exes watch the musical instead. However, as the play starts to flow, a large red explosion consumes them all. Before we see the outcome of this, it’s revealed that Gideon planned to blow up the theatre with dynamite to get revenge on Matthew Patel, who is on stage playing Scott Pilgrim. Of course, due to this segue, his evil plans do not materialize.
Instead, Scott Pilgrim, Ramona, and his exes are teleported away from the theatre, and “Even Older Scott Pilgrim” from the future appears. With no formalities, the older Scott fights the younger Scott Pilgrim, and he’s furious that he did not stay away from Ramona. It’s revealed that Even Older Scott Pilgrim set up the force field to stop Scott Pilgrim from kissing Ramona (this was obvious, to be honest).
The older Scott Pilgrim then reveals that despite his interventions, he and Ramona still end up marrying. He intends to destroy all of them so he can prevent his miserable future.
And so, it’s Even Older Scott Pilgrim Versus Everyone for the main battle of the finale. He decides to fight Scott, Ramona, his friends, and exes all at the same time. And he does so impressively: due to the heartbreak of separating from Ramona, the older Scott Pilgrim is bigger and stronger than ever after isolating himself for 10 years as a monk (yes, you heard that correctly).
Future Ramona Flowers and Super Ramona
After another significant red energy blast, everyone is teleported back to the theater, apart from Scott Pilgrim and Ramona, who have to face Even Older Scott Pilgrim together without any help.
Scott Pilgrim begs his older self to leave him alone, but ironically, he’s facing himself. Ramona questions whether she should date Scott, realizing what he might become.
But then, the emotional entanglement of the storyline comes to fruition: Future Ramona Flowers turns up and confronts Even Older Scott Pilgrim and asks why he hasn’t contacted her for ten years; she expresses that she just needed space. The older Scott asks if they can get back together, but she tells him it is too late.
Seeing all this unfold, young Ramona once again questions whether she should date Scott or run away after seeing her future self, but then realizes she has run away from everyone in her past. She wants to stop running.
Super Ramona then appears and sends Even Older Scott Pilgrim back home. Super Ramona then destroys the force field and kisses Scott Pilgrim: she tells him that she loves him and that all the times she has run away in the past do not define her. The series serves unique character development for Ramona, who is undoubtedly facing the fears and trauma she holds. The one weakness she has is pushing people away.
How does Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Season 1 End?
Scott Pilgrim and Ramona return to the theatres. They kiss, and sparks appear. The young, loving couple can enjoy their romance once again. Meanwhile, Matthew Patel asks Gideon to take his Empire back as he doesn’t want it after learning of Gideon’s plans to blow him up.
In the Epilogue, the characters continue their lives. As the episode ends, Ramona dyes her hair and joins Scott and his friends outside. A peaceful ending to a chaotic, enjoyable series.
(L to R) Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona Flowers in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off – Image Courtesy of Netflix
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Season 1 Mid-Credit Scene Explained
Audiences are then treated to a mid-credits scene that appears to be at the Evil Exes Empire, however, we cannot see the characters who are facing away from us. Gideon (assumed) says, “Time for the real game to begin.” Julie (assumed) then says, “The Goose is loose. Honk, honk, fu**ers.” The mid-credit scene implies that Gideon is back with his evil plans now that he has his empire, which will likely form the premise for a second season.
We want to hear from the audience — what did you think of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Season 1 Episode 8 and the ending? Comment below!
