The finale.

Overall, I think it kinda sucked. People often mistake intense drama for good television simply because it is intense, despite this it did end well, the last maybe 10 minuets where actually rather good, it demonstrated where Waterloo road has improved recently which it has. Popular belief is Waterloo road has got worse and worse and everyone bitches about the old days, whilst the first few series were good and arguably better it certainly wasn't perfect however recently Waterloo road has improved introducing a lot more subtlety, intriguing story lines and more believable main characters for the most part, Waterloo road will always have a Sonya or two giving viewers a cringe or two. However the shows evolution is a rant for another day.
My main problem with this episode was not Kyle or Toms death, I suppose my main problem with the episode was that it didn't engage me in the episode. Waterloo road has always managed to keep a viewer invested in what's going on in the episode no matter how silly and cheesey it is, this episode was boring and very little ( in the first 50 mins) was memorable. Another problem Waterloo road often faces is not staying loyal to its characters, apart from it's returning characters like Bolton, this season has managed to overcome that however this episode fell hard. I expected Kyle to be different but keep an element of his former self (despite his character changing a bunch of times in Rochdale) which he mostly did, my only problem was he built up to much as a bigman in this episode, in Rochdale he was wild and a bit of a psycho but people rarely respected him, he was never top dog and was always overshadowed by Finn, there was no reason for Barry to have been threatened by him even if he had been the same.
Furthermore, Barry's character completely changed, Barry ( of 19 of his episodes) is one of my favourite students and one of the most interesting WR badboys but this episode was a total betrayal to his character and the only credibility to this performance was the actors ability to play two characters in one show. Barry, as WR bad boys go is mature and clever and is on a different level to a mindless chav like Kyle. When I heard Kyle and Barry were going to be in an episode together I imagined Barry looking down on him, not thinking much of him and definitely not being threatened or intimidated by him and it would be Kyle trying to take him on.I did not expect a cat fight about rep were Barry would be intimidated by Kyle. Like most people I would have liked to see a fight but I did not expect one as it is Waterloo road and part of that watershed thingy. The scene were Barry goads Kyle for prison rape is exactly how I imagined Barry treating him but we only got a few minutes of that the rest was immature jabs and even Barry literally blowing air down Kyles neck like a two year old, god that was stupid. Fair play to Carl Au he can even make that work in his character, Carl Au you are one if the shows most redeeming features you are a pleasure to watch your performance as Barry is very impressive despite some of the cheesey and silly things he does.
And of course Grantly was off this episode, his sick performance was great, loved it but it didn't feel like Grantly and any loyal fan had a laugh at 'I've never owed anyone before.'
Otherwise the episode sufferers from general Waterloo road cheesiness and silliness such as Rhiannon's sorry song and whatever was wrong with Kevin this week, I expect to see Waterloo roads weird idea of whats cool and how the writers think kids talk in every finale and/or school party function.
The redeeming features of this episode, I guess I liked Kyle, I expected worse. Toms death whilst it was a bit silly that he didn't smash his head and die on impacts, was shot well, the shaky cam shot of fall was very impressive and the reactions were ok, as it is watershed the landing can be forgiven, Toms death didn't need blood or anything it should be remembered that it is a pre 9pm show, additionally I liked the callback to Toms first scene running up to the roof and climbing through the window, it probably wasn't don to mean anything but I'm sure the writers knew what they were doing and if not I know many of the fans liked it anyway.
The shows strongest elements are Christine and George, thank god for these two, separately. From her first episode I was a big fan of Christine, an amazing actress for an incredibly interesting character, she's such a good actress you can even swallow her ridiculously fast transformation of capability changing from drunk under the table with her shirt undone to a headteacher, so far better than the last two ( serious/long term) heads. Her moment near the end where she takes the drink ( not sure why a recovered determined alcoholic has a bottle of vodka but whatever) is amazing, it's subtle, deep and sums her up beautify, no words are used their is no build up to it and there really doesn't have to this a rare case that Waterloo road has a character very believable and convincing, this is what her character would most likely turn to in this situation. Her performance is incredibly strong and despite her becoming head being ridiculous I hope she stays.
And George, despite obviously being a replacement for Grantly, is a joy to watch, whenever he walks on screen I smile as I know I am in for a treat I hope he stays on.
I am sad to see Tom go but it is about time, his character was put through to much and to much was forgotten, I wish the actor the best of luck and I do hope to see the get back on track next season.