As you will no doubt have noticed, this season of The Show™ concluded in Abu Dhabi over the weekend. And what a conclusion it was! The previous episode ended with our two main characters absolutely neck-and-neck, meaning that it would all come down to this: the winner-take-all showdown for the ages.

The Young Phenom has been leading the Old Champion ever since Monaco way back in Episode Five, although the last four Episodes have seen the Old Champion close back in on his record-breaking eighth triumph. We’ve never seen anything like this before!*

* The Show™ has in fact been decided in the final Episode in nine prior seasons, but this time is just better because it is.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the Creative Director, nor our wonderful panel of Judges. Between them, they have torn precedent after precedent to shreds in order to create the perfect unpredictable season-long arc. And when push came to shove, the finale really did live up to its billing.

You see, the Old Champion had the better car on the day, and had driven a faultless race to keep up with the Young Phenom’s pace, even when the Young Phenom had changed onto some better tyres while the contest was neutralised. For all the world, it looked like the Old Champion had it in the bag, even when the Trusty Sidekick got involved to throw an extra spanner in the works. But The Show had another twist in its tail – it always does.

His character development has quite literally hit the barriers.

When one of the minor characters crashed out, it allowed the Creative Director to bunch the field back together. The Show™ was about to have its last-minute climax, its Game Seven Moment.

The Young Phenom pitted again for more new tyres – again while the contest was neutralised. But all the while the clock was running down, and it didn’t look like he would have the chance to use them. You see, it had been established in previous episodes of The Show™ that there were only a few ways to proceed in this situation:

• The minor characters could be moved out of the way, to leave the Old Champion and the Young Phenom side-by-side for one last duel to end this season of The Show™ in style.

• The minor characters could be left in place, leaving the Young Phenom with several obstacles to get past before reaching the Old Champion.

• The Show™ could end in neutralised conditions, crowning the Old Champion once again and rewarding him for an excellent Game Seven Performance.

• The Show™ could be put on hold, and then restarted from the grid for a final high-pressure contest to crown the Champion once and for all.

“…and then we add the Safety Car to the mix, your chances of winning drastically go down!”

Of course, not all options are created equal. Option 1 might have been ideal, but the previous season of The Show™ had established a precedent that meant there wasn’t really time to set it all up.* Option 3 was even worse, as it would have ended the entertainment before the Episode was even done. That couldn’t do at all.

* In Episode 11 of 2020’s The Show™, the Creative Director confirmed that there was a requirement to move all minor characters out of the way, not only the ones that would best benefit The Show™.

For that reason, most viewers must have been expecting Option 4. After all, it was the one used by the Creative Director way back in Episode Six of the season. It had created one of the most unique and dramatic storylines of the season, as the Old Champion made a rare error, and it was in fact the Trusty Sidekick who won his only Episode of the season, with two minor characters in second and third.

But our Creative Director is nothing if not creative. He couldn’t be predictable. Couldn’t possibly be stale. His instinct was to choose Option 2, and this was broadcast to the transfixed audience. Would the Young Phenom be able to get past the minor characters to mount his challenge in time? It would be difficult, but not impossible.

Even then, there was another plot twist in the tail! The Young Phenom’s coach made an impassioned plea to the Creative Director for Option 1 at all costs, on the grounds that it would make for the best possible Show™. And the Creative Director came around to his point of view!

There wasn’t time for the Creative Director to follow all of the precedents laid out in previous Episodes and seasons, especially not the one mentioned earlier, but he decreed that The Show™ must go on. And the Director – as The Show™ always reminds us* – is always right!

Yes director yes, that was so so right!

* In some of The Show™’s supporting literature, there were statements that implied that the Creative Director could override rules and precedent if he felt it was in the interest of The Show™. This literature has always been considered canon, even by fans of The Show™ who will never read it.

So the minor characters between the Old Champion and the Young Phenom were moved out of the way just in time for a thrilling one-shot showdown to decide the Championship. What a nail-biting season of The Show™! The best we’ve ever seen!

The Young Phenom had all the advantages now, but he still had to get past the Old Champion. He made his move into the wraparound stadium section, and he made it stick! The Old Champion could have held his ground, but he turned away to avoid making contact and the Young Phenom was ahead. He needed only to hold his nerve for a little bit longer now.

There will always be critics out there who will say they would have done things differently, but as our Director told us (and the Old Champion’s finally-defeated team): “It’s called show business. We went out there and made a Show™.”

The Old Champion was gracious, the Young Phenom and his coach were jubilant. And you, dear viewer, were you not entertained?

So, can you wait until the next season of The Show? Will the Old Champion be able to take back his crown and get revenge on the Young Phenom? You’ll have to tune in to find out; prices vary per territory, see showTV.theshow.com for more details.

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