iGoodbye

"iGoodbye"
iCarly episode
Episode no.	Season 7 Episode 8
Directed by	Steve Hoefer
Written by	Dan Schneider
Produced by	Dan Schneider Jared Fisher
Production code	514
Original air date	November 23, 2012 (2012-11-23)
Running time	46 minutes (without commercials)
Guest appearance(s)
Mindy Sterling as Miss Briggs Jeremy Rowley as Lewbert Dan Schneider as Meekalito Lisa Lillien

"iGoodbye" is the final episode of the American television sitcom iCarly, which aired as an hour-long special on November 23, 2012 on Nickelodeon. The episode guest starred David Chisum as Colonel Steven Shay, Spencer and Carly's father.

The episode's premiere airing attracted 6.4 million viewers and received highly positive critical reception, with some saying that it was the best episode in the series and noted that it was a fitting conclusion. The UK premiere attracted 437,000 viewers, the highest the channel has ever received. The Irish viewings were not counted.^[1]

Plot

Carly is expecting her father, Colonel Shay, to arrive in Seattle to escort her to the Father-Daughter Air Force Dance. She receives an electronic message saying he is unable to come. To comfort her, Spencer asks to take her to the dance, and she accepts. Spencer immediately becomes sick after being sneezed on by Lewbert, the apartment building's doorman, and he is unable to attend the dance. Carly is upset by this development, as this is the last year she will be young enough to attend and had been unable to attend the event with her father for the past four years. Sam convinces Freddie and Gibby to escort Carly to the dance (while Freddie asks if him and Sam want to reunite), but Carly rejects their offer.

Despite his message, Colonel Shay arrives, and escorts Carly to the dance. Afterward, Colonel Shay informs everyone that he has to return to his base in Italy, much to Carly's disappointment as she was looking forward to spending more time with him. Colonel Shay then asks Carly to come with him. She is reluctant to go, but after encouragement from Spencer and her friends (and also Colonel Shay saying there are attractive guys), she decides to go.

Meanwhile, Spencer begins restoring a 1964 Sterling motorcycle for his friend Socko to give to his cousin Ryder for his birthday. Sam, who is into motorcycles, offers to help Spencer fix the motorcycle. He accepts and they fix up the motorcycle together; with Sam recovering one of the crucial components while Spencer recovers from his cold. However, once it is ready on the night of the dance, Spencer reveals that Socko and Ryder recently got into a fight, so Socko won't be giving his cousin the motorcycle now. Sam, at first, gets mad at Spencer for not telling her that before, but Spencer explains that he wants Sam to have the motorcycle. Touched, she happily accepts.

Carly, Sam, and Freddie head into the studio to film a final webcast where Colonel Shay is presented as a special guest. At the end of the show, Carly and Sam inform their viewers that iCarly will be on a hiatus while Carly is in Italy and (in a nod to viewers of the show) thank their fans for all their support over the years. After the show, Carly packs her things in her room downstairs with Spencer, they take the time to say goodbye and Carly thanks Spencer for everything and the siblings share a tearful hug. Freddie is packing his tech-stuff in the studio when Carly stops him by holding his hand and they kiss for the last time before she departs and upon walking out, Freddie raises his hands in triumph. Before going to the airport with her father, she finishes her goodbyes with the rest of the gang. She saves her goodbye with Sam for last and they share an emotional moment in the elevator as Sam gives her the remote from the show as a keepsake.

On the flight to Italy, Carly views a montage of archived iCarly webcasts on her laptop while everyone reminisces upon many memories over the past seasons. Sam tries out her brand-new motorcycle for the first time, riding on it happily through the South, leading to the events of Sam & Cat. Then, the episode ends with Freddie, off-screen, saying his famous closing line on the webshow, "And...we're clear."

Cast

• Miranda Cosgrove as Carly, Spencer's sister and the host of the eponymous webshow
• Jennette McCurdy as Sam, the trouble-making best friend of Carly
• Nathan Kress as Freddie, the techy, geeky neighbor of Carly and Spencer
• Noah Munck as Gibby, the odd background star of iCarly
• Jerry Trainor as Spencer, Carly's older brother and an artist
• David Chisum as Colonel Steven Shay, Carly and Spencer's dad who is in the air force
• Mary Scheer as Mrs. Benson, Freddie's over-protective mother
• Lisa Lillien as Mrs. Benson's friend/voice of flight attendant
• Dan Schneider as Meekalitho, a mechanic who gives Sam a piece that Spencer needs for the motorcycle he is working on
• Mindy Sterling as Ms. Briggs, a teacher at Carly's school
• Jeremy Rowley as Lewbert, the doorman of Carly's apartment residence

Response

The A.V. Club's review found that the finale covered most of the show's usual concerns, about the importance of self-expression, the role of social media in young people's lives, and the background of "war, recession and technology"; although the first half was too slow-moving, it provides closure and the ending where Carly and Sam do one final episode of their webshow is "touching and funny".^[2] Newsday reckoned it was purely for fans, and concentrated heavily on setting up spin-offs for its cast.^[3]

References