The Meaning of the Ted TV Show's Ending
An in-depth analysis of the Ted prequel show's ending, including its key moments, themes, and the potential for a second season.
The Heartwarming Conclusion
The ending of Seth MacFarlane’s Ted prequel show wraps up all the ongoing storylines and ends the series on a heartwarming note that reiterates the message of the entire franchise. Set in 1993, the Ted prequel series revolves around Ted’s childhood with John Bennett, the boy who brought him to life with a Christmas wish. Ted and John live with John’s parents, Matty and Susan – as well as his cousin, Blaire – in a Massachusetts suburb, where they buy pot from college students, rent pornographic tapes from the video store with fake I.D.s, and use Jerky Boys prank call routines to get back at their school bully.
Ted and John sitting on the lawn in Ted
Leading up to the season 1 finale – episode 7, “He’s Gotta Have It” – Ted illustrated all of John’s adolescent insecurities. He feels insecure about having no friends other than a talking teddy bear, he feels insecure about having less experience with drugs than his peers, and in the finale, he feels insecure about being one of the last virgins in his class. The earlier episodes also set up John’s romantic interest in Betheny Borgwort, the younger sister of Ted’s pot dealer. All those threads came to a head in a finale episode full of twists and turns (and a surprisingly touching message).
Ted talks to John in Ted
In the final scene of the Ted finale, as Ted and John are sitting on the lawn and reflecting on their time at junior high, thunder strikes above them. In unison, they both yell up at the sky, and they have a lightbulb moment as they realize they’ve just unwittingly written some lyrics. John asks, “You thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?” and Ted says, “Get the guitar!” before they run inside to flesh out those lyrics to a full song. This scene shows the origin of the first movie’s “Thunder Buddies” song. Ted and John are both terrified of thunder, and singing that song makes them feel safe whenever thunder strikes.
John talks to Ted in Ted
Challenges and Growth
When John brags about made-up sexual experiences in an attempt to impress Betheny, the plan backfires and she dumps him. As soon as John decides to go to Betheny’s house for a big romantic gesture, the episode cuts to Ted and John being dropped off back at home by a police car.
Ted and John sit on the lawn in Ted
After John lies about his sexual experiences, Betheny wants nothing to do with him. And when he catches up with her at the prom to tell her the truth – that he’s never had sex – she doesn’t believe him. So, he goes up to the DJ’s podium and asks to use his microphone. The DJ says it’s against the rules unless it’s for true love. When John tells him it is for true love, the DJ proudly hands over the mic and says, “Go get her!” This continues the episode’s playful, self-aware relationship with romcom clichés.
Ted and John in bed in Ted
The true meaning of Ted’s ending – and the meaning of the series as a whole – is summed up in a heartfelt conversation between Ted and John in the final scene. After the prom, Ted and John sit on the lawn outside the house and reflect on the past year of their lives. They both agree that attending junior high was a mostly horrible experience, but they also acknowledge that it would’ve been a lot worse if they didn’t have each other’s company to get them through it. The ending of the Ted series carries the same message as both movies: it’s all about the power of friendship and brotherhood.
A police car drops off Ted and John in Ted
Future Possibilities
The Ted prequel show is being billed as a limited event series in all of Peacock’s marketing, so there are no immediate plans to follow it up with a second season. However, the finale leaves the door open for season 2. Ted and John wonder what their next year of school will be like, suggesting there are more stories to tell with these characters. There’s plenty more ground to cover between the junior-high antics of 16-year-old John and the grown-up antics of 35-year-old John played by Mark Wahlberg in the movies. If the Ted prequel show is a hit for Peacock, they’ll surely order a season 2.
John and Betheny sit on a bed in Ted
