It's already time for "The Final Showdown"? I just was not ready for the end to come so soon.

Once the episode starts by establishing that Amanda has checked out of her high-school drama and is focused like a laser on the NYU acceptance she's been waiting for, we're right there in the Newspaper class, where the staff is prepping another new issue -- this one with a "politics" theme. There's a brief scrap over whether Cassia -- who has an idea for an editorial about "campaign reform" (sadly, we never get to hear what this genius idea is) -- will get to have the slot that normally would go to Amanda. Not ruling out the notion, Amanda discusses her objections, whereupon Alex starts lecturing her that she has to make sacrifices for the paper. Amanda agrees to give Cassia the space, and quietly asks Alex to speak with her out in the hall...

...where Amanda finally sticks up for herself to Alex. She tells him she resents his implication that she hasn't sacrificed for the paper, and that, however he feels, they should present a united front as leaders of the operation; she also tells him that when he's laying out the next front page, he needs to consult with her about which stories he's going to feature. Alex sheepishly agrees with her, and heads back into the classroom behind Amanda...

...so that as soon as everyone sees them, they get a load of Alex's smug grin, making sure "the back row" can tell that whatever Amanda had to say to him, he is untouchable. Lest that get lost on her, he proceeds to give everyone a blow-by-blow of what he thinks just happened out in the hall -- "I was rolling my eyes every time she was looking down. It was good" this, and "See, none of that would have happened if she was at the ropes course!" that. Amanda calmly tells the camera that she loves it when people undermine her. Alex is a scumbag.

So then we go home with Amanda (still no envelope from NYU), where she recaps the day for her mom and gets a little teary at the fact that she doesn't like working on the paper anymore. Her mom reassures Amanda, "They will get past all their petty stuff, at some point, and it'll be fun again." Amanda doesn't look so sure, but later gives herself a pep talk where she decides that she can't waste any more effort trying to make people like her, but just has to keep her head down and do the best job she can.

Elsewhere, Alex and Dan get haircuts together. (No comment.) While in the chairs, they talk about Amanda, Alex vowing that he's going to tell her once and for all where he stands with regard to her leadership of the paper: "I'm not going to bite my tongue like I have all year and let her walk all over me." THIS is what he thinks biting his tongue looks like? If he has this weak a grasp of common American idioms, that may have something to do with why he didn't get the Editor-in-Chief position himself.

Unfortunately for Alex, his decision to turn on Amanda all the way (instead of just half-assing it like he's been doing) comes in a week when a front-page story is put at risk at the eleventh hour, which would topple several other pages, and AMANDA TOTALLY SAVES THE DAY. How big a game-changer is this? EVEN TREVOR gives her props for it, and declares hostilities ended: "There are no longer any sort of feuds going on at the moment." Amanda's in a giddy mood, which quickly spreads. Mrs. Weiss notes that this is the first time that deadline has functioned the way it did in years past, though of course Alex won't let everyone else's happiness infect him. The issue closes, and Alex decides it's time to have it out: "I'm just tired of picking up the slack for her." Alex, my God, WHAT SHOW ARE YOU WATCHING?

So Alex and Amanda meet at the most manmade-looking park I think I have ever seen. Amanda looks serene; Alex looks agitated. He starts to tell her how great he has been this year, even in the face of the injustice of his having been passed over for the Editor-in-Chief position, but when he starts to give himself credit for having remained neutral amid the paper's factions, Amanda has had enough: "But you haven't been neutral, though. You have helped perpetuate that anger." Alex morosely tells his version of the story (which does not really conform to what we've seen -- I mean, "I kept my mouth shut all year"? Again, what do you think that means?!), but Amanda is over it, "Alex? This. Is. Spilled. Milk." Alex is obviously flummoxed by her calmness at what he thinks is his assault, but Amanda lays him out: "It's obvious you want to rehash, and I want to get past." Alex tries to stammer out an answer, but Amanda informs him that if their friendship is over -- and clearly, it is -- then they need to stay professional for the rest of the year. "Professional," she repeats as she walks away. "And that's why we're not best friends anymore," pouts Alex. My guess? He's disappointed not to have been able to make her cry.

Later, Amanda is the first to enter the Newspaper classroom. In a totally spontaneous, not-staged-for-the-cameras moment (not), she pulls out the digital camera from which she apparently still has not dumped what are clearly months-old photos of herself and Alex in happier days, and methodically deletes them. Alex comes in as she's doing so, and sees over her shoulder what she's doing. Does he regret being such a jackass to her? We may never know.

And then, something truly tremendous happens. As Mrs. Weiss starts introducing the subject of the paper's next issue, the camera pans back, out of the classroom and into the hall. A cover of "All You Need Is Love" starts to play as the camera pans further and further, out to the courtyard, and through...the Glee Club! Singing along! And through the marching band and color guard, playing and doing a routine! And finally we are up in the sky, looking down at high school, grateful as hell that we're not in it anymore.

But wait! The episode's not over! We're back at Amanda's. She's at the mailbox. She opens it to find a big fat envelope from NYU. The music swells again. I choke up. Amanda got in. The perfect ending.

So where are they now?

The official "Circuit" website went up shortly after they finished filming the show, as I understand it.

Yesterday, I linked to an interview Adam had done post-series; here's another, in which he discusses (among other things) his sexuality and why he chose to keep it offscreen. He also says he's no longer interested in journalism, which shows that he really was as on-the-ball as he seemed.

Dan has a blog, though he hasn't updated it in quite a while.

As for all the other editors: I couldn't find much on them, but they're all on Facebook, so you could give that a shot.

Amanda did, of course, go to NYU, and has a YouTube channel on which she vlogs. Recently, she returned to the attention of the blogosphere when she panned "Religulous." Amanda, if you're reading this, totally email me. We are always looking for interns.

Great show! I'm sad it's over.