China Syndrome (The King of Queens)

"China Syndrome"
The King of Queens episode
Episode no.	Season 9 Episode 12, 13
Directed by	Rob Schiller
Written by	Michael J. Weithorn
Production code	912, 913
Original air date	May 14, 2007
Episode chronology
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List of The King of Queens episodes

China Syndrome is the series finale of the long-running American sitcom The King of Queens. The finale has the length of two regular episodes, being counted as the 12th and 13th of the ninth season, running about 44 minutes without commercials. It was taped March 15, 2007^[1].

Plot

After Doug learns that his wife Carrie has not given up the apartment in Manhattan as she promised, though he quit his job as an IPS driver for a job as a salesperson, in which she requested that he do, he is furious. Doug does not want to attend her father Arthur's wedding with Ava St. Clair (Lainie Kazan), which takes place in Poughkeepsie. However, his best friend Deacon Palmer takes him there anyway.

Ava St. Clair reveals to Carrie that after a few failed marriages, she now only marries gay men. Ava later learns that Arthur is not gay and promptly leaves the ceremony, without informing Arthur. Carrie attempts to comfort Arthur by telling him, "She had wanted a companion." Arthur refuses to announce that the wedding is off, and proposes to Veronica Olchin (Anne Meara) in the men's room, and who at first declines, later accepts. Carrie and Spence are both surprised, and against the decision. The ceremony is performed by Rabbi Feldman (Josh Cooke), because the original bride Ava was Jewish, although neither Arthur nor Veronica is Jewish. The wedding ends with Arthur smashing a glass with his foot, while everyone cheers, "Mazel tov!"

Immediately afterward, Carrie is notified that the baby she and Doug wanted to adopt is waiting for them in Beijing. However, Doug does not want to have a baby with her anymore, and they split up. A very pregnant Holly (Nicole Sullivan) also shows up at the wedding, as does the Heffernans’ neighbor Lou Ferrigno. At this point, it is also revealed that Holly's husband recently left her. When Lou tries to cheer everyone up with "Such a happy day," he is greeted by very unhappy expressions.

Doug, who sits outside in the back of the building where the ceremony is performed, makes an offer to Spence to become his new roommate, since he is divorcing Carrie, but later retracts the offer when Holly tells him her story. Very drunk, he challenges each of them to a wrestling match, but falls asleep while fighting with Holly. When Arthur learns that Doug will not toast him as his best man, he pitches the role to Spence, who turns it down, and ultimately, Deacon is forced to make the toast, though Deacon pleads that he doesn't know him that well.

Spence tries to move back in with Doug's cousin Danny because Arthur will be living with his mother Veronica now. He learns, however, that Danny has a new girlfriend Sandy (Jillian Bach) who is living with him.

Holly and Spence begin talking and realize that they both don't have a place to stay, so they decide to get an apartment together. Danny returns without Sandy, and suggests that they move back in together. Spence accepts, leaving Holly alone without a place to stay.

Meanwhile, Kelly points out to Carrie that she shouldn't feel so guilty about keeping the apartment, because Doug let Carrie down many times in the past. Carrie is convinced and tells Doug off.

Both decide that they want to get the Chinese baby for themselves and board the same plane, although Carrie leaves the house first, and Doug has to find his passport, which Deacon finds in the vegetable crisper. Doug later surprises Carrie by greeting her with a gruff "Hello!" and showing her his passport in triumph. He also adds that "Deacon's BLT was delicious, as is my revenge."

They use the long flight to sort out their problems, and eventually, they get back together. After getting baby Ming-Mei from the adoption agency, Carrie finds out that she is pregnant. She is scared about the changes to come, but Doug is optimistic that they will be able to handle it together.

The episode fast-forwards one year and shows Doug and Carrie with their two small children in their living room. Arthur comes in with a suitcase, announcing that "it didn't work out".

The episode ends with a three-minute montage of scenes from the show's nine seasons to A Million Billion's song Milk & Honey. The final scene shows the words thanks for the ride…

Original airings by country

• USA - Aired on CBS on May 14, 2007. It was #12 in the Nielsen ratings with 13.61 million viewers. The season average was #33 with 11.4 million viewers, which was higher than the past two seasons. CBS would air an encore of the episode on May 24, 2007.
• Germany - The dubbed double episode was aired October 15, 2007 on Kabel 1.
• UK - In a regular hour long slot on Tuesdays at 21:00 on Paramount Comedy 1, episodes 11 & 12 were shown on March 11, 2008. Rather than showing the finale as an hour long special, episode 13 (minus the 3 minute montage) was shown the next week on March 18, followed by the first episode of season 1.

References

1. ^ John Kiesewetter: http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/tv/2007/03/king-of-queens-finale.asp

External links

• Episode information at TV.com: part 1, part 2
• Finale wrap-up: "The King of Queens" by Sarah Karnasiewicz for Salon.com (May 15, 2007)
• A Farewell Fit for The King of Queens by Joal Ryan for E! Online (May 15, 2007)
• 'King of Queens' finale by David Bianculli for New York Daily News (May 14, 2007)