Pam & Tommy: The scandalous love story ends with a final power play

The series finale for Pam & Tommy concluded its telling of the famous couple's racy love story that was overshadowed by their leaked sex tape.

On Wednesday, the series finale for Pam & Tommy concluded the famous couple's racy love tale that was overshadowed by their leaked sex tape.
On Wednesday, the series finale for Pam & Tommy concluded the famous couple's racy love tale that was overshadowed by their leaked sex tape.  © Collage: IMAGO/Picturelux & Picturelux

All good things must come to an end. The Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy is unfortunately no exception to the rule.

In Wednesday's sensational final episode, titled Seattle, Lily James, Sebastian Stan, and Seth Rogen grace the screen for the last time as the drama-ridden bunch.

As James' Pam and Stan's Tommy prepare for the arrival of their first child, the two learn that a bootleg version of their leaked tape is circulating on the web, thanks to Internet Entertainment Group founder and pornographer Seth Warshavsky.

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Ironically, Warshavsky winds up being the spouses', and Rogen's Rand Gauthier's, savior as he offers to buy the exclusive streaming rights to the tape from the couple.

He also saves the pathetic carpenter – who only somewhat understands that what he did was wrong – by buying the original tape from him, allowing Gauthier to make amends with at least one person.

The fallout from one of the most shocking scandals in pop culture concludes in the eighth episode with the infamous couple giving up their rights to their stolen sex tape - but their marriage pays the ultimate price.

Seth Rogen's portrayal as the wronged carpenter, Rand Gauthier, has received positive feedback from viewers.
Seth Rogen's portrayal as the wronged carpenter, Rand Gauthier, has received positive feedback from viewers.  © IMAGO/Picturelux

Pam & Tommy's toxic yet alluring romance lives on

Pam & Tommy ends the world's most provocative love story with the couple giving up their rights to their stolen tape and eventually divorcing.
Pam & Tommy ends the world's most provocative love story with the couple giving up their rights to their stolen tape and eventually divorcing.  © IMAGO/Picturelux

The X-rated tale was a turbulent one to say the least.

To be honest, the miniseries probably could pull off another season, as some real-life points were left unaddressed.

For instance, the real-life Pam Anderson and Tommy Lee have two sons together, not one, as the show depicts. The pair also didn't divorce until 1998 - a year after their second son was born.

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Still, the Hulu drama succeeded in what it set it out to do – reveal a fictional look at what is said to have really gone for the pair behind-the-scenes.

James, Stan, and Rogen deserve endless accolades for their captivating performances, while the show's cinematography and it '90s fashion made viewers want to travel back to a time when life was simpler.

Now, there were a few missteps in the series' final result. Which is to be expected, since it was intended to be a loose depiction of true events. Yet, there were some moments during the biographical drama where Pamela's pain is overtly exploited and used as a catalyst to reference today's current issues like the Me Too movement. It feels like a too-updated take on the fight for women's rights.

Despite this, no one can argue that the Baywatch beauty deserved better than the hand she was dealt. From an unstable and sometimes violent husband to men gawking at her, the model's career, life, and marriage has been plagued by a private moment that was never meant for the world to see. Unfortunately, Pam & Tommy has only continued that trajectory.

The series clearly focused on Pam's journey, though Tommy played a pivotal role, of course. The finale ends on a somber note with a quick recap of where everyone stands today.

Pam and Tommy attempted to reconcile ten years after their divorce, though the relationship didn't last – again. Still, the two often refer to the other as their "greatest love."

The scorned Gauthier now lives in northern California, where he grows weed and still boasts that he was "the guy to steal the sex tape." Sadly, hardly anyone believes him.

Maybe the miniseries will help his case.

The completed Pam & Tommy is now streaming on Hulu.

Cover photo: Collage: IMAGO/Picturelux & Picturelux

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