Wilfred (American season 4)

The fourth and final season of Wilfred, premiered on FXX on June 25, 2014.[1] The fourth season consisted of 10 episodes. The series is based on the original Australian series, Wilfred, and stars Elijah Wood, Jason Gann, Fiona Gubelmann and Dorian Brown.

Wilfred
Season 4
Promotional poster
Starring	Elijah Wood Jason Gann Fiona Gubelmann Dorian Brown
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	10
Release
Original network	FXX
Original release	June 25 – August 13, 2014
Season chronology

Synopsis

In the fourth and final season of Wilfred, Ryan tries to figure out the truth behind "The Flock of the Grey Shepard".

Cast

Main cast

• Elijah Wood as Ryan Newman
• Jason Gann as Wilfred
• Fiona Gubelmann as Jenna Mueller[lower-alpha 1]
• Dorian Brown as Kristen Newman[lower-alpha 2]

Special guest cast

• James Remar as Henry
• Tobin Bell as Charles
• Mimi Rogers as Catherine
• Rutger Hauer as Dr. Grummons
• Allison Mack as Amanda
• William Baldwin as Bruce
• John Michael Higgins as Dr. Cahill

Recurring cast

• Chris Klein as Drew
• Rodney To as Dr. Bangachon
• Harriet Sansom Harris as Lonnie Goldsmith

Guest stars

• Julie Hagerty as Genevieve
• Nestor Carbonell as Arturo Ramos
• Randee Heller as Margot

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code	US viewers (millions)
40	1	"Amends"	Randall Einhorn	Reed Agnew & Eli Jorné	June 25, 2014	XWL04001	0.242[2]
With his world in disarray, Ryan has a second chance to make things right. Opening quote: "If you have behaved badly, repent, make what amends you can and address yourself to the task of behaving better next time." – Aldous Huxley
41	2	"Consequences"	Randall Einhorn	David Baldy	June 25, 2014	XWL04002	0.242[2]
Ryan and Wilfred's camping takes a sudden turn when an unexpected guest joins them. Opening quote: "Sooner or later everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences." – Robert Louis Stevenson
42	3	"Loyalty"	Randall Einhorn	Keith Heisler	July 2, 2014	XWL04003	n/a
Kristen's custody battle has Ryan and Wilfred taking sides. Opening quote: "We are all in the same boat, in a stormy sea, and we owe each other a terrible loyalty." – G. K. Chesterton
43	4	"Answers"	Randall Einhorn	Matt Patterson	July 9, 2014	XWL04004	0.201*[3]
Wilfred is the subject of a scientific study; the results are disconcerting. Opening quote: "In our quest for the answers of life we tend to make order out of chaos, and chaos out of order." – Jeffrey Fry
44	5	"Forward"	Randall Einhorn	Reed Agnew & Eli Jorné	July 16, 2014	XWL04005	n/a
After enduring a troubling incident, Ryan and Wilfred have radically different explanations for the event. Opening quote: "There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still." – Franklin D. Roosevelt
45	6	"Patterns"	Randall Einhorn	Ted Travelstead	July 23, 2014	XWL04006	n/a
Ryan finds himself ensnared by the "End Game". Opening quote: "Truth is outside of all patterns." – Bruce Lee
46	7	"Responsibility"	Randall Einhorn	Jack Kukoda	July 30, 2014	XWL04007	0.198[4]
While Ryan helps his mother as she adapts her new life, Wilfred confronts a new enemy. Opening quote: "By imposing too great a responsibility, or rather, all responsibility, on yourself, you crush yourself." – Franz Kafka
47	8	"Courage"	Randall Einhorn	David Baldy	August 6, 2014	XWL04008	0.170[5]
Wilfred tries to convince Ryan to keep sensitive information from Jenna; Ryan is persuaded. Opening quote: "How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them." – Benjamin Franklin
48	9	"Resistance"	Randall Einhorn	David Zuckerman	August 13, 2014	XWL04009	0.239[6]
Ryan's hope is threatened as he faces seemingly unending challenges. Opening quote: "Resistance is useless." – Doctor Who
49	10	"Happiness"	Randall Einhorn	David Zuckerman	August 13, 2014	XWL04010	0.247[6]
The truth about Wilfred is finally revealed. Opening quote: "Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them." – Leo Tolstoy

• A * indicates that the individual episode ratings were unavailable, so the FXX primetime average is listed instead.

Production

On October 2, 2013, Wilfred was renewed for a ten-episode fourth and final season. The series moved to FX's sister network FXX with first two episodes back-to-back on June 25, 2014 and the final two episodes aired on August 13. David Zuckerman, who served as showrunner for the first two seasons, returned as co-showrunner after stepping down in season 3. The roles of Catherine and Bruce had to be recast after Mary Steenburgen and Dwight Yoakam were unable to reprise their respective roles due to scheduling conflict, and they were replaced by Mimi Rodgers and William Balwin.

The crew was given warning well ahead of time so the show's creators could tie up loose ends with the final season.[7] The decision to end the series was ultimately made by FX. Jason Gann was intent on continuing the series stating, "We would have kept going. I think you would have to be crazy to quit a job like this."[8] The return of show runner David Zuckerman, coupled with the focus on answering some of the show's deeper mythological questions, prevented Gann from writing any episodes in the final season.[8]

Elijah Wood has stated that "Answers" is one of his favorite episodes of the series saying "I read the season kind of in order and I read like one through three and then I read four and it just totally blew my mind."[9] His friend has taken the basement set and recreated it at his house. Wood himself has possession of a stuffed bear and a bong made from a Gatorade bottle, both featured prominently throughout the series.[9]

Notes

1. Gubelmann is only credited for the episodes she appears in.
2. Brown is only credited for the episodes she appears in.

References

1. Goldberg, Lesley (October 2, 2013). "'Wilfred' Renewed for Fourth and Final Season on FXX". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
2. Patten, Dominic (August 19, 2014). "FXX's 'Wilfred' Series Finale Hits Season High". Deadline. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
3. "Wednesday's Cable Ratings & Broadcast Finals: "Extant," "Big Brother 16" Top Charts". The Futon Critic. July 10, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
4. Salem, Mitch (August 1, 2014). "UPDATED: THE SKED CABLE/NETWORK THURSDAY SCORECARD – 7/31/14". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on August 4, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
5. Salem, Mitch (August 7, 2014). "UPDATED: THE SKED CABLE/NETWORK WEDNESDAY SCORECARD – 8/6/14". ShowBuzzDaily. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
6. Metcalf, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Wednesday Cable Originals: 8/13/14". August 14, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
7. Marechal, AJ. "FX's 'Wilfred' to End After Fourth Season". Variety.
8. Barta, Preston. "Interview: WILFRED's Jason Gann On Hanging Up the Dog Suit". NT Daily.
9. Barta, Preston. "Interview: Elijah Wood On the End of 'Wilfred'". NT Daily.

External links

• Wilfred – list of episodes at IMDb
• List of Wilfred episodes at TV.com