They still don't know for sure how much time they have left. NBC could order more episodes and a rep has been quoted explicitly saying that the 13 episode orders for 30 Rock and Community do not necessarily signify it's the last season for either.
Also, I cannot imagine what a proper ending would be. This season's finale would have been a good series finale. What's to be resolved in 13 episodes? Not that there aren't stories to be told - I want to stay in this universe and see all the stories - but there aren't a ton of loose threads dangling around.
What's to be resolved in 13 episodes?
At the most simple--graduating any or all of them from school seems the most obvious.
But I couldn't have imagined one single episode of this show, so I'm not going to say that any idea of mine is at all relevant. I just think that giving any writing crew a clearer idea of when their last episode is, as well as giving time to work up to it is never a bad thing.
The back half of this season was written (and filmed) into a vacuum. This is less of one.
I don't know, if this is what they do in a vacuum, maybe more vacuum is the way to go.
But I think I'm confusing what you originally meant. I was taking "Now they'll have time to end properly" as the motivation for the 13 episode order, which I can't see, but if it is just that having a final 13 episodes will allow for a tidy wrapping up, then I am understanding.
Most of the articles I've read have said that the 13 ep order will give them a chance to write to a deliberate end. NBC doesn't give a fuck, but the writers are now afforded that opportunity.
OK. I still don't find that a comforting thought, but I get the concept.
What's to be resolved in 13 episodes?
At the most simple--graduating any or all of them from school seems the most obvious.
That, plus Jeff and his dad, which has been teased all 3 seasons. (Though without Harmon, that might be a plot line that's dropped.) Maybe Jeff and Annie will hook up.
I think Troy and Britta are more in need of resolution right now. Jeff and Annie are in a stable place right now, as I see it. Troy and Britta are teetering on the edge of something undefined.
Interesting perspective on the Harmon situation: [link]
I like that post. It's reasonable and sounds like they know what they're talking about. It's dispiriting how many commenters I saw taking extreme positions while conflating Sony and NBC (not even presuming collusion, just not distinguishing between the two relationships to the show).
