It's hard not to fall in love with "Everwood" — at least with the characters that inhabit the fictional Colorado town in this made-in-Utah series.
Like real people whose friendship you treasure, sometimes we get annoyed with these characters. Sometimes we see them making terrible choices and wish we could make them change their ways. But we love them just the same. And we hope things turn out well for them.
Which appears to finally be the case in Monday's season finale (8 p.m., Ch. 30), at least for Ephram (Gregory Smith) and Amy (Emily Van Camp). Both characters have been through more than their share of trauma in their 16 years on Earth, but Amy has finally realized she has feelings for Ephram that go beyond friendship. And she asks him not to go to New York to attend Juilliard's summer program.
Ephram's response is somewhat surprising. As is Amy's response to his response.
All is not uncomplicated young love, however. Ephram's college-age ex-girlfriend, Madison (Sarah Lancaster), drops some shocking news on Ephram's father, Andy (Treat Williams). Well, it would be shocking if the WB hadn't included it in its previews and promos over the past few days — she's pregnant.
And Andy's response is one of those what-is-he-thinking moments.
As always, there's humor amid the pathos. Dr. Harold Abbott (Tom Amandes), still unable to secure malpractice insurance, decides to open a bagel shop. He knows he's in trouble when his first customer says, "I'll have a dozen glazed."
As things go from bad to worse, there's a lovely moment when Harold's wife, Rose (Merrilyn Gann), handles him perfectly. And, later, a charming, unexpected moment between young Delia (Vivien Cardone) and her big brother friend, Bright (Chris Pratt).
One of the more interesting relationships — the sometimes friendly, sometimes unfriendly sort-of rivalry between Doctors Brown and Abbott — takes an intriguing turn when Andy makes Harold an offer he'll have a hard time refusing.
"The truth is I miss having you across the street," Andy says. "I miss lunches with you when you pretend to ignore me. I miss you rolling your eyes in disgust at something I just said. But mostly, on days like today, I miss watching you screw up your life as much as I did. Because when you do it, it's much funner."
(Funner?!? Apparently, shooting in Utah has rubbed off on the scripts.)
It's a very good season finale that'll make you wish next season would begin next week. What more could you ask for?
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com