HBO's "The Comeback" wrapped its second season with a finale that gave Valerie Cherish a graceful exit from the spotlight she'd spent two seasons desperately chasing. The mockumentary, which starred Lisa Kudrow as the delusional D-list actress, concluded on subdued but satisfying terms, marking the end of a show that spent a decade in development limbo before returning to HBO Max in 2021.
Kudrow's performance anchored the series' entire premise, a character study dressed up as cringe comedy. Valerie wasn't just hungry for relevance, she was a case study in how Hollywood consumes and discards people. The show's documentary-style format, pioneered by showrunner Michael Lehmann, allowed the audience to watch her delusions and schemes unfold with brutal honesty that Valerie herself could never muster.
The finale traded the series' trademark humiliation humor for something quieter. Valerie landed a new role, a genuine opportunity that didn't require her to compromise her dignity or manufacture false confidence. It felt earned because "The Comeback" had earned it. The character spent two seasons doing everything wrong, misreading social cues, alienating collaborators, and misunderstanding her own appeal.
What made the ending work wasn't a complete transformation. Valerie remained herself, still calculating, still hungry, but perhaps finally seeing herself clearly. Kudrow played the shift with restraint, suggesting growth through subtle changes in posture and tone rather than a full personality overhaul. The show respected the audience's intelligence and the character's complexity.
HBO rarely cancels shows early, but "The Comeback" returned after a 13-year gap because there was unfinished business. The finale suggests that business is settled. Whether Valerie will actually succeed in this next chapter remains delightfully ambiguous.