After 17 episodes of absolute insanity that were somehow completely feasible by how grounded and outrageous its characters were, the “Vice Principals” series finale goes out with a bang, a smash and then several more explosions. Despite having led the viewers in seemingly one direction for the past several episodes, Jody Hill (“Eastbound and Down”) completely shocks and awes by pulling a total 180 not just on the identity of Neil Gamby’s (Danny McBride, “Alien: Covenant”) shooter, but also on a multitude of things.

What happens in the final two episodes goes far beyond the realm of messing with people’s expectations, and it is astonishing. Things escalate from bad to worse in the most hilarious way one could think of. Yet, despite the almost cartoonish feel of just how silly certain events turn out, the show still manages to ground the audience in a way that helps sell this absolute lunacy and make it feel somehow legitimate.

The performances this season have been stepped up from last season. McBride and Walton Goggins (“The Hateful Eight”) are an acting force to be reckoned with. Their insane bromantic, love-hate relationship proves them to be a dynamic duo that surpasses Gibson and Glover. Gamby and Lee Russell maintain a relationship that is so damaging to them, both physically and mentally, that it somehow makes them both come out stronger in the end, despite all of the horrible stuff they have both done. Somehow, Hill manages to make viewers simultaneously laugh, cry and scream obscenities, which makes this entire show something special.

The other thing people do not give Hill enough credit for is the decision to only do two seasons. The reason for this is because the show was originally pitched as a movie, but because of the amount of stuff he wanted to do with these characters, he instead decided to do a miniseries, which was a brilliant move. He gave each and every one of these characters depth, flaws, and so much emotion in a way that would not have been able to be accomplished on the big screen.

The decision to have David Gordon Green (“Stronger”) direct every episode this season was a conscious one, considering how this whole season has had a very particular cinematic look to it. It all wraps itself up here in the most perfect way possible, giving audiences everything that they could possibly need to send off the residents of North Jackson High School and making them feel like they just got an amazing movie-going experience that surpasses even Netflix standards at this point.

Fun, crazy, amazingly acted and just overall a great time, “Vice Principals” wrapped itself up in the neatest bow it could have, giving viewers a 2017 version of a goodbye and once again knocking off the air another amazing show. You did it again, HBO. You did it again.

Image from HBO via YouTube.com