As Seen on TV: Ugly Betty's Farewell

When Betty Suarez, an unfashionable, plump and very smart girl from Queens, lands a job at MODE, The Fashion Magazine, her life changes in unexpected ways.

Often feeling - and looking - like an outsider Betty slowly finds her place at MODE believing in her boss, the editor in chief, Daniel Meade even when he doesn't believe in himself and helping him through a wide array of crazy schemes and mishaps (most of them orchestrated by the beautifully evil mind Wilhelmina Slater, MODE's fashion editor).

With the help of her endearing, loud and loving family, Betty stays strong, true to herself as she reaches for her dreams (she hopes to be a writer someday), even as she goes places she never imagined she would go.

About five years ago, when I first heard they were making Ugly Betty, I was highly skeptical.

I knew the story they were going to tell, years before I had seen then original Colombian telenovela, and later suffered through the seemingly endless Mexican production (and believe me, it implied suffering). I wasn't sure how well would Betty's story translate into a series.

From the first episode, Ugly Betty became my favorite version of this story. Why? Because even at the very beginning, during the first season when Betty wore hideous clothes and silly costumes, the show's runners gave Betty something I hadn't seen in any of the other incarnations of the story.

That something was dignity.

Last night I watched the last episode of Ugly Betty - Season 4, Episode 20 - and it was like saying goodbye to a dear friend. Betty Suarez sure worked hard for what she wanted and she was rewarded. I was quite happy with the fate of my other beloved characters from the series (wish I could say more, but I don't want to spoil. I will say that I think Wilhelmina's fate was the sweetest of them all).

As for Betty's fate - and Daniel's - the series left things in a very happy and hopeful place.

Going to miss you Betty.