{{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{more citations needed|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox television episode | series = Two and a Half Men | image = Of Course He's Dead Chuck Lorre.png | caption = Chuck Lorre looks at the audience and exclaims "Winning!" after a piano falls over "Charlie", just when a second piano is about to fall on him. Critics were mixed as this was an anti-climatic ending while also praising its self-referential comedy. | season = 12 | episode = 15/16 | airdate = {{Start date|2015|2|19}} | production = | runtime = 38 minutes | writer = * Chuck Lorre * Lee Aronsohn * Don Reo * Jim Patterson | director = James Widdoes<ref name="finalepressrelease">{{cite web |url=http://thefutoncritic.com/listings/20150205cbs09/|title=Of Course He's Dead – Part One and Part Two|work=The Futon Critic |access-date=February 15, 2015}}</ref> | music = | photographer = | guests = * Angus T. Jones as Jake Harper * Melanie Lynskey as Rose * April Bowlby as Kandi * Jennifer Taylor as Chelsea Melini * Courtney Thorne-Smith as Lyndsey McElroy * Maggie Lawson as Ms. McMartin * Emmanuelle Vaugier as Mia * Missi Pyle as Dolores Pasternak * Judy Greer as Bridget Schmidt * Sophie Winkleman as Zoey Hyde-Tottingham Pierce * Arnold Schwarzenegger as Lt. Wagner * Bob Bergen as Porky Pig * John Stamos as himself * Christian Slater as himself * Chuck Lorre as himself | season_article = Two and a Half Men season 12 | episode_list = List of Two and a Half Men episodes | prev = Don't Give a Monkey a Gun }}
"'''Of Course He's Dead'''" is the two-part series finale of the long-running American sitcom ''Two and a Half Men,'' which ran for 12 seasons. The episode aired on CBS on February 19, 2015, as an hour-long program, and serves as the 15th and the 16th episode of the twelfth season and the 261st and the 262nd episode of the series overall.<ref name="ew.com">{{cite magazine|first=James|last=Hibberd|author-link=James Hibberd (writer)|url=https://ew.com/article/2014/12/05/two-and-a-half-men-end-date/|title=It's really ending: 'Two and a Half Men' gets series finale date|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=December 5, 2014|access-date=February 23, 2015|archive-date=March 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302174023/http://www.ew.com/article/2014/12/05/two-and-a-half-men-end-date|url-status=live}}</ref> The episode, written by series creators Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn, along with Don Reo and Jim Patterson, and directed by James Widdoes, had the show's largest audience since April 2013, with 13.52 million viewers watching the episode, along with a 3.2 rating/9% share in the 18–49 demographic.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/20/thursday-final-ratings-the-big-bang-theory-scandal-two-and-a-half-men-how-to-get-away-with-murder-adjusted-up/365727/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221011941/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/20/thursday-final-ratings-the-big-bang-theory-scandal-two-and-a-half-men-how-to-get-away-with-murder-adjusted-up/365727/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 21, 2015|title=Thursday Final Ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory,' 'Scandal', 'Two and a Half Men' & 'How To Get Away With Murder' Adjusted Up - Ratings |work=TVbytheNumbers |access-date=February 23, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2015/data/ratings/two-and-a-half-men-finale-draws-more-than-13-million-viewers-1201437800/|title='Two and a Half Men' Series Finale Draws More Than 13 Million Viewers|first=Rick|last=Kissell|work=Variety|access-date=February 23, 2015|date=February 20, 2015|archive-date=February 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222115300/http://variety.com/2015/data/ratings/two-and-a-half-men-finale-draws-more-than-13-million-viewers-1201437800/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="michaelo'connell">{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-two-a-men-775618|title=TV Ratings: 'Two and a Half Men' Finale Swells, 'Odd Couple' Starts Strong|first=Michael|last=O'Connell|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 20, 2015|access-date=February 22, 2015|archive-date=February 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222125008/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-two-a-men-775618|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/s172/two-and-a-half-men/news/a630595/thursday-ratings-two-and-a-half-men-dominates-with-finale.html |title=Thursday ratings: Two and a Half Men dominates with finale |work=Digital Spy |date=22 February 2015 |access-date=February 23, 2015 |archive-date=21 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721150142/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/s172/two-and-a-half-men/news/a630595/thursday-ratings-two-and-a-half-men-dominates-with-finale.html#~peFXlsURGx53tq |url-status=live }}</ref> In this episode, Alan Harper discovers that his brother Charlie, presumed to have been killed in a train accident in the ninth season premiere, has a fortune in unclaimed royalties. He eventually gathers enough evidence to confirm that Charlie is still alive and is planning a grand act of revenge. Former cast members Angus T. Jones, April Bowlby and Jennifer Taylor make cameo appearances, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger as Lieutenant Wagner.
==Plot== Alan Harper receives a letter stating his presumed dead brother Charlie has $2.5 million in unclaimed royalties. He needs Charlie's death certificate to claim the money, but cannot find one and realizes his only proof is Rose's word. Evidence that Charlie may be alive mounts after an unknown party claims the money, and Alan and his mother Evelyn receive threatening messages. Meanwhile, Charlie's estranged daughter Jenny receives a check for $100,000 along with an apology note, and a package addressed to Charlie arrives at the house. Several women from Charlie's past are shown receiving checks and personalized apology letters.
An unknown captive escapes Rose's basement, so Rose returns to the beach house to inform Alan and Walden Schmidt that Charlie is alive. While in Paris, Rose caught Charlie in bed with a hooker, a mime and a goat. She tried to avenge his infidelity by pushing him into the path of an oncoming train, but the goat took the fall instead. Rose imprisoned Charlie in her dungeon, where she raped him, until he escaped. Evelyn and Rose go into hiding, while Walden and Alan go to a police station and talk to Lieutenant Wagner. Returning to the house, they find life-size cardboard cutouts of themselves wearing nooses with targets on the chests. Frightened, Alan calls his ex-wife Judith and several past girlfriends to tell them how much they each meant to him. Walden also calls two of his ex-girlfriends to apologize for how he behaved with each. All the women feign emotion while being generally dismissive.
Alan's son Jake shows up at the house, having left the Army and married a Japanese woman. He mentions having received a $250,000 check and a note reading, "I'm alive" before gambling with the money in Las Vegas, yielding $2.5 million in winnings. After Jake leaves, Wagner calls Alan and Walden to tell them he has captured Charlie, but the man is actually Christian Slater dressed in attire similar to Charlie's. Alan, Walden and Berta, believing Wagner, celebrate. A helicopter carrying a grand piano like Charlie's approaches the house, and the three ponder whether Wagner caught the right man, but quickly brush it off. Charlie, seen only from the back, walks up to the front door and rings the bell. However, before anyone answers, Charlie is killed when the helicopter drops the piano on him. The camera then pulls behind to reveal the series' set with Chuck Lorre sitting in the director's chair. The series ends when Lorre turns his head to the outgoing audience and breaks the fourth wall by saying: "Winning!", just seconds before a second grand piano falls on him.
==Production== Prior to the finale, there was much speculation over whether former star Charlie Sheen would reprise his role as Charlie Harper. CBS had not announced who would guest star on the episode.<ref name="finalepressrelease"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Boedeker|first=Hal|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/tv/tv-guy/os-two-and-a-half-men-mentalist-end-runs-20150215-post.html|title='Two and a Half Men,' 'Mentalist' end runs|work=Orlando Sentinel|date=February 15, 2015|access-date=February 15, 2015|archive-date=February 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216042526/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/tv/tv-guy/os-two-and-a-half-men-mentalist-end-runs-20150215-post.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At the Television Critics Association's winter press tour on January 15, 2015, Chuck Lorre spoke about the show and had nothing but praise for Sheen, saying, "It would be inappropriate to not acknowledge the extraordinary success we had with Charlie and how grateful I am, we all are, to his contributions. And there's nothing but great feelings for the eight-and-a-half years we worked together. But how to wrap the show up, it's tricky. It's a tricky—it's a sticky wicket. Because, in a way, the show morphed into something else entirely for the last four years, and it's something we love, and we want to honor both. So, how to honor both has been the challenge of this finale. The other challenge is how to get people watching it without telling them what it is," he explained. He said he wanted the finale to honor both eras of the show, and that there were "no wounds," following what happened with Sheen, saying "What happened, happened. And I'm grateful for the time we enjoyed working together and I'm very grateful Ashton came along and kept the lights on. What do I got to complain about? I'm so blessed."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/01/15/chuck-lorre-charlie-sheen-men-finale|title=Chuck Lorre praises Charlie Sheen era: 'Two and a Half Men' finale to honor the show's past|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=February 23, 2015|first=James|last=Hibberd|author-link=James Hibberd (writer)|date=January 15, 2015|archive-date=May 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512195826/https://ew.com/article/2015/01/15/chuck-lorre-charlie-sheen-men-finale/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="craigbyrne,editor-in-chief">{{cite web|url=http://www.ksitetv.com/two-and-a-half-men-2/chuck-lorre-honored-as-the-two-and-a-half-men-finale-approaches/53579|title=Chuck Lorre Honored As The Two and a Half Men Finale Approaches|first=Craig|last=Byrne|work=ksitetv.com|date=21 January 2015|access-date=February 23, 2015|archive-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224052449/http://www.ksitetv.com/two-and-a-half-men-2/chuck-lorre-honored-as-the-two-and-a-half-men-finale-approaches/53579|url-status=live}}</ref> When asked about the finale and the possibility of Sheen's return, Lorre responded, "I think viewers will be very, very satisfied with the finale. That's all I'm going to say."<ref>{{cite news|last=Hinckley|first=David|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/men-goodbye-12-seasons-article-1.2111709|title=CBS' successful sitcom 'Two and a Half Men' bids farewell after 12 seasons|work=New York Daily News|date=February 15, 2015|access-date=February 15, 2015|archive-date=February 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215182823/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/men-goodbye-12-seasons-article-1.2111709|url-status=live}}</ref> Further teasing as to Sheen's return was given with the reveal of the episode's title, "Of Course He's Dead".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/article/charlie-sheen-two-and-a-half-men-finale|title=Will Charlie Sheen Take Part in the 'Two and Half Men' Finale? : People.com|work=People|access-date=2015-02-18|archive-date=2015-02-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219063411/http://www.people.com/article/charlie-sheen-two-and-a-half-men-finale|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thefutoncritic.com/listings/20150205cbs09/|title=Listings - TWO AND A HALF MEN on CBS|work=The Futon Critic|access-date=February 23, 2015|archive-date=February 9, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150209202230/http://thefutoncritic.com/listings/20150205cbs09/|url-status=live}}</ref>
CBS President Nina Tassler said that Lorre had planned a "mystery sandwich" for the final episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/executive+says+Half+plans+surprises+finale+will+Sheen/10722971/story.html|title=CBS executive says 'Two and a Half Men' plans surprises for finale; will Sheen be one?|work=www.vancouversun.com|access-date=February 23, 2015|archive-date=February 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224005746/http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/executive+says+Half+plans+surprises+finale+will+Sheen/10722971/story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The episode was taped on February 6, 2015<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2015/02/18/Producer-Chuck-Lorre-shines-on-as-Two-and-a-Half-Men-goes-dark/stories/201502180023|title=Producer Chuck Lorre shines on as 'Two and a Half Men' goes dark|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=February 18, 2015|access-date=February 18, 2015|archive-date=February 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218181500/http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2015/02/18/Producer-Chuck-Lorre-shines-on-as-Two-and-a-Half-Men-goes-dark/stories/201502180023|url-status=live}}</ref> and aired on February 19, 2015.<ref name="ew.com"/> It took two weeks to film.<ref name="cynthialittleton">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/two-and-a-half-men-chuck-lorre-finale-charlie-sheen-1201437575/|title=Two and a Half Men Finale: Charlie Sheen, Chuck Lorre and Angus T. Jones - Variety|first=Cynthia|last=Littleton|work=Variety|date=February 20, 2015|access-date=December 9, 2017|archive-date=November 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125175449/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/two-and-a-half-men-chuck-lorre-finale-charlie-sheen-1201437575/|url-status=live}}</ref> Lorre approached the finale with the intention of doing "everything we could to make a finale worth watching."<ref name="amberdowling">{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/two-a-men-series-finale-773417|title='Two and a Half Men' Series Finale Sheen Lorre Interview|first=Amber|last=Dowling|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 18, 2015|access-date=February 19, 2015|archive-date=February 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220134142/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/two-a-men-series-finale-773417|url-status=live}}</ref>
Jon Cryer revealed that while shooting for the finale, "there was a shoot day when they conspicuously called me and said, 'You're not in it.' I was like, ''What? What's happening that day?''"<ref name="zap2itshooting">{{cite web|last=Reiher|first=Andrea|url=http://screenertv.com/television/two-and-a-half-men-jon-cryer-conspicuously-left-out-day-series-finale-shooting/|title='Two and a Half Men's' Jon Cryer 'conspicuously' left out of a day of series finale shooting|work=Zap2it|date=February 12, 2015|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-date=May 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512195922/https://tvlistings.zap2it.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Cast members were not even allowed to read the whole script and did not see the episode in its entirety until its airdate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etonline.com/tv/159853_ashton_kutcher_jon_cryer_get_serious_kind_of_about_two_and_a_half_men_series_finale/|title='Two and a Half Men' Stars Get Serious About Series Finale (Sorta)|work=Entertainment Tonight|date=17 February 2015|access-date=18 February 2015|archive-date=18 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218104310/http://www.etonline.com/tv/159853_ashton_kutcher_jon_cryer_get_serious_kind_of_about_two_and_a_half_men_series_finale/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Cryer, filming for the episode was very emotional, and the finale is unlike any finale he's ever seen before.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/television/jon-cryer-two-and-half-mens-absolutely-crazy-series-finale-162964|title=Jon Cryer on the Incredibly Long Life and 'Absolutely Crazy' Finale of Two and a Half Men|work=AdWeek|date=16 February 2015|access-date=2015-02-18|archive-date=February 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218152528/http://www.adweek.com/news/television/jon-cryer-two-and-half-mens-absolutely-crazy-series-finale-162964|url-status=live}}</ref> The animated flashback sequence that filled in the gaps between season 8 and season 9 was created by an outside company from Warner Bros.<ref name="cynthialittleton"/> Unusually for sitcoms shot in front of a live studio audience, the episode was shot out of sequence; it was just a couple of scenes, rather than the usual full episode, in order to shield surprises. Lorre told the audience members that, "You probably won't know what we're doing." Even Lorre got emotional when introducing the episode to the audience: "It's been an unbelievable experience. I'm getting a little … So, I'm going to stop." Each scene was clapped with the slate by former and current executive producers, including Lorre and Lee Aronsohn. Ashton Kutcher said that the episode felt more like an early episode of the show from its first two or three seasons, pointing to the involvement of Lorre and Aronsohn with Don Reo and Jim Patterson, saying, "I felt their presence in the writing, there was a little different bite to it." More than 100 people who work on the show crowded onto its living room set for a group photo.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/02/18/emotions-rule-at-two-and-a-half-men-finale-taping/23366517/|title=Tears mix with laughter as 'Two and a Half Men' ends|first=Bill|last=Keveney|date=18 February 2015|work=USA Today|access-date=7 September 2017|archive-date=7 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107020456/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/02/18/emotions-rule-at-two-and-a-half-men-finale-taping/23366517/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Lorre said that everybody "had a blast making it" and that the finale was "an attempt to acknowledge everything that we've been through and everything that people have come to expect from the show". He said that no expense was spared for the finale as they didn't need to worry about the budget as they were ending the show anyway and so producers just "went for it".<ref name="amberdowling"/> In order to prevent plot details and secrets from being leaked, guest actors were only given the pages they were involved in and certain lines were redacted.<ref name="amberdowling"/> Before 2011, the idea of how the show might end was envisioned as a teary sendoff of Jake to college.<ref name="cynthialittleton"/>
The show was shot on Warner Brothers Stage 26, which was renamed "The ''Two and a Half Men'' Stage".<ref name="craigbyrne,editor-in-chief"/>
Lorre subsequently revealed in his vanity card that Sheen had been offered a cameo where he would walk up to the door of the beach house, recite a rant about the dangers of drug use and his own invincibility, at which point his character would be killed by a falling piano. Sheen declined, and the scene was filmed with a stand-in, shot from behind, and without dialogue.<ref name=vain/> When discussing the infamous last scene, Lorre said that deciding to put himself in the final shot "felt like comedically the right thing to do. It's like 'Nobody gets out of here alive' may be the theme of this series. The proposition that anybody wins in something like this is ridiculous. That would have felt uncomfortable to me. So the second piano felt like the right thing to do".<ref name="cynthialittleton"/>
==Vanity card== Chuck Lorre's signature vanity card, shown at the end of the episode:<ref name=vain>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chucklorre.com/index.php?p=491|title=CLP - Vanity Card #491|access-date=February 20, 2015|publisher=ChuckLorre.com|archive-date=February 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221050443/http://chucklorre.com/index.php?p=491|url-status=live}}</ref>{{cquote|I know a lot of you might be disappointed that you didn't get to see Charlie Sheen in tonight's finale. For the record, he was offered a role. Our idea was to have him walk up to the front door in the last scene, ring the doorbell, then turn, look directly into the camera and go off on a maniacal rant about the dangers of drug abuse. He would then explain that these dangers only applied to average people. That he was far from average. He was a ninja warrior from Mars. He was invincible. And then we would drop a piano on him. We thought it was funny. He didn't. Instead, he wanted us to write a heart-warming scene that would set up his return to primetime TV in a new sitcom called ''The Harpers'' starring him and Jon Cryer. We thought that was funny too.}}
==Reception==
===Ratings=== "Of Course He's Dead" was a 60-minute episode that originally aired on February 19, 2015, on CBS. The series finale was viewed by 13.52 million viewers and received a 3.2 rating/9% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49.<ref name="finale">{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/20/thursday-final-ratings-the-big-bang-theory-scandal-two-and-a-half-men-how-to-get-away-with-murder-adjusted-up/365727/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221011941/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/20/thursday-final-ratings-the-big-bang-theory-scandal-two-and-a-half-men-how-to-get-away-with-murder-adjusted-up/365727/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 21, 2015|title=Thursday Final Ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory,' 'Scandal', 'Two and a Half Men' & 'How To Get Away With Murder' Adjusted Up|last=Bibel|first=Sara|work=TV by the Numbers|date=February 20, 2015|access-date=February 20, 2015}}</ref> This means that it was seen by 3.2 percent of all 18- to 49-year-olds, and 9 percent of all 18- to 49-year-olds watching television at the time of the broadcast. This marked a significant increase, of over four million viewers, in the ratings from the previous episode, "Don't Give a Monkey a Gun". It also ranks as the highest rated episode of the season, as well as the highest-rated episode for the series since the tenth season entry "Bazinga! That's from a TV Show", which was viewed by 13.71 million viewers and received a 3.9/12% share.<ref name=s10e20>{{Cite web|last=Kondolojy|first=Amanda|date=April 9, 2013|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/04/09/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-ncaa-basketball-tops-week-28-viewing-among-adults-18-49-the-big-bang-theory-wins-with-total-viewers/177093/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412202315/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/04/09/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-ncaa-basketball-tops-week-28-viewing-among-adults-18-49-the-big-bang-theory-wins-with-total-viewers/177093/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 12, 2013|title=TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: NCAA Basketball Tops Week 28 Viewing Among Adults 18-49; 'The Big Bang Theory' Wins With Total Viewers|work=TV by the Numbers|publisher=Zap2it|access-date=April 17, 2013}}</ref> The episode ranked second in its timeslot, being beaten by the American political thriller television series ''Scandal'' on ABC.
===Critical reception=== "Of Course He's Dead" received mixed reviews, with praise for the premise, cameo of the cast and meta-humor, but criticism for the rushed season finale and anti-climax. ''Entertainment Weekly'' found it to be a good piece of television, "some of the unrelenting boldness inherent in the self-referential nature has to be applauded". They praised its unapologetic overtly self-referential meta approach: "''Two and a Half Men'' never beat around the bush with its humor, with its awareness of what the audience thought of its actors. The finale celebrates that with being one of the most meta episodes of television ever devised; like it or not, ''Two and a Half Men'' won't apologize for ending that way". Overall they thought "'Of Course He's Dead' is certainly one of the most fascinating finales to air."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/19/two-and-half-men-series-finale-react|title='Two and a Half Men' series finale react: A winning end|first=Jonathon|last=Dornbush|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=February 19, 2015|access-date=February 20, 2015|archive-date=December 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217190002/https://ew.com/article/2015/02/19/two-and-half-men-series-finale-react/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Max Nicholson of IGN gave it a 3.5 out of 10, saying: "I don't think I could come up with a worse ending than a faceless Charlie Harper walking up to the front doorstep of Alan's home, a grand piano falling on his head, and then a pull-out to Chuck Lorre sitting in his director's chair and turning around to say, 'Winning!' — and then a grand piano falling on his head...". They did however praise the clever meta-humor.<ref>{{cite web|first=Max|last=Nicholson|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2015/02/20/two-and-a-half-men-of-course-hes-dead-review|title=Two and a Half Men: "Of Course He's Dead" Review|work=IGN|date=February 20, 2015|access-date=February 20, 2015|archive-date=May 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512195840/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/20/two-and-a-half-men-of-course-hes-dead-review|url-status=live}}</ref>
James Poniewozik of ''Time'', on the other hand, gave a positive review of the finale, saying: "Its bawdy, sentimentality-free goodbye was a funny and deeply weird hour of score-settling, fourth-wall-breaking, hugs-and-tears-denying TV". Overall they felt "the show went out not with a 'Farewell, old friend' but with a 'See you in hell!'. Was it appropriate? Classy? I just know I laughed".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://time.com/3716503/review-two-and-a-half-men-finale/|title=Review, Two and a Half Men finale|first=James|last=Poniewozik|author-link=James Poniewozik|magazine=Time|date=February 20, 2015|access-date=February 20, 2015|archive-date=July 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719012819/http://time.com/3716503/review-two-and-a-half-men-finale/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Corey Barker of TV.com gave the episode a positive review. He thought "it was a legitimately funny episode of television that toyed with viewers' expectations all the way up until the last millisecond", as to whether or not Charlie Sheen would appear, which is what the episode was teasingly building up to. He argued that "it sure was fascinating. And for ''Two and a Half Men'', that's a very fitting way to go out". He believed "Of Course He's Dead" to be more creative and clever than the show ever was: "For a sitcom that I never found to be creative or even clever, ''Two and a Half Men'' peppered its final hour with some really amusing — if obvious — moments". He also thought that the fact Sheen never showed up "made the finale's self-aware trolling even more successful."<ref>{{cite web|first=Corey|last=Barker|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/two-and-a-half-men/community/post/two-and-a-half-men-finale-did-charlie-sheen-come-back-season-12-episode-15-of-course-hes-dead-review-142439098740/|title=Two and a Half Men Series Finale Review: Conspicuous in His Absence|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=TV.com|location=Chicago, Illinois|access-date=2015-02-20|archive-date=2015-02-20|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150220144845/http://www.tv.com/shows/two-and-a-half-men/community/post/two-and-a-half-men-finale-did-charlie-sheen-come-back-season-12-episode-15-of-course-hes-dead-review-142439098740/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Hollywood Life gave a positive review, saying they "were still laughing through the entire hour finale of the sitcom". They also enjoyed the self-referential jokes at the expense of the actors and show itself.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/02/19/two-and-a-half-men-series-finale-recap-charlie-sheen-killed-chuck-lorre/|title='Two And A Half Men' Series Finale Recap — Charlie Sheen Killed By Chuck Lorre|website=Hollywood Life|first=Emily|last=Longeretta|date=20 February 2015|access-date=20 February 2015|archive-date=20 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220164356/http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/02/19/two-and-a-half-men-series-finale-recap-charlie-sheen-killed-chuck-lorre/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Daniel Fienberg of HitFix gave the episode a mixed review, saying: "The only people who lost were fans who watched an hour of the ''Two and a Half Men'' finale waiting for Charlie Sheen only to see a body double get flattened by a baby grand." However, he did "chuckle a couple times."<ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Feinberg|url=http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/two-and-a-half-men-series-finale-recap-the-truth-about-charlie|title=Two and a Half Men series finale recap - The Truth About Charlie|work=HitFix|date=2 June 2023|access-date=20 February 2015|archive-date=20 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220170515/http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/two-and-a-half-men-series-finale-recap-the-truth-about-charlie|url-status=dead}}</ref>
''Variety'' gave a negative review of the episode, saying: "Diving into the business side of the show so relentlessly felt seriously misguided — and more than a little defensive", and that "while the sendoff addressed a certain kind of 'Winning', in the grand pantheon of series finales this wasn't even close to serving up a winner.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/reviews/tv-review-two-and-a-half-men-finale-laughs-all-the-way-to-the-bank-spoilers-1201436507/|title='Two And a Half Men' Finale Laughs All the Way to the Bank TV Review|magazine=Variety|first=Brian|last=Lowry|date=February 20, 2015|access-date=December 9, 2017|archive-date=December 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205191945/http://variety.com/2015/tv/reviews/tv-review-two-and-a-half-men-finale-laughs-all-the-way-to-the-bank-spoilers-1201436507/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Andrea Reiher of Zap2it felt that it was "a funny series finale", but was disappointed that Sheen didn't appear.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/two_and_a_half_men_series_finale_charlie_sheen_chooses_not_to_return-2015-02|title='Two and a Half Men' series finale: Charlie Sheen's spirit lives on|website=Zap2it|first=Andrea|last=Reiher|date=February 20, 2015|access-date=February 20, 2015|archive-date=February 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220173133/http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/two_and_a_half_men_series_finale_charlie_sheen_chooses_not_to_return-2015-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Michael Hewitt gave the episodes a positive review saying, "Now, that's how you do a finale." He believed the show closed 'in style'.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Hewitt|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/sheen-652086-lorre-charlie.html|title='Two and Half Men' closes in style|newspaper=The Orange County Register|access-date=2015-02-24|archive-date=2024-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512195837/https://www.ocregister.com/2015/02/23/two-and-half-men-closes-in-style/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Emily St. James of ''Vox'' gave a positive review: "You almost had to admire its sheer willingness to follow its vision off the cliff... it's an utterly bonkers episode of television". In the end she had much respect for the episode, saying: "I was never a huge fan of ''Two and a Half Men'', but I am struck with a weird respect for this episode, which realized it was in a hole and just kept digging. Most American sitcoms end with big group hugs and couples reuniting. But the ''Two and a Half Men'' finale is an utterly whacked-out tribute to the series it caps. It gives absolutely no shits, and it's kind of glorious."<ref>{{cite web|first=Emily|last=St. James|author-link=Emily St. James|url=https://www.vox.com/2015/2/20/8074401/two-and-a-half-men-finale-recap|title=The Two and a Half Men finale's 11 most bonkers moments, in GIF form|work=Vox|date=20 February 2015|access-date=13 June 2017|archive-date=12 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812163140/http://www.vox.com/2015/2/20/8074401/two-and-a-half-men-finale-recap|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Charlie Sheen's reaction=== Charlie Sheen, former star of ''Two and a Half Men'', hated the episode and took offense to the closing vanity card which prompted an outspoken rant on Lorre, saying: {{cquote|That's just him. I don't care anymore. I don't care if he lives or dies. Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter. Seriously, it doesn't even matter. To go that low and be that immature and that completely unevolved and that stupid? In my face, Really? You must feel safe, motherfucker. You must feel safe where you live. Damn!<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/3740071/charlie-sheen-two-and-a-half-men-finale-chuck-lorre/|title=Charlie Sheen Vents Over the 'Two and a Half Men' Finale|first=David|last=Stout|magazine=Time|date=March 11, 2015|access-date=March 13, 2015|archive-date=March 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314130036/http://time.com/3740071/charlie-sheen-two-and-a-half-men-finale-chuck-lorre/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tmz.com/2015/03/10/charlie-sheen-chuck-lorre-threat-video-two-and-a-half-men-finale/|title=Charlie Sheen -- Chuck Lorre Was Stupid to Diss Me ... Watch Your Back Motherf***er|work=TMZ|date=March 10, 2015|access-date=March 13, 2015|archive-date=March 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313165614/http://www.tmz.com/2015/03/10/charlie-sheen-chuck-lorre-threat-video-two-and-a-half-men-finale/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
== External links == * {{IMDb episode|4450100}} {{Twoandahalfmen}}
Category:2010s American television series finales Category:2015 American television episodes Category:Metafictional television episodes Season 12 Category:Television episodes written by Chuck Lorre