The series follows the co-vice principals of North Jackson High School, Neal Gamby and Lee Russell, both of which are disliked for their personalities.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.792 million household viewers and gained a 0.4 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
It is the end of the school year, and Gamby (Danny McBride), now principal of North Jackson, delivers a speech on the student television station broadcast.
He returns her heel she left on the train track on the day they made her leave, telling him he is sorry for his behavior, and wants her help in proving his innocence.
However, Abbott uses a mop to activate the fire alarm, which unlocks the main hall, allowing the tiger to walk freely.
Three months later, Gamby welcomes Janelle (Maya G. Love) into North Jackson, where Nash (Dale Dickey) is now the principal.
[1] McBride explained, "I think I had been burned by too many TV shows that I invested in, where they started out great, and then, with each season, stuff changed, cast members left, and ultimately, at the end of the day, you don't know if you saw the completed thing that the original creators had in mind.
"[4] The reveal of Abbott as the shooter was also decided before the series even started filming, but Edi Patterson and the cast were not informed until the second season.
But I think in this particular point of time, these two men helped each other in an odd, strange, fucked-up way, and they acknowledge that they ended up finding a bit of solace from someone who initially seemed like an enemy.
Club gave the episode an "A" grade and wrote, "In its own weird way, Vice Principals is a map for navigating the messiness of human nature and the feeling that we're all growing increasingly divided from one another.
"[10] Karen Han of Vulture gave the episode a perfect 5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Maybe it's too hopeful or too forgiving an ending, but it's a fantasy I'm willing to indulge in, and if you've stuck with the show this long, I think you will be, too.
As the two men's eyes met in the mall cafeteria, drifted apart, and then Lee disappeared, that last note perfectly encapsulates the show overall: bittersweet.
"[12] Nick Harley of Den of Geek gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "I was hoping Vice Principals would have delivered a bigger message on the topics it broached, but I guess there's nothing wrong with settling for being dark, unapologetic, and most importantly, funny.
"[13] Emily St. James of Vox wrote, "If you find it a little strange that the show more or less ends with Gamby getting everything he wanted, from a principalship to the girl, well, I can't deny that this is literally what happens.
"[14] In a more mixed review, Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly gave the episode a "B–" grade and wrote, "Sunday's series finale matched the theatrics, but I worry that the show wimped out a bit.