i'm a big fan of this series as a whole, that's no secret. what started years ago with a suggestion to watch after playing 1983rp because it was 'cool' and 'like the server' turned into a genuine affection. 89 was better than 83 in some ways and worse in others, but at least it's punching high above 86 with its ideas and the way it took things. a good return to form.
i don't remember anything not coming off as neatly tied all in all but it felt like some ideas and characters were clearly and afterthought and shoe horned in just to go 'hey i saw this guy in the original series 5 years ago good to have him back' (tobias) or 'hey he was the CIA neighbour of a MfS agent ain't that just crazy?' (hector). the process of tossing ideas out was clear to me in a section of the story where martin was going to another eastern bloc country just to show the casual american viewer the ideas of ceaușescu and 'hey the USSR is over this is what this series is gonna be about', alongside a love interest who's name i can't remember because they're that irrelevant, and two soviet soldiers who get about 5 minutes of screen time before they're tossed into the mix. also a certain someone from previous seasons only being spoken about this entire season, only to show up in the form of a random person wearing a bad wig just so they could toss down an montage was cheap.
but by the same hand, this season's ending was a good sendoff. walter gets his moments, brigitte gets hers, martin gets his. that scene with brigitte and martin was pretty elite. gonna miss this series.
also the thing gave life to 83rp ultimately so i guess it was ok