If you grew up in the mid-2000s, you probably remember the absolute chaos of the Drake and Josh final episode. Or, at least, you think you do. It’s kinda weird how memory works with these old Nickelodeon shows. For years, there’s been this ongoing debate about what actually counts as the ending. Was it the big hour-long special with the shrimp? Was it that random episode where they enter a dance contest? Or does the Christmas movie take the crown? Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess because of how Nickelodeon handled the airing schedule back then.
They basically aired the episodes out of order, which is why a lot of us were left scratching our heads. You’d have a massive, cinematic finale-style event, and then a week later, a totally normal, low-stakes episode would pop up like nothing happened. It's frustrating. But if we’re looking at the actual narrative "ending" of the series, we have to talk about Really Big Shrimp.
The Real Story Behind Really Big Shrimp
"Really Big Shrimp" wasn't just a standard episode. It was a two-part television event that aired on August 3, 2007. At the time, it was huge. Like, 5.8 million viewers huge. That was a record for Nickelodeon back then, only later beaten by iCarly (ironically starring Miranda Cosgrove).
The plot basically brought every major character arc to a head. Drake finally lands a massive record deal with Spin City Records for his song "Makes Me Happy." It’s the moment he’s been working toward since the pilot. But, in classic Josh fashion, Josh accidentally signs away the creative rights because he’s distracted by—you guessed it—a plate of giant prawns. This leads to a nightmare remix of the song that sounds like a glitchy mess, which is supposed to play during a Super Bowl-style commercial for Daka Shoes.
While all this music industry drama is going down, Josh is also fighting for his life at the Premiere. Helen is getting married, and she’s looking for an assistant manager. Josh wants it more than anything. Mindy Crenshaw, his arch-nemesis and ex, ends up getting the job instead. It’s peak "unlucky Josh" energy.
Why this felt like the end
Everything in this episode feels final.
- Josh and Mindy: They finally get back together after Mindy confesses she only took the job to be near him.
- The Promotion: Josh eventually gets that Assistant Manager vest he’s been dreaming about for four seasons.
- The Music: Drake’s song becomes a hit in its original form after Josh risks prison time to swap the discs at the last second.
The very last scene is the ultimate "full circle" moment. The boys are back in their room, and they find one last piece of shrimp left over from a gift basket. They start fighting over it in slow motion. This wasn't just a random gag; it was a shot-for-shot recreation of a sketch from The Amanda Show, which is where Drake Bell and Josh Peck first started working together. It was a "thank you" to the fans who had been there since the beginning.
The Confusion: Dance Contest and Steer Ms. Sydney
Here is where things get annoying. Even though "Really Big Shrimp" was written and produced as the series finale, Nickelodeon aired two more episodes after it.
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On August 10, we got "Helicopter," and on September 16, 2007, we got "Dance Contest." If you were watching live, "Dance Contest" was technically the Drake and Josh final episode to ever air on the main network. But narratively? It makes zero sense. In "Dance Contest," Josh and Mindy aren't even together, and there's no mention of Drake's record deal. It feels like a total regression because, well, it was supposed to air much earlier in the season.
This happens a lot with sitcoms. Networks care more about "new" content than "logical" content. Because of this, a whole generation of kids grew up feeling like the show just... stopped. There was no big "goodbye" at the end of "Dance Contest." Just the credits rolling on a goofy dance-off.
Is Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh the True Ending?
If you ask the hardcore fans, the "real" finale is the 2008 TV movie, Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh. This came out over a year after the series "ended."
It’s a lot darker than the show, honestly. The brothers end up in legal trouble and have to give a foster family the "best Christmas ever" or Josh goes to jail. It’s high stakes. But it does give us one last look at the whole gang, including the return of characters like Crazy Steve (played by Jerry Trainor) and the parents. It feels more like an epilogue than a finale, but since it's the last time the cast was ever together on screen in those roles, it carries a lot of weight.
What Happened to the Cast?
It’s hard to talk about the ending of this show without acknowledging the real-world fallout. For a long time, we all thought Drake and Josh were best friends in real life. That illusion sort of shattered around 2017 when Josh Peck got married and didn't invite Drake Bell. The internet went into a meltdown.
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Then, things got significantly more serious. Drake Bell’s legal troubles in 2021 and the revelations in the Quiet on Set documentary changed how a lot of people view the show entirely. It’s tough to watch the goofy "Really Big Shrimp" finale now without thinking about the behind-the-scenes reality that came to light years later.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to revisit the series or find closure, here is how you should actually handle it:
- Watch in "Production Order": If you are streaming the show on Paramount+ or Hulu, don't just follow the list. Look up the production codes. Make sure you watch "Really Big Shrimp" after "Dance Contest" if you want the story to actually make sense.
- Don't Skip the TV Movies: Drake & Josh Go Hollywood fits between Seasons 3 and 4, and the Christmas movie is your final stop.
- Check Out the Soundtrack: The song from the finale, "Makes Me Happy," is actually on Drake Bell’s second album, It’s Only Time. It’s a time capsule of that specific 2007 pop-rock sound.
- Look for the Easter Eggs: In the finale, keep an eye out for the "Daka" brand. It’s a running gag in Dan Schneider shows (it also appears in iCarly and Victorious).
The Drake and Josh final episode remains a landmark moment in 2000s TV history, even with the confusing air dates. It represented the end of the "golden age" of live-action Nick shows before the network pivoted heavily toward the iCarly and Big Time Rush era. Whether you consider the shrimp fight or the Christmas miracle the "true" end, the impact the show had on a generation of comedy fans is undeniable.
To get the full experience, watch the "Really Big Shrimp" two-parter as a standalone movie. It holds up surprisingly well as a piece of physical comedy, and the chemistry between Bell and Peck—despite everything that happened later—is still some of the best in sitcom history. Once you finish that, you've essentially completed the journey of the two most famous stepbrothers in San Diego.
Next Steps for Your Rewatch:
Verify the episode order on a fan wiki before starting Season 4. Most streaming platforms still use the incorrect "Airing Order," which will spoil the Mindy/Josh relationship arc if you aren't careful. Once you've sorted the order, pay close attention to the background props in the Premiere; many of them are callbacks to Season 1 and 2 jokes that most casual viewers miss.