Does 'Toy Story 4' Line Up with the End of 'Toy Story 3'?

Recently, I wrote an article about how Toy Story 4 probably won't ruin the ending of Toy Story 3. After seeing the fourth movie and thinking it over, I wondered whether or not I ought to eat my words (though I'd say that words are editable, not edible). I think it definitely changes how I view the end of Toy Story 3. So here lies the question: Does Toy Story 4 line up with the end of Toy Story 3? I believe the answer is... yes and no. I know, that sounds like a cop-out answer. I'm no Lotzo, but bear with me here.

Andy's Request to Bonnie

In Toy Story 3, Andy lays out how important Woody is to him and asks Bonnie to take care of Woody for him. And she agrees. But then in Toy Story 4, which seems to be set a year or two later, she does not care to play with Woody. She leaves Woody in the closet and favors Jessie as the sheriff. But really, who could blame her? It's understandable for a little girl to look up to a toy who is a female authority figure. But after watching the end of Toy Story 3, where Bonnie excitedly says, "My cowboy!" it can feel jarring to see her not care about Woody at all. She doesn't even seem to care whether or not he's missing during the road trip, as she only cares about Forky's whereabouts. To some, it seems that Bonnie broke a promise to Andy.

The Bonnie Blame Game

To some, this makes Bonnie a very off-putting character. It can even be a bit heartbreaking. But to be fair, Bonnie is a little kid, and kids can change their priorities when it comes to which toy they favor. We've seen this before. Woody is Andy's favorite toy, but when he receives Buzz, the Space Ranger becomes his new favorite toy. After Buzz falls out the window, Andy is bummed out about not being able to find him. He does not even notice that Woody is missing from the car until after he comes home from Pizza Planet.

And, I know, the road trip in Toy Story 4 is a longer trip. But still, Bonnie is a kid, and it's not like she knows that the toys are alive. I think it's a bit much to dislike her for not keeping her eyes on Woody at all times. It's possible that she'd notice his absence at the end of the trip. But really, did you want the movie to end like that?

Andy's Assessment of Woody

Now here's how Toy Story 4 does line up with Toy Story 3. When Andy describes Woody to Bonnie, he says, "The thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you. Ever. He'll be there for you, no matter what." Now, of course, Woody does not stay with Bonnie forever, but I don't think he ever gives up on her. Even when she doesn't give him much attention, he makes sure that she has a good day at kindergarten orientation. And after Forky is made, he makes it his priority to ensure that Forky stays with Bonnie since he doesn't want her to miss her favorite toy. This is very much in-character with how Andy describes Woody.

At the end, Woody, who yearns to be happy with Bo Peep, is a bit hesitant to let Bonnie go, but Buzz ensures him that she will be okay. Sure, he stops taking care of Bonnie directly, but he doesn't give up on her. He would not have left if did not know that Bonnie had other good toys to take care of her. Woody knows his friends very well, and he trusts them. With Forky and the other toys returning to Bonnie, one could say that, in a way, Woody has made sure that Bonnie will always be taken care of. He knows that his job is in good hands. And after all, don't we want Woody to be happy after all that hard work? His happily ever after with Bo Peep feels earned.

And sure, Andy might feel somewhat sad knowing that Bonnie lost Woody. But if he knew that toys were alive and that Woody found his happy ending, he would have been okay with this. I almost want there to be a Toy Story where Andy finds out the toys were alive the whole time and he finds out what happened, but that would probably just feel like fanservice.

Conclusion

So, while Toy Story 4 changes how the ending of Toy Story 3 may be viewed, I don't think it necessarily ruins that ending. I still feel the emotion when I watch that scene. And the end of Woody's arc really justifies the existence of Toy Story 4. Some people might feel a bit put off by the path that this movie took, but maybe they'll come around. Who knows? In the end, I think Toy Story 4 is harmless and doesn't ruin the series at all. I accept it as a fine addition to this storyline that we have been following for nearly a quarter of a century.