Goodbye at the End of the World.

An ode to final farewells, onscreen Armageddons – and the humble video call.

The video call, in better or worse circumstances, became one of the most emblematic touches spat forth from 2020.

The Messiah’s Oren Monash says goodbye to his wife and new son via video-link in ‘Deep Impact’

Once reserved for a polite FaceTime to far-flung relatives in enviable climes, or ditched in favour of the perfunctory phone call, we have collectively stared with starry, cybered eyes into the faces of colleagues, grandparents, teachers and more over assorted lockdowns to date.

But to be fair, everybody loves a metaphorical subject.

Or more specifically, marketing companies really love them, which is why the next generation of campaigns borne out of COVID absolutely hammered the link between the humble video call and new-found togetherness.

I remember the immediate buzz surrounding John Lewis’ Christmas advert plans that year. And it was almost too easy to imagine: lights dim, the scene is set. A slow, soft cover of Aerosmith’s ‘I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing’ creeps over a slow pan of Christmas lights and presents, as a child talks excitedly to his grandparents.

Mum and Dad are watching fondly – maybe a little misty-eyed? – as he describes his day in glorious detail. Grandma and Grandad have their Christmas hats on…