Cracked VS: Early Series Jerry vs. Late Series Jerry
“No hugging, no learning” was the motto and the main rule of the show Seinfeld. It was always supposed to be a show completely devoid of any real, substantial character growth. The creators felt that in order for the show to keep to its roots and keep to the humor it wanted to convey, it needed as little development as it could get away with. However, a show can only remain stagnant and rooted in such a model for so long.
Arguably the one person who changed the least is the star, Jerry, but even as he ends the series much as it began (actually, exactly as it began) you can see a subtle change from Chronicles to the much maligned Finale. Even though the change is rather small, change is inevitable. Here is a comparison between Jerry's character and the show Seinfeld itself from its earlier seasons to its later offerings.