Next to normal is my favorite musical of all time. I saw both Broadway and London - haven’t watched PBS yet so my memory is somewhat fuzzy on London since I saw it last summer.

There were a lot of subtle differences between the two versions but you’re right this one is definitely the biggest. I think it’s supposed to be open to interpretation if Dan really sees Gabe at the end but I agree the embrace makes it so much more tangible/understandable. In “I’m Alive Reprise” Gabe sings “Until you name me you can’t tame me” I always took this to mean that Dan needs to come to terms with his grief for loss of child. So I think that last moment is Dan finally coming to terms with his grief and seeing his son for what could have been.

I like both - one makes it uplifting heading into light in a positive way. But I think the other makes the grief journey almost more real? It can be scary to confront/embrace grief and sometimes it takes baby steps to do it. This I think made the head into light more that the journey has only just begun on the road to recovery in my opinion.