The Undoing finale divides fans as Elena’s killer is revealed at last
A compelling murder mystery with a starry cast list and the fanciest New York apartment sets since Gossip Girl: The Undoing felt like perfect lockdown viewing when it landed on our screens this autumn.
Indeed, the buzz surrounding this glossy domestic thriller, which stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, translated into a massive hit for Sky Atlantic, with the launch episode drawing in more viewers than the first instalment of Game of Thrones. It’s now on track to become the channel’s biggest ever series launch, beating the likes of Watchmen and even Big Little Lies.
Anticipation for the finale, then, was high. After five episodes of revelations, plot twists and Twitter threads positing increasingly outlandish theories about the true identity of the killer, viewers would finally find out who murdered Elena Alves. Was it Grace (Kidman), acting in a jealous rage after learning that her husband Jonathan (Grant) had been having an affair with her? Could it be her father Franklin, giving the so-far underused Donald Sutherland more to do in the final act? Or even Grace’s friend Sylvia, who’d been suspiciously interested in the unfolding murder trial. Surely, though, it couldn’t possibly be Jonathan, who’d been in the frame as the prime suspect since the end of episode one?
And yet, in defiance of everything we’ve come to expect from prestige telly, The Undoing was in fact a Hugh-dunnit (a Hugh did it?) Instead of a final act twist, writer David E. Kelley showed us that Jonathan - despite all his pleas of innocence - was in fact guilty, murdering Elena (Matilda de Angelis) in a fit of rage after meeting with her in her studio following a school fundraiser. Chillingly, he seemed to feel no remorse, proving therapist Grace’s final act diagnosis of his pathological narcissism.
It was certainly a bold move from Kelley - and one that completely divided viewers. Had we been totally short-changed? Or did this definitively final finale provide us a much-needed respite from open-ended conclusions that shamelessly leave room for a second season pick-up? We’ve gathered some of the best reactions to help you make your mind up...
After more twists and turns than Kidman’s gravity-defying corkscrew wig, some fans couldn’t believe they’d been denied a final act curveball…
lmao we accused every single character and it was Jonathan the entire time. They tried to tell us! #TheUndoing pic.twitter.com/OXm0gjZGsO
— Cem (@cemwatchestoo) November 30, 2020
The build up in #TheUndoing was like 2019 NYE and the grand finale was a disappointing as 2020
— Maeve Madden (@MaeveMadden) November 30, 2020
I had so many theories and suspects in my head. Heck at one point I was thinking it could even be the cop lol. Having it actually turn out to be Jonathan was a bit disappointing. I was expecting a twist somewhere but oh well 🤷🏽♀️ #TheUndoing
— Dianne 🇬🇾 (@DBNiles) November 30, 2020
There were some deserved apologies directed at Sylvia (Lily Rabe), who’d just been a great friend to Grace all along. Nothing dodgy.
Where can I send an edible arrangement to Sylvia cause I was ready to call myself to the stand & say it was her..
#TheUndoing pic.twitter.com/VvmZVfMCNu— Stormy (@Stormviking010) November 30, 2020
My apologies to Sylvia, Mendoza, Henry, Grandpa, the Headmaster, that one mom in the cream coat, the kids in the park, the door man, juror # 6, etc, whom all were suspects in my head the past 6 weeks. My bad. #TheUndoing
— A Marie (@AcquiescentNoMo) November 30, 2020
But perhaps the biggest plot twist was… that there was no plot twist at all?
Ok so the ‘undoing’ of the title refers to the ‘undoing’ of the conventional plot twist so that it’s...um...just a straightforward ending? THESE GUYS ARE CUNNING #TheUndoing
— Elizabeth Day (@elizabday) November 30, 2020
The plot twist is there is no plot twist! #TheUndoing pic.twitter.com/9UjgykBaPu
— KATHY (@kathydantzler) November 30, 2020
Just watched the final ep of #TheUndoing - fantastic series with a ‘proper’ ending. David E Kelley is a master. Don’t think I’ve watched anything of his that I haven’t loved/been addicted to & he writes women brilliantly! 👏👏👏
— Helen Warner (@HCWarnerauthor) November 30, 2020
At least we can all agree on one thing: that Noma Dumezweni deserves all the awards for her powerhouse performance as Haley Fitzgerald, the lawyer who was never afraid to tell it like it is…
Best performance in #TheUndoing pic.twitter.com/NGL2YJTmPT
— Joey Moser (@JoeyMoser83) November 30, 2020
The way I laughed at this moment...#TheUndoing pic.twitter.com/Ub1MgHV4yB
— JessOverthinkquez (@xingona_xxii) November 30, 2020
I actually didn't mind the ending. Just mad my girl gonna have an L on her record 😂 #TheUndoing pic.twitter.com/sGfs2ElQvH
— Stan Zbornak (@Trey4rd) November 30, 2020
Yes, she may have been totally amoral but you’d want her defending you in court, wouldn’t you?
Me calling Haley Fitzgerald to get me out of a parking ticket:#TheUndoing #theundoinghbo pic.twitter.com/SsO43Qpxp6
— John M (@milljm9) November 30, 2020
Get these women a legal spin-off now…
I need a spin off with these two #TheUndoing pic.twitter.com/Ib8hgWvyRz
— Mia (@marielouise_82) November 30, 2020
#TheUndoing was many things but mostly it was the perfect showcase for Noma Dumezweni. She stole every scene she was in & I’d gladly watch her character’s spin-off show. pic.twitter.com/74fGgiGzI5
— Stephen M (@StephenMulholl) December 1, 2020
Grant’s chilling performance got plenty of praise, too: looks like the Hughnaissance is still in full swing.
So we're giving Hugh Grant an Emmy for this scene right? #TheUndoing pic.twitter.com/fUaIoxMs8I
— Alex (@AlexAwritergirl) November 30, 2020
Flipping heck @HackedOffHugh was brilliant. Having to remind myself VERY consciously of how much fun he was on and off camera on Paddington2 And I would totally watch @MissDumezweni in anything. #TheUndoing
— Sanjeev Bhaskar (@TVSanjeev) November 30, 2020
They hired Hugh Grant to make this face tbh #TheUndoing pic.twitter.com/HBWPz54AqS
— Spooky Fat (@_ellenisdead) December 1, 2020
Me watching my rom-com sweetheart Hugh Grant turning into a murderer.#TheUndoing pic.twitter.com/7b2ktMmHos
— Sruthi Srinivasan (@_sruthisrini_) December 1, 2020
And finally, a toast to the best coats - and best wig - on television.
If your crime thriller doesn’t have chic coats like this, consider yourself off my queue list #TheUndoing pic.twitter.com/kblwhU5gZG
— Armand🏳️🌈 (@armanddc) December 1, 2020
I’m torn by #TheUndoing finale. On the one hand, I thought it was really smart to subvert expectations in the way it did, but I also expected more and ended up feeling a bit underwhelmed. But however you might feel, we can all agree that Nicole’s hair was the real star here. pic.twitter.com/Ee4yjVR90U
— Sleighvid Opie 🛷 (@DavidOpie) December 1, 2020
And the award for Best supporting character in a miniseries/ drama goes to Nicole’s Kidman wig in #TheUndoing
— Kate Chastain (@Kate_Chastain) November 30, 2020
The Undoing is available to stream on Now TV.