Dr. Fiona Wallace's character arc in Dept. Q didn't get any closure leaving viewers speculating on her disappearance 

Dr. Fiona Wallace
Dr. Fiona Wallace's character arc in Dept Q. didn't get any closure (Image Via Netflix)

Dr. Fiona Wallace’s storyline in Dept. Q remains one of the most conspicuously unresolved aspects of the show’s first season. While the main mystery surrounding Merritt Lingard’s disappearance is ultimately solved, Fiona’s sudden exit from the narrative left fans scratching their heads. However, this might be an intentional move by the creators.

Dr. Wallace, under the guise of taking care of Merritt and Williams, was actually behind their money. When Merritt disappears, she becomes William's guardian and heavily drugs him. Even when Akram and Carl get to know about the same, we never see the ultimate fate of Dr. Wallace's character in Dept. Q.


Dept. Q season finale doesn't end the arc of Dr. Fiona Wallace, here's how

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Dr. Fiona Wallace's unresolved fate is a frustrating gap in an otherwise meticulously woven mystery in Dept. Q. Her storyline is filled with ethical violations and manipulations, but her arc never ends like other characters. She simply vanishes from the narrative, leaving her motivations and consequences unclear.

Dr. Wallace was introduced in early episodes. When Merritt disappears, she moves William into Merritt's facility under her care. William, who suffers from aphasia and possesses the family money after Merritt's disappearance, is silenced and exploited by Dr. Wallace. She made herself his guardian and gained control over his finances. Eventually, Akram and Rose discover that all her patients are highly sedated, including William, suggesting systemic abuse.

We never see her arrest or anybody confronting her in Dept. Q. This seems jarring in the show that has meticulously tied all his subplots together. Sam Haig's friends, Merritt's boss, and other side characters got the closing, unlike Dr. Wallace, despite her crimes being more vile.

William, who suffers from aphasia, was silenced and exploited under Wallace’s guardianship. Thankfully, Morck and his team—along with William’s former caretaker Claire Marsh—intervene just in time, bringing him back to a safe, loving environment.


Not closing Dr. Fiona Wallace's character arc might be intentional in Dept. Q

Dr. Fiona Wallace's character arc in Dept Q. didn't get any closure (Image Via Netflix)
Dr. Fiona Wallace's character arc in Dept Q. didn't get any closure (Image Via Netflix)

The makers might have meant to reflect real-world injustice, where not all abusers are caught or punished. They could also be setting her up for a deeper corruption in season 2, aligning with the central storyline. Some reports include logistical reasons like the show's limited pace and timing. Her disclosure might be viewed as an off-screen thing to keep the episode timing up to standards, but it didn't sit well with the viewers.

Fiona had access to key records and sensitive inmate info and was one of the few links between victims and institutional enablers. Something like this could also be connected with her disappearance.

Remembering the well-woven structure and characters, this seems like an intentional act with a plan to reintroduce her in season 2 with more stakes involved. Regardless, it doesn’t diminish the emotional weight of the show's final scenes. The reunion of William and Merritt after four painful years gives the season a hopeful, redemptive ending, symbolizing resilience and healing despite unanswered questions.

Edited by Debanjana