The ending of Mare of Easttown left fans around the world shocked. Nobody expected a 13-year-old boy would be the killer. The HBO show kept audiences guessing until the last moments. The seventh episode, titled Sacrament, revealed the truth about Erin McMenamin's death. Kate Winslet's character, Mare Sheehan, finally solved the case. But the solution came at a drastic personal cost. The Mare of Easttown ending damaged two families forever.
The series appeared to unfold the mystery early in the finale. John Ross seemed like the obvious killer and admitted to having an affair with his young cousin Erin. He confessed to confronting her at Brandywine Park. However, things did not line up for Mare. John could not remember details about the murder weapon. This slight inconsistency transformed everything. Mare realized the truth very early in the episode. John Ross was not the real killer. His son Ryan had pulled the trigger.
Mare of Easttown ending
The real story behind Erin's death
Ryan Ross found several messages from Erin on his father's mobile phone. He saw that Erin wanted to meet John. The teenager feared Erin would destroy his family. Ryan decided to take action all by himself. He rode his bike to the Carroll house in the beginning. He used keys he had from mowing their lawn. Ryan took away Mr. Carroll's ceremonial gun from the shed.
Later, Ryan rode to Brandywine Park. He waited for Erin in the dark, and Ryan later told Mare he only wanted to scare her. But things went incredibly wrong. Erin tried to wrestle the gun away from him, and Ryan shot her hand during the struggle. When she turned to confront him, he shot her in the head and later claimed that it was an accident.
The cover-up that followed in The Mare of Easttown
Extremely shocked, Ryan called his father for support. John Ross picked up his son and promised to tackle everything with Uncle Billy. This explains why Billy was seen cleaning clothes absorbed in blood. Billy and John planned to frame Billy for the killing. They thought this would safeguard Ryan and keep the family together.
Lori Ross learned about the truth the morning Mare came asking questions. John told her to lie about Billy behind the murderer. Lori followed her husband's instructions and lied about her best friend, Mare. The Mare of Easttown ending demonstrated that Lori would have kept this secret for a long time.
The creator, Brad Ingelsby, explained his choice and said the following:
"What would be the hardest journey that Mare would have to go on in the show?"
The answer became very clear, and it had to involve Lori's family. Ingelsby stated:
"It felt like, wow, that would be really potent emotionally if it had to be Lori's child,"
Mare solves the case in Mare of Easttown
Mare unfoled the truth despite the cover-up. She realized Ryan had access to the murder weapon and confronted the Ross family with her findings.
The Mare of Easttown ending compelled Mare to arrest her best friend's son. The decision tore their lifelong friendship apart. Julianne Nicholson portrayed Lori Ross in a very compelling manner. She was unaware of the twist at the end when she signed on and confirmed this on the following day:
"I think that Ryan doing it is actually the saddest outcome,"
Kate Winslet had asked her friend to join without telling her the shocking truth.
The final scene's true meaning
The Mare of Easttown ending showcased Mare climbing into her attic. Some audiences worried that she might harm herself. However, Ingelsby clarified this moment. He explained:
"It's a really cathartic moment. It's definitely a moment of hope,"
Mare was finally prepared to confront her son's death and face the place that had haunted her for years. The series explored themes of motherhood and loss throughout. Mare lost her son to suicide, and now Lori was losing her son to prison.
The Mare of Easttown ending connected these two major tragedies. Both mothers faced unimaginable pain, but only Mare could find hope in dealing with her grief.
The Mare of Easttown ending delivered an emotionally tragic reveal that nobody saw coming.