Why did Paul shoot himself in Your Friends and Neighbors? Details explored

In Your Friends and Neighbors, Paul Levitt's suicide is a pivotal event that sets off a chain reaction of deceit and betrayal. Paul, overwhelmed by the collapse of his marriage in addition to personal failures, takes his life. He first calls his estranged wife, Sam, via FaceTime to seek forgiveness, but when she doesn't respond immediately as he expected, Paul shoots himself in the head during the call in a state of despair.

This event is followed by a surprising shift when we see how Sam reacts to her husband's death. Realising that Paul's suicide would nullify his life insurance policy due to a no-suicide clause, Sam decided to stage his death as a murder. Read on to know more about why Paul shot himself in Your Friends and Neighbors.

Here is why Paul shot himself in Your Friends and Neighbors

In Your Friends and Neighbors, episodes 5 and 6, Paul Levitt's death becomes a central mystery. Paul had a complicated relationship with Sam, and was deeply and emotionally unstable, as shown in previous episodes. Paul was deeply connected with Sam, while Samantha had moved on emotionally and practically, but continued to manipulate Paul for his vulnerability.

Paul visits Sam, but she is not home. That is when he decides to FaceTime Samantha. He seems vulnerable, seeking forgiveness for their failed marriage, being self-centred and not caring about Sam's happiness. For Sam, however, Paul has become non-existent. He has become someone she no longer loves or respects. This gradually eats Paul up, and in a moment of despair he just shoots himself in the head.

Meanwhile, Coop and Elena have a fallout after a night of clubbing, and Elena leaves the town with her kids, leaving Cooper anxious. He texts Sam, who is also his ex, but receives no reply. So, he decides to sneak into her house, possibly to steal something. As he enters his house, he slips on blood and hits his head. In a surprising turn of events, he falls right next to Paul's body.

The blood on the floor and Paul’s body indicate that he was already dead before Cooper arrived. Cooper's presence makes him a prime suspect in the case, though the clues suggest he isn't the killer.

Sam, on the other hand, drives from Boston to New York, shoots Paul's already-deceased body twice, and plants the gun in Coop's car to frame him for the murder. She does this because she wants the insurance money for her and her children.

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Paul's death puts Cooper in a major conflict by the end of the season, but thanks to the investigative authority that he comes out clean.

Catch Your Friends and Neighbors only on Apple TV.

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