The Essex Serpent examines what it is like to be living in a time that is straddling between modernity and superstitions, following the life of Cora Seaborne, a widow wishing to uncover the truth about a mysterious serpent.
The penultimate episode raises many questions: Is the Essex serpent real? Will Cora and Will have a happy ending? How will the show end its final chapter?
In The Essex Serpent finale, the mysterious serpent is revealed to be a wayward whale causing ruckus. In the end, Cora and Will overcome their hardships and find a way to live happily together.
The episode does carry on a bit slowly, so here’s a whole recap of what happens in case you missed any details:
The Essex Serpent TV Show Ending Explained
I. The Truth about the Essex Serpent
The show does well to make you doubt your pragmatic self and give in to the notion of the Essex Serpent. I thought they may go for a more ambiguous ending, but thankfully, they did follow the book to the tee and showed that the serpent was nothing but a whale that had lost its path.
The dead body of the whale finally washes up on the marshes, making the people of Aldwinter realize their folly. Still, I don’t think anyone apologized to either Naomi or Cora for the way they were treated.
There are certain incidents that can be blamed on the whale, while the others can be blamed on the superstitious stronghold of Aldwinter. The ending leaves it open as to whether or not the townsfolk will use this as a lesson to better their thoughts and actions.
II. Does Naomi return?
While Naomi’s disappearance would not make or break the show, her return certainly lent some positivity to the finale. Turns out that she was just hiding away in Cracknell’s house all this while. It hasn’t been explained why she decided to stop hiding.
We do see her on the beach later when townsfolk gather to observe the dead whale, but we don’t know if she saw the whale beforehand, put two and two together, and thus decided to return home.
Naomi’s story was an original addition to the show and depicts how the superstition of the serpent could result in a real loss, as with Gracie’s death by suicide.
In that light, even though Naomi believes in the existence of the serpent, it was great to see that she overcame that fear.
III. Does Luke return to the medical field?
The answer is yes, but not in the way he wants to. Back then, rehabilitative sciences had not advanced enough to help him regain the full use of his injured right hand.
This means that even if his hand did heal, he would never be able to use it with the precision he had earlier, putting an end to his career as the best physician of his era.
Luke grapples with this new reality, especially because his vain self refuses to rely on anyone—not his close friend Spencer, and certainly not on Cora who scorned his affections.
The series does give him a happy ending as he slowly starts accepting others’ help and even gets himself a position to teach cardiology at a renowned medical institution. In this way, he is able to return back to the medical field.
IV. Martha Doesn’t Get Her Social Bill
Sadly, Ambrose went back on his word and refused to back the social housing bill, which obviously leaves Martha distraught, especially with her recent rows with Cora and Spencer’s unrequited feelings.
This is why she’s even more unsettled when she finds out that Spencer has purchased Sali and Nev’s building, thinking that he only helped them because he likes Martha.
Between a few misconstrued but funny comments, they finally establish that while Spenser has feelings for her, he wants Martha to use his inheritance fund to improve the slum’s living conditions.
V. Cora and Will’s Happy Ending
As predicted, Stella passes away in the finale. In the days leading to her death, she asks Will to invite Cora back to Aldwinter. It is implied she knows of their affair and even approves of their relationship since she knows that her end is near.
Her illness also makes her slightly delirious as she likens the Essex Serpent to death. So, she sends Cora to find Will, while in the meantime asking Frankie to help her get into a boat with a secret hole in it with the intention of drowning in it.
Using the trinkets that Frankie collects, they decorate the boat in all hues of blue. Then, Stella lies in it, with Frankie slowly pushing her into the water. Fortunately, Frankie senses that something is amiss and panics, which allows Will and Cora to save Stella in the nick of time.
Stella does pass away sometime later, but at least it is in the comfort of her home and not as an untimely result of her delusions.
During this time, Cora and Will reaffirm their feelings for each other. On one side, Will accepts their mutual feelings but thinks their love cannot be actualized, while Cora talks about how love is not limited to marriage. They part ways on this note.
In an epilogue, we see Cora at a dig site, following her passion for paleontology. She writes often to both Luke and Will but receives replies only from Luke. Will is shown receiving several of her letters but he stashes them away.
It is made to seem as if Cora will be left hanging. But, of course, in the very next scene when Cora leaves the dig site, Will is seen waiting for her at the end of the road.
In contrast to the show’s dark, gothic visuals, this scene is quite bright and hopeful. They hold hands and walk into the new chapter of their lives.
The Essex Serpent Book Ending Explained
So, the good news is that the whole series, including the ending, follows the book word for word. So instead of explaining the ending, let me highlight what was done differently in the novel.
- In the book, the fish mistaken for the Essex serpent is not specified to be a whale. It is also alternatively called the “Blackwater Beast.”
- Luke supposedly retired from his medical career and lived with Spencer.
- Cora did not pursue paleontology but is content living alone after Martha leaves and Frankie is studying at a boarding school.
- Cora and Will do not reunite, although she continues to write to him, urging him to meet her again someday.
About The Essex Serpent
The Essex Serpent is an Apple TV+ original series that follows recently-windowed Cora Seaborne who moves from London to Essex upon hearing rumors of a mythical sea creature.
Determined to investigate the truth, she befriends the local pastor but ends up getting up blamed for attracting the creature.
The cast is made up of Claire Danes, Tom Hiddleston, Frank Dillane, and Hayley Squires among others.
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