This Fool Me Once ending explained article contains major spoilers for the entire series.
Fool Me Once is the brand new television adaption of Harlan Coben’s novel of the same name. It debuted on Netflix on New Year’s Day and, much like the other Netflix adaptions of Coben’s works, features a conspiracy-fuelled plot and plenty of twists and turns.
While the series feels somewhat drawn out and would probably have benefitted from being six episodes rather than eight, it’s still a gripping watch to kick off 2024. Michelle Keegan stars as Maya Stern, a former soldier and helicopter pilot who is searching for answers following the mysterious murder and apparent reappearance of her husband Joe Burkett (Richard Armitage).
After eight episodes, the true circumstances surrounding the events of the series are fully revealed. But with so many characters, a multi-layered conspiracy, and countless plot twists, some viewers may have been confused by its shocking ending.
So, how exactly does Fool Me Once end and what happened to its main characters? Before I get into that, I should note that there are multiple revelations that are integral to the show’s ending. Without first understanding them, the conclusion will not make sense.
I’ll first go through the various events leading up the ending of Fool Me Once, and then explain what happens during the ending itself.
Fool Me Once ending explained
It is revealed to Maya by Joe’s old school friend Christopher Swain that Joe murdered his brother Andrew by pushing him off a yacht. Joe did this to prevent Andrew going to the police regarding the accidental killing of Theo Mara during a prank-gone-wrong in their school years.
Theo was a schoolmate of Joe, Andrew, and Christopher and was tied to a chair in some old ruins. The boys, led by Joe, poured vodka into his mouth using a funnel. Theo had a seizure and died. In the present day, Christopher explained to Maya that he suspected Joe orchestrated the prank as he was jealous that Theo was funny, outgoing, and better at football.
Later in the series, online leaker and hacker Corey the Whistle informs DS Sami Kierce that the Burkett’s have been faking drug trial results through their pharmaceutical company Lambur Pharma. The company claim 99.6% of patients had mild to zero side effects six months after prescription.
However, Corey states that they are actually silencing any patients who have severe reactions. Claire, Maya’s sister, was looking into the scandal when she was murdered by Joe to prevent her from going public.
It is also revealed that Kierce has been taking a medication called Abixapine made by Lambur. This explains the neurological symptoms and blackouts he was experiencing.
Maya finally locates her daughter’s nanny Izabella and Luca and holds them at gunpoint. They reluctantly reveal that the video of Joe in Maya’s home was a deepfake. They placed it deliberately on the orders of Judith Burkett, Joe’s mother, who suspected Maya knew more about Joe’s death than she was letting on.
Afterwards, Maya reveals to Shane Tessier that she killed Joe. She explains that Joe murdered Claire after she learned the truth about him and Lambur Pharma. Maya and Joe had a hidden gun which Joe used it to kill Claire. Maya then used it to kill Joe after meeting him in the park. She switched the deactivated the gun shown earlier in the series with the hidden active one – that way Joe couldn’t use it to kill her when they met.
Rambo, a young criminal who was attempting to commit robberies in the park that night, witnessed Joe’s murder. He told Kierce of this, who quickly pursued Maya. Kierce finds her car at Lily’s nursery but Eddie, Maya’s brother-in-law, is driving after swapping his car with Maya’s.
How did Fool Me Once end?
At the end of the final episode, Maya confronted the Burketts about the pharmaceutical scandal and the murders of Claire, Theo, Andrew, and Tommy. Maya confessed to Judith that she killed Joe, but said the world would learn of the drug scandal.
Judith proposes an agreement with Maya and suggests that Joe’s murders and the drug scandal be concealed. Maya refuses and Neil (Joe’s brother) threatened to kill her with a gun she left on a table. He then shoots her in the stomach three times, killing her.
Judith immediately realises that a picture frame with a video camera has been planted in the room. It was live streaming the incident to millions of viewers globally via Corey the Whistle’s website and on social media.
Kierce is shocked by Maya’s death, but Corey explains that she had likely placed the gun down deliberately. He suspects Maya knew there was only one way for it all to end and this was her only chance to expose the Burketts.
18 years later, Kierce is seen alive and has recovered from the neurological damage caused by his medication. He meets Eddie, who tells Kierce that he raised Lily (Maya’s daughter). The two discuss the incident 18 years ago and a flashback is shown of Maya writing a letter to Eddie apparently asking him to look after Lily. Another flashback shows Maya asking Kierce to reveal the Lambur Pharma scandal to the world.
Kierce and Eddie meet a grown-up Lily and her partner. Lily has just given birth and allows Kierce to hold the baby. She decides to call her daughter Maya as the episode concludes.
Did you enjoy Fool Me Once and what did you think of its ending? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other Film & TV articles…
