Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby explains the show’s cryptic final scene

The very last scene in the Mare of Easttown finale has sparked a divisive fan theory — and now the show’s creator has weighed in.

Mare of Easttown’s gripping finale unmasked Erin McMenamin’s killer in a reveal not many saw coming.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the Mare of Easttown finale

While last week’s episode hinted Billy Ross (Robbie Tann) was behind the murder, the opening minutes in the final episode, which dropped on Binge yesterday, reveal it was actually John Ross (Joe Tippett) who was having an affair with Erin and fathered her young son, DJ.

While he initially admits to the killing to Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet), we soon learn John is actually covering for his 13-year-old son, Ryan (Cameron Mann), who was Erin’s real killer.

The whole Ross family became embroiled in the cover-up, after Ryan threatened Erin with a gun urging her to stay away from his family and shot her in a wrestle for the weapon.

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It was a huge twist but it made sense. No questions asked.

But, it seems there is one burning question around the very last scene, which sees Mare finally re-enter the attic where her son killed himself, seemingly in a bid to overcome her grief and move forward.

The music swelled as Mare wordlessly climbed into the attic — but despite the hopeful tone, some viewers questioned whether Mare was returning to the scene of her son’s suicide to follow in his footsteps and take her own life:

Am I the only one worried that Mare went into the attic to try to kill herself? After all, we see her climb up into the attic, but not what happens after she's in the attic. #MareOfEasttown#PTSD#Season2

— Jonathan Pitts (@jpitts_28) May 31, 2021

#MareOfEasttown why did she go into the attic in the last scene? Suicide or redemption?

— Quahog🙈🙉🙊🇺🇸 (@QuahogRI) May 31, 2021

Why’d she go up in the attic? #MareOfEasttown

— cheryl Zammiello (@chaurla) May 31, 2021

The show’s creator Brad Ingelsby has said the show’s creative team were concerned this could be the takeaway for some.

“It’s a really cathartic moment. It’s definitely a moment of hope. Like we definitely … It was in the edit, we were like, ‘Is anyone going to think Mare is…?’” Ingelsby told Decider.

RELATED: Fans obsessed with Mare of Easttown ending

Kate Winslet’s character Mare is seen entering the attic for the first time in the Mare of Easttown finale. Picture: BINGE

“It was definitely on our minds, but we experimented with a couple music choices and we felt like that one was hopeful enough that we were confident an audience would go, ‘Oh, this is her going to confront the thing that’s been haunting her.’

“And so we one hundred per cent wanted it to be a moment of hope at the end, that leaves you thinking Mare is going to be OK.”

He added: “I’m hopeful it doesn’t ruin it. We wanted it to be a moment of hope at the end, you know?”

So there you have it.

Mare of Easttown is available to stream on Binge