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The Undoing‘s penultimate installment picks up the day after Jonathan’s live TV tête-à-tête with Connie Chung, which ended (for us, at least) with the accused murderer revealing to the retired broadcaster that he believes he knows who really killed Elena.
Oddly, the episode fails to fill us in on what, if anything, he told Chung next about the would-be suspect’s identity, although it’s clear Jonathan is growing suspicious of his wife Grace (who, as was previously established, was caught on a surveillance camera sauntering past the crime scene).
The no-good, dirty, rotten, cheating bastard has the nerve to point-blank ask the woman he betrayed 22 times over, “Why were you there that night, outside her apartment?” First off, it’s already been firmly established that THE WOMAN LOVES A GOOD STROLL. Secondly, as Grace so eloquently points out before nearly pushing his ass into the East River, “Are you f–king kidding me?”
Despite her hubby’s verbal diarrhea (which he later chalks up to “pre-trial nerves”), Grace begrudgingly agrees to stay the course and play the role of the devoted wife in the courtroom. “Under the circumstances, I think I deserve a medal,” she rightly harrumphs to Jonathan’s attorney, Haley.
The prosecution kicks the trial off by detailing the brutality of the murder, accusing Jonathan of “violently, savagely” striking Elena 11 times in the head with a still-MIA sculpting hammer, turning “her skull into mush” before going on the run. The Haley-led defense counters that detective Meanie Mendoza’s investigation was “specifically and intentionally narrow,” arguing that “evidence of other suspects” — namely Elena’s motive-rich hubby Fernando — “would compromise their one shot at a conviction.”
All the talk of bloody, boomeranging brain matter apparently made Jonathan super horny because that evening he booty-calls Grace (who is still crashing at her dad’s resplendent crib). She initially turns him down on account of it being way too soon and super gross, before quickly changing her mind when she realizes she only got halfway to her daily 100K daily step goal. And since steps count double when it’s dark and scary out and your husband is accused of murder, she throws on her green jacket a bathrobe, treks across Central Park, climbs into bed with Jonathan and does the thing she insisted to her dad she would never do.
Her attempt to quietly slip back into her dad’s apartment unnoticed the next morning is foiled by Henry, who demands to know where his mom was all night. She promptly changes the subject and immediately regrets the pivot (not to mention her reconciliation of sorts with Jonathan) because it leads this startling admission from her son: he caught his dad and Elena fraternizing outside his school in the days (or months?) leading up to her murder. Even worse, “He saw that I saw,” Henry informs his mom. “He knew that I knew.”
Grace tears into Jonathan about Betrayal No. 23 mere moments before the commencement of Trial Day 2, during which Haley gets Det. Mendoza to basically admit on the stand that he’s terrible at his job. The kickass lawyer’s tour-de-cross does serious damage to the prosecution’s case, and the Frasers mark the rare win with an ill-conceived celebratory lunch.
At some point between the salad and warm sourdough courses, Jonathan offers his son Apology No. 19 for the aforementioned Betrayal No. 23. Henry makes it clear — at some point between the breadstick and main courses WHAT THE HELL KIND OF RESTAURANT IS THIS?! — that he just wants his parents to get back together so they can all be a happy family again. “We can even get a dog, and I’ll take care of it, so you don’t have to worry about what happened before,” Henry adds, unwittingly laying the groundwork for Betrayal No. 24 because, turns out, the bologna sandwich Jonathan previously fed Grace about him accidentally killing his childhood dog was — brace yourself — a big little lie. It was his kid sister he accidentally killed. Tomayto, tomahto!
Grace places her shrink hat on and begins to wonder if Jonathan’s brain chemistry was altered as a result of his sister’s death. When she subsequently puts that question to his estranged mother via a shockingly clear overseas face-time call, her mum-in-law gives her a failing grade in grammar before pretty much confirming that, yep, the tragedy turned her boy into a sociopath.
As the episode draws to a close, Grace ignores my pleas to JUST GO TO SLEEP and instead decides to canvas her dad’s 18-bedroom pad in search of the inevitable twist ending. And she finds it inside Henry’s violin case, which contains a very different kind of instrument: a sculpting hammer!
OK, riddle me this, Undoing watchers: Do you think Henry murdered Elena? And, if not, why is he in possession of the missing murder weapon? Share your theories below ahead of next week’s series finale.
Well before this I was thinking Grace’s best friends but now I’m not so sure
Grace’s best friend is oddly noticeable…. waving at an uncomfortable prosecutor during a trip – who does that? Ever? – like the 2 of them were in engaged in a love-tryst. In a world where etiquette is on high display as the law of the land, to 1) come in during a trial & 2) stand and keep standing where everyone was sitting and then 3) wave to the prosecutor as she sits – all felt entirely childish and immature. Come to think of it, there is definitely something immature and impish about Grace’s best friend (whose name escapes me), so forward, so “tell me honestly,..”, so openly gossipy and while loyal, so it seems, and secretive (remember she was Jonathon’s representation at his employment grievance hearing/firing) she’s clunky and boorish in the midst of what feels like a 1000 sophisticates – or among the elitist or them: Grace and her entire family. I don’t think she killed Elena, but I’m entirely sure she’s not innocent. At this point, what I’m thinking is, unlike the book it’s based on, Henry did it, Jonathon knew, consulted with Grace’s best-friend and viola.
She is also bound to be revealed as the other woman Jonathan slept with. Maybe jealousy provoked her to commit the murder?
Yeah shes the other affair
Good thought! Always thought she had some secret to tell.
you said best friends, plural. who else besides sylvia?
Grace did it. Her dad and Henry aided and abetted. Not sure what the blonde friend did but she is in on it too. I think she is the other woman Jonathan slept with. What prize do I win?
My wife thinks that Claire(?) did it for the same reason. Perhaps she’s pissed that Jonathan was cheating on her. I thought that Grace did it and blacked it out. I think my wife is correct at this point.
My money’s on franklin, donald Sutherland.
Clearly Henry either found the sculpting hammer and hid it to protect his father or Jonathan is trying to ensure reasonable doubt. I definitely believe Jonathan murdered Elena. And that he is, indeed, a sociopath.
He’s protecting someone: his dad or grandpa Sutherland?
Miguel… Elenas son did it. He found them sleeping together…. And after Jonthan left, he killed his mom… And Henry is hiding the hammer for him
Well then the kid get the Emmy.
That’s similar to what I’ve decided
That Nicole’s father did it. He sai to Grace something like does trauma cause one to be a good person or a psychopath? He placed the hammer in Henry’s violin case to set up Jonathan, not Henry
Yep my money’s on grandpa
The blonde lawyer, Sylvia, is actually grown-up Katie, who didn’t die after all. Grace’s daddy paid for her to have plastic surgery, get a law degree and conspire to frame Jonathan. That’s my current take on all this madness…
Hilariously day-time TV! I actually thought of that… that’s too far out for 1 hour left 🤣 but gooooood!
I don’t see how they are going to wrap this up in 1 hour! I want more!
There we go – brilliant, well-done!
oy vey,,,,,,love it! This is better than Henry covering up for his Mom who killed the rival during a blackout of rage and jealousy. Or maybe it’s the other boy’s rage that killed his mamma.
Two things: 1) Why was Henry wearing a jacket when Grace returned very early in the morning from her night with Jonathan? Had he been out, too? If so, where? And did it have something to do with the murder weapon?
2) Who was the other woman with whom Jonathan had an affair? My money is on Sylvia, Grace’s best friend. If it’s true, doesn’t that make her a suspect?
Jonathan is a sociopath. I thought it odd last episode they focused on his lawyers hands folded and then he folded his hands. Later Grace’s father said something about was he the perfect guy or did he act like it after you told him what your idea of the perfect guy is. The lawyer also said how he charms everyone. He watches people and is whatever they want him to be. The question is if his son is like him and did he do it or Henry?
Do you remover when Henry bumped into Miguel and said he sorry or something to that affect? When the headmaster asked him what he said to Miguel he said “sorry like we’re supposed to say per the honor code”. He is a sociopath like his father. Mimicking what others expect. Then his demand to “be a family”. It’s all on a superficial level. Grave must be the worst psychiatrist on earth!
.*Grace* not Grave, sorry.
I am loving the show, and I am living for this comment section!! Y’all have such good theories and observations. I didn’t even notice the mimicking thing. Now I want to go back and rewatch the whole series to see what other clues I missed before the finale airs.
Yes, I believe Henry killed Elena because he was angry about his father’s affair with her. Henry felt it was ruining their family life.
I totally agree
In real life, the murderer would be one of the obvious suspects, Jonathan or Elena’s husband. Shows, however, often have twists and turns. In the similar series “Big Little Lies,” the culprit was a person you would not have suspected. If “The Undoing” follows in these footsteps, the murderer will somehow turn out to be someone you would not initially have thought of – such as Henry, Grace’s father, the blonde lawyer friend, or even Miguel. Probably it is Henry since the weapon was found in his violin case.
No, blond friend/attorney Silvia..who is the other who he had an affair with before Elena and in a ‘felous jade’ offted Elena
This has been one of those any one of them could have done it shows. I was shocked as hell that the murder weapon was in Henry’s violin case. I think his father is a chameleon. I definitely think it could have been the boy. Like father. Like son.
I may not be well aware of the american jury system. But how did the defendant’s lawyer have every sigle information about the jury before they were brought in? Is that even possible?
Each side has access to personal details about each juror. During jury selection, the attorneys will ask a series of questions to determine if they’re a good fit for their side. Each attorney has a limited amount of vetoes, so to speak, to eliminate one of the other attorney’s choices. This is how you end up with a mixed batch of jurors. Then, each side will research more in depth about each juror prior to trial.
I actually know a really smart young lady,who is the niece of a good friend, whose job it is to investigate jurors to find out everything about them. It really helps the defense team if they can play to a jurors likes, dislikes, similar habits and attitudes,etc…. and I think the most perplexing thing right now is Grace’s blonde lawyer friend.
I thought that was odd, I don’t think so and I’m american , I sat on a grand jury.they have some info on you but not as much as that,its just a searing reality how anyone can get info on you in this day and age. Thats what show was trying to say.
Henry did not kill Elena because Elena looked into her murder’s eyes and Henry’s height exempts him. The hammer was placed in the violin case by someone who had access to Henry: the violin was stressed in the story by Henry’s father and grandfather.
Also, the way her face was bashed in, Henry’s height and weight just doesn’t add up to being able to exert that much force. I think this is just a diversion but how did the hammer get in his case??
But it kind of looked to me like Elena was already laying on the floor when she was hit with the hammer.
Yes, she was already on the floor, but I don’t think Henry did it. I could be wrong.
I think Elena painted a picture of Nicole because, let’s be honest, Nicole is a beautiful woman.
But keeping that aside, my money is on Grandpa Sutherland. He is so bored at home playing the piano, that he wanted to take a whack at Elena’s head. Elena crossed the border not by sleeping with his daughter’s husband, but by painting a really good picture of her.
I also think the grandpa did it.
He said he was a cheater too and he didn’t like his son-in-law for being a cheater. Grandpa might regret he caused pains to his family…so he killed Elena and blamed on his cheating son-in-law?
Graces Father was also having an affair with Elaina (He admitted to be a cheater all through his marriage). He set up Johnathan because he despises the way he treats his daughter therefore framing him by sending him off to prison for the rest of his life. So he murdered Elaina because she was going to expose their affair too. Her Father was an art lover too.
Could be…interesting thought
I also thought of that. I was also wondering why Franklin was always in the art museum looking at the same painting. Maybe it reminded him of where he and Elena first started their affair. I think it’s too far fetched, but I also read that there might be something in that painting related to the opening when Nicole Kidman is singing.
I agree with you. Why is he always in front of the same picture? Jonathan took her away from him so he set him up for the murder.
Very good
Given that Elena’s husband admitted on the stand that she had been receiving psychiatric help, might not Grace have been her therapist?
Grace is not a psychiatrist, she’s a couples counselor.
I’d go with Grace. Her behavior in relation to Elena (and those strange memories/flashes) are too odd. Maybe Grace has some kind of disorder, such that she could block out any memory of her true relationship with Elena and the fit of jealous rage that resulted in the murder. Her dad may have followed her from the party, seen her commit the murder, and conspired with Henry to protect her, if Henry didn’t witness it himself. That doesn’t preclude Henry from being a sociopath as well…
So many good theories! I would love for the series to be extended and the conclusion be rewritten each week to fit each one.
I think the Blond Lawyer did it.
Me too. Probably having an affair with Jonathan who was having an affair with Elena and she was pissed. Bye Elena.
The color red or maroon is shown time and time again much like A Sixth Sense. It’s so obvious. Wake up. Every scene with red in it has to do with a relationship to the murder.
The color is in almost every frame be it a bouncing ball, carpet on the stairs, tee shirt, coat , picture or painting , lighting in the background, leotards or caps on children in school. Even the rope in the courtroom. Trust me the, the murderer in the final episode will have RED on their clothing. I should write this s—.
GOOD ONE! I would buy your book(S). Start writing, now…before I get too old.
Two points. Does anyone notice that Henry doesn’t look like either of his parents? Grace seems to have picked a husband who is just like her father?
Ps, I also think Grace is a sleepwalker.
I think it was the school headmaster, he planted the hammer. I think Elenna was banging him for school privilege.
I noticed it. Very odd.
Donald Sutherland did it. Elena loves his money and has an affair with him too. He intends to kill her and does.
Henry is not surprised when Grace finds the hammer. He’s in on it and us protecting his family. Grace will freak then go zombie mode.
Elena committed suicide.. after finding out Jonathan went back to his wife, she felt so STUPID, she hit herself in the head with the hammer – more effective than banging her head against the wall!!
Henry did it,he’s a tiny sociopath as well, apple does not fall far from tree. The kid is angry at parents because both were having affair with Elena or grace was to escape unhapiness in marriage and husband rapes and kills the competition
I have never posted a comment on ANYTHING before but I feel compelled to talk about Nicole Kidman’s face. I cannot look at her! She shows no emotion (as would be expressed by a grimace or wrinkled brow) in situations that would REQUIRE an anguished and maybe ugly facial expression. Is anyone else bothered by this? She’s beautiful but geez.
Yes i did notice, no movment in that face
Love the comments! You’re even more cynical than I (how is that possible?) and more critical too.
There are too many holes in this story. Who walks across Central Park at night, alone, multiple times? Didn’t anyone have to take a lie detector test? Although there’s only one episode left, I think the weapon in the violin
case was a red herring. If Henry did it, why wasn’t he captured on video? It’s not because of his height; his mother’s image was captured from above. What did he do with his bloody clothes? His DNA would have been at the scene (if the police were thorough enough to check everyone’s DNA), etc.
Totally agree! Im tired of her plastic elongated face, huge hair and abnormally thin long body. She has absolutely no expression. Very overrated actress.
I have to be honest about that plastic surgery and so forth. Her bottom jaw is further forward the filler is very smooth but still visible and all in all her wig/hairpieces and plastic surgery detract from her believability as a character.
But the show is so great I don’t even care! I’m still trying to figure out if it was the child who could’ve done it. Or maybe the two kids did it together! And now they’re silent partners and that’s why it’s so awkward between them not just because of the court case.
Something weird is going to happen I can’t wait
Too much fillers, sandra Bullock too. Barbara striesand is quite old. No wrinkles but her small narrow face is massive now
Because she is one pissed off wife. I’ve thought from the beginning she had reason. And 11 whacks! That’s someone with serious emotional issues. On the other hand all signs point to Jonathon.
Grace is VERY VERY odd. She acts as though she is floating thru everything. Even when the cops questioned her in the first episode, they were unnecessarily rude and tuff with her as though she were dreaming it. Instead of reality.
Believe grandfather place it there. Knowing Hebert won’t be accused cause of height. Blood splashed and alibi.
Henry found the weapon in his home . Protecting his Mom he hides in his case . I feel movie trickery leads us to believe Henry killed because of Jealousy . But I think maybe Grace did
Yeah I think grace is weirdly weird with a flat affect.
Remember when she answered her phone when she was crossing the street and it was a telemarketer saying she won a Caribbean vacation. Then the detective tells her that like Elena called her 100 times but grace never answered and she said she doesn’t answer calls with numbers she doesn’t know because she’s afraid it could be telemarketers. Ok that’s a lie. I think it’s grace who’s a sociopath. She thought her parents had a great marriage when in fact her father cheated every 10 minutes on her mother so what? She blocked that out ? All very suspicious