A Couple (2022) Ending Explained – Final Scene & Meaning

In the ending of The Perfect Couple, the story takes a dark turn when Abby, overwhelmed by her financial and emotional struggles, takes extreme measures to keep her husband Thomas from falling into debt and infidelity. Motivated by her own desperation, she drugs Merritt and drowns her, thinking she is protecting her marriage and family’s future. This act, which in the show appears to be accidental due to Abby’s impulsive decision, is driven by her fear of losing everything. However, the show's portrayal leaves little ambiguity about her guilt, even though she isn’t officially charged or arrested, as the police dismiss it as an accidental death.

In contrast, the novel’s ending offers a more mysterious and less definitive resolution. Merritt’s death remains an unresolved tragedy, and the details behind how she ingested the lethal drink are left ambiguous. It’s also revealed that she decided to raise her baby alone, choosing her independence, even as she was weakened and ultimately drowned in the water while trying to retrieve a ring from her pocket. This ending emphasizes the lingering questions and the complexity of the characters’ motives and actions.

Throughout the story, other characters’ fates shift as well. Celeste realizes she never loved her fiancé Benji but finds new clarity after Merritt’s death, prompting her to cancel her wedding and seek her true feelings. Shooter decides to hold back his love for Celeste to protect his friendship with Benji, feeling that some things are better left unresolved for everyone's benefit. Ultimately, the story suggests that while the characters' lives continue, much of the truth remains hidden, and the final moments are a reflection of the characters’ internal struggles and uncertainties—leaving viewers with an unsettling sense that some secrets are better left buried.