Turtles All the Way Down

The ending of Turtles All the Way Down brings a quiet, hopeful conclusion to Aza’s journey through her mental health struggles, her fears, and her grief. Throughout the film, Aza grapples with OCD that distorts her perception of the world and herself, making her fears seem insurmountable. But a pivotal moment occurs when she visits Professor Abbott in Chicago and learns about the famous paradox of turtles all the way down — the idea that the universe’s infinite regression makes it impossible to find a final bottom or origin. This metaphor resonates deeply with Aza, symbolizing that she cannot control or fully understand her mind, and that trying to find a solid answer or ‘last turtle’ is futile. Recognizing this helps her let go of her obsession with control, and in that moment, she finally kisses Davis, marking a significant step forward in her emotional growth.

As the story unfolds, Aza’s relationship with Davis deepens, but her OCD remains a challenge. Her fears about intimacy are so intense that she often self-sabotages, like when she runs to the bathroom on their first date or ends up in the hospital after ingesting soap to kill microbes she fears might infect her. Despite these struggles, she begins to accept the reality of her condition with support from medication and therapy, realizing that she doesn’t have to be perfect or completely free from her fears to love and be loved. Her road to recovery is shown as ongoing, with her acknowledging that her mind will often loop back into old patterns, just as the universe does in the turtle paradox.

In the final scenes, Aza and Daisy not only solve the mystery of Russell Pickett’s disappearance—finding his coat by the river and uncovering the note that reveals he jumped from the bridge called The Jogger’s Mouth—but also come to terms with their grief and insecurities. Davis’s decision to move away with Noah symbolizes the end of their romantic chapter, but Aza finds comfort in her friendship with Daisy. The film closes with the hopeful idea that Aza, despite her ongoing struggles, will continue fighting her demons and love fiercely. It leaves us with the understanding that her mental health challenges are part of her story, but they do not define her entirely, and love—both self-love and the love of others—gives her the strength to keep going, no matter how endless the turtles may seem.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:02