Summary
The series finale ofLady in the Lakefinally reveals the truth about Cloe Johnson. Thefirst two episodes ofLady in the Lakeintroduce Ingram’s character Cleo Johnson, a mother and hard-working model and bartender who leaves her political aspirations behind to work for the ambiguous club owner Shell Gordon full-time. This is before her ultimate death, which is depicted in the opening scenes of the series.
Cleo’s death becomes a point of fascination for amateur investigative journalist Maddie Schwartz (Portman)who leaves her tepid family life as a housewife and works at the Baltimore Star newspaper.Lady in the Lakeepisode 4picks up whereLady in the Lakeepisode 3left off, depicting Stephan’s escape from prison and Cleo’s murder.Lady in the Lakeepisode 5titled “Every time someone turns up dead in that lake, it does seem to lead to you” finds Maddie deeply entrenched in her pursuit of finding Cleo Johnson’s true killer.
More ofMaddie’s backstory with Hal Durstis revealed and provides additional context for Maddie’s struggle with post-traumatic stress.Lady in the Lakeepisode 6titled “I know who killed Cleo Johnson” is the penultimate episode of the miniseries. The biggest twists of the series are revealed as Maddie recovers from her stab wound, going in and out of consciousness asthe truth about Cleo Johnson finally comes to the surface. In the end, both Maddie and Cleo’s lives intertwine in ways neither could have imagined in episode 7 titled “My story.”
Cleo Johnson’s Survival Explained: How & Why She Faked Her Death
Cleo and Reggie were in the same boat the entire time
Cleo Johnson’s master plan is finally explored in great detail in the series finale ofLady in the Lake. While it was widely believed that Reggie obeyed Shell Gordon’s orders and killed Cleo, dumping her body in the lake, it was shown that Dora had passed away on Christmas Eve and Reggie dumped her body into the lake instead. Both he and Cleo dressed Dora up to make it look like Cleo before Reggie dumped Dora’s body into a lake fountain and Cleo disappeared. This would allow Cleo to retain the rigged lottery money she acquired for Shell Gordon’s lottery. Otherwise, Cleo would have had a target on her back for the rest of her life in Baltimore.
Why Reggie Took The Fall For “Killing” Cleo & Took Down Shell Gordon
Reggie owed Cleo for putting her in the Myrtle Summer situation
Reggie was suggested to be one of the most devious players in Lady in the Lake, which the show convincingly portrayed throughout until the final episode. In truth, rather than being Cleo’s killer, Reggie was Cleo’s biggest protector, shielding her from the vicious outreach of the dangerous Shell Gordon. Because Reggie loved Dora just as much as Cleo did, both were devastated by her passing but were also given a way out of their rigged lottery prediction through her death. As it turns out, Reggie was far more loyal to Cleo than he ever was to Shell even though he appeared to be his right-hand man. In the end, he, like Cleo and Dora, was only faithful to Shell’s resources, not his will.
Cleo’s Fate Explained: What Happens To Her After Becoming “Dora Carter”
Cleo rises to prominence as a singer in Paris
After Cleo and Reggie take down Shell Gordon and burn down his club and hotel, Cleo flees the country with her newly freed husband, Slappy. Even though Reggie was not guilty for killing Cleo Johnson, obviously, he was not going to let the innocent Slappy serve a lengthy prison sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. Because Reggie was the one who put Cleo in harm’s way in the first place by setting her up to be an accomplice in the Myrtle Summer assassination attempt, he felt that he owed Cleo and this was the best way he could pay her back. The last we see of Reggie is him betraying Shell as Cleo and Slappy live a much safer life in Paris, France.
What Happens To Maddie After Cleo’s Case
Maddie writes a popular book but appears unfulfilled
Maddie’s tireless efforts to learn the truth about Cleo Johnson end up working favorably for her career as she is able to turn Cleo Johnson’s story into a popular book with Cleo’s permission. Cleo likely requests that Maddie use different names and potentially even a different setting for her book so as to not give her biggest secrets away. Maddie accomplishes her ambitions of not only being a strong journalist but a novelist as well and yet still does not seem happy in the final frame of the series, which takes place in 1972 on her book tour. Maddie appears to be without the love of Ferdie and her son Seth, which leaves her unfulfilled despite her career success.
Maddie & Cleo’s Final Conversation By The Lake Explained
Cleo can’t imagine a world where she and Maddie would have the chance to be friends
Maddie and Cleo’s lives inevitably overlap at the end ofLady in the Lakeas they poetically sit by the lake during sunrise in what will likely be their last ever encounter. Cleo gives Maddie permission to write about her story while Maddie wonders if under different circumstances she and Cleo could ever be friends. While it’s a sweet sentiment, Cleo questions what circumstances would ever allow for them to be friends, which points to the fierce racial and cultural divides of the era and particularly of Baltimore during that time. Cleo wasn;t trying to insult Maddie’s gesture but Cleo has seen and experienced too much to imagine a world in which she and Maddie could actually be friends.
The Real Meaning Of Lady In The Lake’s Ending
Reggie is the true unsung hero of the story
TheLady in the Lakeseries finale leaves Cleo “feeling good” while Maddie looks distraughtand essentially at the end of a road she may have regretted choosing. Maddie understandably poured herself into her career after the traumatic adolescent experience she had with Hal Durst and the abrupt realization that she could no longer be reduced to being Milton Schwartz’s housewife. She is able to prove to herself and many other misogynistic men, particularly Bob Bauer, that she is a capable journalist and peer who deserves respect.
Still, despite all these accomplishments, Maddie looks emotionless and discontented in the end, particularly because she has no one to celebrate her triumphs with. As for Cleo, she and Slappy appear to be as happy as ever in Paris, with Cleo living our her dream of being a singer under Dora Carter’s name. While it does seem somewhat dubious, Dora likely would have wanted that life for Cleo and would have been proud to let Cleo use her name. Ultimately, despite Maddie’s dissatisfaction and Cleo’s rise to prominence, Reggie is the true unsung hero of theLady in the Lakefinale as he is likely in prison or even dead by the time the credits roll.
Lady in the Lake
Cast
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY LAURA LIPPMAN, LADY OF THE LAKE IS A FICTIONAL DRAMA MINISERIES BASED AROUND THE REAL DISAPPEARANCES OF A YOUNG GIRL AND A WOMAN, COMING TO APPLE TV+. THE STORY CENTERS AROUND MADELINE SCHWARTZ, A DISSATISFIED 1960S HOUSEWIFE OF TWENTY YEARS WHO ENDS HER MARRIAGE IN SEARCH OF A LIFE WITH MEANING. MADELINE, BETTER KNOWN AS MADDIE, SEEKS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD - TO DO SO, SHE HEADS DOWN THE PATH OF AN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST AFTER SOMEHOW HELPING THE BALTIMORE POLICE FIND THE BODY OF A YOUNG GIRL IN THE LAKE, CLEO SHERWOOD. LADY IN THE LAKE HAS NOIR ELEMENTS AND EXPLORES STATUS AND RACE IN A MURDER MYSTERY IN A DIFFERENT PERIOD. THE SERIES HAS BEEN DELAYED DUE TO AN INCIDENT IN LATE 2022 BUT IS STILL SET TO COME TO APPLE TV+ IN THE FUTURE.
