What happened on the last episode of the Son

The Son, The Son season 2 review June 30, 2019

What happened on the last episode of the Son
After another season full of politics, twists, and turns, tonight The Son came to a close with a story that was all about legacy — and also the truth being what you want to make of it. We’ve seen Eli through the past two seasons embellish certain parts of his narrative, and he’s far from the only one to do. He survived and because of that, he does have an opportunity to tell his story — his story. It’s a unique opportunity that is only afforded to survivors.

Yet, that was the story of the past. There was still the story of the present.

What we never quite realized or understood is just how devastating this story of survival ended up being. The top event of the finale was Maria, gun in hand, ready to shoot Eli and end it all right there. Pete stood in the way — not so much because he loved Eli, but rather because he didn’t want her to make a mistake that would stay with her for the rest of her life. He lived to tell another tale then, but he didn’t have another chance soon after. Even after he was hurt, Eli still went after Maria and it was that point we saw Pete be the one who finished the job. He shot him not once, but twice. He is the one who finished the job and his story ended there.

Just in case you were wondering why there wasn’t going to be a season 3 of The Son, this is why. There is really no proper way to continue this story once Eli is dead and there was certainly no way he could realistically survive being shot a couple of times. Every story as an ending and there was no real way around this one.

Even though Eli’s story did end in a rather gruesome way, that did not change the way in which the story was in the future. That doesn’t change the way that some chose to paint the legacy of Eli. There was a reason to preserve a part of who he was — it was the legend. Jeannie was intent on painting a certain legacy for the man, one where he could survive.

“We are the children of a legend. Legends do not bleed out in dirt.” That was one of the powerful lines at the end of the episode, one that reinforced the way in which the entire family will handle this tragedy for so many years … and that ended up being the case. They crafted a story of his death that others would believe so they could send him out on their own terms.

Even in the closing minutes, Jeannie was still interested in the future in distancing herself from any drama or ties to her controversial past. She did whatever she could in order to bury everything and go about her way. Like grandfather, like granddaughter.

The closing scene of The Son season 2 finale

It involved oil — only fitting. It ends where the story began so many years later — we didn’t see much of the path to success, but we saw all of it that really mattered. This was a life of legend and it’s one we now say goodbye to.

CarterMatt Verdict

The Son was as good of a story as you’re going to find — an interesting, thought-provoking Western told in three different eras. The only lament that we had was the simple fact that it only aired for two seasons when conceivably, it could have been on the air for so much longer.

What did you think about The Son season 2 finale? Be sure to share in the comments below. (Photo: AMC.)

This The Son review contains spoilers.

The Son Season 2 Episode 10

The Son, season 2, episode 10, “The Legend,” concludes the series’ run with the birth of a border town mythology and the lessons learned from the sins of a father. The great state, and former republic, of Texas is a land of tall tales. Last week’s episode, “The Bear,” included a version of the ultimate fate which befell Eli McCullough, leading the audience to a false conclusion. Oh, we doubted the accuracy, how could anyone know what was going through Eli’s mind in his last hours facing off against the biggest bear in a state where bears are scarce. But we ultimately buy it. It’s Texas, and it is a large enough story to give us a sense of comforting closure.

But we were wrong. Yes, so many of the things that were promised come to fruition tonight, and most of our questions are answered, but they come beautifully out of the blue because they were based on red herrings. And very subtle red herrings at that. Eli wins the battle with Standard Oil. He snatches the victory right out of the jaws of defeat. He wins. Even when he ultimately loses, he is still triumphant. Pierce Brosnan created a character who is larger than life, even as he tossed most of the choicest cuts of acting meat to his co-stars. That’s part of what made Eli McCullough so large, his ability to small. So small we believe he could take on a bear, lose and still be triumphant.

“Not all Texans are built the same way,” Eli tells his most formidable rival, Mr. Endicott of Standard Oil himself, while offering something to the chopping block. “There are those of us who take scalps and then there’s the other kind.” The other kind is the person who gets a little too much taken off the top. Usually they are formidable enemies, and Eli treats the fallen employee of Standard Oil with the respect a wild man deserves. “A scalp taken in battle is very valuable,” Eli explains as he hands a fresh one to his rival.

Eli, who Endicott calls the Comanche Gringo, is not just any Texan. He is the first son of Texas, and this is not the first scalp he’s taken, nor will it be the last. Eli has taken on all comers his entire life. He plays by the rules of Texas. Endicott counters McCullough’s offer with one which abides by the state statutes. He lets it be known how easy it would be to have his associate Leonard take McCullough out to a remote corner of his property and put a bullet in his head. Eli takes this quite good naturedly given the circumstances. He has no good cards showing but isn’t a completely ready to cash in his chips. Eli has balls. He’s playing a game of possum in the halls of his formidable foe.

Prior to this scene, Eli is caught signing some documents the audience can’t read. Turns out he’s got an ace in the hole, and his poker face is quite happy to flip it over. He left all his land to a stranger. Very powerful as a player in the oil game, but a stranger nonetheless. He obviously plays his cards right, because just as his son Pete (Henry Garrett) is about to give a laundry list of his dad’s misdeeds, people start listening. And he’s ready too. Pete starts out with “the first time I saw my daddy kill someone I was nine.” Save that for therapy, Pete. Even your daughter is okay with the sins of your father.

Jeannie McCullough (Sydney Lucas) is a consistent seeker of truth, and an equally consistent defender of mythology. As a young girl, she chose her family and the ugly reality of how they grew their fortune. As an older woman, Jeanne Anne McCullough (Lois Smith) is quite prepared to shoot a barrelful of buckshot into Ulises Gonzales’s (Alex Hernandez) legs to keep those realities secret. However, the look on her face when she sees the engraving on a family gun reveals her long suppression. She admits everything to Ulises, but she remains committed to the family coverup.

The captain of the relocation troops shows his true colors tonight and Pathetic White Boy (Jacob Lofland) sees cherry red. He almost falls for the bait until Ingrid (Kathryn Prescott) calms him down, but we know this sleeping dog will not lie still for long. The captain put up a fair façade, easygoing and lackadaisical in his powers. He is fairly reasonable. And we get a shock when young Eli, who has been mirroring the captain’s rationale throughout a late-night raid, slits a throat. There is a part which feels familiar, and a part we don’t see coming. It is a marvelous turnaround, especially after we witnessed him getting his braids shorn and all the valuable scalps Eli has accumulated cosigned to a campfire. “I am not your savage to tame,” Eli declares, turning his destiny on its head.

Eli is a master of the turnaround. After his business machinations come to play during the witness testimony, Pete and María García (Paola Núñez) are left looking like deer caught in a headlight. There is a lot of slinking around with weapons in this episode, even Maria gets a stealthy turn with a barely concealed weapon. Eli takes it in stride and turns his good humor into its own weapon, offering his newly fried lunch to his assailant before burning her with a side dish. Pete gets his old man with a great kidney punch, in a direct but sidelong attack, the only kind that can work against such a weathered champion.

Eli’s final demise is epic. It is the stuff of legend. Just not the legend the family wants to tell. It doesn’t fit the narrative. History is written by the winners, unless the losers declare victory and get to the presses first. Pete is given a chance to disappear with Maria, apparently living a happy life in exile, while the McCulloughs disconnect the dots. Phineas (David Wilson Barnes) takes immediate and decisive action. Everybody gets a say in the tale the family wants to fill, even Sally (Jess Weixler) and young Charles, throw details.

All mythologies are ultimately destroyed under the burning glare of reality, but the truth is we always miss the myth. The Son does a great job in showing the bigger truths built on small fabrications. At one point Eli tells Pete he has made him smaller, in the end his shadow is too tall to breach. “The Legend” ends the series on a subversive note, but it is one which resonates. We feel just a little bit cheated by how all the twists and turns grind to an end, but that is what history, and the McCulloughs, do. They cheat. That’s why they win. It is also why the series leaves us wanting more. It is fully realized, but we are still hungry for details.

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The Son Season 2 finale aired on Saturday, June 29 at 9 p.m. on AMC.

Culture Editor Tony Sokol cut his teeth on the wire services and also wrote and produced New York City’s Vampyr Theatre and the rock opera AssassiNation: We Killed JFK. Read more of his work here or find him on Twitter @tsokol.

What is the last episode of The Son?

LegendThe Son / Final episodenull

How did the TV show The Son end?

The top event of the finale was Maria, gun in hand, ready to shoot Eli and end it all right there. Pete stood in the way — not so much because he loved Eli, but rather because he didn't want her to make a mistake that would stay with her for the rest of her life.

What happens to Maria in The Son?

After a month, Peter's father, his brother Phineas and his wife Sally offer Maria $10,000 to disappear. She flees to Mexico and Peter spends his fortune tracking her down, eventually finding her and having two children with her.

Does The Son end after season 2?

On May 12, 2017, the series was renewed for a second season. The second and final season premiered on April 27, 2019.