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‘A Teacher’ Episode 10 Ending Explained: What could happen in Season 2 after Eric walks away from Claire at lunch?

Ten years on, Eric Walker (Nick Robinson) works with emotionally vulnerable children, and Claire Wilson (Kate Mara) has children of her own

A commendable portrayal of grooming and sexual assault, Hannah Fidell's ‘A Teacher’ — based on her 2013 film — begins following a long time jump after the last episode. The finale leaves a lasting imprint on many minds and makes you wonder: What happens after such ghastly experiences? Can you ever turn back time to return to normal? 

Ten years on, Eric Walker (Nick Robinson) works with emotionally vulnerable children and Claire Wilson (Kate Mara) has children of her own. Returning to Austin for his high school reunion, Eric is brought back — after far too long — to his old friends and to Alison Miller (Camila Perez), his old girlfriend in high school. A chance encounter at a grocery store changes everything for the two living their seemingly perfect lives. 

What did that last meeting do for the two? Did Eric and Claire get closure? And what might have happened after that encounter if there was a Season 2?!

The lunch meeting

A big fat diamond ring sits on Claire's fingers as she meets Eric for lunch. “So you're married now. You have a kid,” Eric snaps at her when he first sees her. “Why did you text me?” Here's their final conversation at the meeting where Claire — ridden with guilt — begins her apology and Eric isn't ready to hear any of it. 

Claire: “I have been wanting to... For years. I feel like such a coward. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to reach out. I was so happy you were able to go to UT and move forward with your life.”

Eric: “I didn't move forward with my life. Our relationship f**king destroyed me.” 

Claire: “I'm so sorry... My marriage wasn't working. So I blew it out because that's the only way I knew to end it. That's not an excuse. You were the victim and I shouldn't have let it happen. I violated my role as an educator. I should have never crossed those boundaries. I should have stopped you. I should not have let you kiss me. You came into the class to kiss me... But I should have ended it.”

Eric: “You took me to UT, you told me to call you Claire, you told me to get out of the dance and you told me to get into the backseat. I thought I hurt you. I lost years Claire. I saw my brother the other day. He is 17 now. The same age as I was. He looks so f**king young. That was just a kid, Claire.” 

Claire: “And now being a mother, knowing I did that... I cannot understand it myself. It's taken me so long to live it. Every day I think about what I should have done differently. I just want you to be okay.”

Eric: “You're kidding me right? You called me here today because you are sick of being guilty I have seen you. I have seen your photos. Your perfect family. Your big house.”

Claire: “My life is not ​​perfect. Yeah, sure I got lucky... I found a husband - who for reasons I don't understand - doesn't judge me the way others do. But I can't get a job. I can't go to PTA meetings. The way other parents look at me. It's just a Google search away. I am one click away from ruin. It's hell...”

Eric: “You're still making this about you. I will never be just one click away from this. I have to live with this forever. So do you. He leaves.”

What might have happened after Eric left?

After their meeting, will Eric and Claire get closure? Or will the door of their past never close? If we had to chalk out the future for these two, we would say Eric finally moves on after lambasting Claire for grooming him. Meanwhile, the dark past haunts Claire forever and she turns into a protective mom, always wondering if the same could happen to her kids. 

Fans can't stop lauding the show. After watching it, one said, “Some say it romanticizes inappropriate teacher behavior but clearly if that is your takeaway you need to rewatch it. It is an unnerving, realistic portrayal of what truly goes on in today’s society. Emmy-worthy. WATCH IT.” Another posted, “Swear thought Eric found religion and was going to forgive her ... but think he wanted to but he didn’t like what Claire had to say and was like she still don’t get it.”

A user wrote, “The final scene of #ATeacher was very well done. I like how Eric was able to finally stand up for himself.”

‘A Teacher’ premiered on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, from 3 am ET on FX on Hulu with three back-to-back episodes. More episodes in the 10-episodic series followed every week starting from Tuesday, November 17, 2020.

Directed by Hannah Fidell and written by Fidell and Dana Kitchens, the new half-an-hour episode will be available to stream on Tuesday, December 29, 2020. You can stream the season finale at 12.01 am EST on Hulu.

Wondering if there's another season in the making? Well, sadly, the FX on Hulu show was created as a limited series but you can always re-watch the episodes or tune into Fidell's 2013 movie. While there is no hope right now, in case the makers decide to create another season, we'll update you with the latest news!