'Constellation': Mystery behind Jo Ericsson's alleged death in alternate reality revealed
Contains spoilers for 'Constellation' on AppleTV+
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: Jo Ericsson's (Noomi Rapace) return to Earth has been nothing short of miraculous. Following a space accident that left her with only a few hours of life support, Jo found herself stranded on the ISS.
Despite the odds, she ingeniously swapped batteries and detached her capsule from the space station, successfully reentering Earth's atmosphere. Enduring a ballistic landing, she miraculously survived.
However, upon returning to Earth a year later, things aren't the same for her. Certain aspects of her life appear to be missing or altered
While those around her dismiss her speculations as hallucinations, Jo remains steadfast in her belief that her reality has indeed undergone a profound shift.
Alice witnesses Jo Ericsson's funeral in 'Constellation' Episode 4
In Episode 4 of 'Constellation,' a striking scene unfolds as Alice (played by Davina Coleman and Rosie Coleman) wakes up in the middle of the night and walks into her mother, Jo Ericsson's funeral.
Adding to the intrigue, she spots astronaut Paul Lancaster (played by William Catlett) in attendance, who apparently died on the ISS. This suggests that Alice has stumbled into a glimpse of an alternate reality right in her living room.
Further complicating matters, Jo herself experiences moments of overlapping realities. During a visit to Paul's grave, she encounters a vision of him.
Similar instances of reality convergence occur when Jo investigates her pills in the lab and delves into the medical records of the astronauts. As she immerses herself in research at the computer, two staff members enter the room, oblivious to Jo's presence.
Perplexed by this phenomenon, Jo attempts to assert her presence in their reality, only for the staff members to vanish from the cabin.
What is happening with Jo Ericsson in 'Constellation'?
Challenging classical physics, the series delves into a concept of quantum physics that explains the existence of a particle in multiple states simultaneously.
Henry Caldera (Jonathan Banks) introduces a thought experiment, proposing that the characters in 'Constellation' exist in various states. Following exposure to Henry's CAL experiment, they find themselves in a liminal world where their alternate states converge into a single reality.
Jo, much like Henry, appears to exist in two states, with her reality converging after the space accident. Jo (2) seems to have swapped places with Jo (1), returning to an alternate Earth after completing the ISS mission.
This clarifies why Jo (2) is devoid of memories regarding her affair with Fredrick Duverger (Julian Looman) and the marital challenges with Magnus Taylor (James D'Arcy).
Alice's vision of Jo's funeral implies that Jo (1), her biological mother, died in space, while the current Jo (2) is now living with her.
The vision also hints that Paul did not die in an alternate universe; instead, Jo (1), her alternate self, died during the ISS mission.
This theory also provides a plausible explanation for the apparent contradiction in future timeline scenes. In one reality, Alice and Jo are depicted visiting a secluded cabin in Sweden, while in another reality, Alice and Magnus share the same cabin.
The enigmas are undeniably complex, and we must patiently await answers alongside Jo, who is determined to unravel the mysteries that surround her.
'Constellation' is available to stream on Apple TV+.