'Constellation' Episode 8 Takeaway: Bud Caldera swaps his destiny in epic finale
Contains heavy spoilers for 'Constellation' on Apple TV+
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: The finale episode of Apple TV+'s 'Constellation' delivers an amusing resolution to the intertwined destinies of Henry Caldera and Bud Caldera (both played by Jonathan Banks), two versions of the same man experiencing divergent fates in different realities.
In one reality, Henry is depicted as a highly accomplished veteran astronaut, celebrated for his successful repair of the damaged Apollo 18 spacecraft, ensuring the safe return of its crew to Earth.
He holds the prestigious position of Chief Technician at NASA's Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, where he is involved in the CAL experiment aimed at understanding interference effects in space.
On the contrary, in another reality, he is known as Bud, marked by the failure of the same space mission and the tragic loss of his colleagues, leaving him as the lone survivor.
Despite his attempts to portray the mission as a success, the harsh reality paints him as a failure. This led to his prescription for lithium medication and subsequent descent into alcoholism, transforming him into a volatile individual.
Bud Caldera destroys CAL in Apple TV's 'Constellation'
Bud has been longing to return to his original reality, where he completed his mission.
In Episode 7 of 'Constellation,' he mysteriously swaps places with Henry. His first action in the season finale is to destroy CAL, preventing Henry from returning.
Bud discovers contentment in this new reality, where circumstances are more favorable for him. Despite Frederic Duverger (Julian Looman) apologizing to him for the destruction of CAL, mistaking it for an act of sabotage by Jo Ericsson (Noomi Rapace), Bud remains unfazed.
Later, he meets Irena Lysenko (Barbara Sukowa) and discloses to her that in true reality, she died in space. Furthermore, Bud confronts Ian Rogers (Shaun Dingwall), whom he had pushed to his demise in an alternate reality.
Henry Caldera faces the consequences of Bud Caldera's actions in 'Constellation
On the flip side, Henry finds himself trapped in Bud's harsh reality. He gets arrested on charges of murdering Ian Rogers and attempting to murder Paul Lancaster.
He denies committing these crimes and requests DNA and polygraph tests to prove his innocence.
To his dismay, his DNA sample matches the one from the crime scene, and the polygraph test results also incriminate him. Consequently, Henry is sent to prison.
As Henry grapples with the repercussions of crimes he didn't commit, the question arises: Will he remain trapped in Bud's reality indefinitely, or will advancements in science eventually pave the way for his return to his previous reality?
'Constellation' is available to stream on Apple TV+.