'Girls from Ipanema' Season 2 Ending Explained: Augusto's death likely to be pinned on Nelson, Wagner and Malu
The highlight of the last episode this season is Augusto's (Gustavo Vaz) trial. Eleonora Soares (Ester Góes), who is banking on Augusto reclaiming his political career takes the stand. Her testimony paints Ligia (Fernanda Vasconcellos) as a wanton femme fatal, who was unfaithful and murdered her own baby. She also blames Malu (Maria Casadevall), the "unfit mother" and promiscuous club owner, for playing a role in Ligia's "corruption". Augusto, she describes as an upstanding citizen, whose love for Ligia drove him to commit a "crime of passion".
In the patriarchal Brazillian court, the testimonies of Malu, Adélia, and Ligia's sister-in-law, Thereza (Mel Lisboa), describing Augusto beating and raping Ligia before killing her, is ignored. Augusto gets four years on parole and he walks free. What is significant about the trial is how Nelson (Alexandre Cioletti) firmly sides with the girls, calling his brother a murderer and shakes of the toxic influence of their mother.
Even though Adélia and Thereza are estranged because of Adélia's decision to be with Nelson, both show up to defend Ligia's memory. But it is uncertain if Thereza will be able to forgive Adélia even as she moves on, finding new love in the arms of her radio co-host Wagner (Alejandro Claveaux), Nelson's polar opposite.
While Nelson is all broody and sensitive, Wagner is brash and a bit of a jerk. But Wagner has his heart in the right place and he isn't scared to stand up for Thereza, unlike Nelson. After Ivone (Larissa Nunes) wins the national singing contest, the celebratory party sees all the main characters celebrate her win at the after-party with the city's who's-who in attendance.
Augusto turns up like a bad penny with a girlfriend who resembles Ligia. Malu storms up to him and asks him to leave but he tells her that "people love him" despite Malu and Thereza's radio broadcast vilifying him. He also threatens to close her club once he is elected. Augusto then picks a public fight with his brother Nelson and then goes after Thereza but is warned off by Wagner, who threatens to kill him if he dares harm Thereza.
There are all kinds of other drama happening as well. Adélia tells Malu that she and Nelson are moving to Paris because she does not want her daughter to grow up with the same kind of racism and daily humiliation she grew up with. Malu is devastated to be losing another friend so soon after Ligia's death.
When Nelson breaks the news to Thereza, she is incensed that her dream of going to Paris with Nelson is being hijacked by Adélia and Nelson. Meanwhile, Chico is surprised by his fiance, Sara, who is pregnant with his child. Since Chico had never mentioned Sara, Malu is taken by surprise and ends things with Chico in a huff.
As all these micro dramas play out, there is suddenly a loud crash and guests peer out of the high rise balcony of the hotel only to see Augusto's body face down in the swimming pool below them. As the camera focuses on Augusto's floating body, we know that season 3 will be tense. The next season will probably revolve around the girls trying to save themselves and their significant others from the suspicion of Augusto's murder. Malu has a motive because Augusto publically threatened her with closing her club, to which she had replied that while she is no longer scared of him, he needs to be scared of her. We can expect Pedro to try and get revenge by showing that Malu is not above hiring goons to take care of her dirty work, giving his own example of being "cheated" out of his club.
Nelson and Adélia's Paris plans will probably be postponed as Nelson will likely be accused too after the brawl at the party. And last but not the least, Wagner might be in trouble too for defending Thereza and threatening to kill Augusto. All of them, technically, have a motive for flinging Augusto off the hotel balcony and Eleanor will probably be baying for blood after her favorite son's death. Malu and Thereza in particular might face more heat because of their radio broadcast defending Ligia.
It is interesting to speculate who would kill Augusto in such a dramatic fashion. It could be a political rival who didn't want him coming back to power. But other than that, there are no other theories that hold water. What is certain is that season 3 won't be an easy ride for any of the girls.
'Girls from Ipanema' Season 2 is available to stream on Netflix from June 19.