'Little Voice' Season 1 Ending Explained: Bess and Samuel may have kissed but Ethan is not out of the picture
Spoilers for ‘Little Voice’ Episode 9, ‘Sing What I Can’t Say’
Season 1 of Apple TV+’s musical drama series ‘Little Voice’ has come to an end. And it was just the end one would have expected from an understated but beautiful show. Bess’ (Brittany O’Grady) life, that has been a chaotic mess so far, finally found some peace and happiness.
The highlight for the episode, of course, was what fans of the show have been asking for, for most of the season’s run: She and Samuel (Colton Ryan) kissed. But there was plenty more that happened that begs for the show to get a second season. So let’s take a look at all the things a season 2 of ‘Little Voice’ should address.
In the finale, we saw Prisha (Shalini Bathina) finally open up to her sister about being gay. Her sister’s reaction was both predictable and disappointing. She lashed out at Prisha for burdening her with a secret and forcing her to lie to their parents. In the previous episode, Prisha had opened up to Sundeep (Gopal Divan), the man her parents wanted her to marry, about the same. Sundeep, unlike her sister, was understanding and empathetic, and he proposed they continued their charade till the time they were both able to work out their individual relationships. In the aftermath of that, Prisha told Ananya (Nadia Mohebban) about how they could continue to be together thanks to Sundeep.
But this only angered Ananya. In the finale, Prisha promised to find courage but she would need Ananya by her side. Ananya agreed. So, in a possible season 2, we would likely see Prisha approaching her parents with her truth. How that would go is impossible to guess. Her parents are loving, caring and good human beings but Prisha believes their traditional outlook would not let them accept her for who she is.
A second season should also see what happens to Bess’ father Percy (Chuck Cooper). Percy went missing after falling off the wagon. He was so drunk the last time Bess saw him, he did not even recognize her and shouted at her before running away. In Percy’s absence, Bess and Louie’s (Kevin Valdez) estranged mother showed up. That did not end well -- she slapped Louie in front of several people, unable to deal with his autism and seemingly erratic behavior. Bess and Louie left her. For their mother to make an appearance again seems unlikely. Their interaction in the season finale seemed oddly final. But season 2 will definitely bring Percy back. After all, even in little screen presence, Percy was an important part of the story in more than one way.
Now to the biggest expectation from season 2. What will be the future of the complicated mess that was the triangle formed by Bess, Samuel, and Ethan (Sean Teale)? Yes, Bess and Samuel kissed, indicating that the two would finally start seeing each other. But what of Ethan, the man Bess was desperately in love with, and the man who apparently also has strong feelings for Bess?
Ethan and Bess could not be together because Ethan already lived with his girlfriend. But as the story unfolds, we realize that the relationship between Ethan and his girlfriend was not one of love, per se. It was a mix of complicated ideas of commitment and indebtedness and loneliness. In episode 8, when Ethan told Bess that he had left his girlfriend, Bess shouted at him and asked him to leave. In the season finale, we saw Ethan enter Saint C’s to see Bess and Samuel perform. He looked heartbroken.
It’s safe to say that if ‘Little Voice’ returns for a second season, we will see Ethan complicate things between Bess and Samuel. It is obvious to everyone that Samuel’s feelings for Bess are genuine. But can the same be said for our protagonist? She was, after all, nursing a soft spot for Ethan all throughout the season. More than anything else, it’s not easy to get over someone. And in that short a time.
‘Little Voice’ may not have had a huge following. But it has been a spectacular show nonetheless. Hopefully, Apple TV+ will see the value in that and continue the story of Bess’ chaotic life.
‘Little Voice’ is available for viewing on Apple TV+.