‘The Undoing’ Finale Spoilers: Did Grace frame Jonathan for the murder? Truth behind Elena Alves's flashbacks
Spoilers ‘The Undoing’ and 2014 novel ‘You Should Have Known’
Does Grace Fraser (Nicole Kidman) have two sides to her? ‘The Undoing’ is a brilliantly-written and directed twisted adaptation of Jean Hanff Korelitz's 2014 novel ‘You Should Have Known’. In the book, Jonathan Fraser (Hugh Grant) turns out to be the killer. Grace receives a letter from Jonathan with his confession that he indeed killed her and the mystery is solved.
But, in the series, does Grace have a multiple personality disorder? One Reddit fan said, “My theory is that Grace has some type of mental disability such as schizophrenia where she does not remember things (her blackouts, for example). During the show, she is very odd when answering questions and seems to forget things (such as asking Henry, "Did I say that?" when referring to her previous conversation with him).”
The fan added, “How it happened: Grace found out Elena and Johnathan were sleeping together. This would work as Grace was on the video cameras. Next, Jonathan caught Grace killing Elena. Jonathan cleaned up Grace's DNA and tried to take the blame, seeing as Jonathan's DNA was all over the scene, as he could say he was just sleeping with her. Grace on the other hand wouldn't be able to explain her DNA being there. This all happened during one of Grace's blacking out events. Jonathan must have gone to Sylvia and gotten advice as she is a lawyer. There are way too many side-eye looks they give each other and Lily Rabe is too good of a character to have a minor role. I think Jonathan and Sylvia are working together to keep Grace protected because they know she has these issues. Lastly, I think Henry knows too. When Grace finds the weapon in his room, he looks scared. I thought it was because maybe he was protecting someone, but what if he knew Grace killed her but didn't want her to remember for her own protection so they hid it from her? It may be a stretch, but I think it would show the family's strength together.”
Another said, “The only time Grace is talking to Sylvia is she they are alone bc Grace is talking to herself. When she hears of the murder, in the restaurant—at home in her kitchen about Elena breastfeeding—-it’s her alter ego, her multiple personalities, she won’t remember she did it. And notice Sylvia is allllll opposite of Grace. In color of clothes—-mostly neutral and white and Grace in all funky colors. I think we will see Elena and Sylvia having sex when it really is Grace and Sylvia kills her/Grace bc she is jealous of Elena cheating on HER.”
“Theory: Jonathan knows Grace has multiple personalities. The way he kept calling her name before the shower sex scene was weird...kinda like checking in on who he was dealing with. Both Jonathan and one of Grace’s personalities have an affair with Elena, who knows Grace is unstable too. They all three are, in different ways. The gym scene “did I do something wrong?” was odd unless there’s more there. Elena is playing a role for Grace. For Jonathan, it’s a competition with Grace because he is a true narcissist.”
The viewer continued, “Night in question, the elevator kiss triggers the other personality to emerge, who goes to see Elena after, and sees her having sex with Jonathan. Rage ensues, goodbye Elena. Also, Sylvia definitely had an affair with Jonathan. He’s been trying to mentally screw Grace for a while. And her daughter’s paternity is suspicious. Henry found out about Sylvia and Jonathan but that was a secret he had to keep. Seems like his parents ask him to keep a lot of secrets ie dog story. Another fine mess.”
“I think you are on to something with this. I definitely feel that Grace herself is unhinged. She wanders the streets at night, she seems confused by people and emotions, and her father seems very protective of her. I definitely suspect that she killed Elena, and I think she could possibly have a split personality. Now, I don’t know that any of that has to do with Jonathan being a dick and cheating on her or a manipulator. He is who he is, a charming pediatric oncologist with a God complex. I am not surprised that he cheated on his wife or that he asked for money from his FIL. Seems pretty standard in their entitled monied existence. But - something about Grace is not right.”
“I think Grace has some serious buried childhood trauma... The opening credits seem to be her as a child but hazy. She doesn't seem to see anything as it is. Her husband not having a job. Him having a long-term affair. Her parents' perfect marriage. Then she passes out when she sees a red-headed girl. I think her childhood trauma (maybe she witnessed her mother's murder) created a split personality and she too was dating Elena.”
“I really really feel like the killer is Grace. Here are my reasons: Her not being able to remember walking by the block of the crime. She collapsed and was hospitalized for unknown reasons. In earlier episodes, she was imagining the crime, and even imagined the murder weapon. She always seems a bit distant and not fully there. Stoic like her dad says. The show alludes multiple times that if it isn’t the husband then it has to be someone that walked in on Jonathan and Elena and then killed Elena in a jealous rage. If it’s not Elena’s husband, then that leaves Grace. The police is always alluding that Grace knows more. While I find the detectives annoying, maybe their continued interest in Grace shouldn’t be ignored. Idk, it would be a fun plot twist and ironic as she is a therapist.”
“Grace is definitely suspicious and stoic. She’s so out of it and clearly hiding stuff. Throughout the series so far she’s been clearly hiding and blocking out memories. The first most important to me was that she completely didn’t show or address the fact that she was “walking” near Elena's apartment that night. She also is hiding the kiss and awkward nude encounters that she had with Elena. She should really tell the cops and her lawyer especially if she’s innocent!”
“Was anyone else confused by the fact that Grace was walking through the mostly empty park in the near dark (very early AM?). She was being stalked by Fernando. Suspenseful music was playing as if he was about to strike. And then BAM suddenly its bright light and there's a ton of kids everywhere and then she faints. I straight-up thought she got whacked and was dreaming/near death at that point but apparently, that's the story...that she fainted? That's it? And how is it that when Jonathan goes to Fernando's house later he somehow just knows that Fernando's been following Grace? Why is he not wearing an ankle bracelet and able to go anywhere he pleases?”
Pointing out at the screenshots from the theme song, one fan said it reveals “child versions of Grace's father and a blonde-haired girl as reflections of the red-haired girl. Could Grace have known about the crime and will take Sylvia's help to frame Jonathan in the end?
‘The Undoing’ premiered on HBO on October 25, 2020, and more episodes in the six-episodic series aired every Sunday from 9 pm ET to 10 pm ET. Catch the final episode ‘The Bloody Truth’ on Sunday, November 29, 2020.