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topicnews · October 8, 2024

Who killed Merritt in The Perfect Couple? The end of the series explained

Who killed Merritt in The Perfect Couple? The end of the series explained

The Netflix series The perfect couple is an exciting crime thriller that takes place against the backdrop of a lavish wedding in Nantucket. The story begins with Amelia Sacks preparing to marry Benji Winbury, but the celebrations take a dark turn when Merritt Monaco, Amelia’s maid of honor and best friend, is found dead hours before the ceremony. So who killed Merritt? The perfect couple?

Meghann Fahy at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s “The Perfect Couple” (left) and Jack Reynor and Eve Hewson at the UK premiere of “The Perfect Couple” (right). Photo: Araya Doheny, Jeff (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

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Located in an opulent mansion owned by the wealthy Winbury family, The perfect couple explores themes of deception, betrayal and the complexities of relationships within the elite. The narrative begins with Amelia’s wedding plans, which are abruptly shattered by Merritt’s shocking death.

The series weaves together the backstories of various characters and their connections to Merritt, creating a tangled web of motives that keeps the viewer guessing until the end.

Spoilers: This article contains major spoilers about the ending of The perfect couple and reveals the identity of Merritt’s killer.

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The investigation into Merritt’s death

In The perfect coupleThe investigation into Merritt’s death is a central plot element that spans the entire series. The narrative revolves around the discovery of the body of Merritt Monaco (Meghann Fahy) shortly after a wedding rehearsal, which creates a complex web of mistrust among the guests and family members.

The investigation is being conducted by local law enforcement, primarily led by Detectives Carter and Henry. The investigation begins with the shocking discovery of Merritt’s body on the beach, prompting immediate police intervention.

The autopsy revealed that Merritt had barbiturates in her system, suggesting her death was not an accident but the result of a crime. The finding shifts the focus of the investigation from an accidental drowning to a possible murder.

Detectives are interviewing various people associated with Merritt, including her friends and family. The main suspects include:

  • Greer Winbury: Benji’s mother, who is suspected of hiring a hitman after discovering Merritt’s affair with her husband Tag.
  • Thomas Winbury: Benji’s brother, who has financial problems and a complicated relationship with Isabel Nallet, a family friend.
  • Abby Winbury: Thomas’ pregnant wife.

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During the course of the investigation, the investigators uncover various pieces of evidence that point to different suspects. For example, they learn about Thomas’ habit of stealing pills and his financial difficulties, which could be a motive for pushing Merritt out of the picture to protect his family’s legacy.

Liev Schreiber (l) and Nicole Kidman (r) at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Perfect Couple.”
Liev Schreiber (l) and Nicole Kidman (r) at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Perfect Couple.” Photo: Charley Galla
Source: Getty Images

Investigators analyze each suspect’s alibis and motives. They discover that Abby had mixed barbiturates into a drink that she offered to Merritt before leading her into the water and drowning her. The revelation comes after investigating various red herrings involving other characters.

Who killed Merritt in The Perfect Couple on Netflix?

In a dramatic twist at the end of the series, it is revealed that Abby Winbury (Dakota Fanning), Benji’s sister-in-law, is responsible for Merritt’s death. Different than in Hilderbrands In the novel, which portrays Merritt’s death as an accident, the series chooses a darker narrative in which Abby intentionally kills Merritt.

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Why Did Abby Kill Merritt in The Perfect Couple Spoilers?

Abby’s motive stems from her desperation to secure her family’s financial future. As the series progresses, it becomes clear that Abby is struggling with financial issues related to her husband Thomas (Jack Reynor) and impending parenthood. The stakes rise when Merritt is revealed to be pregnant with Tag’s child.

If this child were born, it would complicate the distribution of the Winbury family trust fund as it would be divided among four children instead of three. The Winbury family trust fund stipulates that the inheritance will be delayed for another 18 years when Merritt’s baby is born, complicating Abby’s plans to secure her family’s financial future.

This possible delay in accessing her inheritance causes Abby to take drastic action against Merritt.

In a calculated move, Abby drugs Merritt by mixing barbiturates into a drink before drowning her to eliminate her as a threat to her financial stability. The twist heightens the drama and emphasizes Abby’s character as someone willing to go to extreme lengths for self-preservation.

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Eve Hewson at the premiere of Netflix's
Eve Hewson at the premiere of Netflix’s “The Perfect Couple” in Los Angeles. Photo: Araya Doheny
Source: Getty Images

How did Abby kill Merritt?

Abby first prepares a drink for Merritt by crushing pentobarbital, a barbiturate, and mixing it into a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. The act is premeditated; Abby wants to incapacitate Merritt so that she can more easily carry out her plan without drawing attention.

After consuming the drugged drink, Merritt becomes dazed and disoriented. Abby then leads her to the water under the guise of wanting to cool off. Once they are in the water, Abby pushes Merritt’s head below the surface until she drowns, ensuring her death appears accidental.

After the murder, Abby attempts to eliminate all evidence linking her to the crime. She nervously washes the glass in which the poisoned drink was served and instructs the housekeeper to dispose of all incriminating items.

The ending explained

The perfect couple The ending connects various storylines and leaves the viewer with lingering questions about morality and justice. After Abby’s arrest, a significant time jump occurs six months into the future, in which Amelia distances herself from the Winburys and begins a new life in London.

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Greer visits Amelia at her new job at a zoo and reveals that she has written a book about her experiences during this turbulent time. This moment signifies a change in Greer’s character as she seeks redemption and reconciliation with Amelia.

The conclusion serves as both an ending and a new beginning for Amelia, who has suffered great loss but is now ready to find her own path away from the toxic dynamics of the Winbury family.

Who was the shooter in The Perfect Couple?

In The perfect couplethe character known as Shooter is Shooter Dival, portrayed by actor Ishaan Khatter. The shooter becomes the prime suspect in the murder of Merritt Monaco, the maid of honor, after his fingerprints are found on her phone.

Ishaan Khatter at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix series “The Perfect Couple.”
Ishaan Khatter at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix series “The Perfect Couple.” Photo: Robyn Beck
Source: Getty Images

Throughout the series he denies any involvement in the crime, and as the plot progresses it is revealed that he had lent Greer Winbury a significant sum of money, further complicating his situation.

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Although Shooter is a suspect, his character has a complex story arc. He is romantically involved with Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson), the bride-to-be, which increases the tension between the characters. Ultimately, while under scrutiny from investigators and other characters, he is cleared of any wrongdoing at the end of the series.

How was the ending of the series different from the ending of the book?

The end of the Netflix series The perfect couple differs considerably from this Elin Hilderbrands Novel, particularly regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of Merritt Monaco, the maid of honor.

In the book, Merritt’s death is portrayed as a tragic accident. Jealous of her husband Thomas’s affair with Merritt, Abby Winbury tries to drug Merritt to prevent her from sleeping with Thomas. However, due to a mix-up, it is Merritt who consumes the drugged drink, leading to her accidental drowning.

The narrative ends with the police ruling Merritt’s death an accident, and the matriarch Greer Winbury realizing Abby’s unintended role in the tragedy, but choosing to keep it a secret until her death.

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Wrap up

So who killed Merritt? The perfect couple? Ultimately, the killer’s identity is revealed to be Abby Winbury, the pregnant wife of Benji’s brother Thomas. Throughout the series, Abby’s motivations are closely tied to her desperation for financial security and her fear of losing access to the family trust fund.

Tuko.co.ke published an article about the filming locations of BBC’s The Jetty. In The jetty In this film, Jenna Coleman plays Detective Ember Manning, who becomes entangled in a web of mysteries after a fire destroys a nearby home, sparking memories of an unsolved, long-standing missing persons investigation.

Manchester served as the main filming location for BBC’s The Jetty. Locations include Todmorden, Calderdale, Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club and a purpose-built police station. The careful use of these settings enhanced the viewing experience and highlighted the show’s examination of the human condition.

Source: TUKO.co.ke