Warning: Contains SPOILERS for season 1 of DeadlochThe ending of Deadloch season 1 finished with the small town's misandrist killer finally being revealed. The Australian-based TV series currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Deadloch is currently awaiting confirmation on season 2. Originally conceived by the writers of the show as "Funny Broadchurch" the show is a comedy crime thriller focusing on two very different detectives who have to reconcile their differences and figure out each other's strengths to solve an especially difficult case plaguing their small town. With emphasis put on the two's relationship and their difficulties in the department as a whole, the series has gained considerable praise, Deadloch has impressive 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Following a string of murders surrounding the Deadloch Winter Festival, investigators Dulcie Collins and Eddie Redcliffe grasping for answers in the sleepy Tasmanian seaside town. As the two attempt to close in on the killer the situation in the town only gets more and more chaotic. With each death creating an atmosphere of panic in the small town, Deadloch's man-killer manages to successfully elude capture while achieving a sizable body count. Battling both the politics of their department and struggling to maintain their social relationships, the investigators uncover more unwelcome truths about the town before finally confronting the killer in person.
Why Ray McLintock Is The Serial Killer In Deadloch's Ending
With Dulcie and Eddie drawing closer and closer to the killer in episode 8, the pair begin to have their doubts about whom the killer might be and whether it could very well be one of the spurned women of Deadloch. Strongly inclined to believe the killer is actually a man, they struggle to pinpoint a motive with many of the signs pointing to the possibility of the killer being either Skye O'Dwyer or William Caruthers. With the reveal that William was actually murdered by his sister over a dispute regarding the illustrious family's shared island, the evidence begins to point to the missing Skye.
Dulcie and Eddie's doubts are finally assuaged as all the puzzle pieces fall into place. After obtaining footage from a local gas station that could point to where and how the recently missing men were abducted, the pair discover the killer trafficked his victims using a bus filled with gas to knock the men out. Despite a series of red herrings leading the investigators off of the killer's trail, they manage to find a connection that leads to a past victim in Sydney that had managed to escape alive. As several revelations land one after the other, the killer is finally unveiled to be Eddie's boyfriend Ray McLintock.
Why Did Ray Kill The Men In Deadloch?
Evading capture in for murdering prostitutes in Sydney, Ray moved to Deadloch looking for a fresh start. Finding motivation in eradicating those he finds to be "undesirables", Ray finds that the vicious and abusive men of Deadloch fit the bill. Exacting his own sense of justice on the town, Ray methodically and purposefully began his campaign to eliminate the small town of its awful male inhabitants. With his latest victims awaiting their fate, Ray is discovered by Dulcie and Eddie and his plans quickly fall apart as the two pursue him. As he quickly realizes the situation against him, Ray begins to get desperate.
What Happened To Ray After He's Discovered?
With the secret finally out of the bag and his cover blown, Ray makes the decision to attempt to escape across a fast-moving stream. Ray is caught off guard by the sudden current and driven over a waterfall, Ray is fatally impaled on a tree and immediately killed. With Ray's violent killing spree brought to a brutal end and the case resolved, the episode ends the first season rather ambiguously. With Eddie and Dulcie ultimately teaming up again two months aver Ray's death to investigate the untimely death of Eddie's former partner it's possible the series could continue to pursue a new mystery in Deadloch season 2.
The Real Meaning Of Deadloch Explained
Revealing that the killer was in fact a man close to one of the detectives, the first season deals a fairly hefty hand in establishing the message of season 1. Playing close to the show's inspiration, Broadchurch, Deadloch played on the anxieties of never truly knowing the people you may be closest to. Departing from Broadchurch however, the show gives its murderer a social commentary angle in being a killer dedicated to murdering abs. Attributing the killings to Ray McLintock, helps peel back the layers of co-opting female agency to fulfill toxic male fantasies. Ray even tells Eddie that he did it "for her" and that he's "been on a feminist journey".
With season 1 firmly closing the doors on one mystery and opening the doors to another it will be interesting to see if Deadloch gets renewed for a second season. Chasing a different angle entirely, the second season would hopefully fulfill its promise of diving into Eddie's history and exploring her experience and rising through the ranks as an unconventional detective. Either way, it's clear the show was a success with both critics and audiences alike and still has plenty of avenues to explore. Hopefully, with any luck, Deadloch will continue to examine some interesting topics and keep the comedic duo of Dulcie and Eddie on the beat.
