The Resort creator Andy Siara explains the meaning behind the surreal, trippy season 1 finale of the dark comedy mystery series. The series stars William Jackson Harper and Cristin Millioti as a couple swept up in a mystery while on vacation. The first three episodes premiered on Peacock on July 26th, 2022.
In Peacock's The Resort, Harper and Millioti portray Noah and Emma, a somewhat distant couple who are caught in a mystery during a 10th anniversary trip to the Mayan Riviera. Together the couple is forced to find the truth behind the disappearance of Sam Lawford (Skyler Gisondo) and Violet Thompson (Nina Bloomgarden), two tourists who went missing during Christmastime 2007. As they dive deeper into the mystery, Noah and Emma discover Sam and Violet had been searching for Pasaje, a location that could allow individuals to change moments they may regret, but at a cost. And following The Resort's mind-bending ending, the show's creator has opened up about the mysteries of Pasaje.
In an interview with TV Insider, Siara explained the meaning behind The Resort's conclusion, stating that the series was a critique of nostalgia and its appeals. The show's creator explained that, while Pasaje represented nostalgia and the opportunity to return and feel content in safe, familiar times, the show also depicted that doing so would come at a cost, as it could, in turn, distract and take time away from the present, with Emma's final choice representing this decision. Siara also credited episode 1 director Ben Sinclair for the series' ink-blot-inspired visuals, which drew inspiration from effects seen in Cenote sinkhole formations. Check out Siara's full explanation below.
This whole thing’s about the allure of nostalgia and the curse of nostalgia and that idea of like, yes, you can go swim in the memories of your past and bask in the warmth of your past and of your memories. But there’s a danger to that, ’cause you will just lose time. Basically, the takeaway from the show is if you obsess too much about the past and your memories, and you don’t let things go, then you’re just gonna lose time in the present day.
Even though Ben Sinclair wasn’t directing the back half of the show, his DNA is all over this thing. He was the one who really brought in the interchanging cloud tank.
The Resort's nostalgia theme was briefly touched upon when Siara sat down with Screen Rant in an exclusive interview ahead of the show's premiere. In the interview, Siara explained that The Resort's script was originally conceived as a coming-of-age feature in the early 2010s that he felt wasn't quite good enough to be brought to screen yet. While he would revisit the script over the years, Siara realized in 2019 that he had been approaching it from a nostalgic lens and attempting to recapture the time it was conceived. Ultimately, Siara divided the original film's casts between a past and present story while incorporating an interconnecting mystery, leading to the script resembling what The Resort would ultimately be, with Siara's struggle with nostalgia during writing becoming intertwined with the story.
The Resort's central mystery is one that many may feel incredibly relatable, with Pasaje being a way for people to either escape the stresses of everyday life or address what they may feel were mistakes. And much like the story drew Harper and Millioti to the series, the audience may be attracted to the series through the mysteries and become invested in the show's exploration of nostalgia. With Siara firmly explaining the meaning behind the ending, fans may now view the series in a new light if they ever were to revisit The Resort.
Source: TV Insider