As a fan who’s spent countless hours engrossed in the intricate world of Holly Jackson’s novels, I must say that the finale of “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” was an absolute rollercoaster ride! It had all the elements of a classic whodunit – suspense, twists, turns, and a dash of romance.
Pippa has endured tremendous hardships, from the brink of hell and back, in pursuit of resolving the Andie Bell case. Not only did she almost lose her closest friend and her beloved dog, but now she finds herself confronting two life-threatening situations as part of her efforts to unravel this murder enigma.
Generally speaking, these distressing incidents prove worthwhile due to the fulfilling ending we receive in an intense (and romantic!) finale. The previous episode felt heavy with excessive explanation and lacked excitement – no, a deceased dog doesn’t equate to thrills, it merely adds sadness. However, this concluding act provides us with a surprising twist that truly solidifies the story.
Our story commences in Mr. Ward’s loft, where Pip and Isla currently find themselves confined. For five years, Isla has been residing within Mr. Ward’s household, ever since he encountered her at a bus stop in April 2019, following Andie’s vanishing. Mistakenly believing she was Andie – tall, blonde, strikingly beautiful, even resembling a contestant on ‘Love Island’ – he welcomed her into his home. It seems eerily similar to the Sears Optical ad where a woman lets a raccoon in instead of her pet cat. Maybe Mr. Ward could benefit from a fresh pair of glasses.
In a more rephrased form, the sentence could be: “It’s possible that Mr. Ward might face imprisonment due to his actions. After he brought Isla into his home and discovered she wasn’t who he believed her to be, he kept her against her will. Overwhelmed by guilt, Mr. Ward came to believe that Isla was an ideal confidante for his troubles with Andie Bell. Believing he had killed Andie due to the head wound, Mr. Ward framed Sal by manipulating Naomi to create a false alibi, planting incriminating text messages, and ultimately ending Sal’s life by smothering him in the forest.”
1. Option A – Rewritten for clarity and natural flow:
Upon returning home, Pip begins to ponder if it wasn’t Mr. Ward who murdered Andy, with the possibility that the true culprit remains at large. Since the day Barney died coincided with the Ward family’s college visit to Oxford, suspicion lingers. With a flourish, she prepares for her final, insightful annotation. “Alright,” she writes on her crime scene map, “WHO KILLED BARNEY?” It won’t be long before Pip’s parents peek into her room, and upon seeing “WHO KILLED BARNEY?” written on the wall, they can only imagine how exhausted they are.
It seems clear in Pip’s mind that it is Andie’s father, Jason (Matthew Chambers), who might be involved. Every piece of information Pip has gathered portrays Jason as harsh towards his daughters. Moreover, Mr. Ward claims to have spotted Jason driving around on the night when Andie went missing, which contradicts the Bells’ claim of having dinner with friends that evening.
This wrong lead is the only weak part of the finale, the sole reason it’s a step away from perfect. Shave this seven minute fake-out stretch off, and I’d be riveted the entire way through. But we have to sit through Pip poking her nose around Jason’s workplace, only to be discovered by Jesse (Oliver Wickham), who also works at the car park. They know each other — but I hardly recognize this “Jesse” person.
Initially, I thought Isla was the most unpredictable character ever. However, it turns out that title goes to Jesse. I had to rewind, search him online, and reflect before I realized he was the one who rescued Pip from the chaotic party. Jesse provided an alibi for Jason (he was going to switch off security systems) and shed light on Becca Bell’s background. In the book, Jesse is actually Becca’s closest friend, but the adaptation doesn’t bother to clarify this detail to us.
If Jesse is truly Becca’s closest friend, why does it seem like they’re sharing highly private details about Becca with Pippa? According to Jesse, on the night when Andie vanished, Becca attended her first crisis, aspiring to emulate her big sister Andie’s cool demeanor. However, Becca was drugged and sexually assaulted that night, an incident that has left a lasting impact on her ever since.
Fortunately, we wrapped up that side quest quickly since Pippa finally solved the case for good. To put it plainly: Max had raped Becca. When Becca needed help, she turned to Andie. However, because Andie had unknowingly sold the same Rohypnol used to drug her sister to Max, she couldn’t report him to the police with Becca. As a result, Becca took revenge, which ultimately led to Andie’s tragic and unfortunate demise.
As a woman who has navigated through her own fair share of high school drama and power struggles, I found this story particularly captivating. The dynamic between Pip and Becca is reminiscent of many complex relationships I experienced during my teenage years – intense, volatile, and filled with undercurrents of pain and misunderstanding. Becca’s treatment of Pip throughout the narrative mirrors a pattern that I recognize all too well: the bitter sting of betrayal from someone we thought was an ally, and the raw anger directed at us for reasons we may not fully understand.
Switching gears for a moment, let’s take a break from our summary to present the next part of the delightful love story between Ravi and Pippa in their comedic romance.
After Sal was cleared of any wrongdoing, Ravi underwent a transformation and decided to depart from Little Kilton for good. This news left Pippa distraught, as she had grown accustomed to having Ravi by her side like Watson to Sherlock. As he prepared to leave, Pippa implored him to reconsider, but he persisted. Just moments before Pippa completed the puzzle, Ravi hopped onto a bus bound for parts unknown, leaving Little Kilton behind.
However, amidst the ocean of unexpected turns in this love story, our steadfast anchor remains its predictable subplot. They are meant for each other, and Ravi’s departure at the most critical juncture merely intensifies the tension. As he nears the city limit, he utters the sweetest words: “HALT! THIS! BUS!” It may seem corny, but it’s beautiful, not as dramatic as chasing through an airport, yet my heart races just the same.
In a turn of events, he reconnects with Cara, who possesses the whereabouts of Pip. Despite the tension between them due to the fact that Cara’s father took Ravi’s brother’s life, they understand that their shared goal – rescuing Pip – is more important than their past disagreements. It’s heartwarming to witness a romantic interest (or close friend) collaboration for the sake of their bond.
In a turn of events, Pip encounters Becca, who swiftly admits to the crime. Becca subsequently invites Pip to join her in locating Andie’s grave site. However, Pip declines politely… for now. Yet, curiosity gets the better of her and she agrees to go, hoping that Ravi can arrive soon to protect our heroine.
As Becca and Pippa draw near to the very cave where a terrible incident occurred merely weeks prior, Pip’s legs begin to quiver. Becca chuckles. “Oh, that? That’s just the Rohypnol I put in Pippa’s tea.” Becca leads Pippa towards a pit, revealing it as the place where Andie has been decaying for the last five years. Soon, Pip will meet the same end once the drugs take effect. Overhearing such an evil character detailing their wicked intentions is strangely satisfying — Becca Bell, with her prim demeanor, makes an excellent villain, surpassing the eeriness of Mr. Ward.
Using every last bit of her strength, Pip shoves Becca back, then slips away into the twisting labyrinth of the cave. Recall the thrill of the chaos? This concluding chase extends our time in this awe-inspiring landscape, rich with towering rock formations and secret turns, making for an exhilarating finish to the case.
Just as it seems like Pippa is trapped within the labyrinthine cavern, Cara and Ravi suddenly show up, closely followed by the police. The Rohypnol sends Pip into a delirious slumber, but upon waking, everything returns to normal. Her EPQ project is now finished. Voila!
As a movie enthusiast, after the whirlwind of events, I’m guessing Pip is in dire need of some counseling to make sense of it all. Yet, perhaps she and Ravi can navigate this storm hand-in-hand. To wrap things up, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder delivers what Twisters failed to, by giving its main character a romantic moment to remember – a passionate, soaring, dreamy kiss with her beloved Ravi. Together forever, that’s the dream for Pip and Ravi!
The kiss is a perfect ending; not only does it leave us all giddy — going to go scribble R + P in hearts in my notebook — but it also stays true to the show’s realistic depiction of high school girlhood. For Pip, solving this case was, in part, about justice, but it also became more about impressing Ravi. Hormones lead you to the oddest places — in this case, to solving a murder. A kiss is the perfect way to see Pip out of this tumultuous murder mystery and into her (hopefully more peaceful) college years. Our modern Jane Eyre has come of age, now a full Sherlock Holmes.
Ring a Bell?
It’s likely that Netflix’s guidelines require shows to include the song “Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)” by Irma Thomas. This tune can be found in ‘Black Mirror’, it was featured in ‘One Day’, and it’s playing during the final kiss scene here as well.
As a die-hard fan of the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series by Holly Jackson, I can’t help but wonder if we’ll get a Season 2. With two more books in the series, it seems like an exciting opportunity to delve deeper into Max Hastings’ web of deceit. If Pippa’s vow for revenge against him in the finale is anything to go by, I can only imagine how gratifying it would be to see her and Ravi bring that scheming scoundrel to justice!
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2024-08-03 03:54