Daniel’s Dark Secret: The Real Reason Behind Ray’s Murder in Reunion

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*(Caution: The following article reveals all details from the last episode of Reunion, includes sensitive topics like suicide and child abuse which might be upsetting to certain readers.)*

After serving time in prison, the story unfolds around Daniel Brennan, played by Matthew Gurney, who strives to make amends for his past misdeeds stemming from a grave error, following his incarceration.

Over a span of four episodes, we gradually unravel the series of incidents that eventually drove Daniel to take his best friend Ray’s life (portrayed by Ace Mahbaz), shedding light on his past and the hardships he endured during his childhood.

In the third installment, things seemed to have smoothed over between Daniel and his daughter Carly (played by Lara Peake), with peace seemingly restored. However, upon discovering a shotgun hidden in the trunk of his car, Carly began to doubt the depth of her trust in her father.

With a gunshot ringing out in the closing scenes, did Carly shoot her father?

Read on for a full breakdown of the final episode of Reunion.

Reunion ending explained: Are Daniel and Carly alive?

As a die-hard movie fan, I found myself on the edge of my seat after the nail-biting cliffhanger at the end of episode 3, unsure if our beloved characters, Daniel and Carly, were still breathing. However, in the gripping finale, it was revealed that they had miraculously survived!

Despite the gun being fired, neither person was harmed because it seems Carly accidentally shot the back window of their car instead of them. As they sort out their issues, Carly contacts Anna (Olive Gray) to inform her they plan to meet as scheduled, understanding that Daniel might get arrested once more if he doesn’t attend.

Afterward, they pay a visit to the cemetery where Naomi (Sophie Stone), Daniel’s former wife and Carly’s mother, lies buried. This was the first time Daniel had ever been there, and naturally, he felt quite emotional. However, it wasn’t long before Carly began uncovering some past secrets.

As a cinephile, I’d like to share an interesting fact: Contrary to assumptions, Carly didn’t get booted out by Daniel’s family; instead, she made the choice to depart. The reason was a touching one – she borrowed funds from a mutual acquaintance to cover her mother’s funeral expenses and headstone costs.

They required regular installments for the loan she took out, but due to her inability to meet these payments, they resorted to visiting Daniel’s family’s home and making threats instead.

Despite assumptions that her issues stemmed from drug-related financial troubles, this wasn’t the case. Instead, she decided to leave their home on her own accord, aiming to shield them from potential harm associated with any ensuing conflict or danger.

As a movie lover diving into a heart-wrenching tale, I found myself in Carly’s shoes when Naomi received her cancer diagnosis. In the hospital, they didn’t have an interpreter to break the news to her deaf mother. Since our close-knit deaf community had distanced itself from us after Daniel’s arrest, there was no one left for me to turn to for help during this trying time.

Due to being ostracized, Carly elected to exclude everyone from attending her mother’s funeral, yet extended an invitation to Daniel who was in prison. Regrettably, Daniel failed to attend, leaving Carly seething with anger towards her father for his persistent absence at her mother’s funeral.

However, it became clear later on that Daniel had indeed been invited, though not until a week following the funeral service.

Because he couldn’t read himself, prison officers would set aside time to have his letters read aloud by an interpreter, but they would only do this once a month. It wasn’t until Daniel received Naomi’s funeral invitation that he found out about her passing. After expressing his anger towards the officer, he was placed in solitary confinement.

In a prison setting, there was no one who would actually sign for Daniel, instead, conversations were held around him. Thus, the experience of solitary confinement didn’t seem to make much difference in his situation.

Following his confession, Daniel gets a message from his former classmate Sean (Stephen Collins), who acknowledges that Daniel was correct on all accounts but expresses that he’s overwhelmed and can no longer handle the situation. Concerned for Sean’s well-being, Daniel informs Carly that they need to pay him an immediate visit to ensure he’s okay.

What was Stephen’s secret and does Christine find out about it?

Following a growing sense of unease towards ex-policeman Stephen (Eddie Marsan), probation officer Joe (Joe Sims) delves deeper into the original case documents related to Daniel, uncovering security camera footage from the initial police interrogation of Daniel.

It turns out that the police officer who manipulated Daniel into admitting to Ray’s murder was none other than Stephen himself.

By not allowing the interpreter to explain fully what Daniel was consenting to, Stephen effectively played a role in Daniel’s sentencing, as Daniel did not fully comprehend the implications of his agreement.

Despite contravening protocol, Joe handed over the file and footage to Christine because she was seeking explanations regarding why Daniel, her late husband and Daniel’s best friend, had murdered Ray.

Looking at the recordings herself, she’s predictably startled to discover that her recent partner was the police officer central to Daniel’s case, prompting her to arrange a meeting with Stephen to confront him. He admits that he didn’t make the connection about Ray until he eventually visited Christine’s house and spotted a photograph of them together.

In the context of the situation when the case arose, Stephen shared with Christine that both his marriage and career were facing difficulties, and he felt an intense pressure to bring the case to a successful conclusion.

Given Daniel was found with Ray’s blood on him, Stephen suspected Daniel was involved. However, as the deadline for Daniel’s custody approached due to the struggle in finding an interpreter, Stephen grew resentful towards anyone attempting to aid Daniel or propose a psychological evaluation for him.

Despite Stephen claiming his actions were for Ray’s sake, Christine remains skeptical and thinks Daniel required assistance instead, hinting at the need for the correct inquiries. Unable to find it in her heart to forgive Stephen, she decides to part ways with him.

At home, Christine hears Miri (Rose Ayling-Ellis) talk about Ray, and their shared sorrow over his passing leaves them both in tears.

Apart from resigning from his position as a probation officer, Joe remains uncertain about his choice, yet he wholeheartedly appreciates Anna’s commitment to assisting others. He strongly advises her to persist in her efforts.

Does Daniel manage to have a reunion with Monroe?

Upon reaching Sean’s residence, Daniel tragically discovers that Sean has taken his own life and written a letter intended for Mr. Monroe. As they await the arrival of the ambulance, Daniel feels a sense of self-blame.

He prevented Carly from reading Sean’s letter, instead telling her that Monroe had been their teacher. After long searches, Daniel and Carly finally found Monroe’s address, prompting them to pay him a visit. However, they decided it was best to leave before the ambulance arrived, sparing them from having to answer questions.

They travel to the rural areas, seemingly finding Monroe living in secluded solitude. After noticing his return home, Daniel approaches him to demand a clarification.

Despite the fact that Daniel is communicating with Monroe through sign language, Carly becomes puzzled since her father had mentioned that Monroe could sign as well. Yet, it swiftly becomes apparent that Monroe comprehends Daniel’s signs but deliberately decides not to respond or communicate back.

Daniel coerces Monroe indoors and Monroe requests to prepare some tea, but covertly phones the police. Growing weary of the delay, Daniel commands Monroe to take a seat and hands him a letter from Sean. Monroe refuses to look at it and, wanting him to read it, Daniel begins signing it, with Carly translating its contents aloud.

In a letter, Sean narrates his adventure to Hawthorne Park, where he found a sense of belonging at the deaf boarding school, describing it as if it were his home. He then shares his experience of being accepted, followed by his ordeal with Monroe, who warned him against befriending others and promised help instead. However, Monroe deceived and manipulated Sean, leading to daily sexual abuse at the hands of the headteacher.

Initially unacquainted with the contents, Carly is taken aback by the revelations and Sean’s account in the letter she subsequently read out loud. Upon completion of the reading, Monroe merely expresses his dismay over Sean’s demise as a “regrettable incident,” admitting that he remains uninformed about the details Sean conveyed in his letter. Daniel instructs Monroe to focus on him, but Monroe dismisses it all as preposterous and refuses to comply.

Why did Daniel kill Ray?

During a flashback to the evening when Ray passed away, we witness a heated dispute between Daniel and Ray taking place outside the pub. The disagreement ensued after Ray informed Daniel that he would be the next headmaster at Hawthorne Park.

Ray made an effort to prevent Daniel from locating Monroe, despite his own desire for Monroe’s demise. That very evening, Ray clarified to Daniel that their situations were somewhat distinct. He confided in Daniel that Monroe had manipulated him into becoming the head boy, which caused Ray to aid Monroe in targeting Sean, Daniel, and others.

Ray confessed to Daniel that he assisted Monroe primarily as a means of distancing him from Ray himself. He explained this was the sole method by which he felt secure. Despite Ray having devoted his life to aid others, he couldn’t evade that reality, thus they needed to maintain their past secretive between them.

As Daniel moved towards a hug, he was reminded of painful memories from his past and the mannerisms of Monroe during their embraces. In response, when Ray attempted to touch Daniel’s head, Daniel reflexively stabbed him with the hunting knife he held.

Daniel confessed to killing Ray, but claimed it was Monroe who caused his demise. Later, Monroe gazed at Daniel and indicated through sign language that he does recall him, implying that Daniel was mischievous and never took accountability. He then addressed Carly, stating emphatically that Daniel was the one responsible for Ray’s and Sean’s deaths.

In a candid exchange, Daniel shares his personal history, only to encounter hostility once more as Monroe orders them away. This action triggers Carly to grab a gun and attempt to fire at him, unfortunately hitting the wall behind him instead. The incident ultimately leads Monroe to apologize to Daniel out of concern for his own safety.

Carly informs Monroe that she intends to collaborate with her father to expose Monroe’s abuse to the public. However, Daniel cautions her, recalling his commitments to Ray. With a gun in hand, they depart from Monroe’s residence. Unbeknownst to him, armed police are now positioned behind him. As he smiles at Carly, Daniel remains oblivious to this development.

In a quick instant, with Daniel holding a gun and Carly having noticed approaching police officers who were giving instructions, she swiftly chose to rush towards Daniel for a hug, then turn him around to confront the police and disarm him, all in an attempt to protect him from potential danger.

In front of the officers, Daniel comprehends the kindness of Carly towards him and reciprocates with a warm embrace, while the police continue instructing them to stay put.

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2025-04-08 01:35