Wow, “The Beauty” really grabs you from the start – it opens with this shocking, explosive scene involving a model, and honestly, the whole film kind of ends with that same kind of impact. It’s a movie that bookends itself with really intense moments.
What did you expect, though? This is a Ryan Murphy show, after all – and the story is already pretty out there!
If you’re just joining us, “The Beauty” is based on a comic book by the same name that launched in January. Created by Murphy and Matthew Hodgson, the story comes from Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley and centers around a sexually transmitted virus called “The Beauty.” This virus makes people physically perfect, but with a deadly catch – it ultimately leads to death.
FBI agents Cooper Madsen and Jordan Bennett have been working hard to contain a dangerous virus. Both agents contracted the virus, but with a strange side effect for Cooper – he was unexpectedly turned into a much younger man, which complicated things even further.
By the second-to-last episode, Byron Forst (Ashton Kutcher) had launched The Beauty to the public, selling it through his company without considering the consequences. Things quickly go wrong, though the truly terrible effects of the treatment aren’t fully shown until the very last episode.
The Beauty ending explained: What happens to Cooper Madsen?
The episode’s climax starts with Byron’s estranged sons dancing with their mother, set to Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” But it quickly turns dark when the sons forcibly inject Franny (Isabella Rossellini) with the serum.
They told Byron they had a surprise planned to help them bond as a family. Franny had grown into a stunning young woman, reminiscent of Isabella Rossellini, who was already considered incredibly beautiful. She looked even more striking wearing a beaded top very similar to the iconic one Rossellini wore in the ’90s film, Death Becomes Her.
This one’s for the gays, and we’re not mad about it.
Franny is understandably upset because her children made significant changes to her appearance without her permission.
“I feel like a prisoner trapped inside a body that is not mine.”
For a refreshing change, Franny beautifully explains how she’s been stripped of things that tell her story – her scars, stretch marks, and even the natural signs of aging. This is the core message the show should be delivering, and it finally feels genuine.
Byron attempts to comfort Franny, telling her how deeply he’s always loved her, but she dismisses his efforts. Frankly, she’s always seen him as naive.
Franny starts smashing up antiques to make the point that “their beauty comes from their age”.
She continued, saying she felt like a masterpiece, and that something he never understood was that some people are already perfect as they are.
Franny, longing to reconnect with her former self before Byron came into her life, impulsively uses a piece of broken glass to end her own life.
The story brings back Bella, a teenager we saw before, now at a resort. She meets an attractive boy, and both of them appear a little shy around each other.
Bella was surprised to hear him say that. She learned he hadn’t always been comfortable talking to girls, as he used to weigh 345 pounds and had a habit of overeating – he was addicted to food.
He hadn’t found relief until he discovered The Beauty. He says it was the simplest decision he’d ever made, and now he’s passionate about helping others experience the same positive change.
Bella won’t be receiving an injection though. Not in the traditional sense.
The boy explains that the ‘Beauty’ can be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids. Bella admits she’s never been intimate with anyone, which makes her anxious, but she’s done things she regrets in the past to earn money and feels she must finish what she started.
The boy explained he gave The Beauty an extra shot to make sure she received the maximum effect of the treatment.
“Whatever small chance there is of something bad happening, it’s worth it to me,” says Bella.
That’s when you realize something terrible is about to occur. After fulfilling her obligation and experiencing a disturbing encounter, Bella returns home to a harsh reception from her mother. She disregards it and rushes to her room, suddenly drenched in sweat. Seizures start to overcome her, but she smiles, believing the outcome will justify everything.
The next day at 12:43 PM, Bella’s mother came home to find Bella skipping school. However, Bella wasn’t faking illness – she truly needed help. In fact, she should have called 911, because when her mother arrived, the house was covered in blood and a strange slime.
Yes, you read that right. Slime.
Okay, so here’s the deal with ‘The Beauty’ – it’s pretty gruesome. When someone gets infected, they basically seize up, then get wrapped in this… well, imagine a pulsating, gooey cocoon. It’s where the virus does its thing, remixing their DNA into something…else. It’s not a pretty sight, let me tell you.
Not this time.
Bella’s mother tracked the slime to her daughter’s closet and discovered Bella hidden inside – or, more accurately, what was left of her.
Over the past few weeks, people have been drawing comparisons between The Beauty and the film The Substance, and that connection is especially striking when you look at the disturbing creature featured in this movie.
Bella has been horrifically transformed, now covered in wounds and strange openings, constantly crying and screaming. She’s become almost like the monstrous Substance, likely due to the extra dose she received disrupting the transformation process.
She’s not the only one suffering from hideous side effects though.
The scene shifts to a meeting where Byron learns the vaccine has been successful in 83% of the 6 million people who’ve received it. However, there have been 450,000 reported cases of mutations, including a rare condition called “cranial breast fusion.” It seems the variant spread through sexual contact is causing the most severe problems.
Byron’s company is facing serious trouble. They’re dealing with numerous lawsuits and investigations by federal agencies, and things have gotten so bad that even the President has withdrawn his support – especially after the Secretary of Defense was mysteriously turned into a child.
The FDA is withdrawing its approval of the drug and will soon prohibit its use. However, Byron is taking action even faster – he already supports this decision and is planning to close the clinics administering it. Free booster shots will continue to be available for those who are currently infected, and he intends to provide financial compensation to anyone who experienced negative side effects.
Byron’s son shows up, furious that Byron plans to donate all their earnings. Byron hasn’t been a particularly good father, and he’s changed drastically since his wife’s passing.
This isn’t about appearances, it’s about making real, lasting change and correcting our mistakes,” Byron explains. “We’ll fully support those impacted and reorganize the company to prioritize developing solutions and cures. We need to repair the damage we’ve caused, and I desperately hope to reconnect with my wife—in any way she desires—because she’s always been the only person who truly understands me and helps me see things clearly.
Franny is currently doing well after receiving excellent care from surgeons Byron located. There’s also a possibility Rossellini will return for another season, as they’re trying to recreate the success of ‘The Beauty’.
The story revisits agents Madsen and Bennett, along with Antonio and Jeremy, who have now broken ties with Byron.
The group encounters Byron’s son and a colleague, and they begin plotting a coup to overthrow Byron. The son insists he’s created a remedy that could save the world, but it’s unclear if he’s telling the truth. Madsen isn’t concerned with the truth either way; he’s overwhelmingly focused on regaining his adult form and is willing to try even an unproven cure to achieve it.
“Don’t do this for me or anyone else,” says Bennett. “I’ll always love you, no matter what.”
Once the cure is injected, dark veins appear on Madsen’s face and he starts to scream.
Okay, so the show jumps forward and we see him undergoing this incredible transformation inside a cocoon. A hand emerges, then Madsen himself… but it’s all very unsettling. The big question is: did the process actually work? Is he truly restored to his former self, or has this experiment turned him into something monstrous, just like what happened to Bella? It leaves you genuinely on the edge of your seat, wondering what they’ve created.
It’s unclear what Murphy and Hodgson witness, as the episode ends right when everyone is shocked by the new version of Madsen. The show doesn’t reveal their perspective, leaving the possibility for further exploration in a potential next season.
The Beauty is available to watch on Disney+.
Authors
David Opie is a freelance writer covering TV and film for various online publications like TopMob, Indiewire, and Empire. He’s a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, often speaking on panels about it and working to promote queer stories. Beyond that, he loves comics, animation, and horror – and he’s hoping to see a Buffy the Vampire Slayerthemed musical challenge on RuPaul’s Drag Race*! Before becoming a full-time freelancer, David worked as a Deputy TV Editor at Digital Spy and holds a degree in Psychology.
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2026-03-05 13:36