Gone ending explained: ITV thriller teases Mare of Easttown twist before revealing real killer

by

**Warning: contains full spoilers for ITV’s Gone and Sky’s Mare of Easttown.**

About halfway through the last episode of the ITV thriller ‘Gone,’ it becomes clear that Michael Polly wasn’t responsible for his wife Sarah’s death.

The headmaster was overwhelmed by the constant demands of leading the school, which took a toll on everyone involved. Meanwhile, the music teacher reached out to Stephen Sedgwick, father of the school’s best rugby player, Dylan.

Sarah wasn’t just seeking comfort; she desperately wanted to feel acknowledged, as her husband had completely shut her out. More than anything, she needed to know she still mattered and wasn’t invisible in her own life.

At the police station, Michael confessed to Alana that he hadn’t been supportive when his mother needed him to acknowledge problems and embrace change. He expressed regret for not being there for her during that difficult time.

She eventually gave up, and stopped speaking. I watched my wife, understanding what was happening, but I didn’t intervene – I simply allowed it to unfold.

But with Michael firmly out of the frame for Sarah’s murder, who would end the series in handcuffs?

For a full breakdown of who killed Sarah and why, read on.

Gone ending explained: Who killed Sarah Polly?

“If you didn’t do it, you must have some idea who would want to hurt Mum this badly,” Alana insisted. The question suddenly sparked a thought in Detective Sergeant Annie Cassidy’s mind.

“Dylan,” she said, as Gone looked to be replicating Mare of Easttown’s shocking twist.

The HBO crime drama created by Brad Ingelsby and starring Kate Winslet as a detective centers around the murder of a young mother in a small town. The investigation ultimately reveals a 13-year-old boy as the killer.

His father was having an affair with the woman who was killed. He went to confront her, hoping to end the affair to save his parents’ marriage, but things escalated into a physical fight, and he accidentally shot and killed her.

Although it seemed like Gone might be heading that way – Dylan definitely had a motive to dislike Sarah, and he’d been acting more and more erratically recently – he wasn’t the one responsible.

It was Rory Bowman, the deputy head of St Bartholomew’s, who murdered Sarah.

After Annie visited Rory at his home to discuss Dylan – specifically, his altered behavior and increasing anger – she realized the keys discovered near where Sarah was murdered were his. She then entered the house after Rory left for school, thinking Annie was still driving behind him.

She started looking around his property for clues, and just then he came back. He’d forgotten the trophy he intended to give out after the rugby game.

Just when things seemed dire for the detective, she cleverly started a conversation with Rory. By playing into his conviction that everything was a terrible accident, she skillfully got him to confess.

Rory truly cared about Sarah. They’d been friends for years, and he cherished old photos of them together – along with pictures of Michael and their colleagues from happier times – carefully placing them in his photo albums.

Sarah also spoke up for Rory, suggesting he be allowed to return to school after a staff member reported his inappropriate behavior towards her. There were also indications that others had felt uncomfortable with his actions.

Rory didn’t see his actions as inappropriate – he simply thought he was pursuing someone he was interested in. “I’m single,” he explained, “and if I’m attracted to someone, shouldn’t I at least try to let them know? How else are people supposed to show their feelings?”

And Sarah, his dear friend Sarah, who he cared for so deeply, was in his corner.

Rory was devastated to learn about Sarah’s affair with Stephen, and his world began to fall apart. He insisted she end the relationship, and made her send a message breaking up with Stephen. Rory pointed out that Sarah was married and needed to consider the harm her actions could cause to the school’s reputation.

Think about the children, Sarah!

Rory was primarily focused on that issue, much more than on the fact he’d tried to flirt with her years before and she hadn’t reciprocated.

It’s clear they could have been together if she hadn’t been married to Michael, but because she was, their relationship didn’t work out.

“That’s the tragedy.”

It wasn’t about Rory being present – he always was. Sarah simply chose to focus on other options instead.

When he found out Sarah was still in contact with Stephen and had been dishonest about it, he challenged her. He again insisted she end the relationship, claiming it was for the good of the school, but she just continued to yell, repeatedly and loudly.

Was Sarah just telling him to stay out of her personal life? Or was she pointing out that he was only interested in her affair because she hadn’t confided in him when her marriage with Michael was falling apart? Was she making it clear that she didn’t see him as anything more than a friend – and never would?

He continued, tears streaming down his face, “I just needed her to stop yelling.” He paused, taking a moment to regain his composure.

I would never do something like that, truly. It’s not in my nature at all.

Of course, of course.

Add TopMob as a Preferred Source on Google
Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from TopMob – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google.

No matter what Rory claimed he didn’t want, or what he believed about himself, he ultimately killed Sarah. He strangled her, and despite likely denying it forever, he did it because his sense of manhood had crumbled. This triggered an intense, violent jealousy, and ironically, the attention then shifted to Michael, Stephen, and Dylan.

Rory Bowman, the man that you are.

That case’s outcome seemed to be the final straw for Annie, helping her end things with Craig, who had been gradually trying to reconnect with her. She always recognized getting back involved with him was harmful, but it proved difficult to actually resist.

She did exactly that as soon as he gave her the file on the Tina Bradley case. There haven’t been any updates, but Annie won’t give up until she finds out what happened to her friend.

Season 2, anyone?

Gone premiered on Sunday 8 March on ITV1 and ITVX. All episodes are available to stream now on ITVX

Don’t forget to add Gone to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app! Download it now to get daily TV recommendations, exclusive features, and stay up-to-date on everything happening in TV.

Authors

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

As someone who loves a good show, I’ve been following Abby Robinson’s work for a while now. She’s the Drama Editor at TopMob, which means she’s constantly writing about all the latest TV dramas and comedies – perfect! Before that, she was a TV writer at Digital Spy and even wrote content for Mumsnet. She clearly knows her stuff, and it shows in her writing. She also has a strong academic background, with a degree and a postgraduate diploma in English Studies.

Read More

2026-03-12 19:37