Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen ending explained: Showrunner breaks down final twist

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**Warning: Major spoilers ahead for the finale episode of Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen.**

Netflix’s new horror movie immediately hinted that something terrible was going to occur, but did anyone predict that ending?

The upcoming series, from the creators of Stranger Things, centers on Rachel (Camila Morrone) and Nicky (Adam DiMarco) during the week before their wedding. As they prepare for their big day, increasingly bizarre events begin to disrupt their lives.

But a shocking discovery turns their world upside down, and their wedding quickly becomes a desperate fight for survival. Rachel begins to doubt everything she thought she knew about her partner and their future together.

Here’s a full explanation of how the show ended, including insights from the creator, Haley Z. Boston.

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen ending explained: What happened to Rachel?

Although Rachel first appears to die because of the curse – and learns that Nicky isn’t her true match – she is brought back to life and becomes The Witness.

In an interview with TopMob, the show’s creator, Boston, explained that it was crucial for Rachel to be a central part of the finale. He wanted to show that even after choosing someone, she still needed time to adjust and had another opportunity to decide about her future with Nicky.

Honestly, when she said no, I was relieved! I really couldn’t handle it if something bad had happened to her – it would have been way too depressing. But it all worked out, because becoming the new Witness felt like a fresh start for her, like she was reborn.

Honestly, watching her story felt so real. It’s about finally getting the chance to start over after a breakup, and that freedom is amazing. But it’s also tough, because you know leaving someone causes them pain, and it’s just a really bittersweet experience overall. It really resonated with how I felt when I went through something similar.

“But she’s triumphant at the end, and she chooses herself, and that was important to me.”

I was shocked to learn earlier this season that Rachel and her whole family are under this terrible curse! Apparently, whenever someone proposes, she either ends up marrying her true love… or she doesn’t survive. And it’s not just her – if she doesn’t go through with a wedding, the curse jumps to the family of whoever proposed. It’s a really scary situation for everyone involved, and I’m so worried about what will happen!

Okay, so Rachel spends most of the season seriously wondering if Nicky is the one. She goes back and forth, but in the end, she fully commits to him. In a pretty big moment, she actually decides against taking a potion that she thinks could magically make her his perfect match – she trusts their connection as it is. And, of course, she says ‘I do’ at the wedding! It was a really sweet, decisive moment for her character.

Nicky almost derailed everything when he unexpectedly left Rachel at the altar, determined to avoid a marriage like his parents’. He later realized he’d made a mistake after talking with his family, but Rachel felt he’d already hurt her enough and deserved another chance with someone else.

With time up, the curse moves to Nicky’s family. Surprisingly, it doesn’t just impact his descendants, but also all of his currently married relatives. Suddenly, numerous family members begin to collapse, bleeding from their eyes and nose, and die in the same gruesome way Rachel’s mother did.

Desperate to protect his family, Nicky completes the ceremony and says his vows, and The Witness signs the agreement, even though Rachel objects. Sadly, this doesn’t save anyone, and the curse now turns towards Rachel. Stepping out into the snow alone, she seems destined to suffer the same fate as her mother… but perhaps there’s still a chance.

The episode concludes with Rachel mysteriously brought back to life. She meets with Jude and reveals she’s now acting as The Witness, letting him know she’ll be at his wedding. Shortly after, she discovers a bloody note from The Witness that says, “You’re next.” Without hesitation, she gathers Jude’s things and drives off, leaving the Cunningham family behind.

Why didn’t Nicky die?

Nicky didn’t die because he still believes that Rachel is his soulmate.

Showrunner Boston explained that it’s understandable why Nicky still sees her as his soulmate. He’s a very romantic person, and at the end of the day, he’s simply trying to do what he believes is best.

Adam and I discussed his reasons for not wanting to marry her, and it genuinely seems like a decision that fits who he is. I really understand Nicky’s perspective and I hope viewers won’t see him as a completely negative character.

It’s understandable he’s confused and struggling to figure things out after his idea of love was broken. He genuinely always tries to do what’s best.

Originally, the story didn’t end the way it did. The writer considered several different outcomes, including killing off Nicky and saving Rachel from a fatal injury.

When developing the story’s mythology, my priority was always to focus on the characters’ emotions first, and then build the mythology around supporting those feelings.

Once the second wedding happened – with Nicky deceiving and marrying her – it became obvious to me that Rachel needed to undergo a major transformation, essentially dying and starting over.

DiMarco, who portrays Nicky, shared that the ending of the show deeply affected him. He found it difficult but enjoyable to act out a character who makes a sudden decision right at the very end, and he admitted he didn’t anticipate that particular plot twist.

Discovering the truth about his parents’ relationship and his mother’s affair completely changes his perspective on life and love. He’d built his entire idea of romance on a false foundation, which leads him to question everything he thought he knew.

Rachel always questioned why marriage or relationships even needed defining. She wanted to move beyond labels, and by the end of the show, it seemed like Ross had come around to her way of thinking – they’d essentially switched perspectives.

Why didn’t Jules and Nell die?

Despite constantly fighting and nearly getting divorced, Jules and Nell survive because they are, surprisingly, soulmates.

Watching Jules’s little boy, Jude, Nell suddenly blurted out, “Why aren’t you going through this?” It was a clumsy question, and the look on Jules’s face – he didn’t even need to say anything – made it hit me. It wasn’t about him because… well, because we were meant to be together. He was my soulmate, and that’s why he was spared the pain I was feeling.

Boston described how they developed the ending, explaining that the writers’ room had a very open discussion about how to best and most satisfyingly conclude the characters’ storylines.

I considered having Victoria and Boris as the main characters instead of Jules and Nell, but it felt too predictable. Once I decided on Jules and Nell, the story became much more compelling, and I revised their parts to make the ending feel more natural and deserved.

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Authors

Louise GriffinSci-Fi and Fantasy Editor

Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, where she writes about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro, and she holds a degree in English Literature.

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2026-03-26 19:39