Netflix’s Unchosen ending abandons a strong premise for something blander

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**Warning: This article contains spoilers for Unchosen.**

The Netflix series Unchosen concludes with a violent outburst within the secluded cult, ultimately leading to its takeover by an even more merciless leader.

I’ve been completely hooked on this show, and what’s really captivated me is watching Rosie and Adam try to figure out their feelings for Sam. He’s such a mysterious character, and it’s fascinating to see how their relationship is being tested by him. It’s a really complex dynamic!

Sam first seemed like a hero when he saved his daughter from a dangerous situation. However, he later revealed he’s a fugitive, though he didn’t explain the reasons why he’s wanted by the law.

We eventually discover he’s a ruthless killer, and his intelligence allows him to easily manipulate the cult’s devoted and obedient members.

As a massive storm rages, Rosie and Adam make a desperate escape from the group’s headquarters. They discovered that Sam had threatened their daughter, Grace, and are determined to get her to safety.

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The rain started pouring down as they ran into Sam, who was falling apart. He was enraged to discover Rosie had her bags packed, because he’d convinced himself they were meant to be together.

The following conflict is definitely the weakest part of Unchosen, which is especially frustrating because it’s meant to be the most exciting part of the story.

It’s easy to lose sight of the dangerous environment – a strict, isolated cult – when Sam almost drowns Rosie in a large tank at the sawmill.

So, the writer of Unchosen, Julie Gearey, wants us to know Sam isn’t technically a full-blown psychopath. But honestly? If someone was actively trying to drown me while losing their mind, I’d be pretty hard-pressed to diagnose them calmly. Let’s just say my empathy might be a little… limited in that situation.

Regardless of Gearey’s intentions, Sam comes across as completely unstable in these upsetting scenes. Instead of showing his usual cunning and manipulation, he simply acts with raw brutality.

Honestly, the first storyline was way more captivating to me. It really hit home when you consider how cults work – how they slowly chip away at people’s ability to think for themselves, making them incredibly susceptible to someone like Sam, who’s both charming and brilliant. It just felt so much more unsettling and real.

This scary movie scene feels like a quick and simple solution, especially compared to the story’s earlier, more thoughtful pace.

Thankfully, whether motivated by his real feelings for Rosie, a sincere change of heart, or a combination of both, Sam chooses to spare her life. He allows her to breathe, and she quickly escapes with Grace.

The story concludes with them at the house of Mrs. Phillips (Siobhan Finneran), where she now lives with the son she had previously been compelled to reject.

Before we get there, though, Sam and Adam have their final confrontation.

Adam points the gun Mr. Phillips (Christopher Eccleston) left behind at Sam, who is now calm after his recent violent outburst.

Sam shocks Adam by giving him the phone containing the recording of their intimate moment, exposing a secret Adam has desperately tried to hide due to his strong religious beliefs.

“I only had to play you, Adam,” Sam said, watching as Adam fell to his knees, stunned and horrified. “That’s just the kind of person you are.”

It’s good to see the manipulative Sam back, though his reappearance feels abrupt. However, it’s disappointing that Adam receives a more meaningful and emotional conclusion, while Rosie is left in a humiliating and desperate situation.

Violence against women and girls is a serious problem, and the way this story ends reflects that harsh reality.

Honestly, this scene just felt way too intense for the story they were telling. I loved how the show started by focusing on the subtler ways cults manipulate people – things like control and abuse that aren’t always obvious. But this sudden burst of extreme violence felt out of place and didn’t really fit with the more nuanced issues they’d been exploring.

The concept is quickly abandoned in a scene that feels more suited to a rural soap opera than a secluded religious setting.

At least, Gearey circles back to the story’s starting point in the final scene, revisiting the worship hall a year after the difficult events that unfolded.

Now that former leader Mr. Phillips is in jail—wrongfully accused of causing a fatal car accident—and potential replacement Adam has been silenced by damaging video, it turns out Sam has taken over as the new leader of the group.

He’s definitely good with people, which makes it even stranger that Rosie and Mrs. Phillips haven’t contacted the police about where Sam is, especially now that they know he’s a dangerous fugitive.

Wouldn’t they still want to help the friends and family they left behind, even if those people have rejected them for leaving? And what about Mr. Phillips – didn’t identifying Sam to the police likely protect himself?

Did Adam leave too, or is he now trapped alone, like he once left his brother? It would be fitting if he were, considering his own terrible actions – though we simply don’t have the answer.

The loose ends in the story make the ending feel rushed and unfinished. Unless the show plans to continue for a long time with a very dark and bleak tone, like “The Handmaid’s Tale”, we might be in for many more depressing seasons.

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Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about television and streaming dramas and comedies for TopMob. Before that, he worked at Starburst Magazine, hosted the podcast ‘The Winter King’ for ITVX, and earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-04-23 20:06