The ITV political thriller The Party concluded on Monday evening (October 19), but viewers were left dissatisfied with the finale. The five-episode series, based on Elizabeth Day's best-selling novel and adapted for television by Sarah Solemani, who also stars, follows Martin Gilmour, played by Luke Evans, a working-class student who earns a scholarship to an exclusive boarding school.
There, he forms a lifelong and dramatic friendship with the affluent Ben Fitzmaurice, portrayed by Tom Cullen. The narrative shifts between the party proceedings, a police inquiry, and flashbacks to the duo's formative years. It emerges that the pair were involved in a car accident during their teenage years, which claimed the life of Ben's twin sister.
Finale twist and aftermath
While Ben was driving three times the legal limit, Martin accepted responsibility after being pressured by Ben's father, Lord George Fitzmaurice (Douglas Hodge), resulting in a substantial annual payment. Decades later, now married, Martin attends Ben's extravagant birthday celebration as Ben contemplates a bid for the Conservative leadership and worries that media scrutiny might uncover secrets from their past.
In the concluding episode, Martin drew a weapon on Ben, accusing him of destroying his childhood and leaving him damaged in adulthood. Ben managed to calm his friend and removed the gun, though after confessing he had always loved him, he turned the weapon on himself. Serena (Lydia Leonard), Ben's wife, heard the shot and discovered Martin holding the firearm, which he had grabbed from Ben as he collapsed. She assumed Martin had shot her husband and informed the authorities.
Viewers criticise the ending
Ben survived, and Martin was taken into custody before being freed by police. Nevertheless, a detective remained determined to pursue a deeper investigation into the historic car accident. Martin recognised it was time to distance himself from the Fitzmaurice family and, following a hospital visit for Ben, he left and began confronting life with renewed determination.
In the final scene, Martin walks through the park and notices a male couple with their newborn infant, a smile crossing his face, as if he'd caught a vision of the contentment that might one day be within his reach. Despite the finale being packed with unexpected developments, audiences questioned the "abrupt" conclusion and criticised the drama for leaving the storyline "incomplete".
Social media backlash
On X, one frustrated viewer posted: "Is that it? What a waste of my time... #TheParty", while another concurred: "What a waste of 5 nights #theparty." A third questioned: "#theparty is that it?", while another added: "What a **** ending. So many unanswered questions and loose ends #TheParty."
"#TheParty the night went on for weeks and now it's getting wrapped up quicker than Poirot says no no mon ami!", joked another. The Party is available to stream on ITVX.
