The Night Manager season 2 finale has left viewers reeling after a brutal conclusion that sees Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) facing devastating consequences. The episode, which aired on BBC One, ends with Pine in a dark place after his nemesis Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie) returns to power in the cruelest fashion.
Screenwriter David Farr explained that Pine's downfall stems from his own flaw: 'You can call it arrogance, ambition, brilliance, but it is his flaw – and it can cause scorched earth.' The finale sees the death of Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva), a villain-turned-antihero who had formed a deep bond with Pine. Roper kills Teddy in a Colombian forest after learning of his betrayal.
Director Georgi Banks-Davies noted that Teddy finds peace in his final moments: 'He understands who he is, what he's done, and he's ready for whatever the consequence of that is.' Farr added that Teddy dies 'a freer person than he was when he was alive.'
The episode also explores a surprising romantic tension between Pine and Teddy, which Farr says was intentional: 'The story necessitates a shift... Suddenly, what Pine needs from him is very operational and also very emotional.' The homoerotic undertones are in keeping with the works of John le Carré, who Farr describes as having 'a very strong tradition of homoeroticism.'
Farr and Banks-Davies have hinted at what's to come in a potential season 3, though details remain under wraps. The finale sets up a new chapter for Pine, who must now grapple with the aftermath of his failed mission.
