The Final Problem Ending Explained: In this Sherlock Holmes-inspired series (El problema final), we get a neat one-location murder mystery in the classic whodunit style: a retired actor, famed for portraying Sherlock Holmes on screen, finds himself donning the detective’s hat when several people end up dead on a small islet off the coast of Mallorca. With no way off the island, the 13 inhabitants must find a way to keep themselves safe and figure out who the killer is, leading to a very interesting story that will remind you of A Scandal in Bohemia at every turn.
For fans of Arthur Conan Doyle’s works, this one’s a thought-provoking and nostalgic watch that has a few obvious and a few surprising twists and turns.
The cast includes José Coronado, María Valverde, Martiño Rivas, Gonzalo de Castro, Pepón Nieto, Cristina Kovani, José Condessa, Daniel Holguín, Michael Stobbe, and Maribel Verdú, and it is directed by Félix Viscarret.
The Final Problem Ending Explained
Who Is the Killer in The Final Problem?
Throughout the runtime, The Final Problem provides a lot of red herrings that deter viewers from getting a complete rundown on who could be the killer. In the third episode, however, we finally see who was behind the murders, and the truth can leave anyone shocked. After much deliberation and clues initially pointing towards Francisco Foxá, we learn that Adela is the killer.
The revelation is truly stunning and confusing, as she has, thus far, been a close confidant of Basil’s and has assisted him in many ways. Thus, when we finally learn the truth, it gives birth to many questions about her motives, considering one of her victims was her close friend Elisa. Her motivations, however, are more complex than viewers could ever imagine.
Why Does Adela Commit the Crimes?
As it turns out, Basil lures Adela and gives her an entire rundown about his findings. As it turns out, Adela and Elisa had exchanged names when they arrived on the island to live lives that they can never imagine. However, Adela, or Elisa, was jealous of the prestige, power and money that the original Adela could afford with ease, while she had to struggle throughout her life to make ends meet. On top of that, Adela would look down on her for her lowly status, which left her feeling bitter.
Thus, after she killed Adela, the clues she left behind attracted Dr Seruya’s attention and she got rid of him to keep him quiet. However, the biggest revelation is that Elisa had created this entire ruse to get revenge against Sr. Klemmer, who had committed several atrocities against her husband during the Holocaust. When he got away with it afterwards, she swore to get revenge against him. Thus, she had planned this trip and the identity exchange to hopefully save herself after getting rid of Klemmer. Unfortunately, she got caught up in her own deceptions in the end.
Where Does Basil Fit Into These Crimes?
Throughout the runtime, we see Basil being dragged into the crimes as if he’s a part of it. As it turns out, Basil and Elisa share a past, wherein she met him years ago during a party. She was a young woman with big dreams of becoming an actress, and Basil had taken advantage of her and then left her behind. Humiliated and utterly heartbroken, when she found him on the island again years later, she decided to take matters into her own hands and use the opportunity to insult him. This revelation leaves Basil feeling guilty and, as a result of replaying his debt, he decides to keep quiet about her crimes and help her get a fresh start.
What Does the Ending Mean for Adela and Basil?
The ending of The Final Problem is poignant for the fact that her actions are rooted in deception that she has faced since she was young. People have used her and then left her behind without a second thought, and years of anger burst out in the worst ways. However, it also points to how clever and intuitive she is that she could deceive so many people for so many days. Of course, her actions were horrible, and two wrongs never make a right, but she, too, never received justice.
The ending, thus, showcases Adela, or Elisa, winning against Basil just as Irene Adler had won against Holmes in A Scandal in Bohemia.
The Final Problem is streaming on Netflix. Let us know your thoughts about the whodunit in the comments below!
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