After nine episodes of simmering suspense, the climactic confrontation with El Coco finally erupts in the gripping finale of "The Outsider." The episode meticulously divides into two distinct halves, painting a taut standoff in a parking lot where Ralph and Holly boldly confront the enigmatic El Coco. The subsequent half artfully ties up loose ends, yet, adhering to Stephen King's penchant for ambiguity, the conclusion leaves a subtle yet unsatisfying aftertaste, punctuated by an intriguing mid-credits sequence.
The season's crescendo revisits the harrowing aftermath of Jack's assault, pinning his victims behind vehicles as Howard and his companions race to the scene. A treacherous rattlesnake's stealthy approach momentarily diverts Jack's attention, only for him to resume his deadly rampage, fatally shooting Claude's brother and wounding Yunis. Howard and Claude, dodging bullets, frantically drag Yunis to safety.
Meanwhile, Andy narrowly escapes to his car, only to have Jack's sights set on him. But the true target soon shifts to the gasoline canister, as Jack orchestrates a fiery trap. As petrol gushes forth, Jack's pinpoint precision ignites the inferno, just as Howard lunges to save Andy. The ensuing explosion rocks the air, propelling Howard backward in a blaze of flames, painting a devastating scene for Holly to witness.
Horrified by the carnage, Holly fixes her gaze on Jack, hurling curses his way. Just as she utters her damning invocation, the rattlesnake strikes, eliciting Jack's anguished screams. Within the cave, El Coco roars, echoing Jack's torment. Jack, reeling from the trees, ends his life with a bullet to the face, as Holly and Ralph descend into the depths of the caves.
Traversing the labyrinthine passages, Ralph and Holly stumble upon names etched into stone, foreboding whispers echoing from afar, guiding them forward. This cryptic voice ultimately leads them to a confrontation with El Coco, still manifested in Claude's form, where the true nature of their adversary will be unveiled.
Holly bombarded it with myriad inquiries, delving into its feeding habits and hunting tactics, only to be met with a chilling revelation: that children held the sweetest of flavors in its twisted perception. As the trio confronted each other in the dim light, the genuine Claude emerged from the shadows, shotgun primed and aimed straight at El Coco. With a deafening blast, the cavernous space trembled, threatening to crumble under the force, sending Holly and Ralph scrambling for shelter. Mercifully, the entire edifice held, but the aftermath of tumbling rocks trapped Claude's foot, while El Coco met its demise, skewered through the chest.
As Holly hastened Claude to safety outside the caves, Ralph's mind was haunted by specters from his past, compelling him to return and confront the seemingly lifeless form of El Coco. Recognizing its resilience, Ralph drove a knife through its hand, steel-willed in his determination to eradicate this supernatural abomination. Grasping a boulder, he bore witness as El Coco's visage twisted and transformed, mutating into a grotesque parade of forms. With a final, decisive strike, Ralph let the rock fall, crushing its face and bidding farewell to the entity, convinced he had vanquished it forever.
Realizing the importance of unity in their narrative, Ralph and his companions concocted a plan, casting the blame of past murders solely upon Jack's shoulders, ensuring that El Coco's name would remain unspoken. Jeannie, too, joined in this conspiracy, visiting Glory with the same message, imploring her to keep silent about El Coco before setting ablaze the incriminating evidence, the flames of the burning chair illuminating her resolute face.
Amidst this deluge of fresh evidence, Terry's name is finally cleared from the murderous accusations, while Holly bids a poignant farewell to Ralph. As our protagonists come to terms with the turn of events, the episode gracefully concludes with them embarking on new horizons, their hearts prepared for the subsequent chapters of their lives. In the serene embrace of the graveyard, Ralph and Jeannie share a heart-to-heart, bidding adieu to their beloved son and pledging their undying bond, forever echoing El Coco's admonishment to let go and move forward.
Nestled within the mid-credit sequence, fleeting glimpses tantalize viewers with the possibility that El Coco might still be alive and thriving, casting a shadow of intrigue over the narrative's conclusion and hinting at the dawn of a potential second season. Personally, the ambiguity of this scene resonates deeply, the phrase "An outsider knows an outsider" resonating with a profound weight, all the more so for its enigmatic nature.
The Outsider's finale is bound to evoke mixed emotions, particularly given its swift resolution of El Coco's arc amidst the protracted closure accorded to each character's journey in the third act. This HBO adaptation has traversed a tumultuous path, marred by a deliberately sluggish pace and episodes that stretched the narrative's fabric beyond necessity. As previously observed, The Outsider would have flourished as a concise six-episode miniseries, boasting tighter pacing and a more focused narrative thrust. For those unaccustomed to the gradual unraveling, the patience demanded by this finale might seem to fall flat, yet the series has admirably sustained a captivating narrative thread throughout its journey.
While it may not boast the most triumphant of finales, The Outsider nonetheless offers a satisfying ride, its ambiguous conclusion solidifying its status as a faithful Stephen King adaptation, albeit one that took its time to arrive at this destination.
