Dead to Me season 3 ending explained: How does the series end? (spoilers)

It’s been a long time coming, but the third and final season of Dead to Me has arrived on Netflix. The end of the series will definitely be bittersweet for most viewers, because as excited as we are to finally have Dead to Me season 3, we’ll also be super sad to say goodbye.

The final episodes bring Jen (Christina Applegate) and Judy’s (Linda Cardellini) rollercoaster ride of a journey to a conclusion with some surprises along the way. And we’re talking huge, you-didn’t-see-that-coming surprises.

From the opening scene in the hospital to the final scene that will leave you wanting more, we’re breaking down how the Emmy-nominated, fan-favorite series comes to end. How does Dead to Me season 3, and the complete series as a whole, wrap everything up?

Warning: Spoilers ahead from Dead to Me season 3!

Dead to Me ending explained

If you’re looking for more clarity about the ending of Dead to Me, or if you’re searching for spoilers while watching (no judgment here), we’re diving into all of the questions and answers from the series finale. Here’s your final spoiler warning!

Do Jen and Judy get away with it in Dead to Me?

Yes! It was touch-and-go for a while there, but Jen and Judy do end up getting away with murder in Dead to Me season 3. They worried when the FBI got involved with Steve’s murder investigation, due to his proximity to the Greek syndicate and money laundering.

Jen and Judy each try their hand at appeasing Agent Glenn Moranis (Garret Dillahunt) and getting him off their trail. While Judy attempts to pin it all on the Greeks, Jen “confesses” to Moranis that she slept with Steve, resulting in her pregnancy, to explain her DNA on his body.

Beyond Moranis, Jen and Judy also had to deal with Nick, who inched closer and closer to the truth thanks to the discovery of the wooden bird as the supposed murder weapon. (Steve’s cause of death was later revealed to be drowning.) But we can thank Perez for keeping Nick at bay.

In the end, Moranis winds up dead in his hotel room, whether from poisoned scones from Jen or at the hands of the Greek syndicate (or both?). But the authorities believe the Greeks to be the culprit for both the deaths of Moranis and Steve, officially absolving Jen and Judy as persons of interest.

Does Judy die in Dead to Me season 3?

As a result of the hit-and-run car accident in the season 2 finale, tests run on Jen and Judy at the hospital in the season 3 premiere bring shocking revelations. Although Jen momentarily believes the doctor has given her a cancer diagnosis, she realizes she’s lying in Judy’s hospital bed and the diagnosis was meant for her best friend.

Judy discovers she has stage 4 ovarian cancer that has spread to her liver. She undergoes chemotherapy treatment, and even though she’s feeling well and in good spirits, the doctor informs her the chemo didn’t treat the cancer. Jen insists on getting Judy into a trial, but Judy would rather enjoy the time she has left.

In the series finale, Jen and Judy finally get the vacation in Mexico they had been craving, but it’s a bittersweet getaway. The pair must find closure in parting ways for good, as much it breaks their heart. On the last day, Jen wakes up without Judy by her side, and it’s then that she knows her best friend has spared her from watching the end of her life.

Do Charlie and Henry learn the truth about their dad’s death in Dead to Me?

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), Charlie and Henry never find out the truth about what happened to their father. However, there’s a close call with Charlie, when he discovers Judy and Ted had some sort of connection he didn’t previously know about.

Jen and Judy quickly fabricate a story that Judy and Ted had an affair. Because Charlie has a hard enough time metabolizing that information, they keep the truth from him as long as possible. Judy has a brief crisis of conscience where she considers telling him that she’s responsible for his father’s death, but she continues to protect him from what would hurt him even more.

Does Ben find out who killed Steve in Dead to Me season 3?

One of the biggest questions of the final season revolved around Ben’s knowledge of his brother’s death. Jen and Judy actively withhold information about their involvement of Steve’s death because they see how hard the death has been hitting Ben.

Lying to Ben doesn’t make it right, and it’s not admirable of Jen and Judy to spare Ben’s feelings while carrying the guilt of what they did — especially after Ben stepped up and admitted to hitting them with his car. But maybe they realize telling the truth won’t do anyone any good.

After Judy’s death and the birth of her daughter, Joey, Jen experiences a new sense of clarity. As much as she enjoys her calm life with Ben and her children, she realizes that she can’t fully enjoy it while keeping this massive secret from Ben. In the final scene, Jen sits down with Ben and prepares to share what really happened to Steve, and we can assume she does.

What did you think of Dead to Me season 3’s ending? Did you like how the series ended? Share your thoughts in the comments, and watch all three seasons only on Netflix!