The explosive first season of The Abandons has concluded with a finale that leaves one central mystery burning. After seven episodes of escalating tension in the 1850s frontier town of Angel’s Ridge, the long-simmering conflict between matriarchs Fiona Nolan and Constance Van Ness erupted into a literal blaze. The final, dramatic shot of the season shows a solitary figure emerging from the fiery ruins of the Van Ness mansion, but the identity of that survivor is a secret the show refuses to reveal. This climax is the direct result of a horrific crime, a buried body, and a mother’s desperate quest for vengeance that reshapes the destiny of both families forever.
The Buried Crime That Started a War
The entire season, and the fiery finale, stems from a single, brutal event in the premiere episode. Constance Van Ness’s son, Willem, attacked Fiona Nolan’s daughter, Dahlia. In the violent aftermath, Dahlia fought back, stabbing Willem with a pitchfork. Fiona then made a fateful decision: she ended Willem’s life herself. To protect Dahlia from bearing the guilt and to shield their family from Constance’s wrath, Fiona and her allies buried Willem’s body. They staged a cover-up, using a different corpse to make it appear Willem had been killed by wolves.
For most of the season, this secret held. The tension grew from Fiona living with this lie while Constance, consumed by grief and suspicion, relentlessly pressured her. The fragile peace between the wealthy Van Ness family and the community of outcasts in Jasper Hollow was built on this hidden truth. Executive producer Chris Keyser described the core dynamic, stating that both women are driven by the same goal: to protect their families. However, their methods and resources place them in stark opposition.
The Final Confrontation and a Plan for Revenge
The secret finally unraveled in the finale when Constance’s other son, Garrett, accidentally discovered Willem’s true burial site. Once Constance learned the truth, her grief twisted into a violent rage. She had Dahlia kidnapped and tortured, slashing her face and stabbing her leg, intending to make Fiona watch her daughter suffer.
Fiona, however, did not come unprepared. Her surrender at the Van Ness estate was a diversion. While she confronted Constance, her family and allies from Jasper Hollow launched a coordinated attack. In a decisive act, Fiona’s son, Elias, drove a wagon loaded with burning barrels into the heart of the Van Ness mansion, setting the entire structure ablaze. The physical symbol of Constance’s power and privilege was quickly consumed by flames, her private militia defeated around her.
“They both want to do the same thing. They want to protect their families, both economically and from a security point of view, [and] keep them safe and fed. Obviously, they have different resources and different positions in the world, but the way they approach the world is so clearly starkly contrasting in a fascinating way.”
With her empire collapsing, Constance retreated into the burning house. Fiona, determined to end the feud, followed her inside.
The Fight in the Flames and the Ultimate Cliffhanger
Inside the smoke-filled attic, the two matriarchs faced off in a brutal, hand-to-hand fight. They used whatever was around them as weapons, including a table leg. The actresses, Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson, performed much of the intense fight sequence themselves.
As the fire raged, the fight overwhelmed them both. The last clear view shows Constance lying on the ground, choking on smoke, while Fiona’s fate is unseen. Then, as those who launched the attack watch from outside, a single figure stumbles down the grand staircase and emerges from the front door into the night.
The show intentionally obscures who this is. The silhouette has long hair and wears a long dress or coat, details that fit both characters. The creative team has stated this cliffhanger was always the planned ending for the season, and they have not yet decided which woman survived, leaving the future of the story open.
The Fates of the Other Characters
While the fate of the two leads is unknown, the finale resolved several other storylines. The attack on the mansion was deadly for Constance’s enforcers, with several key henchmen killed. However, the romance between Trisha Van Ness and Elias Teller seems shattered. Trisha was devastated to learn Elias helped cover up her brother’s murder. When confronted, Elias told her, “I love you, but I’d do it again,” leaving their future deeply uncertain.
Dahlia, despite her severe wounds, survived the ordeal. Her experience has changed her, leaving her with a new, hardened strength. Executive producer Chris Keyser noted her transformation, stating she has come to a place where she will defend herself, though this new ruthlessness could lead her down a dangerous path.
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The Central Argument: Blood vs. Chosen Family
The final confrontation was more than a physical fight; it was a clash of ideologies about the very meaning of family. In their last exchange, Constance argued that the pain of losing a child by blood was something Fiona could never understand. Fiona fiercely countered that the love for her chosen, adopted children was just as deep and meaningful.
The series presents this debate without declaring a winner. As Chris Keyser explained, trying to rank different kinds of family is a “foolish, meaningless game.” He added, “Love is love.” However, he notes that in the 1850s setting, the world would have validated Constance’s traditional family while diminishing Fiona’s found family, making Fiona’s stand all the more radical.
With the Van Ness mansion in ashes and one matriarch possibly dead, the power structure of Angel’s Ridge has been obliterated. Whether this story continues depends on the audience’s response and a decision from Netflix. The finale has laid the groundwork, with several surviving characters—including Garrett Van Ness, Elias and Dahlia Teller, and Trisha Van Ness—ready to shape whatever comes next.
Credits:Netflix Tudum
