The latest episode of Apple TV’s thriller Down Cemetery Road delivered a major change from the book that surprised viewers. The penultimate episode of the season, titled “Lights Go Out,” aired on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. In a dramatic beach showdown, the character Downey, played by Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, was shot and killed by the villain Amos. This event is a significant departure from Mick Herron’s original 2003 novel, where Downey does not die. The episode also left the fate of another main character, private investigator Zoe Boehm (Emma Thompson), hanging in the balance after an explosion. With the season finale arriving on December 10, fans are looking for answers.
Why Downey Died in the TV Show
The decision to kill Downey in the television adaptation was a deliberate choice to increase drama for the screen. Author and executive producer Mick Herron explained that television often needs more direct, visual confrontations than a novel.
“A TV show probably demands more dramatic moments than a novel might,” Herron said. “On the TV screen you really do need a couple of showdowns, especially towards the end of the run. And with a villain like Amos there being played so brilliantly, it made more sense from a dramatic point of view to show the death in that way.”
In the book, Downey is left dying from a rare neurological condition, a result of a secret military experiment. Herron confirmed that for the character, “there was never going to be any hope” regardless of the medium. The show gave his story a more active and heroic conclusion.
Actor Nathan Stewart-Jarrett saw his character’s sacrifice as the completion of his mission. For Downey, everything was about protecting Dinah, the young girl at the center of the mystery.
“I felt like Dinah being safe is, Downey is now allowed to die,” Stewart-Jarrett explained. “It didn’t matter what Amos said. As long as he’s talking, Dinah is safe. As long as he’s with Downey, Dinah is safe. … It’s a very heroic moment. He knows that he’s going to die. The whole point is that he loses and that she wins.”
Downey and Sarah’s Unlikely Partnership
Downey was first introduced in Episode 3 as a mysterious stalker following Sarah Trafford (Ruth Wilson). He quickly saved her life, killing a man named Rufus who was attacking her in her home. This began an unusual alliance. Although Downey initially “kidnapped” Sarah, they bonded while searching for the missing Dinah.
Their relationship deepened when Sarah learned Downey was a former soldier and a friend of Dinah’s father, Tommy. Both men were subjects of a secret government experiment that caused a fatal neurological condition. Tommy and others died from it, but Downey escaped and vowed to protect his friend’s daughter.
Ruth Wilson described their unique connection, noting they found “intimacy and friendship and connection and trust”. Stewart-Jarrett likened their journey to a “Bonnie and Clyde” dynamic, but one that felt more like siblings. This bond made Downey’s death a powerful moment for Sarah’s character.
The Tragic Beach Showdown in “Lights Go Out”
Episode 7 brought all the main characters to a remote Scottish island for a final confrontation. Downey, Sarah, and Zoe finally located Dinah, but were quickly pursued by Amos, who was seeking revenge for his brother’s death.
In a tense sequence on a beach suspected to have old landmines, Downey purposefully drew Amos away from Sarah, Zoe, and Dinah. A chase ensued, ending with Amos shooting Downey in the leg. Amos then killed Downey, adding one of his dreadlocks to a notebook he carries.
Downey’s sacrifice allowed Sarah and Dinah to escape toward a boat. To give them more time, Zoe bravely distracted Amos, running across the beach as he shot at her. His gunfire set off explosions in the mined area, and a blast threw Zoe into the air. The episode ended with Sarah and Dinah safely reaching a waiting boat captain, while Zoe’s condition was unknown.
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What Is Zoe’s Fate?
The explosive cliffhanger left fans questioning if Emma Thompson’s character, Zoe Boehm, survived. Zoe is the central character of Mick Herron’s book series, which suggests her story may continue. However, the show has already proven it can deviate from the source material.
In the story, Sarah assumes Zoe is dead after seeing her thrown by the blast, but she did not see a body. Ruth Wilson, who plays Sarah, clarified her character’s perspective: “She’s not completely sure because she hasn’t seen the dead body, but she’s assuming — she saw her being thrown up in the air.”
Mick Herron hinted at Zoe’s resilient nature, describing her as “a very resourceful, very capable woman” who is committed to doing the right thing despite her grumpy exterior. The season finale, “What Will Survive,” will resolve this mystery when it releases on December 10, 2025.
How the Cast Reacted to the Episode
The actors have shared their thoughts on the intense penultimate episode. Ruth Wilson called Episode 7 “the best episode of the whole season,” praising its fast pace and the way it forces the normally out-of-their-depth characters to step up.
Nathan Stewart-Jarrett discussed the emotional challenge of filming his character’s death. He found the scene “really sad” and “hard” to film. He also revealed an interesting personal reference point during the shoot, thinking of the sacrificial death of Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia.
Looking back on playing Downey, Stewart-Jarrett said he was drawn to the character’s complexity and tragic background. He also enjoyed the physical action of the role, calling himself “a bit of an action nut”.
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