The character of Nate, played by Ian Harding, remains alive at the end of Ripple Season 1. However, his future is left uncertain as he departs for an experimental cancer treatment.
The Netflix drama series, which premiered on December 3, 2025, concludes its first season with quiet, hopeful endings for its four main characters. Nate’s journey is central to the show’s themes of connection and chance.
How Season 1 Ends for Nate
Across the eight episodes, Nate’s story involves a frightening diagnosis, intense treatment, and a final, life-altering opportunity.
While dealing with a marriage that is struggling, a random injury leads Nate to the hospital, where doctors discover he has cancer. His journey through chemotherapy is difficult. In the finale, he survives a severe infection, which is a major scare for his health.
Nate then receives significant news: he has been accepted into a clinical trial in Houston. This chance for more advanced treatment comes with a heavy emotional cost. The spot in the trial only opened because a young boy named Finn, with whom Nate bonded during his own treatment, has died.
Ian Harding, the actor who portrays Nate, spoke about connecting with the role.
“I read it and I just instantly understood this person… even though I myself have not fought cancer or gone through divorce,” he said. “I inherently knew him.”
Before leaving, Nate makes important decisions about his life in New York. He partners with Walter to secure the future of Lumi, his wine bar, turning it over to Walter’s care.
Nate and Kris’s Relationship
One of the key emotional threads of the season is Nate’s growing connection with Kris, a music executive who finds solace at his bar. By the finale, Kris is ready to leave her life behind to support Nate in Houston.
Nate, however, makes the difficult choice to pause their relationship. He cares for her deeply but cannot ask her to follow him into the uncertainty of an experimental treatment.
His goodbye is not a final farewell. He leaves Kris with a bamboo plant and a letter. The letter contains a key line that offers a promise for the future: “Maybe our journey is only just beginning.” The bamboo plant serves as a symbol of slow growth, strength, and hope while they are apart.
The Fate of Other Main Characters
Ripple weaves together the lives of four strangers, and the finale provides resolution for each while leaving their next chapters open.
- Aria: The talented singer, struggling with her career and marriage, decides to go on tour. Her departure is marred by a painful misunderstanding with her husband, John. She overhears him on the phone saying, “It’s better when she’s not around,” and believes he is talking about her. Heartbroken, she leaves. The audience learns that John was actually referring to a coworker, highlighting the show’s theme of how small moments can drastically change lives.
- Walter: The grieving widower finds a new purpose and community at Lumi. By the end of the season, he chooses to become Nate’s business partner to keep the bar running. This act shows his personal growth from a visitor to a caretaker of the space that helped heal him. In a touching moment, as he boards a train for a trip, he sees a vision of his late wife smiling and waving goodbye, suggesting he is finding peace.
- Kris: After losing her job, Kris finds a new direction. She starts a music therapy project at a hospital, using her skills to help others. Although her romantic story with Nate is paused, she moves forward in her career with newfound stability.
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Will There Be a Season 2?
As of now, Netflix has not officially announced a renewal for Ripple Season 2. The show was released recently in December 2025, and such decisions often take time based on viewership numbers.
The finale clearly leaves narrative doors open for a continuation. Key questions for a potential second season include the outcome of Nate’s clinical trial in Houston, the success of Aria’s tour and whether she will discover the truth about her misunderstanding with John, and the future of the bond between Nate and Kris.
Actor Ian Harding has hinted that discussions are happening, stating, “There are nice rumblings. Things feel tilted in that direction.” He also suggested that a second season would explore Nate stepping into a new phase of life shaped by his experiences.
If a new season is greenlit, it is expected that the main cast, including Ian Harding, Julia Chan, Sydney Agudong, and Frankie Faison, would return. New characters, such as Aria’s father, could also be introduced. Speculation from industry watchers suggests that if renewed, Ripple Season 2 could potentially arrive in early 2027.
All eight episodes of Ripple Season 1 are available to stream globally on Netflix.
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