The Hunting Wives Season 1 on Netflix ended with multiple deaths, secrets, and a jaw-dropping finale. The murder of Abby Jackson (Madison Wolfe) set off a chain of events that exposed the dark side of Maple Brook’s elite. Here’s a breakdown of what happened and who was behind the killings.
Who Killed Abby Jackson?
The biggest mystery of the season was Abby’s murder. At first, several people were suspected, including Pastor Pete, Jill (Brad’s mother), and even Sophie. However, the real killer was Margo Banks (Malin Åkerman).
Abby discovered that her boyfriend, Brad (George Ferrier), was having an affair with Margo. She also learned that Margo had an abortion after getting pregnant with Brad’s child. When Abby threatened to expose the scandal, Margo panicked. Drunk and desperate, she grabbed Sophie’s gun and shot Abby in the woods near her lake house.
“She was jealous of me and she threatened to take everything that I’ve built and burn it to the f—— ground,” Margo confessed to Sophie in the finale.
The Domino Effect of Abby’s Death
Abby’s murder led to more violence in Maple Brook. Here’s how the tragedy unfolded:
- Starr’s Revenge: Abby’s mother, Starr (Chrissy Metz), believed Jill killed her daughter. She confronted Jill with a rifle, but Jill shot her in self-defense.
- Jill’s Downfall: When Margo and Callie found Starr’s body, Jill pulled a gun on them. Callie, the sheriff’s wife, shot Jill dead.
- Pastor Pete’s Crimes: The police discovered that Pastor Pete had kidnapped two girls, including Abby’s friend Nina. He killed himself when cornered by detectives.
- Kyle’s Fate: Margo’s brother, Kyle, tried to silence Sophie by threatening her. In a tense confrontation, Sophie ran him over with her car and dumped his body in a lake.
How Sophie Discovered the Truth
Sophie (Brittany Snow) finally pieced together Margo’s lies thanks to a small but crucial detail—tampons.
In the first episode, Margo told Sophie she couldn’t use tampons. Later, Sophie found a box of tampons in Margo’s bathroom. A quick search revealed that women are advised not to use tampons after an abortion. This led Sophie to realize Margo was the one who had been pregnant, not Abby.
“I was the one, okay? I was the one, because I love you!” Margo admitted when Sophie confronted her.
Did Margo Get Away With Murder?
By the end of Season 1, Margo was still free. She tried to confess to her husband, Jed (Dermot Mulroney), but he kicked her out before she could finish. Meanwhile, Sophie was left with another deadly secret—killing Kyle. The season ended with Sophie dumping Kyle’s body and Margo realizing something terrible had happened.
How the Show Differs From the Book
Fans of May Cobb’s novel were surprised by the changes in the Netflix adaptation. In the book, Jill is Abby’s killer, not Margo. The series also added new twists, like Kyle’s death and Sophie’s involvement in covering it up.
Will There Be a Season 2?
Netflix has not confirmed The Hunting Wives Season 2 yet. However, Malin Åkerman has expressed interest in returning.
“I think the nerves come from—for me, it’s really wanting this to go for a second season because I love everybody that I got to work with,” Åkerman told Decider.
For now, all episodes of The Hunting Wives Season 1 are streaming on Netflix.
Also read: The Hunting Wives Cast: Full Breakdown Of Characters And Actors In New Thriller Series
Credits: Sources include Netflix Tudum, Marie Claire, TIME, Decider, and other entertainment reports.
