Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story ending explained – What happened to Lizzie?

*Warning: This article contains full spoilers for Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.*

The latest instalment in Netflix's Monster anthology not only tackles its oldest case yet, but also focuses on its first ever female protagonist in the form of Lizzie Borden (played by Ella Beatty).

While previous iterations of the Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan series have seen their subjects be found guilty, Lizzie was actually tried and acquitted of the axe murders of her father and stepmother, which took place in Fall River, Massachusetts.

The final episode takes place some time after the trial, with emotions less heightened and public furore not as intrusive, but still very much there for Lizzie.

While it's something that we see her grapple with in the final episode, we also see how it impacts those around her and how the series reimagines what may have happened to Lizzie in the years afterwards.

Read on for a full breakdown of the final episode of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.

The final episode of the series opens with the trial of Aileen Wuornos (Sarah Paulson), who is giving a graphic recounting of one of her alleged rapes, but is eventually handed yet another death penalty sentence.

Aileen is later informed by a news reporter during an interview that her first victim, Richard Mallory, had actually been convicted of assault with intent to rape previously, spending 10 years in an institute for criminal sexual deviance.

We then see Aileen on death row, eating her last meal and speaking about the way in which women are unfairly treated in relation to men. "I'm just another woman put to death for something a man would've gotten away with," she says.

She is then administered the lethal injection and we then get transported back to Lizzie's time period, some time after her trial.

Lizzie, who has obviously been found not guilty of her parents' murders, is showing Nance (Jessica Barden) around her home, her gardens and introducing her to her various animals.

It is then that we see that Lizzie's sister Emma (Billie Lourd) is living with Lizzie but is taking opium, clearly a shell of her former self. That evening, they host a party where Emma gives a toast and explains that she is left feeling trapped with Lizzie because their surname makes them social pariahs, and she isn't left with any other choice.

Later, Lizzie is asked about what she thinks happened to her mother and father, leading her to present three theories to the party. Lizzie says that it could have been the Portuguese labourer who was charged with the axe murder of Bertha Manchester, suggesting he broke into the house to steal jewellery.

She also talks of the theory of her uncle John (Joey Pollari), who appeared right before the murders and hasn't been heard from since. Finally, she lays out the rumour that her father had an illegitimate son who came to exact revenge.

That night, Lizzie is paid a visit by Maggie (Vicky Krieps), who has been living in Montana on a farm with a new husband. Although it's something she had dreamed of, her new life has left her feeling empty and unlike herself.

What happened to Lizzie?

As the episode goes on, it's clear that Lizzie is struggling with the public's perception of her still, as Halloween gets underway and she is visited by a young girl who comes dressed as her. She goes to visit the book store and asks them to stop selling books about her but they refuse, saying they can't control what's written about her.

Although she has wealth and notoriety, she doesn't much care for it any longer. Emma also thinks similarly and tells Lizzie she's leaving, also saying that she hopes that one day, Lizzie eventually admits what she really did.

Back in Montana, we see Maggie reach her breaking point and she almost kills her husband with an axe. Instead, she travels back to Fall River to stay with Lizzie, saying that she's living off the fruits of both of their labour. Lizzie is happy that she's finally been reunited with Maggie and her return seems to spawn something within her, prompting her to pray to God to admit what she's done and ask for grace.

We then see Lizzie and Maggie join the campaign for women's voting rights, joining protests and hosting meetings at their home. Eventually, the bill is passed and the group celebrates in Lizzie's home, with her looking around at everyone pensively.

Back in Aileen's timeline, we see that she opens her eyes up on the gurney to find Lizzie and Maggie standing before her. They're there to "take you to the next place" and tell her there's no reason to be scared, that they're going to a safe place together where everything is forgiven and understood.

As Aileen goes with them, we see the reality of it all and see doctors unhooking her from the table and drawing the curtain from onlookers who have come to watch her execution, with the series ending on Aileen's flatline sound ringing out.

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