“I’m sobbing” – why Martin Clunes’ Netflix thriller A Mother’s Son’s ending is so divisive

by

Before the Netflix series Adolescence sparked national conversations about the online world’s impact on teenagers, ITV aired A Mother’s Son back in 2012.

The new two-part drama is now available on Netflix and has quickly become popular. It tells the emotional story of Rosie (Hermione Norris), a mother who recently remarried, and learns her son Jamie (Alexander Arnold) is accused of murder. Nicola Walker stars as the lead detective, Sue Upton, investigating the case.

The ending of this intense story caused a lot of debate, but let’s quickly recap what happened in A Mother’s Son before we discuss it.

What to Read Next

What happened in A Mother’s Son?

Rosie’s husband, Ben (Martin Clunes), was upset that she hadn’t told him about her worries regarding Jamie right away, and instead, had first confided in her former partner, David (Paul McGann).

Jamie reacted angrily when Rosie questioned the blood on his shoes, initially claiming it came from a fox. Rosie wanted to believe him, but Ben quietly had the blood analyzed, and the results proved it was definitely human.

Even though they didn’t tell the authorities about Jamie, Ben and his kids left Rosie’s house. Meanwhile, Rosie and David confronted Jamie, letting him know they were aware of what had happened.

Jamie admitted he became upset when Lorraine rejected him, especially because his friend Sean had been intimate with her just before she died.

He couldn’t explain why he killed Lorraine, only suggesting he might be a fundamentally flawed individual.

Even though she was heartbroken, Rosie didn’t lose hope for her son. She carefully helped Jamie understand that he needed to face the consequences of his actions.

A Mother’s Son ended with Jamie taking Rosie’s hand as they walked into the police station together.

Why A Mother’s Son’s ending stands the test of time

Viewers of the show A Mother’s Son, both when it first aired and in later broadcasts, were let down by the lack of a surprising reveal that would have cleared Jamie’s name.

The show wasn’t designed to be a mystery from the start. Similar to Adolescence, it didn’t focus on solving a crime, but instead followed Jamie’s difficult actions and struggles right from the beginning.

We noticed Jamie behaving strangely at home – he was being aggressive towards Ben and making up unbelievable stories. It quickly became obvious that the story was about him all along.

The title, A Mother’s Son, instantly reveals the identity of the criminal and emphasizes that the story centers on Rosie’s difficult journey to accept and cope with Jamie’s terrible actions.

Because streaming services and traditional TV are both trying to create surprising stories, it’s become common to see mysteries where the killer is the last person you’d expect.

We often enjoy thrilling and unexpected plot twists, but it’s important to remember that stories like the one about Lorraine’s murder actually reflect how things often happen in real life.

That’s why A Mother’s Son, being a shorter, quicker-paced story with a well-written script, made a good choice by avoiding big, unexpected twists and instead concentrating on how Jamie’s thoughtless action affects his family and Lorraine.

A Mother’s Son is available to watch on Netflix.

The latest issue of Living Legends is now available! You can purchase Ariana & Witches at newsstands or online for only £8.99.

Read More

2025-11-07 00:21