‘Ratched’s Twisted Ending, Explained: Will There Be a Season 2?

If you’ve ever wondered what made Nurse Ratched so wicked, Netflix has your answer. This week the streaming giant has premiered its much anticipated Ratched, a horror drama and origin story about One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest‘s most iconic villain.

There are a ton of crazy twists in this new Ryan Murphy show from multiple murders to one very ill-advised dance. Wondering how all of this madness ended? Here’s everything you need to know about Ratched Season 1’s ending and what could happen in Season 2.

How Did Ratched Season 1 End?

With a vow to get revenge. Ratched‘s first season revolved around the same goal: Mildred (Sarah Paulson) trying to save her brother Edmund (Finn Wittrock) from the death penalty. After committing several murders herself Mildred realized that it was probably OK to let Edmund face his punishment for slaughtering a house full of priests. By the end of the season Mildred revised her goal from protecting her brother to trying to give him the most humane execution possible.

That meant opposing Gwendolyn’s (Cynthia Nixon) old boss, Governor George Milburn (Vincent D’Onofrio). As part of his platform to be tough on crime Senator Milburn wanted to execute Edmund by bringing back the electric chair. Mildred tried to sidestep his plan, creating a scheme of her own where she would sneak up behind Edmund and euthanize him herself. But Edmund wasn’t about that.

Thanks to a mental breakdown from the multiple personality plagued Charlotte (Sophie Okonedo) Edmund learned about his sister’s plan. He broke out of prison with Charlotte and laid low.

During the two years Edmund was off the grid Mildred moved to Mexico to get better treatment for Gwendolyn’s cancer. In the tropical paradise she lived in fear of Edmund, suffering through reoccurring nightmares where he tracked her down and killed her. Her girlfriend thought all of that worrying was for nothing, but that wasn’t the case. In Season 1’s final moments Gwendolyn announced that there had been a homicide in Chicago that left seven nurses dead. Shortly after reading this news to Mildred, the resort phone rang for our corrupted nurse. Immediately Mildred knew Edmund is on the other line.

Before he could even threaten her, Mildred cut Edmund off. “You’re going to tell me that I’ve betrayed you and that you’re coming for me and that I should be very afraid,” she said. “Well, let me tell you something. You are the one who should be afraid because I am coming for you, Edmund.”

Season 1 ended with Mildred, Gwendolyn, and Nurse Bucket (Judy Davis) relaxing in Mexico while Edmund, Charlotte, and Louise (Amanda Plummer) all carpool together. It’s unclear where they’re going. But wherever their destination is, it won’t be good.

What Happened to Charlotte?

Poor, poor dissociated identity disordered Charlotte. Her first bit of terrible luck started when she was kidnapped by Dr. Richard Hanover (Jon Jon Briones). Realizing that he was about to be arrested for medical malpractice, Dr. Hanover took Charlotte and fled to a motel. His plan was to work closely with Charlotte and eventually cure her, using his success to justify being allowed back into the medical community. But that half-brained plan didn’t work out.

While on the run Dr. Hanover had a run-in with the police. Trying to hide the very illegal patient he stole, Dr. Hanover hid Charlotte in the bathroom against her will. The officer eventually left, but forcing Charlotte to hide had its own repercussions. In the middle of a breakdown triggered by the bathroom lockdown Charlotte attacked Dr. Hanover, killing him.

Having nowhere else to go she returned to the mental hospital where she ran into Mildred. The nurse set Charlotte up with a bus ticket and some money to start a new life far away from her murderous past. But Charlotte’s newfound freedom didn’t last for long.

In the middle of another psychotic break Charlotte returned to the hospital this time sporting a new personality: that of Dr. Hanover. This breakdown led to her murdering the sweet orderly Huck (Charlie Carver) and ordering Nurse Bucket to take her to Edmund. It made sense that Charlotte would want to see Edmund. After all he was the one who murdered the only guard who was nice to her and saw her as a woman and not a patient. But as is often the case when it comes to Edmund, the tables turned.

Edmund was able to escape the mental hospital with Charlotte. Somewhere along the way Louise, the former motel owner turned candy stripper and art therapy enthusiast, joined their wild ride. So Charlotte is no longer getting the help she so desperately needs and is being egged on by the worst of influences, Edmund.

What Happened to Nurse Bucket?

After Dr. Hanover was forced to resign in disgrace, Nurse Bucket took over Lucia State Hospital. Eventually she befriended her longtime frenemy Nurse Ratched. At the end of Season 1 Nurse Bucket goes to Mexico to visit Mildred and Gwendolyn.

What’s Going on With Gwendolyn’s Cancer?

Sometime after Edmund’s post-dance arrest, Mildred and Gwendolyn started to date. That’s when Gwendolyn learned the sad truth. She was diagnosed with cancer and only had a few years to live.

Mildred convinced Gwendolyn to move down to Mexico and stay at a facility that specialized in treatments that weren’t yet legal in the United States. By the end of the season we don’t know exactly what’s going on with Gwendolyn’s diagnosis but she looks better. It seems like the former political advisor has stopped losing hair and has regained some of her strength. Hopefully that keeps up.

What Could Happen in Ratched Season 2?

By all evidence it seems that this drama is gearing up for a sibling face-off. It’s pretty obvious that Edmund and his sidekicks, Charlotte and Louise, are tracking down Mildred to get revenge for the time she almost killed him. But now Mildred has sworn that she will hunt down Edmund before he gets her. Between these two unhinged siblings, our money’s on Mildred.

Watch Ratched on Netflix