MaryLand comes to an end tonight on Masterpiece on PBS, revealing just how profound an impact the death of their mother has had on the lives of sisters Rosaline (Eve Best) and Becca (Suranne Jones). Throughout the three-episode-long series, we’ve watched as Rosaline and Becca bickered, connected, and ultimately came to terms with the fact that their mother Mary (Judy Clifton) wanted to die on her own terms.
**Spoilers for MaryLand Episode 3, now streaming on PBS**
However, the final episode of MaryLand might offer both sisters their biggest choices yet. For Rosaline, a new connection sparked with local cab driver Jacob (Dean Lennox Kelly), has her questioning her priorities in London. Becca, on the other hand, has to deal with the fallout of a tremendous, potentially ruinous fight she has with neglectful husband Jim (Andrew Knott). And don’t even get me started on the reveals that Mary stole her life-ending morphine from death doula pal Cathy (Stockard Channing) or that the sisters’ honestly awful father Richard (George Costigan) flies to the Isle of Man unannounced to block Mary’s final wishes to be buried on the island!!!
So what happens to Rosaline and Becca? Does Mary get her final wish to be laid to rest in the magical place she’s found home? Who stays on the Isle of Man and who goes back to England? And why is Richard the very worst?!?! Here’s everything you need to know about the ending of MaryLand on Masterpiece on PBS…
MaryLand Ending Explained: What Happens in the PBS Show’s Finale?
In the final episode of MaryLand, Jim arrives on the Isle of Man to check in on Becca after Rosaline’s anxious voicemail. Jim and Becca have an explosive argument wherein Becca expresses that she doesn’t want to live the life she’s built with him. Learning more about her mother’s true self has Becca seeing shades of long-suffering Mary in herself. Jim takes off to stay at a bed & breakfast.
Rosaline and Becca are tipped off by Pete that Cathy is holding something back. The sisters confront Cathy about the morphine their mother took to die by suicide. Cathy reveals a recording of Mary nervously affirming she wants to be buried on the island. Even though Cathy maintains that she didn’t give her friend the life-ending drugs, Rosaline still blames the death doula for her mother’s death. She intends to go to the police, but new friend, cab driver Jacob, instead takes her on a walk to a secret part of the island where they go for a swim and then kiss. Rosaline never goes to the cops, but someone still tips them off. Rosaline also learns that her cancer has not come back.
Meanwhile, Richard descends upon the Isle of Man with Becca’s teen daughters Lauren (Rhiannon Clements) and Molly (Yasmin Davies) in tow. He finally received a letter from Mary revealing the truth about her double life with lover Pete (Hugh Quarshie) and expressing her wish to be buried on the Isle of Man. He is furious and insists that Mary’s body be sent back to the UK. Jim goes with him to confront Pete, but Richard deflates upon meeting his dead wife’s lover.
Later, we learn that Jim has brought Becca another letter from her mother. She insists that she and Rosaline read it together. In the letter, Mary reveals the truth and apologizes for the pain she may have brought them and affirms her love for her daughters, whom she wants to be free. The sisters then tell their father that they will ensure Mary is buried according to her wishes and he leaves in fury.
Jim and Becca have a heart-to-heart where they affirm their love for each other, with Jim emphasizing that he doesn’t take her for granted; he’s lucky to have met her. They kiss. As the couple and their daughters prepare to return to England, Rosaline reveals she is staying on the Isle of Man — but not just for the hot cab driver, okay!! She will take care of their mother’s funeral arrangements and the house left in trust.
The series ends with the sisters proclaiming their love for each other and Mary’s wishes being upheld.
Will There Be a MaryLand Season 2 on PBS?
As far as we know, no. The drama series was intended as a limited series and there are only three episodes that have been made. Maybe — just maybe — the show’s popularity could inspire another season following the sisters’ future lives. After all, Becca promises to return to the Isle of Man. But for now, there is no MaryLand Season 2.
