Netflix’s “No Good Deed”: Unraveling the Murder Mystery’s Unexpected Conclusion “`
Warning: This post contains spoilers for No Good Deed.
Fans of the Emmy-nominated black comedy thriller were likely eager for creator ‘s new Netflix murder mystery series. Their feelings after watching season one of No Good Deed might be mixed.
All eight episodes dropped on Netflix December 12, making it a perfect holiday binge. The series, focusing on struggling couple Paul () and Lydia Morgan (), offers a twisty plot, culminating in a somewhat predictable resolution to the central mystery, while leaving other story elements unresolved.
The show follows the Morgans’ attempt to sell their Los Feliz villa to one of three couples: lawyers Leslie (Abbi Jacobson) and Sarah (Poppy Liu), novelist Dennis (O-T Fagbenle) and his pregnant wife Carla (Teyonah Parris), and former soap star JD (Luke Wilson) and his wife Margo (Linda Cardellini). Over three years have passed since the Morgans’ son, Jacob (Wyatt Aubrey), died in the house, a fact they needn’t disclose to potential buyers.
Flashbacks gradually reveal Paul and Lydia’s belief that their daughter, Emily (), unintentionally killed Jacob, mistaking him for a burglar. They’ve been covering it up to protect Emily. The truth, however, is more complex.
Who really killed Jacob?
Jacob secretly robbed neighbors to lavish Margo—on whom he had a crush—with gifts. The nature of Margo’s relationship with Jacob is deliberately ambiguous, according to Feldman.
“I want to leave that to the audience’s interpretation,” she stated. “But we know she lacks scruples.”
The night Jacob died, Margo confronted him after he tried returning her gifts. When he threatened to tell JD about their relationship, she grabbed JD’s gun, chased him home, and shot him simultaneously with Emily, whose shot missed. Margo let Emily believe she’d killed her brother.
Leslie, using her connections, accesses Jacob’s autopsy report, revealing two bullet casings—one from JD’s gun, the one that killed Jacob. JD, having discovered Margo is a con artist named Luann, seemingly burns down their mansion with her inside.
Six months later, a scarred Margo is found by Paul and Lydia’s nephew Nate () at a bar.
Who gets the Morgans’ house?
The Morgans choose Leslie and Sarah, expecting their first child, while Dennis and Carla buy the property across the street.
Dennis and Carla, however, harbor secrets. Carla believes their funds come from Dennis’ book advance; it actually came from Carla’s estranged father, who wishes to meet his grandson.
Renewal of No Good Deed is uncertain. Feldman stated, “I leave my favorite shows with questions, writing the rest of the story myself. I encourage viewers to do the same.”
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