'Them: The Scare' ending explained: Was Edmund defeated? What was the Season 1 connection? (2024)

The latest installment of thePrime Videohorror anthology Them follows LAPD Detective Dawn Reeve (Deborah Ayorinde) as she investigates the violent murder of a foster home mother amid the community’s resistance to the police force in the aftermath of the assault of Black activist Rodney King. During her investigation, she finds that the attacker has a deep connection with her family.

Season 2, titled Them: The Scare, premiered all eight episodes on April 25, 2024, which were met with positive reception. At the time of reporting, the season has a 100% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes, following the mixed reviews for Season 1.

Decider’s Joel Keller praised the new season in his review, writing, “The first episode ofThem: The Scaredoes a good job at setting the scene and giving viewers the creeps from the jump,” and Decider’s Sean T. Collins called Deborah Ayorinde’s performance his favorite of the year in his recap of the final episode.

Going into Episode 8, “The Box,” Detective Reeve has been framed for the murder of a young boy, and her son Kelvin (Joshua J. Williams) is being haunted by the murderous demonic entity who has taken over Edmund Gaines (Luke James) after his death by suicide.

Dawn’s mother Athena Reeve (Pam Grier) has a suspicion that she knows what’s connecting the family to the string of murders, and tells Reeve that she has a twin brother, Edmund, but they were separated when the young boy began developing concerning habits. Athena convinced a young Dawn that Edmund was a figment of her imagination, and Edmund was sent back into the foster system where he was placed with an abusive mother.

The foster mother was found murdered at the beginning of the season and stuffed under a kitchen sink — where Edmund would hide as a child.

Did the ending of Them Season 2 leave you with a few questions? Worry not! Here’s a breakdown of the twisty finale and how it ties to Season 1.

Them Season 2 Ending Explained

Detective Reeve and Edmund face off in the final episode of Them Season 2, as the demonic entity inches closer to killing her son. The two confront each other and Edmund takes Reeve on a heartbreaking journey of his past trauma, which shows a younger version of himself guiding Reeve through a slice-of-life experience in the foster home.

The foster mother yells at Edmund for going into her room and chases the young boy through the house. The woman throws a glass at the clock, causing it to stop at the same time Dawn saw when she entered the house during the investigation, and Edmund seeks shelter under the kitchen sink. Then, Dawn sees their mother leaving them with Athena, who assures the woman that the two children will be cared for. The detective begs her mother not to leave.

Back in the present, the demon tries to convince Dawn to join him, but she resists. “Don’t fight it, this is our fate,” Edmund tells her. “I was weak and gave myself over, so can you. We can be together again, a family. This time no one will hurt us.” He yells at her for forgetting him.

“They made me forget you,” Dawn says. “What happened to us wasn’t your fault. Edmund, please stop. You protected me, you saved me, don’t do this. Remember that I love you.”

The demon begins to break its bones as Dawn explains what Athena told her about their childhood, she continues to tell Edmund that he was her best friend and what he’s become is not him. The demon screams in pain and falls to the ground. Edmund, now free of the demon, whimpers as Dawn caresses his face. He tells her that he loves her before dying.

Dawn reunites with her Kelvin and the two can put the nightmare behind them.

Dawn also presents her evidence for being framed for murder and the verbal abuse she suffered from her late colleague Detective McKinney. After being cleared of the charges, she’s told that she cannot rejoin the police force but they’d welcome her back in an administration role. Dawn leaves the room and “f*ck Tha Police” by N.W.A. starts playing — sweet.

How Does Them Season 2 Connect to Them Season 1?

In the final moments of the episode, Dawn sits in her room as she hears mysterious footsteps approaching her door. That can’t be good, especially given the haunting the family has just suffered. She looks up and sees Da Tap Dance Man, who haunted the Emory family in Season 1. Dawn stares in horror as the demented persona begins to sing and dance.

Another connection to the first season happens during Dawn’s battle with the demon when she’s brought through Edmund’s backstory. Dawn and Edmund’s biological mother is revealed to be Ruby Lee Emory (Shahadi Wright Joseph — the oldest Emory daughter.

What’s next? Will the horror series get renewed for a third season? If so, will the season follow Dawn defeating Da Tap Dance Man or will it move on to the next family? Will Dawn be able to end the generational curse or will it continue through Kelvin?

Them Season 2 is streaming on Prime Video.