The Mind-Blowing Mystery Unraveled: Demystifying the Ending of 1899

Netflix's 1899, which unfortunately only lasted for one season, left viewers eager for an explanation due to its captivating and suspenseful twists throughout its eight episodes. The show delved into various sci-fi concepts and narrative techniques without providing clear explanations for any of them, adding an extra layer of intrigue and drama. Each episode concluded with a perplexing cliffhanger, while gradually revealing the traumatic pasts of its main characters. This German-produced sci-fi mystery series successfully merged the best elements of both genres, resulting in a truly mind-bending and unforgettable viewing experience.

Despite its deliberate and slow-paced approach to uncovering its mysteries, 1899 ultimately proved to be a rewarding watch as it unveiled the interconnected core behind its puzzling plot points. In addition to its dark science fiction chaos, the series showcased impressive set design, a diverse cast of characters, and explored relatable themes such as sexuality, death, religious fanaticism, and social class divides. Unfortunately, despite its overwhelming success, Netflix made the decision to cancel 1899, leaving viewers yearning for more of its gripping sci-fi drama. With so much happening throughout its eight-episode run, the ending of 1899 raised even more questions rather than providing answers.

The Kerberos And The Prometheus in 1899 Explained

The primary setting for 1899's diverse cast of characters is the ship Kerberos. Another ship, Prometheus, had gone missing before Kerberos set sail. In early 1899, it becomes clear that Kerberos is no ordinary ship, as it boasts advanced technologies that are almost incomprehensible to the passengers. A dark turn occurs in 1899 when Kerberos' crew receives a message from a nearby ship, which is revealed to be Prometheus upon further investigation. Only a young boy named Elliot is found on the ghost ship, and Prometheus' crew brings him on board and heads back home. Unbeknownst to them, another passenger from Prometheus named Daniel has also come aboard the ship.

Chaos unfolds on the Kerberos as passengers begin mysteriously dying, all while Daniel tries to manipulate Maura (played by Emily Beecham from the cast of Cruella) and make her doubt her own perceptions. In the last few episodes of 1899, the series explains these perplexing events by revealing that the ship is actually a simulation that has been manipulating the passengers' reality. Everything, from their memories to their physical appearances, is a creation of this simulation.

From a mythological standpoint,

Who Created The Simulation In 1899?

The early episodes of 1899 initially portrayed Maura's father, Henry Singleton (played by Anton Lesser from the cast of Andor), as the mastermind behind the simulation. Maura frequently claimed that her memories were erased by her father after she and her brother discovered his secret experiments on the ship. There was also a scene where Henry covertly observed the passengers of Kerberos from the safety of his room. These instances strongly suggested that Henry was the architect of the simulation. However, the ending of 1899 revealed a surprising twist - Maura herself is the creator of the simulation.

Maura used to live with her husband Daniel and son Elliot, but tragedy struck when Elliot fell ill with an unknown disease. Overwhelmed by grief, Maura made the decision to transfer Elliot's consciousness into a simulated reality where she and Daniel could be together. The details of how the simulation evolved and Henry's involvement remain unclear, but it seems that external forces contributed to its chaotic development.

Taking advantage of his daughter's technology, Henry began creating additional simulations within the primary one to delve into the complexities of the human brain. Maura reveals in a conversation with Eyk that Henry's descent into this dark path was triggered by his mother's battle with Alzheimer's, which robbed her of the ability to recognize her own family. In an attempt to find answers for his wife's illness, Henry turned to meticulously studying the intricacies of the human mind.

With time, he clearly went too far in his pursuit of scientific advancement, subjecting his own daughter and her family to the consequences of his experiments. The deliberate decision by Maura to erase her memories as a coping mechanism for the tragic loss of her son proves to have both positive and negative consequences for Henry. On one hand, it grants him the ability to manipulate her technology and exploit it for his own gain. However, he soon realizes that he is faced with a dilemma as only Maura possesses the code necessary to break free from the simulations.

What The Pyramid, The Beetle, And The Key Mean In 1899's Simulation

The codes required to terminate the simulations are the boy's pyramid and Maura's key. In later episodes, 1899 explains this. Since Maura had no recollection of her past life, she could not remember anything about the key. Henry subjects her to these recurring simulations to aid in her recollection of its whereabouts. It is also conceivable that Henry strategically placed pyramid symbols all over the ship as subliminal messages to trigger her memory. Alternatively, Maura herself may have positioned them there to remind herself of the key after losing her memory. The latter scenario appears more plausible, especially considering that the pyramid and key symbols are also tattooed behind her son's ear.

1899 presented intricate symbolism that required deep contemplation. Just like the pyramid and the key, the beetle serves as a cryptic mechanism that unlocks inaccessible realms. Its significance reaches back to one of Maura's recollections from the tangible world. In this particular memory, Maura implores Elliot to release a beetle confined in a jar, symbolizing the adage "set them free if you love them." As a result, the beetle likely assumes the form of a symbolic code, enabling literal emancipation from locked doors within the simulation.

Are The Trapdoor Simulations Real Reflections Of The Past?

As 1899 described, underneath each bed, there lies a hidden trapdoor. These trapdoors lead to an underground chamber, where simulations of the passengers' unsettling pasts unfold. Since it is highly likely that each character's past was merely a fabrication, it is safe to assume that the trapdoor simulations bear no connection to their actual reality. This notion is further confirmed when Daniel modifies the code, causing the passengers to venture into one another's memory simulations.

Virus In 1899 Explained

Massive obsidian structures emerge from the vessel's walls as the 1899 finale approaches. At the touch of Virginia Wilson, portrayed by Rosalie Craig from The Queen's Gambit cast, the inky blackness engulfs her entire form. Like all elements within the simulation, this ebony substance embodies a code, representing a profound virus. With deliberate intent, Daniel infiltrates the system, introducing the virus as a safeguard against Henry's potential loop restart. Hence, he urges fellow passengers to refrain from any contact with it.

What Plato's Cave Allegory Means In 1899

Plato's allegory "The Cave" presents a hypothetical scenario where a group of individuals find themselves chained inside a dark cave. Their gaze is fixed on a blank wall directly in front of them. Consequently, they perceive mere shadows projected onto the wall, without ever glimpsing the true reality behind them. Despite their limited understanding, these cave dwellers embrace the illusory existence presented to them as their sole reality. This profound concept has been echoed in various films, including Christopher Nolan's thought-provoking science fiction masterpiece, Interstellar, Martin Scorsese's psychological thriller, Shutter Island, and even the Wachowskis' groundbreaking film, The Matrix.

Henry remembers how Maura used to be captivated by Plato's allegory in her youth. It is likely that this is where she drew inspiration for crafting alternate realities - or rather, echoes of reality - through simulations. However, when Maura lost her memories and Henry assumed control of her simulations, he became the arbiter of reality, while her simulations became mere shadows on the wall. Since Henry himself is part of a simulation, Plato's allegory persists as an unending cycle in the year 1899, with the identity of the simulation's leader remaining unknown.

How Henry's Black And White Syringes Work

Both injections in the simulations serve a specific purpose, similar to the blue and red pills in The Matrix. They have the power to alter the perception of those who take them. Henry employs the black injection to reset Maura's memories and transport her into a new simulation. In contrast, he uses the white one to restore his memories and gain a better understanding of reality. 1899 does not provide explicit information about the syringes, but their applications are revealed through the events depicted in the series.

Why Cirian Took Control Of Maura’s Simulation

By the conclusion of 1899, Henry manages to obtain both the pyramid and the key, yet Daniel outsmarts him and remains one step ahead. By manipulating the code of the syringe, Daniel ensures that when Henry administers the black serum to Maura, she is transported to the initial simulated playroom she had created for her son. Here, Daniel reveals that he has also altered the code of the key, transforming it into Laura's ring, and the pyramid, now appearing as a toy in Elliot's playroom. With these new tools, Maura successfully escapes the loop of simulations during the final stages of the show.

However, Daniel's warning suggests that Maura's journey is far from over, as her brother Cirian has taken control of the simulations. The identity and motivations of Cirian remain unknown even after the events of 1899. It becomes evident that he holds the highest position within the simulation hierarchy, perceiving reality as it truly is, while others merely witness the distorted versions of reality that Cirian wishes for them to see.

Has Maura Escaped The Simulation In 1899 Ending?

In the 1899 conclusion, Maura awakens in a space station where she discovers the other passengers connected to a machine, indicating that nobody actually perished on the ship. She stumbles upon a screen displaying the space station's designation as "Project Prometheus" and the current year as "2099." Immediately following, Cirian's "Welcome to Reality" message appears, confirming his awareness of his sister's escape from the simulation.

Considering that 1899 concludes here, it remains uncertain whether Maura has successfully liberated herself from all simulations or if she has become trapped in yet another. However, the fact that the space station shares the same name as the ship suggests that it could be another simulated reality crafted by Cirian. This theory gains further support from the presence of the phrase "may your coffee kick in before reality does," which Cirian left for Maura in the space station. Earlier, Anker and Ramiro encountered the same statement repeatedly written across a book in the ship's control room.

Although the significance of the phrase was never explained in 1899, it appears that Cirian used it as a means of mocking his prisoners. By referencing the artificial sense of alertness that occurs when the brain is flooded with dopamine after drinking coffee, Cirian seemingly insults Maura and others who willingly opt for simulated lives to cope with the difficulties of their own realities. Considering he greets her with the same message on the space station, it is conceivable that he intends to subject her and the other passengers to yet another perplexing simulation.