Unveiling the Epic Season 3 Finale of War of the Worlds: A Comprehensive Breakdown

Summary

War of the Worlds season 3 ended on a strong note, paying off its themes and offering hope in a bleak future.

The season introduced fresh sci-fi concepts and enhanced the scientific elements of the science fiction genre, leading to a culmination of complex themes.

In the final episode, the exploration of fate's inevitability and the acceptance of death took center stage, as characters courageously made selfless sacrifices and confronted the repercussions.

War of the Worlds season 3 concluded with a powerful ending, effectively exploring its thought-provoking themes and providing a glimmer of hope amidst a bleak future. Originally released in 2019, this Epix original series follows the journey of survivors on Earth after an alien attack decimates most of humanity. While loosely inspired by H.G. Wells' influential science fiction novel, the show fearlessly strays from traditional conventions and offers fresh interpretations of the familiar story. While Wells' books provide a foundation, the War of the Worlds TV show establishes itself as a unique entity from the very beginning.

Receiving predominantly positive reviews from the outset (according to Rotten Tomatoes), the show's creators acknowledged and addressed criticisms of its first season, making necessary corrections. With season 2, War of the Worlds raises the stakes considerably by introducing new sci-fi concepts like time travel and alternate universes, adding excitement to the ongoing alien invasion narrative. Building upon this momentum, season 3 delves deeper into scientific elements, ultimately culminating in a season finale that expertly combines profound themes and well-crafted technological jargon.

What Happened In War Of The Worlds Season 3

In the final episode of War of the Worlds season 2, to prevent the future, Bill killed Emily (Daisy Edgar-Jones). As a result, he found himself in an alternate timeline and under police custody for murder. However, Bill wasn't the only one who traveled back to the past. Adina (Ania Sowinski) and her followers also went with him, intending to cause chaos. MI5 Agent Zoe (Pearl Chanda) seeks Bill's assistance and successfully helps him escape from jail. Meanwhile, scientist Catherine (Léa Drucker) investigates the unusual activity surrounding a black hole near Earth.

Astronauts Juliet (Lizzie Brocheré) and Richard (Lukas Haas) become witnesses to strange anomalies in space, prompting them to investigate Adina and her evil plan. Adina's plan involves a particle accelerator aimed at bringing the black hole from the alternate realities closer to Earth, where no invasion took place. The same black hole caused significant destruction in season 1, and Adina aims to recreate that effect. Catherine, Bill, and the astronauts devise a risky plan to permanently close the black hole and ultimately bring an end to the invasion timeline. However, they are unaware of the potential consequences their actions may bring.

The Black Hole Caused The Visions

Did Bill Survive?

: Relevance of War of the Worlds lies in its ability to compel viewers to seek answers by posing thought-provoking questions. Season 2 of the series presented numerous inquiries, one of the most significant being the cause behind characters in the non-invasion timeline experiencing visions of the invasion. In season 3, War of the Worlds clarified this enigma by revealing that the presence of a black hole on the edge of Earth's atmosphere induced temporal disturbances, which manifested in people's minds as visions. Acting as a gateway to the invasion timeline, the black hole also provided fleeting glimpses into the other side.

In episode one, Gabriel Byrnre's character, Bill, played a central role. Throughout the War of the Worlds season 3 finale, Bill faced numerous moral dilemmas. Apart from killing Emily, he also introduced a lethal virus into the invaders' bloodstream, which raised its own set of ethical questions. However, his ultimate act of selflessness was his sacrifice to help collapse the black hole. This act was motivated purely by good intentions, but it took a toll on him. In the invasion timeline, Bill was shown being killed by the invaders' robotic dogs. Yet, in the alternate timeline, Bill remained alive, although he remained comatose.

Though War of the Worlds was frequently characterized by despair and hopelessness, the inclusion of Bill's survival in a coma implies that he will manage to overcome his circumstances somehow. It was particularly heartening to witness his son's willingness to forgive him, adding a glimmer of hope for the troubled neurosurgeon. Considering the show's uncompromising portrayal of death, if Bill was destined to perish in both timelines, it would undoubtedly have been depicted on the screen.

Why Juliet Stayed With Richard

With the inclusion of new characters such as Juliet and Richard in the third season, the ensemble of War of the Worlds expanded, resulting in more intriguing portrayals of the show's themes. Both Juliet and Richard, who were astronauts, brought a refreshing energy to the final season. However, their untimely demise was perplexing, particularly Juliet's decision to sacrifice herself. The destruction of the space station caused by the collapse of the black hole led to a colossal explosion, leaving the duo adrift in the vastness of space. It is worth noting that, despite the unfortunate circumstances, Juliet could have potentially escaped using the escape pod that was available on the station, prior to being engulfed by the blast.

She decided to stay with Richard because it aligned with the visions he had received from the black hole earlier in the season. Despite the primary goal being to avoid a potential timeline, Juliet opted to remain with him as an expression of love, while also reinforcing the show's underlying theme of the inescapability of destiny. This theme had been explored with a more fatalistic approach in previous seasons, but Juliet personified it with a cheerful demeanor instead of a scowl.

What Juliet’s Final Vision Meant

While the rest of the characters were tormented by the harrowing revelations of the invasion timeline due to the black hole's proximity, Juliet experienced a bittersweet climax that embraced the concept of alternate realities. Being an astronaut required Juliet to make numerous sacrifices, including postponing parenthood. However, as she drifted into space following the explosion, Juliet encountered a vision of a world where she had made a different choice and had raised a family instead. Though haunting, it served as a poignant reminder to Juliet that things had worked out differently for her in another life.

The Alien’s Needed Tom’s Blood

War of the Worlds, known for its understandable storytelling in its first two seasons, took a turn for complexity in its third season. The main source of confusion revolved around Adina's plan and her need for Tom, who is Emily's half-brother. Both Tom and Adina share DNA, making Tom a valuable asset to the invaders. Unlike Emily, Tom remained unaffected by the lethal virus, making his blood a vital resource.

During the invasion, Tom was exposed to a black hole and subsequently used as a trap by Sophia. His blood was contaminated with warfarin, causing any invader who used it to become sick and eventually perish. Although this method didn't eliminate all of the invaders, it significantly reduced their numbers, rendering them less of a threat.

Martha’s Pregnancy Explained

As mentioned earlier, War of the Worlds was always a grim series, with characters meeting their demises in the most dismal manner without any sense of consequence. However, the conclusion of Season 3 opened up a few fissures in the show's relentless facade, allowing slivers of optimism to seep through. Tom and Martha's (Molly Windsor) Relationship unfolded as an intriguing development in the final season, serving as a symbol of a brighter future when they discovered that they were expecting a child. Given that time is intimately tied to the invaders, their child represents the symbolic merging of both human races.

The Real Meaning Of War of the Worlds Season 3’s Ending

With no formal announcement made, it can be inferred that War of the Worlds season 3 marked the final chapter for the series, adding even more significance to the season finale. Throughout the trilogy of seasons, the prevailing theme has always been the ominous inevitability of fate and the certainty of death. Surprisingly, the last episode simultaneously reinforced and contradicted this theme, leaving the fates of characters like Bill with a cautious glimmer of hope. While Bill may never fully recover, there is a chance that he will at least survive.

In the meantime, Juliet's demise was oddly optimistic despite its inevitability, symbolizing the long-delayed acceptance of death portrayed in the initial two seasons of War of the Worlds. Bill, unable to come to terms with his role as the harbinger of destruction, reluctantly made the decision to sacrifice himself in the finale. It was only when the characters embraced their own unavoidable fate that they were able to effectively address the challenges before them.