Who did Serena choose?
Did Quinn rise or fall?
And what’s the future of Rachel Goldberg?
Credit: Bettina Strauss/Lifetime
Another season ofEverlastinghas gone by.
It seems like the people you become intimate with, you tend to sexualize the relationships, he says.
But the criticism bugs her she spends this finale on a mission to prove that she has friends.
Shes struggling to come to terms with her relationship with Quinn, which remains undeniably dysfunctional.
They chat about the guys with a giddy intimacy, and theres a naturalism to their interactions.
Serena even offers Rachel a job, promising to whisk her away from the drama ofEverlasting.
This could be real.
The bond lendsUnREALsome gravitas as its touching sincerity contrasts with the unending ridiculousness ofEverlasting.
Its all but confirmed when Gary arrives, sporting a nasty little smile hes got something on Quinn.
Her days are numbered.
Women like you cant afford to make mistakes, remember?
Gary says to Quinn coldly.
But Quinn acts fast by deploying her secret, ever-reliable weapon: Rachel.
Indeed Rachel acts so fast and so brilliantly its almost terrifying.
And then, as Gary takes the stage, Owen confronts August.
Hes been set off.
He starts a fight, and the entire nights energy shifts.
This is no place to fire Quinn.
Gary has to postpone his sweet revenge, and instead, dedicates the rest of the fundraiser to veterans.
Simon forces Rachel to look inward after her latest masterful manipulation.
He notes shell sabotage any relationship, any state of peace or contentment, to do Quinns bidding.
This seems a little premature, and indeed, well soon find out why.
As for Quinn: Shes still in survival mode, just hoping to make it to the next day.
When Quinn couldnt deliver, Fiona turned on her old friend, seemingly at the drop of the hat.
Fiona tells Gary, Its just business.
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So begins the second hour.
Quinn is calling Fiona frantically, clueless as to her double-cross.
She cracks to herself that its depressing, but shes taking it all in.
She disassembles it, looks directly in it with a wicked smile, and asks whos watching.
Simon, watching, closes his computer in utter terror.
UnREALhas played coy with Simon theres no two ways about it.
Hes appeared alternately suspicious, unhinged, sympathetic, helpful, and reasonable.
Its been difficult to track.
Part of this has to do with keeping the audience on its toes and creating a little dramatic tension.
This has been deliberate obfuscation.
Rachel, of course, has more to worry about than her therapist.
She tells Quinn shes decided shes leaving after this season ofEverlasting, to join forces with Serena.
Quinn laughs it off, saying its not who Rachel is that shed never fit into Serenas world.
We know shes right.
And Quinn then does something surprising: She doesnt ask her to stay, or venture to manipulate her.
You feel her guilty conscience weighing on her as she makes out a check for $50,000.
Its for Rachel to buy the cabin to find the solace she needs.
Its a gorgeously underplayed moment by Constance Zimmer.
And its here that we finally see how Simon has gotten inside of Rachels head.
This is the kind of gesture that should set Rachel free.
Quinn, hurt, tells her about Simons appalling transgression.
It only leaves Rachel more confused.
But Chet gives her a reprieve in the form of a boatload of new dirt on Gary.
She storms Fionas office, a high-rise with a stunning view, and appears more respectful than angry.
There are no hard feelings here.
Fiona, unsurprisingly, is intrigued.
Its Rachels idea and everyones on board.
Its all going swimmingly.
Shes ready to choose.
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Unfortunately there remains the wild unpredictability of Rachel.
And shes really put through the wringer here.
She rushes him away.
And then theres Jeremy, who cant get her out of his head no matter how hard he tries.
He announces this is last season onEverlasting hallelujah!
but that he wants nothing to do with Rachel.
Youre a stain that I have to live with for the rest of my life, he says.
Its crystallized in that moment just how alone she feels.
And Rachel, ever the dark, twisted, destructiveEverlastingproducer, cant keep those feelings to herself.
Serena tells her shes made a choice when they reconvene, but Rachel turns on the producing charm.
Serena admits to butterflies but feels set.
But you see the doubt that Rachel has sewed.
Serena is not quite as sure as she once was.
She watches on, looking at Serenas apparent joy at having finally found her match.
Rachels chaos lightbulb goes off.
Quinn looks alternately horrified, amused, and smitten.
Its a heck of a moment.
Its also another reminder of loves painful uncertainties.
And when we get back to Serena, we see she has no decision to make.
She turns down Owen, saying hes merely a good guy.
(The kiss of death.)
Rachels smiling in the corner, and Serena locks eyes with her knowingly.
But as this process shows: Rachel always does this to herself.
She always pushes people she gets close to away.
You have a match echoes and repeats.
As Serena scrolls through, her smile turns to a look of defeat.
In a provocative final shot of her, we zoom out to see all the empty space surrounding Serena.
No matter what Serena says, Rachel did get in her head.
Rachel doesnt push Quinn away, of course the last friend standing.
Jeremy leaves (finally!
But Quinn is still by Rachels side.
In a deeply poignant scene, we capture their goodbye at least for now.
Quinn offers her words of encouragement, telling her shes brilliant and that she will continue to shine.
Indeed, shes ready to let her go.
Our last image of the season is Rachel in the open space surrounding her cabin.
She looks at peace, calm, collected without the distractions brought upon by people.
Life isnt so solitary, though.
She hasnt figured it out just yet.
