Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Abandons

While numerous intense conflicts unfold in The Abandons, none are more significant than the land dispute between two powerful matriarchs: Fiona Nolan, who owns the farmlands of Jasper Hollow situated on the edge of the frontier town Angel’s Ridge, and the exceedingly wealthy and influential Constance Van Ness, who runs Angel’s Ridge.

Their relationship has always been tense, but in the series’ premiere episode, Constance’s son, Willem (Toby Hemingway), rapes Fiona’s daughter, Dahlia (Diana Silvers), leading to his murder by the Nolan family. They conceal his body, burying it deep underground. A substantial part of the season chronicles Fiona’s efforts to keep this secret hidden, but all truths eventually surface, and Constance discovers what happened.

For a brief period before this revelation, it appeared that the two families might achieve peace. Constance offered to purchase a section of Fiona’s land, a deal that would be mutually beneficial. Fiona presented the offer to her family, as well as to Miles Alderton (Ryan Hurst) and his daughter, who also reside in Jasper Hollow. The majority agreed to sell the land, yet Fiona defied their consensus, refusing to sell any of her property to Constance. Episode 6 hinted at coming chaos, and the finale, “This Was Meant to be My Peace,” certainly delivers. Let’s dissect the most significant developments and reversals in The Abandons’ Season 1 finale.

Is the relationship between Trisha and Elias still viable?

Constance’s manipulative schemes begin to unravel her own power. Trisha (Aisling Franciosi) turns against her mother after learning that her friend Jenny, who had discovered Constance’s collaboration with the criminal gang known as the Red Masks, was killed. As retribution for her defiance, Trisha is forcibly drugged and taken back to the Van Ness estate. Upon waking, Constance informs her that her brother Willem (Toby Hemingway), whose death fueled the primary conflict, was buried by the Nolans, including her boyfriend, Elias (Nick Robinson).

Furious, Trisha seeks out Elias in town. Their budding romance was always fraught due to their families’ rivalry, but Elias’s involvement in Willem’s death proves too difficult for her to accept. She is overwhelmed with disbelief that the man she loves could kill her brother, but Elias firmly stands by his actions, branding Willem a monster for raping his sister. “I love you, but I’d do it again,” he tells her. Devastated, Trisha walks away from Elias with a definitive sense of finality. Nevertheless, their love is undeniable, and the true reason for Willem’s death comes as a shock to Trisha. Perhaps, with sufficient time to process Willem’s true nature and the circumstances of his killing, she may find it possible to forgive Elias, allowing their relationship to begin anew.

The rivalry escalates into full-blown war

After Constance finally confirms the Nolan family’s role in her son’s death, she abducts Dahlia with the assistance of the Red Masks, thereby transforming the simmering Nolan-Van Ness animosity into an all-out war. Constance, now certain that the Nolans killed Willem, slashes Dahlia’s cheek with a knife. Yet, Dahlia does not whimper or cry as Constance desires. Instead, as Constance retreats, Dahlia perceives her bravado for what it truly is: fear. “You are so scared,” Dahlia taunts her. And she is correct: Constance can only stare at her in silence before departing.

That night, Fiona arrives at the Van Ness estate alone. She surrenders her weapons to the Red Masks and makes her way to Constance’s residence. Fiona, who would do anything for her children, appears willing to negotiate a deal for her child’s freedom. The situation quickly turns ugly as the matriarchs engage in a verbal battle: Fiona declares she has come for her daughter, but Constance brutally retorts that “Nothing much remains of the murderous c-nt.” While Constance’s men pin down Fiona, Dahlia is brought out, and Fiona witnesses the intense pain her daughter is enduring. Constance escalates the torment, driving a knife into Dahlia’s leg and twisting it, asserting that their anguish is insignificant compared to her own experience of losing her son. Enraged, Fiona spits at Constance, calling her a “fucking c-nt.”

While it initially seemed that Fiona arrived at the Van Ness estate by herself, it was actually part of a larger strategy to dismantle Constance’s empire. Miles Alderton (whom Constance’s son had attempted to blackmail with his criminal past to turn him against Fiona) and Fiona’s children unite to bring down the Van Nesses, utilizing Fiona’s presence as a diversion for infiltration. Miles employs his exceptional shooting skills to kill the two men restraining Fiona. This surprise allows Dahlia to break free and stab one of the Red Mask men in the neck. Elias, on horseback, delivers a wagon loaded with burning barrels, driving it directly into the Van Ness home and setting it ablaze.

In a matter of moments, Constance’s empire crumbles. The army she had been building is annihilated. Some of her own children have betrayed her, and her exquisite home lies in ruins. She retreats into the house, and Fiona follows, determined to permanently end their feud by killing her. They fight in Constance’s bedroom, exchanging blows and chokeholds as the smoke and flames overwhelm them, rendering both unconscious as the fire consumes them.

Those who survived the ambush of the Van Ness estate watch the house burn to the ground, contemplating who—if anyone—will emerge alive from the long-simmering battle of the matriarchs. Someone, it turns out, does achieve victory in their struggle. However, whether Constance or Fiona survives is left as a cliffhanger. We see the silhouette of an individual within the flames, but before they emerge from the house, The Abandons cuts to black, concluding its first season. Fiona is the presumed survivor, but it would be foolish to underestimate Constance Van Ness. It is also entirely plausible that both Constance and Fiona survived—and given the compelling nature of their dynamic, this feels like the most likely outcome.