The final episode of The Curse Season 1 has been released, leaving viewers eager to understand the strange conclusion, particularly what became of Asher after the shocking twist.
While The Curse is a peculiar series known for making audiences uncomfortable with awkward moments, it largely maintains a grounded approach for most of its first nine episodes.
However, the season finale completely takes a different turn, heading in directions no one could have foreseen. Below is an analysis of what comes to play in The Curse Season 1 finale, what it signifies, and how it might shape the show’s future.
A surreal ending leaves fans questioning reality and meaning (Photo: The Curse/SHOWTIME and A24)The Unexpected Events in The Curse Finale
The final episode takes place several months after the previous one, opening with Whitney and Asher making an appearance on the Rachel Ray Show in the real world. They are there to promote their HGTV series, which has already been available on the network’s mobile app for some time.
During the interview, they reveal that Whitney is expecting a baby and is close to giving birth, while also expressing disappointment in the performance of their HGTV show.
After deciding to gift a house to Abshir in a seemingly heartfelt moment, Whitney wakes up the following morning to discover Asher stuck to the ceiling. The rest of the episode revolves around the characters struggling to bring him back down.
Why Asher Floats Away in the Finale
A large part of the episode focuses on Asher drifting around the house with no one knowing how to rescue him. He insists that the issue is due to the air pressure inside the house being off balance, advising Whitney to open some windows to correct it.
The Curse character, played by Emma Stone, follows his advice, but nothing changes. Eventually, Asher drifts outside and nearly floats away, only to get trapped in a tree.
The fire personnel arrive to assist, but they dismiss his concerns and decide to cut the branch he is stuck on. This causes Asher to ascend into the sky, where he continues floating until he leaves the atmosphere and dies in space.
Up until this moment, the series had not confirmed anything supernatural, making this twist even more baffling for audiences. Asher being pulled away from Whitney is a representation of how the pressure from their TV project—symbolized by the house—has created a divide between them.
He literally attributes his predicament to the house’s air pressure, making it clear that the show is using a metaphor. Several theories have emerged about the surreal nature of Asher’s fate, but the most compelling one suggests that Whitney’s actions are slowly pushing him out of her life.
Are Curses Real in The Curse?
Throughout the series, the question of whether curses actually exist remains a central mystery, first introduced in the premiere when Abshir’s daughter places a supposed curse on Asher.
She mentioned that she wished the chicken would be missing from his meal, and when Asher later realized that the chicken was indeed absent from his chicken spaghetti, he began to believe in the curse.
Whitney, on the other hand, offered logical explanations, arguing that it was purely coincidental. However, the show never provides a definitive answer on whether supernatural forces are involved.
Had the finale taken a different approach, it would have been easy to conclude that curses are just superstitions within the story. But the bizarre ending casts doubt on everything.
Benny Safdie, known for being part of the acclaimed filmmaking duo The Safdie Brothers, plays Dougie, a character who previously cursed Asher in an earlier episode. It is possible to interpret Asher’s fate as a direct consequence of Dougie’s curse, especially since Dougie appears remorseful towards the end.
At the same time, the entire sequence could be completely symbolic, suggesting that curses are merely a figment of the characters’ imaginations rather than an actual supernatural occurrence.
The Sopranos Talk Show Segment in The Curse Explained
The episode begins with Whitney and Asher promoting their HGTV series while appearing on Rachel Ray, which happens during a Sopranos-themed segment focused on Vincent Pastore’s meatball recipe. While it may seem like a lighthearted moment, the scene carries deeper meaning.
It highlights how artificial Whitney and Asher’s lives have become. Whitney has constructed her identity around her public image, going as far as pretending to be happy with Asher.
She even appears disappointed when Rachel fails to mention her pregnancy during the segment. The way Whitney and Asher present their unborn child makes it seem as though they view the baby as a mere prop to boost their public appeal.
The Importance of Asher and Whitney’s Gift in the Finale
In what seems like an act of generosity, Asher and Whitney choose to donate their house to Abshir. However, this decision provides deeper insight into their true attitudes towards the people of Española, whom they claim to be helping.
While they present themselves as well-meaning individuals, their actions reveal that they have been using the community for their own benefit. The house gift exemplifies this, as Asher initially proposes the idea as a present to Whitney rather than as a genuine act of kindness.
The true nature of their intentions becomes even clearer when Asher reveals a miniature model of the house, which resembles a board game, complete with tiny figures representing Abshir’s family.
Understanding The Curse’s Ending
Throughout the series, The Curse portrays Asher and Whitney as self-serving individuals who mask their personal ambitions behind a facade of progressiveness and philanthropy.
Asher’s bizarre departure redefines the show’s unsettling themes (Photo: The Curse/SHOWTIME and A24)Much like many wealthy and influential people in real life, their supposed good deeds are driven by selfish motives rather than genuine concern for the underprivileged. Whitney is not truly interested in uplifting the people of Española—her actions are primarily aimed at rebelling against her parents.
Similarly, Asher is not genuinely dedicated to exposing the exploitation of vulnerable communities by casinos; instead, he is using the issue as a distraction from his own past controversies.
For Emma Stone, this series provides the perfect opportunity to showcase her acting range, as it blends elements from her previous performances in a unique way.
While the show primarily examines the personalities of Asher and Whitney, it also tackles broader social issues. The Curse delves into the exploitation of marginalized communities for corporate gain, disparities in housing and employment, the corrupting influence of fame, white guilt, and several other thought-provoking themes. The show delivers sharp political satire, offering multiple interpretations for audiences to engage with.
Will There Be a Second Season of The Curse?
Several unresolved storylines remain after The Curse Season 1, such as the implications of Asher’s disappearance, the birth of Whitney and Asher’s baby, and the status of the HGTV show’s second season. However, bringing the series back for another installment would be quite difficult, considering that Asher is now dead.
While The Curse has gained a strong following, leading many to hope for a continuation, there has been no official confirmation regarding a second season at the time of writing. Given the nature of the finale, it seems unlikely that the show will return.
