The Season 1 finale of The Big Door Prize brought Deerfield residents together at the 150th annual Deerfest, providing a mix of fun, nostalgia, and tension. The festival included traditional games, rides, Giorgio’s World’s Biggest Pasta bowl, and a town-wide power outage, all under a brewing storm. While the townspeople enjoyed the festivities, personal crises related to the mysterious MORPHO machine came to a head, creating dramatic moments for multiple characters. The finale left fans with numerous cliffhangers, heightening anticipation for the next season.
Storm Strikes Deerfield, Affecting Mr. Johnson and Revealing Secrets Between Hana, Father Reuben
The storm that hit Deerfield had serious consequences for Mr. Johnson. After tampering with the MORPHO machine, he was electrocuted and developed clusters of glowing blue dots on his neck. His condition worsened, leading to cardiac arrest and hospitalization. Most of the town remained unaware of the severity of the situation, continuing to enjoy Deerfest, which highlighted the contrast between the festive environment and the personal crises occurring in the background. Mr. Johnson’s hospitalization also raised questions about the true power of the MORPHO machine and its effects on those who interact with it.
Gabrielle Dennis as Cass and Chris O’Dowd as Dusty (The Big Door Prize/Apple TV)Away from the festival, Hana and Father Reuben had a tense and complicated interaction in Hana’s bar. The two were romantically involved but quickly ran into conflict over MORPHO cards and their meanings. Father Reuben admitted he no longer wanted to be a priest and shared personal stories from his past, including reasons for coming to Deerfield. Hana, however, became defensive about his narratives, pointing out inconsistencies about his father-in-law’s presence when he found his MORPHO card.
Their confrontation ended with Hana leaving abruptly, leaving unresolved tension and questions about their relationship. Later, they continued their conversation outside the bar, revealing even more about their secrets and past experiences. Hana admitted she had previously lived in another town with a MORPHO machine but kept it a secret. She told Father Reuben that he should stop looking for signs, emphasizing the personal and mysterious nature of the machine.
Dusty, Cass, and Others Face Love, Family Conflicts, and Festival Chaos Together
Meanwhile, Dusty and Cass attempted to reconnect on the Ferris wheel. Cass confronted her mother, Izzy, over past grievances and sarcastically claimed she knew everyone’s hopes and dreams. Cass then pulled her mother into a hay bale maze, leaving her trapped after expressing how much she had been hurt.
During this chaos, Giorgio rescued festival-goers from the Ferris wheel during the storm using a bucket truck, resulting in a romantic moment with Nat, confirming a new couple. Beau also saved Izzy from the maze, while Trina and Jacob committed to dating despite uncertain futures. Dusty and Cass recognized their love but decided to spend time apart to pursue personal growth, suggesting that their paths may diverge in the next season.
Hana temporarily left Deerfield but experienced strange phenomena while driving, including a malfunctioning radio, a headache, and the appearance of a white deer on the road. These events led her to stop at Colton’s memorial and ultimately return to Deerfield with renewed purpose. When she reentered town, it became clear that she now had glowing blue MORPHO dots on her back, indicating a deeper connection to the machine. Her return set the stage for the next phase of the MORPHO machine’s influence on the town.
The finale concluded with Deerfield residents discovering the MORPHO machine in Mr. Johnson’s general store, glowing and extending wings from its sides. The machine displayed a message asking if they were ready for the next stage, signaling a new phase of mysteries. Hana appeared in the crowd, revealing her glowing blue dots and past knowledge of the machine, leaving the residents and viewers with questions about its powers. The episode ended with many unresolved mysteries, including the significance of the blue dots, the machine’s next stage, and what lies ahead for Deerfield’s residents, setting the tone for an eagerly awaited Season 2.
