The Ending Of Maniac Explained 

ANNIE, I'M A HAWK!

Snori stole the show

Anyone else find it interesting how even the scientists doing the trial had mental disorders? Including the computer...

Really a terrific show. It’s a deep dive into personal/mental problems through increasingly connected realities which is simultaneously very entertaining, touching, and enlightening. It hits on the HEAVY subject matter of self acceptance while not being too heavy, too light, nor too far fetched to understand. Seriously, watch it

My favourite fantasy was the lemur one, it was so funny how bizarre and ridiculous the plot was (shout out to the fish and wildlife police ruthlessly shooting up people in an attempt to return Wendy the lemur to her family in Madagascar) and yet it still seemed serious and drew upon real problems that Annie and Owen were facing.

Loneliness is the enemy in this show. It presents loneliness as the most fundamental of human problems and uses the disorienting and fantastic to deliver a clear message about a simple solution: it’s easier with friends. For all its dancing around the subject of mental illness and bizarre dance sequences, the show's conclusion is that there is no pill, whirring wall of buttons, or radioactive headgear that can replace the effect of people coming together in friendship. If that sounds cheesy, it’s because it is. That doesn’t mean it’s not real.

His dad didn't pay Olivia. It was his schizophrenia. He wouldn't know that his parents and brothers would gather in the other room to laugh at him. He had an episode that made him think his father paid her and everyone was laughing at him for it.

Superbad was the best alternate reality

It's worth mentioning that the name of Jed's gerbil was Ernie - the name of the alien towards the end. Evidently, Owen carries some guilt about him bringing in the hawk for it to eat the innocent, cute little gerbil, *and* the subsequent death of the hawk when his brother kills it with a hammer. Despite his brother being clearly more culpable in the death of the hawk (also, children killing animals is generally an early sign of psychopathy), Owen feels more responsible for what he did, and in the same vein also feels responsible for ensuring his brother doesn't pay for his crimes against the woman he assaulted. It doesn't even occur to him that his brother could have kept himself out of trouble by not attacking someone, he just feels it's on him to keep his brother out of hot water. Owen is racked with guilt for things that weren't his fault, and we see that in Snorri's need to confess to the "crime" of killing Ernie the alien, even though he quite clearly just made a mistake. The show is absolute brilliance, it gets better with every viewing (I've watched it 9 times back to back now. It's actually helping me get through a bit of a rough patch mentally), and given the number of clues and Easter eggs you get a whole new appreciation of it from the second time onwards.

Their long island accents and dress are amazing and surprisingly accurate

I have borderline personality disorder. I felt like this series actually helped me see the light while experiencing my own ‘BLIP’. Acceptance is the key and with it we move forward.

Lol is nobody gunna talk about that one scene where they on elevator and see the others dreams? I mean cmon that one women was in a room flowing with blood! I need an explanation lol

They were always in a dream Like state. The rubix cube seems to be a symbol everyone is forgetting. Annie sees the cube in the factory trash bin (in which is considered to be “reality”) when Owen is in his pod, he used a rubix cube to pass the time. To solve the “end of the world” Owen solves a rubix cube. Not to mention he was “destined” by his fantasy Jed from the start to save the world. Furthermore, Owen sees Annie’s face everywhere, until he distances himself from her, than the faces change. Not to mention the fact of the dogs presence in “reality” as missing, and the dogs presence at the end( which of course is weaker evidence) but the coincidence is unlikely. Furthermore James says the very lines we hear at the start of the series, proving they are still in a grand consciousness of some kind. The Volvo and Mercedes show they are further deep in the dream state. (On a side note, in episode when when Owen looses his job, the person who delivers the news walks away behind a folder attached to the glass, however that may just be a sign of Owens schizophrenia). Also the 2nd dream of the lemur and stuff, shows foreshadowing for the elf dream through the child’s drawing asl proving they are in a grand consciousness. However as many people have stated, like inception this does not matter, as they are happy and accept what’s around them as real. The message is, we may not be living in base reality, but none of that matters, because it is still reality to us.

i think that making a second season would only ruin this show the ending was so beautiful and heart warming

How come non of these "ending explained" videos mentions the fact that the Volvo and the Mercedes and the Hawk all appeared in the ending (supposedly in real life), despite the fact they're all conjured up in Owen's mind?

Did anybody notice in the first episode that when OWEN was in the park a tourist group was going by and the lady was showing them the STATUE OF EXTRA LIBERTY and the tourist were wearing RED HATS and speaking RUSSIAN. lol

Just finished the show. It was amazing. Random thought. I feel like it was so easy for Owen to sell out his brother because he spent so much time with the “brother he never had” with his episodes in the real world and seeing him as different characters throughout his dreams, so once he got back to the real world he saw that the real brother he had was just a douche. Also, fucking LOVED the ending. And no, they are not still in the simulation guys. Cmon. Let it be a happy ending ❤️

Owens father didn’t actually pay olivia to fake the relationship but Owen imagined it and that’s why Owen started to write the apology at the end. Why would he apologize to her if she was in the wrong

the pattern is the pattern

I loved the ending, The two scientists fell in love again and ran away together, they were the crazy and quite over dramatic of a couple and then you had Owen and Annie who were psychotic and ran way together too, they both crossed paths again but this time to only say bye. And with this ending it leaves you satisfied they will all be okay and that sometimes running away from the problems makes it better instead of trying to cure the problems

Anyone else notice "The Graduate" homage at the end? Great explanation. Just finished the show and I loved it

i kind of lost it when they said the computer was depressed

My favourite bit was the poop cleaner machine he's so cute. I want one

excellent explanation makes me want to go binge-watch it a second time....right now! :D

It reminded me of a Kurt Vonnegut book

I think what I enjoyed about this show the most is not the fantasy’s or other realities they conjure up, but the real world they live in! It’s like an alternate 1980’s and I love that! Everything is so analog yet futuristic and out dated. The liberty extra statue?! Add buddy’s? Friend proxy’s?

UGH THE BEST COMBO!! I knew Seth & Jules would make it through that gnarly black eye

When Annie is signing in to the institute Owen is in, you can see the last name entered "Wendy Lemura" that made me think it wasn't real.

maniac was so amazing, thank you for clearing things out!

There’s also an Easter egg on Episode 4 “Furs by Sebastian” when Annie and Owen are talking in the car planning the lemur breakout. The screen transitions to their house and at 11:07 you can see a picture on the wall of two elves. This is foreshadowing Ellie’s and Annie’s adventure during episode 7 “Ceci N’est Pas Une Drill”

There is also the rubiks cube thrown by annie in the first episode and picked up by Owen.. and at the end he fixes the situation with the rubiks cube

On top of the ending nods to this being a simulation all along.. I found it bizarre that during the trial, if in fact the trial was real, that despite having clear video evidence proving Owen`s brother`s guilt, why did it seem like the whole outcome of the trial was still relying on Owen`s response as to whether or not he thought that was his brother in the video. This seemed like a test GRTA was placing on Owen to help him stand up to his family and thus allowing him move past their oppressive hold on him. Also, if this was reality... how did the family not realize they had a video camera pointing straight into his brothers office? Ofcourse they'd know and ofcourse they would have disposed of the video before handing it over to the prosecutor; or at the very least, the would have known the prosecution was in possession of the video evidence instead of being surprised about it. I hate to say it but this whole show was a simulation. Maybe these test subjects are the McMurphie's we keep hearing about, forever stuck in the simulations..

just finished the show and it was amazing, owen got his fantasy in the final scene, driving away in a get-away, smiling with annie

I think the vagueness of the end was intentional but since the important thing is that both Annie and Owen are happy and have confronted their personal trauma while at the same time connecting with another soul it doesn't really matter. There's evidence pointing to them still being inside the simulation, and there is also evidence pointing towards them being on the real world. For example, the names on the sign in paper can hint towards the first option, or it could simply be pointing to Annie's memories of what happened in the simulation being real as anything for her. I think bringing elements of the simulation to the real world doesn't necessarily mean they are still inside it, but it might imply that what happened in the simulation might as well have been real, at less real enough to make a change in both of their lives. A really beautiful and powerful series nonetheless. 🙂

this review is amazing, I love how you go back and mention the little foreshadow details

can someone explain the significance of the rubik's cube tho? i know he was supposed to "save the experiment" with it but they never really explained why that was what would do it. in my opinion, Annie saved the experiment by calming Gertie down and having her accept that she'll never get over her loss but she could adjust around it

They're driving through snow at the end, it's bright and sunny when they start driving. To me it appears that they've been driving long enough for the seasons to change hence Owen asking "How far is Salt Lake City?" They've been driving for months, maybe years because they are perpetually stuck in his fantasy forever.

Really touching series with two awesome actors, just wish i didn’t watch the two first episodes a few weeks ago and then binged watched the series today. I swear half of the time i didnt even know what was going on! Thank you for this explanation! Am I the only one who thought Dr. James K. Mantleray had a really special personality?

I like that there wasn't a forced romance between Owen and Annie . It was a really good show!

I still feel like there are so many un-connected stories that need to be conjoined. So much symbolism and objects that occur in almost every episode makes me think that reality really isn't reality and in fact Owen is actually the original subject?

When podcasters promote their ads in the beginning- add buddy

I found this to be a more scientific and psychological mini series; an interesting take and method of cognitive behavioral treatments of the future. A lot of the things Owen would say, such as his fantasies or running away, is a behavior of schizophrenia, as well as his "hallucinations" of his brother is a voice that he hears constantly. His dreams, especially the mafia one with his dad as a murderer, is somewhat a representation of command auditory hallucinations that could very much match his fathers commands in real life, and are translated into a murderous evil father.

I know the show is new, so this topic is yet to be touched on, but what is the significance of smoking in this series, it is depicted throughout almost the entire show. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Deff a unforgettable show for me. I had no idea that Olivia was a real person from Owens past, and that his blip was just him not being happy with the life he had, and then had a meltdown. Dr. Fugita was hot as fuck!

I just finished re-watching this show, and I love it.

Maniac is really about the DMT/ayahuasca trip.

This was the best show i have seen in a long time! It should be aired on normal tv on one of the main channels! Bravo to Jonah and Ems and the makers. Another thing about the whole theme of the series where its a presence reality but the technology is all from mixed decades, its also possibly in a reality where building relationships is hard. Hence why at the end they both just realised what they saw in each other was a friend, something that in the whole series was either completely absent or created by a paid friend proxy service. What they really need to help themselves and their problems, was each other. Owen halucinated less towards the end of the series because he had Annie to listen and understand him, there was no Grimmson. Annie was more stable when she had found someone else in the world who through all their messed up fantasies was always there for her. End explained= friendship

I watched the show in one weekend and now I'm having binge withdrawal

I absolutely LOVED this show, it was so well made and funny as hell. I really really hope they make just one more season :P

You have a terribly abrasive inflection pattern. It's just too repetitive and unnatural. Great writing, spot-on point making. I just couldn't last 3 whole minutes hearing the same tonal scale repeat itself. Sorry my man.

I have to say, I disagree with your ending explained. I actually see the ending as bringing us back to his fantasy, revealing that he was still stuck in his illusions. with the popcorn, and the hawk riding the pooper scooper, it seems more likely, the laughter they share is because they still are hallucinating.

I very much liked how they were still sick in the end. They weren't cured but had still made significant progress. Truth is there is no "cure" you just grow and move forward best you can, an then you can find happiness somwhere new.

No. They were still stuck in the simulation. The hawk from 30 years ago and the dead dog from 5 years ago in the after credit scene and the doctor monologue that started the show is what ends it because he is imagining everything is ok and they are happy ... like he said he imagined that earlier in the movie. All the pieces were there. Things that weren't in the real world the first time showed up after they were "saved". The movie starting with them going opposite the doctors as they are discussing 2 billion years ago it shows they will always run into each other because they are stuck in the same simulation. Unless the after credit scene was just a cutesy thing I refuse to believe the entire show had 0 consequence.

such an incredible show. thank you for putting it all into words

After i watched whole episodes of black mirror with side by side explanation by you per episodes, this came up and been advertised to my netflix account. I watched it instantly and it does have a black mirror theme just a lil darker, deeper and more emotional to it 😅

Thank you for your interpretation, BryceMakesFilms. Loved this show and am about to watch it all over again! I suspect it will take several viewings before I start to understand it on a deeper level....

What a beautiful show, highly recommend, the score was reminiscent of the movie Drive which I loved.

I would hate to think how many times I've seen Maniac,I think it's incredibly underrated,I'd put in my list of top 10 shows Twin Peaks,,The Singing Detective,The Prisoner,Danger 5,Yo Gabba Gabba, etc etc

this show was so confusing. still good tho

My biggest issue with this series is Hank. We “meet” him in the beginning and don’t actually meet him until almost the very end of the series. Then he’s revealed to be Hank Azaria. Hank Azaria is a great character actor. Throw him somewhere in these alternate dreams. He would’ve been amazing!

Dr. Fujita is a godess

They did not return to reality. They never were.

Love your videos! My favorite reality was the Brox couple. Grounded in reality - most tangible.

Amazing content. Theses videos should be called "The Ending (And Pretty Much Everything Else) of ... Explained".

I thought it was hilarious when Owen turned into hawk, and he kept yelling “I’m a hawk!”, just the way he was saying it was funny to me lol

I thought the way it handled mental health was so awesome, and so relatable. So much better than 13 reasons why lmaooo

I enjoyed many parts of the Maniac series, I appreciate the effort of mental illness isdues and depression we all as a whole have on different levels. I will admit once the different story lines branched off I skipped through just a little. This show is another reminder that we are in the matrix and our mind can play dirty tricks on us if we dont confront our feelings and pain. There is no happy pill that changes you, finding coping mechanisms to cope in life is key. Awesome series it was kinda funny when Emma's character went round killing their inner demons.

This show is about the healing calabilities of past life regression

I guess this is more like a summary than an ending explanation.

this show is way better than stranger things

Linda and bruce

Great review....... the vision the Writers/Directors had was something I'd never seen

Annie I'm a Hawk!

great summary, but i wish you mentioned movies vs series in your title.

This show is so layered and amazing.

Linda and bruce!

I loved the reality where he had a wife and 7 kids.

Great video, thanks! This has made Jonah Hill my favourite actor, now. He's so good!

Just watched the series, I quite liked it, especially the fantasy illusion between annie and ellie.

We never see the real world throughout the whole series. My first big clue was the tour of New York harbor, and the Stature of Extra Liberty. It definitely wasn't the real world as we know it. My second clue was in the last episode. When Annie signs into the facility where Owen is located, the name above hers is "Wendy Lemuria", reminding me of the Lemur in one of the fantasies. This all makes me think that the entire series from beginning to end takes place in a virtual reality. It deserves a second viewing.

In the Animatrix series, Neo tells someone he rescues ; "there is fiction in your truth and there is truth in your fiction" , that sums up Maniac.

the way he says "my mind is playing tricks"

Anyone else catch the Cuckoo's Nest reference in the show? Love it.

Reminds me of the leftovers when Kevin went to the hotel

Watched all 10 episodes in one day. LOVE IT!! #SEASON 2

THANNNNNNK YOU. I felt like this show was such a puzzle and I hadn't put all the pieces together yet.

idk why i enjoyed this show so much but its great wish it was longer

Thank you for making this video

I love your chanel! But I d like you to add more series just like you added Ozark, not just sci fi! That was really great!

I love this show so much it was fun while it lasted

I really liked Owen’s Confrontation arc, the scenes where Owen is in the hotel room and the police officers are shot by jed, then Jed is shot by Grimsson and where Owen and Olivia run away together were my favorite.

He legit doesn’t even explain the show correctly wtf? He showed the pictures in strangest order and didn’t explain any other details, this was such a shit explanation to the concept of the ending, the show itself is confusing enough, but u literally put no effort into order of events and the concept of the show, if anyone is reading the comments before they watch this, don’t, watch the show, it explains the ending better then he does.

Good video and all, but please get a new mic. The pops on the P's are incredibly distracting and the rolling between L and R made it nearly impossible for me to concentrate on the content.

Anyone else cry like a bitch when she says her sorrys and goodbye to her sister? Or just me ?😭

This series was such a trip!

can’t finish this show it just feels like a fever dream

there's a quick part towards the end where a lens flare,from the sun in the background that passes right through the main characters,proving they aren't really there

Remember everyone , the pattern is the pattern

The are still stuck in a simulation! They are the lost patients . Good hint, the name right above Annies on the sign in sheet in the mental facility was Wendy Lemura!!

What's messing with me is that in the list while annie was signing to visit owen you see the names that had been in their fantasies