The Patient ending explained: What happened in the finale?

THE Patient has come to an abrupt and shocking end.

Hulu's psychological drama tells the tale of a therapist who is held captive by a serial killer. Here's what happened in the finale of season one.

What is The Patient about?

Let's go back to the beginning.

The Patient is about looking inside the mind of a killer as a therapist tries to help one out.

A serial killer named Sam steals the wallets of his victims after murdering them.

And as he seeks help for his behaviour, Sam ends up holding therapist Alan captive.

Alan - who recently lost his wife - is locked up by Sam as he begs for him with his homicidal urges.

Spoiler alert...

In the finale of The Patient - which aired on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 - Dr Alan was murdered.

Alan became desperate after he was kept chained up for years by serial killer Sam.

Despite attempting to manage his murderous mind, Sam succumbed to his urges and strangled Alan to death.

In a final attempt to prevent himself from killing in the future, Sam then proceeded to chain himself up in the basement.

He also sent Alan’s final letter to his children Shoshana and Ezra.

A grieving Ezra then turned to therapy himself to work his way through the loss of his dad.

Steve Carell stars as Alan Strauss.

Alan is the therapist who is mourning the recent loss of his wife.

The 60-year-old American actor is well-known for his role in The Office.

He also produced The Patient.

Domhnall Gleeson, 39, plays the role of serial killer Sam Fortner.

He becomes one of Alan's new patients before holding him captive and then murdering him.

The Irish actor and screenwriter is best known for his portrayal of Bill Weasley in the Harry Potter film franchise.

Linda Emond plays the role of Candace Fortner, Sam's mum.

Candace is aware of her son's actions and behaviour.