WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Disclaimer episode 5.
The ending ofDisclaimerepisode 5 leaves Nicholas' fate ambiguous after his struggle with heroin addiction is revealed. Cate Blanchett leads a talented ensemblecast ofDisclaimeras Catherine Ravenscroft, a hard-working and acclaimed television documentary journalist out of London, England.Catherine’s world unravels once a mysterious novel titledThe Perfect Strangerarrives at her doorstep, bringing up memories of one of her deepest and darkest secrets.Disclaimeralso stars Sacha Baron Cohen as Robert, Catherine’s husband, Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nicholas, Robert and Catherine’s son, and Kevin Kline as Stephen Brigstocke, a local London man who has lost his wife and son.
Disclaimeris based on the 2015 bookof the same name written by Renée Knight. After four episodes ofDisclaimer, the affair between Catherine and Jonathan is revealed to Robert after Stephen gives him the photographs for proof. Robert becomes furious and kicks Catherine out of their home but doesn’t tell Nicholas about any of it. Through the first half of Disclaimer, Nicholas has intentionally stayed out of Catherine’s reach as their relationship has evidently been strained long before the present-day timeline in the series.Disclaimerhas earned an impressive Rotten Tomatoescritic score of 78% andconsists of seven parts with the final episode releasing on November 15.
Does Nicholas Die From A Drug Overdose In Disclaimer?
Nicholas frequently uses heroin behind his parents' back
At the end ofDisclaimerepisode 5, it’s unclear whether Nicholas has died from an apparent heroin overdose. It was only discovered in the very same episodes that Nicholas had a substance abuse problem, since throughout the first four episodes ofDisclaimer, the audience only sees Nicholas through the lens of either Robert or Catherine.Nicholas is shown going to purchase and use heroin several times inDisclaimerepisode 5, even bringing along his own sanitary injection kit. The narration states that Nicholas has assured himself that he has the habit under control, which may not truly be the case.
Disclaimer: What Really Happened Between Catherine & Jonathan (& How Much Is The Show Lying About It?)
Catherine & Jonathan’s affair in Italy is depicted in the early episodes of Disclaimer but may have been dramatized by an unreliable & biased source.
After an already fragile Nicholas discovers the truth about his mother and Jonathan in Italy through Stephen’s cunning internet catfishing scheme, he begins to spiral worse than ever before. It’s interesting that Jonathan, who throughout the series couldn’t care less about Catherine, becomes so deeply affected by Catherine’s affair with Jonathan and the racy photographs that Stephen sends him of her. It’s apparent thatNicholas is more affected by the part of the story in which Jonathan drowns trying to save himafter he brings his inflatable dinghy out to sea. This becomes the final straw for Nicholas, who is already lacking in self-esteem and emotional stability.
Why Does Everyone Turn Against Catherine So Quickly?
Catherine continues to take blows to her family life and reputation in Disclaimer episode 5 after Stephen shows up at her place of work with copies ofThe Perfect Stranger. It only took a book and a few images sent by a stranger to destroy a marriage, a teetering mother/son relationship, and Catherine’s career, the latter of which didn’t even require the images. The scene in which Catherine is confronted by her subordinates at work isclearly some kind of commentary on cancel culture. It also shows how none of those occupational relationships were healthy in the first place, as evidenced by how the people she worked with were so ready for any chance to tear her down.
How Did Jonathan Get The Cut On His Arm In Disclaimer?
A mysterious cut on Jonathan’s arm discovered by his dad Stephen could point to the truth behind his connection with Catherine in Italy in Disclaimer.
The scene in which Stephen has a conversation with Jisoo (played by an underutilized Hoyeon) further demonstrates the point that Catherine had admirers but not friends. The moment Stephen mentions the possibility of something scandalous about Catherine, Jisoo makes sure to sit him down and gather as much information as possible in order to potentially use it to make a career move of her own. This ends up being the case, as Jisoo hands copies ofThe Perfect Strangerout to the entire office in just one day, not bothering to talk to Catherine about it privately first. This reveals that whileCatherine may have been respected, she was not necessarily well-likedby her employees.
What Does Stephen Meeting With Robert Mean?
Robert also wants revenge against Catherine
Stephen meets with Robert at the latter’s request, although Stephen is initially unsure whether it’s a good idea. Once he discovers that Robert is dead set on exacting his own revenge on Catherine after her unforgivable betrayal,Stephen realizes that he can trust Robert as they share the same main objective. What Robert will surely disapprove of is Stephen’s actions against Nicholas that may have led to his death or overdose, although Stephen never revealed his actual name to Nicholas during their online communication. It doesn’t seem like Stephen would have wished any harm to Nicholas but his trickery will certainly have left an indelible mark by the end ofDisclaimer.
Disclaimer’s Four Different Timelines Explained
Alfonso Cuarón’s new mystery thriller series Disclaimer portrays the scandalous past of Cate Blanchett’s Catherine and her dark secret, Jonathan.
Disclaimer
Cast
Told in seven chapters, “Disclaimer” is based on the novel of the same name by Renée Knight. Acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett) built her reputation revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others. When she receives a novel from an unknown author, she is horrified to realize she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets. As Catherine races to uncover the writer’s true identity, she is forced to confront her past before it destroys both her own life and her relationships with her husband Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen) and their son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee).
