Warning: The following article contains significant spoilers regarding the conclusion of “No Good Deed.”

Some years ago, writer and producer Liz Feldman experienced the fiercely competitive real estate market.

She and her spouse, musician Rachael Cantu, visited over 50 homes before settling on their ideal residence.

“It was cutthroat; I felt compelled to do anything to secure this house,” Feldman recalls. “I even wrote a letter to the sellers, slightly embellishing our story to tug at their heartstrings. And it worked!”

This experience inspired “No Good Deed,” an eight-episode dark comedy on Netflix (currently available for streaming) that follows three competitive couples vying for an extravagant Los Angeles home owned by Lydia Morgan (Lisa Kudrow), a former concert pianist, and her husband, Paul (Ray Romano). They are attempting to start fresh after the tragic death of their teenage son, Jacob (Wyatt Aubrey), three years prior.

However, similar to Feldman’s previous Netflix series, “Dead to Me,” the show is filled with unexpected twists and turns. Let’s break down the finale:

Who murdered Jacob in ‘No Good Deed?’

Through flashbacks, we learn that Jacob had been acting out by pilfering from neighbors. One fateful night, while running through the front door wearing a ski mask, his sister Emily (Chloe East) mistakenly thinks he’s an intruder and accidentally shoots him in confusion.

However, it is revealed in the finale that it wasn’t Emily’s bullet that took his life: Jacob was actually across the street with Margo (Linda Cardellini), a con artist married to former soap actor JD (Luke Wilson). When he threatened to disclose their relationship to JD, Margo chased him back home and fatally shot him on the porch.

“Margo wasn’t always intended to be the key player in this,” Feldman, who previously collaborated with Cardellini on “Dead to Me,” explains. “But as we developed her character and leaned into her sociopathic traits, we felt compelled to give the Morgan family a semblance of a happy ending, which provided a unique way to relieve them from blame for their son’s death.”

Margo’s fate was sealed after she suffered severe burns in a bathtub fire and was eventually apprehended for her numerous crimes. This foreshadowing began in Episode 1 when Lydia mentioned she’d prefer to burn their house down rather than sell it to someone like Margo. “It felt fitting,” Feldman remarks. “It was her destiny.”

Who ultimately purchased Paul and Lydia’s house?

Besides Margo and JD, two additional couples are vying for the Morgans’ residence: attorney Leslie (Abbi Jacobson) and her wife, Sarah (Poppy Liu), who is eager to conceive; and newlyweds Dennis (O-T Fagbenle) and Carla (Teyonah Parris), who face challenges due to his overbearing mother (Anna Maria Horsford).

According to California real estate regulations, homeowners do not have to report a death occurring in the house after three years. However, thanks to Leslie’s legal skills, Sarah discovers Jacob’s murder and persuades Carla to withdraw her offer on the property so they can purchase it instead.

“We wanted to reward the couple who truly understood the home’s dark history yet were willing to buy it anyway,” Feldman explains. “This was a moment of healing for the house. It also highlights that same-sex couples share the same dreams as anyone else: to protect and provide for their families.”

Originally, Feldman had a different concept: In the opening episode, “Saturday Night Live” alum Vanessa Bayer briefly appears during an open house at the Morgans’ home with her partner.

“She’s introduced early on in the series, and I thought it would be very typical of L.A. to conclude the season with that superficial, upscale couple acquiring the house,” Feldman explains. “But as we saw more of the other characters, it became clear that giving it to Leslie and Sarah made more sense.”

What happens at the end of ‘No Good Deed’?

In the closing scene of the season, Lydia sits at the piano to perform with Emily, her daughter who she had previously been distanced from and who is also a musician. Paul watches from the crowd, and suddenly, the lamp on his table begins to flicker. Earlier in the show, Lydia mentioned that Jacob would communicate with her through the light in his bedroom. Initially skeptical, Paul now sees the flickering light as a sign that Jacob remains with him and greets the lamp.

“We wanted to give Paul a moment that completes his journey, showcasing the progress he’s made in dealing with his grief,” Feldman shares. The concept of the glowing light draws inspiration from her own life: “When we first moved into our house, there was a light that kept blinking. Several electricians couldn’t resolve it – then I realized it might not need fixing.”

Is ‘No Good Deed’ getting a Season 2?

Even though the Morgans’ house was eventually sold, there are still many possible directions for “No Good Deed” to explore in a potential continuation. Could the story shift to a new group of potential buyers in another city? Is there a chance that comedian Matt Rogers will reprise his role as the snarky real-estate agent Greg?

“I can’t reveal much, but I think Matt Rogers is exceptional,” Feldman hints. “I’d collaborate with him again without hesitation. What initially fascinated me about this concept was its potential longevity. There are countless real-estate markets, and everyone dreams of owning their ideal home. It opens the door for many captivating and emotional narratives.”