‘No Good Deed’ Ending Explained: Who Killed Jacob? Who Set the Fire?

Netflix’s latest show, No Good Deed, offers a dark perspective on the extent individuals are willing to push boundaries in pursuit of an ideal lifestyle. The series portrays young couples competing for a stunning 1920s Spanish-style house in Los Angeles, a family resorting to extreme measures to hide a wrongdoing, and a surprising reveal regarding a character’s deceptive nature.

Needless to say that with all the twists and turns and utter shocks that No Good Deed throws at its viewers, you might walk away from the ending feeling…confused.

**Spoilers for No Good Deed, now streaming on Netflix**

From the jump, No Good Deed promises to keep audiences on their toes. At first, it seems that Lydia (Lisa Kudrow) and Paul (Ray Romano) are typical empty-nesters concerned their family home might not be passed on to a loving new owner. Then, Denis Leary arrives as a criminal demanding blackmail money, we learn Lydia and Paul’s son Jacob (Wyatt Aubrey) died in the house, and the situation becomes even more and more complicated.

Trying to figure out just what exactly happened to Jacob and why? Who started that final blaze that seemingly targeted Margo (Linda Cardellini)? And who gets the house in the end? Here’s everything you need to know about the complicated ending of No Good Deed Season 1…

No Good Deed
Photo: Netflix

No Good Deed spends much of its run playing coy about how Jacob specifically died. We first know that he was shot and that his criminal uncle Mikey (Denis Leary) helps Paul and Lydia cover up what really happened. In fact, keeping this evidence secret is the cause of most of Paul and Lydia’s desperate behavior in the series. While your initial guess might be that Paul killed his own son, mistaking Jacob for a violent intruder, the truth is way more wild.

Eventually we learn that Paul was not the Morgan who shot Jacob. Instead it was teenaged Emily (Chloe East). Lydia and Paul were at a concert while the teens stayed home. When Jacob bursts through the backdoor, dressed like a thief and hauling stolen jewelry and watches from JD (Luke Wilson) and Margo’s home, Emily is scared. She fires in self defense before realizing she’s shot and killed her brother. That is the secret that Paul and Lydia (and Mikey) have worked so hard to cover up.

However, lawyer Leslie (Abbi Jacobson) becomes so obsessed with the house that she does her own digging and realizes that there were two different bullet casings discovered at the crime scene. Emily missed her brother. In fact, Margo shot Jacob.

Why would Margo murder the teenager? Well, he was so smitten with her that she seduced the underage boy and encouraged him to steal for her. When Jacob realizes that he’s been played, the heartbroken boy runs away with JD and Margo’s possessions, promising to reveal Margo’s treachery. The image-obsessed Margo shoots Jacob just as he arrives home — and is also shot at by sister Emily.

The revelation that Margo killed Jacob helps the Morgans find closure and the season ends with them reconnecting on stage, performing an original musical composition written by Jacob before his death.

Linda Cardelli as Margot in 'No Good Deed'
Photo: Netflix

Margo eventually gets what’s coming to her, as JD leaves her and “karma” burns her (literally). The last time we see Margo in her massive Los Angeles pad, she realizes her entire house is on fire. She only seemingly survives because she’s in the bath. However, the final glance we get at Margo reveals half her face has been badly burned.

So did JD set the fire? Did Lydia do it in a final act of revenge? Or was the fact that Margo once accidentally set her family’s own trailer on fire a bit of foreshadowing? No Good Deed star Linda Cardellini was coy when Decider asked her what caused the fire.

“I think you could call it many things. I think you can mostly call it karma,” Cardellini said.

“You’re saying that karma caused the fire?” Luke Wilson asked.

“No, but I do think I think it helps,” she said.

“It sounds like someone dancing around the spoiler,” Wilson teased.

“That’s what I think is so fun about it, though,” Cardellini said, comparing No Good Deed‘s ending to her work on another Liz Feldman-created Netflix show, Dead to Me. “I think there’s always sort of a question of ‘Did we really just see that? Is what just happened here?’”

“It’s sort of like you get to make your own adventure.”

Lydia and Paul finally do sell their house to parents-to-be Leslie and Sarah (Poppy Liu). Although they were once leaning towards Dennis (O-T Fagbenle) and Carla (Teyonah Parris), the new parents opt to buy JD and Margo’s razed house instead so architect Carla can design her dream house. What happens next to the two new families on the block remains to be seen…

We don’t know yet if Netflix will order a second season of No Good Deed, but series creator and showrunner Liz Feldman told Decider she already has a “really fun idea” for one.

“An idea that would certainly have a lot of twists and turns and new stories to tell,” Feldman said. “I hope that I’ll get the chance to do it, but I got to talk to Netflix first.”

(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&appId=823934954307605&version=v2.8”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));

You May Also Like
Musk slams Le Pen ruling, says it will 'backfire' like Trump's as some on global right face legal troubles

Elon Musk criticizes Le Pen decision, predicts it will have negative consequences similar to Trump’s, as right-wing figures worldwide encounter legal challenges

The court conviction of Marine Le Pen, a prominent right-wing figure, for…
9-year-old girl dies after dental procedure with anesthesia at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, California in San Diego County

Tragic death of 9-year-old girl following dental procedure at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, California within San Diego County

VISTA, Calif. — A 9-year-old girl in Southern California died after undergoing…
White House Aides Had a ‘Death Pool’ Plan for Biden, Led Him Around With Neon Tape on the Floor: Book

Revealing a Historic Scandal: Astonishing Revelations on How Democrats Concealed Biden’s Decline

Just when you feel like you’ve learned everything possible about how Democrats…
FAA employee charged with assault after altercation in air traffic control tower at Reagan National Airport

FAA Worker Accused of Assault Following Fight at Air Traffic Control Tower in Reagan National Airport

Authorities stated that a worker at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)…
Megyn Kelly issues scathing takedown of liberal journalist over reaction to her sister's death

Megyn Kelly Criticizes Liberal Journalist for Insensitive Response to Her Sister’s Death

Megyn Kelly has blasted a liberal tech reporter, calling her a ‘bad person’…
Keke Palmer Finally Gets Her Movie Star Moment With ‘One of Them Days’

Keke Palmer’s Big Break in Hollywood Arrives with ‘One of Them Days’ Movie

Keke Palmer and SZA star in the buddy comedy One of Them…
Green Beret murdered: Shana Cloud, wife of Clinton Bonnell, charged in his death investigation after dismembered body found

Wife of Clinton Bonnell, Shana Cloud, charged in the murder investigation after dismembered body of Green Beret discovered

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The disappearance of former North Carolina Green Beret, Clinton…
CPS Update: Chicago Teachers Union tentative with Chicago Public Schools to head to CTU's House of Delegates for approval

Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools Reach Tentative Agreement, Pending Approval by CTU’s House of Delegates

CHICAGO (WLS) — After lengthy discussions, the Chicago Teachers Union has reached…
Donald Trump reveals how Tiger Woods broke news of his relationship with Vanessa

Tiger Woods was the one who told Donald Trump about his relationship with Vanessa.

President Donald Trump attributes the breakdown of his marriage with ex-wife Vanessa…
New evidence discovered at site of Jesus' resurrection corroborates the Bible

Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection supported by recent evidence found at the site

An archaeological discovery at the site where Jesus is believed to have…
How Does President Trump Feel About Tiger Woods Dating Former Daughter-in-Law Vanessa?

President Trump’s Opinion on Tiger Woods Dating Vanessa, His former Daughter-in-Law

President Donald Trump signed executive orders in the Oval Office on Monday.…
Gaunt, dazed and hollow-eyed Justin Bieber films disturbing livestream triggering Hailey Bieber drama

Justin Bieber looks tired and thin while shooting unsettling livestream that leads to drama with Hailey Bieber

Justin Bieber continued to spark fan fears with a disturbing livestream video…