Summary
The final ever episode of Firefly Lane will leave you broken.
I don’t know how anyone can be prepared for this finale. If you have watched this series intently from the beginning, it’s easy to fall in love with this wholesome friendship.
Firefly Lane understands happiness and sorrow; this finale weaves the two well. The writers wanted to break us from the start. Now, grab the tissues.
Firefly Lane Season 2 Episode 16 Recap
Does Kate die?
Episode 16 opens up in 2016. Kate narrates how it has been ten years since she got sick. It’s Marah’s wedding. Kate and Tully praise each other for raising Marah well.
Kate thanks Tully for sticking with Marah. But Tully tells her it was all her — “She is the best of you.” But then there’s a knock on Tully’s hotel room door. When she turns around, Kate is not there. Kate has died. Tully was imagining her.
Episode 16 then flits back to 2006. Tully and Danny are enjoying a morning in bed together. But then, Tully gets a call — Kate has had a seizure and is in the hospital.
Why does Tully quit New York?
Episode 16 then moves to 1997. Kate brings her daughter, Marah, to her workplace. Kate is enjoying a happy family life with Johnny.
Afterward, Tully explains how the elevator she was in started malfunctioning — it dropped many floors before it stopped, and she nearly died. Tully is sick of New York and can’t work there anymore. She misses Johnny and Kate. She’s doing her new talk show from Seattle and asks Johnny to be her producer. Kate is offended that she didn’t ask her but admits she is too busy.
Tully, Johnny, and Kate enjoy life as a family. The theme of the series. Family, love, and friends.
What advice does Kate give Tully for her new show?
In 1997, Johnny helps Tully produce her new show. Tully does not like the new format, and the executives think she’s acting too polished. Johnny tells Tully to relax. So they record again, and Tully ironically acts too relaxed this time.
Afterward, Kate gives Tully advice — to be herself.
Why does Kate only have weeks to live?
In 2006, Johnny delivers Tully bad news — cancer has spread to Kate’s brain, disqualifying her from the trial. She has a matter of weeks to 2 months to live. Johnny tells Tully to face reality — Kate is going to die. Tully is angry that Johnny has given up on her.
Tully visits Kate’s bedside. Kate apologizes to Tully for letting her down. She wants to go home so she can be with her loved ones. Tully accepts her request — it’s time to go home.
Why is Kate wanting to write a book before she dies?
And so Kate returns home, and Tully supports her. Marah has a date. Kate looks on, knowing Marah will be okay with Tully around.
Kate is writing a book before she dies, and she’s getting impatient. She wants to leave something behind. She tells Johnny that all Marah will remember is her sick mother.
When Marah returns home from a date, she tells her mother about how amazing it was. Tully loves listening to her daughter.
Kate learns more good news before she dies — her brother is going to ask his partner to marry him. Her impending death gave him perspective. Kate wishes she could be at his wedding. Sean hopes she will.
What are Kate’s plans for her and Tully?
In the past, teenager Tully tells Kate that her mother has received a letter from her probation letter. She feels abandoned. Kate tells Tully that she is her family, and they will go to college together, get married to two brothers, and give birth at the same time. She says they will be “together ever” and “grow old together.”
Kate asks Tully to be mad at her
In 2006, Kate asks Tully if she’s mad at her — she promised she would never leave, and she is. Tully struggles with the conversation because she doesn’t want to yell at Kate.
But then Tully breaks down in tears — she expresses they had a deal to “grow old together,” and she can’t live without her. Tully explains how she will never be ready to live without her.
Kate tells Tully to live her life and wants her to call Danny back. She tells her it’s okay to be happy and wants to hear about her relationship updates while she can still appreciate it.
Afterward, the best friends decide to get high on weed at night. And like old times, their mothers catch them outside, stoned. Kate’s mother expresses her pride in her daughter, and more giggles ensue as all the women get high.
Does Kate finish her book?
In 2006, Kate finishes her book — it’s about her life. She tells Johnny that she’s completed it. Johnny reminisces about when he first met her in the office and how intimidating he found her. She was the first good person he ever met.
All Kate wants Marah to know is that she’s proud of her. She also wants Johnny to know how proud she is of their relationship and the life they created together. Johnny cannot hold back the tears.
Kate hands Johnny the book and asks him to give it to her when she’s ready.
Johnny then lifts his wife up and takes her to bed.
Why did Danny want to move to New York?
Tully returns to her apartment, and Danny is there. Tully asks Danny to stop by Kate’s house and see her. Danny reveals he is returning to New York to launch a start-up business.
Tully is shocked that Danny is moving, but Danny explains that he is not mad at her.
Tully shows her anger, but to Danny’s credit, she hasn’t returned his phone calls for weeks. She doesn’t want Danny to leave. She lays down her stubbornness, asks Danny to stay, and admits she wants a relationship.
Danny accepts her request by kissing her. Finally, Tully has asked for what she wants for once with the man she wants.
Firefly Lane Season 2 Part 2 Ending Explained
As we reach nearer the end of episode 16, Kate is struggling with cancer in the brain. She believes Marah needs to have her witch suit for a school trip. Johnny goes along with it, holding back the tears.
In 1997, Johnny and Kate bought their first house together. It’s a mess, but they will improve it. The house has a sea view in the back.
How does Kate die?
In 2006, Kate and Tully catch up in the same house. Tully heads inside to get them a drink. Kate looks out at the sea view and takes it in. She smiles and closes her eyes, remembering the happy time she rode on a horse. She’s at peace, finally. And then, her head tilts as she dies peacefully.
Tully returns to see her best friend dead. It’s fitting that she died spending time with her best friend, Tully, but this scene is extremely painful.
What did Kate leave for Tully at the funeral?
The finale then moves to Kate’s funeral. It’s painful to watch — this is Tully and Johnny’s worse day.
Tully isn’t sure she can go in. Johnny was prepared for this, and he reveals that Kate left her something, knowing she couldn’t go to the funeral. Inside the box, there’s a letter and the book she wrote. The letter reminds her of all their special times.
In the letter, Kate tells Tully that she did not leave her, but she left her a book, where she can find her every day.
There’s also a joint in the box with a sticky note that says, “Smoke me.” And then, there’s an iPod with all their favorite music that they used to sing and dance together. Tully dances to their songs outside the funeral as the episode ends.
Say what you will about Firefly Lane, but Netflix made the right decision to finish this story even if it does break you at the end.
What did you think of Netflix’s Firefly Lane Season 2 Episode 16 and the Ending of Part 2? Comment below!
I enjoyed every scene in season 2, didn’t want it to end.
This was very heartfelt, loving, and sad! My wife and I was locked in on this story from the first episode! But why couldn’t the show take us to where Tully & Kate is 100 years old and Firefly Lane finished on there 20th episode!!!!
Ugly crying at its best! I binged watched this show. It keeps you wanting more! Rest in Peace Kate..Go get life Tully!
I cried my eyes out the last 2 episodes. It was good , but by me being elderly, it made me think how I’d be if my best friend were to die.