Understanding the Ending of Palm Royale

The conclusion of Kristen Wiig’s new comedy Palm Royale just aired on Apple TV+, therefore, here is a full explanation of the ending.

The main cast of the zany comedy Palm Royale includes Kristen Wiig, Josh Lucas, Laura Dern, Leslie Bibb, Carol Burnett, and Ricky Martin. Set in the year 1969, the plot focuses on the lives of the elite in Palm Beach.

Wiig portrays Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons, a status-obsessed social climber, in the 10-episode series that culminates in her hosting a ‘Beach Ball’ at the prestigious country club, The Palm Royale.

However, there is a problem brewing as Mary Jones Davidsoul (Julia Duffy) intends to assassinate special guest Richard Nixon at the grand event. The TV show will reveal how this unfolds, so be cautious of potential SPOILERS.

Is Richard Nixon Assassinated at the End of Palm Royal?

Contrary to popular belief, Richard Nixon does not meet his demise in the final episode of Palm Royal. The intended target of the bullet, Nixon, is unharmed, but unfortunately, it strikes an innocent bystander named Robert Diaz (Martin).

Maxine takes to the stage and unleashes a verbal assault on the audience, causing a musical meltdown. During this outburst, she exposes secrets, seeks retribution, and publicly confronts her husband Douglas (Lucas) for impregnating her manicurist Mitzi (Katie Gerber).

Around the same time, Diaz comes to the realization that Norma Dellacorte (Burnett) is not who she claims to be. Instead, she is an imposter known as Agnes, who assumed the identity of the real Norma while they were attending boarding school together. However, before he is able to expose the truth, a tragedy occurs.

As the Palm Royale’s onstage drama becomes too much for Nixon to handle, he decides to leave. With his Secret Service team by his side, the President makes his exit. However, Mary, who is armed, is quickly stopped by Linda Shaw (Dern) who rushes towards her and disarms her.

Despite the bullet missing Nixon, it strikes Diaz when the gun goes off. The scene shifts into slow-motion as chaos erupts in the room, accompanied by Peggy Lee’s rendition of ‘Something’. The series concludes with Maxine in a state of hysteria as Robert bleeds out on the floor, an unexpected and tragic conclusion for a comedic show.

Palm Royale Season 2

Despite the suspenseful ending, there are currently no intentions to produce a second season of Palm Royale.

Should the series take a different direction, showrunner Abe Sylvia already has potential storylines in mind. In an interview with The Wrap, Sylvia shares that he cannot help but contemplate the future of the characters. He raises thought-provoking questions such as “Who are we after experiencing tragedy?”and “How do we define ourselves in the aftermath of danger?”Sylvia also delves into larger societal questions, asking “Who are we as a nation now?”and “Have we been permanently altered or have we simply become more true to ourselves?”

Be reassured that should Sylvia have the opportunity to answer those questions in Palm Royale Season 2, we will update this article accordingly. In the meantime, the top series of 2024 can be found here.