The series 2 finale begins at the hospital with the Doctor (Leslie Hornung) telling the D’Angelo family that Rosa D’Angelo (Koko Kelemete) is going to be physically fine. In the next few seconds, it becomes clear that Rosa not only overheard Claudia (Stefanie Caccamo) and Connie D’Angelo’s (Elle Mandalis but she still greatly affected by it.
Elsewhere, Thelma Connell’s (Tasma Walton) attempt to bury the hatchet with Marjorie Watson (Lynne Porteous) only leads to further arguments that Ray Connell (Glenn Hazeldine) ends up refereeing. At the same time, Joey Kovac (Josh McKenzie) learns that he’s being charged with involuntary manslaughter, lying to the police, and supplying illegal drugs to Pete McKirney (Will McNeill). Despite all that, the courts will not be opposing bail.
It is Columbus Evans (Brad Francis) who first informally breaks the news about Joey’s arrest to his peers. Justice St. John Ross (Keith Robinson) will later make it official as well as the fact that the trial will proceed with the remaining eleven jurors.
As the prosecutor, Jude Persasnd (Fayssal Bazzi) is the first to give his closing arguments. He chooses to focus on the fact that despite Bernice Price (Kris McQuade) being a rude racist, it does not mean that she deserved to be murdered. He also briefly focuses on the sibling relationship between Patrick Harrows (Erroll Shand) and Sasha Price (Amy Mathews). SC Meredith Nelson-Moore (Frances O’Connor) closes by bringing attention to Sasha’s compassionate nature and desire to always see the good in people. Meredith claims that not terminating the pregnancy is prime proof. Meredith also makes sure to remind the jurors that Bernice was paying Patrick to the farm. SC Brett Colby (Sam Neill) closes by pointing the blame at everyone but Patrick, including Sasha and Bernie’s own carelessness with her medication.
As jury foreman, it doesn’t take Winston Hang (Anthony Brandon Wong) very long to realize that no one believes the death was accidental. While they move on to the possible guilty parties, Felix Tilly (Adriano Capplletta) notices that Claudia has asked to step outside to make a call. Once he joins her outside, she tells him about the incident with Rosa. He offers the advice of letting Rosa know that she isn’t ashamed of her. At the same time, Fleur Hepburn (Katherine Pearson) learns from Bana Billings (Jennah Bannear) that Baby Eddie (Esme Cometti) might end up in the foster system if Sasha is convicted.
The jurors continue deliberating and although they are not in agreement, each of them appears to have sufficient evidence to go along with those beliefs. Joey is picked up at the station by Mr. Kovac (Ben D’Addario) and their silence makes for an awkward ride home.
By the time the jury gets around to anonymously voting, Meredith relents and reaches out to Chris Moore (Gerald Lepkowski). She clearly does not get the reaction she was expecting when she mentions coming to New Zealand and giving their relationship a chance. Chris practically snubs the question as if didn’t hear it. While discussing this rebuke with Colby later, she receives word from Chris’s attorney, making their separation official.
A sleepless night causes Patrick to remember more from the day he received Sasha’s voicemail about the pregnancy. Not long after he returns to Sasha at the farm, Bernice shows up to tell them the truth about him being her son as well as the money she gave him to leave. She also just happens to have the .22 rifle with her because she killed the ailing cow before interrupting them. Apparently, Bernice got pregnant by a farmhand and even ran off with him for a time, but her parents managed to track them down and put her in Bells Hill. Even after learning they are related, Sasha vows to have the baby which causes Bernice to threaten to put her down.
After Bernice cocks the rifle, the footage cuts to the following day where the jury and spectators have gathered for the reading of the verdict. Patrick is found innocent of all charges and allowed to leave while Sasha is found guilty. As the verdict is read, the footage from Patrick’s memory returns to show that it was he who hit Bernice from behind with the auger. He claims he thought she was going to shoot Sasha. Despite all this, Bernice is still alive and eventually loaded into Sasha’s truck to be raced to the hospital.
Later that evening, it is revealed that without Patrick’s knowledge, Sasha chose not to take her to the hospital Instead, she threw her down the well. Patrick is stunned when he learns about this, but he’s even more stunned to learn that Sasha wants to go on as if nothing has happened. Once he expresses his desire to abort the baby and go to the police, Sasha practically threatens to use the money against him to make him look guilty. Learning that he gave the money to Kelly Lawler (Shanta-Maree Surendran) certainly doesn’t help his cause.
Despite a brief argument and Patrick’s continued desire to go to the police, Sasha comprises the story about Bernice falling down the well and them being at the waterfall. The finale ends with a few short scenes suggesting where the story may go from here. Claudia attempts to bond with Rosa through rollerblading. Colby bids his stray adieu while Thelma extends an olive branch to her neighbor. Joey apparently overdoses as Patrick digs up what could possibly be the supposedly missing half of the $100,000 payout.
The Twelve Finale Review
As far as wrapping up the story, you couldn’t ask for much more. I can’t say that I wasn’t fulfilled by the time the credits rolled but I also can’t help but feel that something better/more could have been accomplished here. To be fair, that could be said about the entire series, including series 1. I didn’t so as much mind the way the story turned out, although it wasn’t completely unexpected.
I did appreciate that the ending offered somewhat of a possible look into where the character’s lives could go from here. For that, I’d have to give the finale a 5.6 out of 10. One thing I will have to complain about would be the decision to not replace Joey. Wasn’t this the entire reason for having two alternates on standby? I would be highly upset if I was forced to attend the trial every day on the potential that I would be needed and then when I was needed, I was snubbed.
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