Glitch is a gripping Australian supernatural drama that explores themes of life, death, and redemption. Set in the fictional small town of Yoorana, the story begins with the inexplicable resurrection of several people who crawl out of their graves with no memory of who they are or how they died. As the series unfolds, the mystery of their resurrection intertwines with their personal struggles and the larger consequences of their return.
Season 1
Season 1 of Glitch introduces a mysterious and emotional story of resurrection in the small town of Yoorana, Australia. It combines elements of mystery, drama, and the supernatural, centering on the lives of several individuals who inexplicably rise from the dead.
The season opens in the quiet cemetery of Yoorana, where a group of six people emerge from their graves in the middle of the night. They appear alive and in perfect health but have no memory of how or why they have returned. Local police officer James Hayes (Patrick Brammall) discovers them and, with the help of the town’s doctor, Elishia McKellar (Genevieve O’Reilly), works to keep their reappearance a secret while unraveling the mystery of their return.
Key Characters Among the Risen:
- Kate Willis (Emma Booth): James’ late wife, who died of cancer two years earlier. Her return causes a deeply emotional conflict, as James is now married to her best friend, Sarah.
- Charlie Thompson (Sean Keenan): A young man from the 1920s who struggles to adjust to the modern world while hiding his sexuality.
- Maria Massola (Daniela Farinacci): An Italian immigrant who died decades earlier after a tragic love affair.
- Paddy Fitzgerald (Ned Dennehy): Yoorana’s first mayor, who died over a century ago and finds himself overwhelmed by the changes in the town.
- Kristie Darrow (Hannah Monson): A rebellious teenager who was killed in a suspicious accident in the 1980s.
- Carlo Nico (James Monarski): A man from Maria’s past whose violent tendencies reemerge after his resurrection.
The Boundary
The risen soon discover they cannot leave Yoorana without suffering excruciating pain and disintegration. This “boundary” keeps them tethered to the town but remains unexplained. Dr. Elishia, who seems to know more than she lets on, helps the group navigate their new existence, but her motives remain questionable.
Vic Eastley
The supernatural elements intensify when Vic Eastley (Andrew McFarlane), James’ colleague, becomes violent and starts hunting the risen. Vic, seemingly under the influence of an unknown force, acts as an enforcer for the natural order, trying to restore balance by eliminating the resurrected.
In a climactic showdown, Vic is killed, but not before revealing hints of a larger, more sinister force orchestrating the events.
Major Twists
James’ Personal Conflict: The emotional stakes are heightened as James navigates his feelings for Kate while remaining loyal to his pregnant wife, Sarah. His inner turmoil becomes a central emotional thread.
Elishia’s Secret: Elishia is revealed to have a deep connection to the resurrection process. While she claims to help the risen, her true involvement in their return remains ambiguous.
The Risen’s Memories: As fragments of their pasts resurface, the risen confront unresolved issues, ranging from betrayal to hidden secrets. This makes their resurrections as much about redemption as it is about survival.
The season ends with lingering questions about the nature of the resurrection, the boundary, and the unseen forces driving these events.
Key Themes:
- Life and Death:
- The show poses existential questions about what it means to live and whether the dead should remain undisturbed.
- Redemption and Second Chances:
- Many of the risen face opportunities to confront and resolve past mistakes, giving the series a moral and emotional depth.
- Conflict and Change:
- The risen struggle to adapt to the modern world while grappling with their old identities and relationships.
Season 2
Season 2 builds on the emotional and philosophical questions posed by the first season, delving deeper into the nature of the resurrection and the forces behind it. Relationships are tested, alliances shift, and the stakes rise as the Risen grapple with their second chance at life.
At the start of Season 2, the Risen—Paddy, Charlie, Kate, Kirstie, Beau, Maria, and James—face mounting challenges. They’re still unable to leave Yoorana without collapsing and decaying, trapped by some invisible force. Meanwhile, they are pursued by “The Boundary,” an enigmatic supernatural barrier tied to their resurrection.
Key Characters
Kate: James’s deceased wife, struggles with the revelation that James has moved on with Sarah, who is pregnant with his child. Her lingering feelings for James and her desire to understand her resurrection make her central to the emotional tension.
Paddy: The 19th-century Irishman continues to explore his place in a modern world, uncovering secrets about his descendants.
Charlie: A young man from the 1920s grapples with his repressed identity and his relationships with the other Risen.
Kirstie: A murder victim, she seeks justice for her untimely death while navigating her feelings for Beau.
Maria: A devout Christian from the 1980s, Maria questions whether her resurrection is divine intervention or something more sinister.
The Boundary and Its Enforcers
A key mystery in Season 2 is the role of the Boundary, which serves as both a physical and symbolic barrier preventing the Risen from escaping Yoorana. Additionally, “The Enforcers” — individuals tasked with restoring the natural order — arrive to eliminate the Risen. These figures add a layer of danger as they relentlessly pursue the resurrected.
One such enforcer, Phil, a paramedic with a dark agenda, is revealed to be under supernatural influence. His connection to the Boundary and his increasingly erratic behavior drive much of the season’s tension.
The Connection Between Vic and Phil
Phil’s actions echo those of Vic, the antagonist from Season 1, suggesting a larger pattern at play. Both men are influenced by an unseen force compelling them to kill the Risen. This raises questions about the morality of their mission: are they villains, or are they restoring a natural balance?
James’s Conflict
James faces immense personal turmoil throughout Season 2. He is torn between his love for Kate and his commitment to Sarah, who represents his new life. His position as a police officer forces him into direct conflict with the Enforcers and the supernatural phenomena threatening the town.
The climax of James’s arc comes when he must decide whether to help the Risen defy the Boundary or to accept the inevitability of their return to death.
The Truth About the Resurrection
As the Risen dig deeper, they discover that their resurrection is not divine but a result of experiments involving energy fields and ley lines conducted by Dr. Elishia McKellar. Elishia’s role as both a scientist and a pseudo-protector of the Risen becomes more complex when it’s revealed she herself had been resurrected long before the events of Season 1.
The season uncovers a tragic truth: the Risen are not meant to stay in the world of the living. Their presence creates disruptions, and their connection to the Boundary grows stronger as the series progresses.
Themes and Character Arcs
- Mortality and Morality: Season 2 continues to ask profound questions about life, death, and the morality of resurrection. Is a second chance at life worth it if it comes with suffering?
- Love and Betrayal: The tangled relationships—particularly James’s love triangle—add an emotional layer to the supernatural drama.
- Justice and Redemption: Characters like Kirstie and Maria focus on confronting their pasts and seeking closure, while others, like Paddy, wrestle with their legacies.
- Science vs. Faith: The tension between scientific explanations and religious interpretations of the resurrection is a recurring theme, particularly through Maria’s devout beliefs and the revelations about Dr. McKellar’s experiments.
Season 3 Recap
Season 3 of Glitch serves as the final chapter in the Australian supernatural drama, providing answers to the mysteries surrounding the Risen and the Boundary. The season builds on the emotional stakes and philosophical questions posed by earlier seasons while diving deeper into the science behind the resurrection. Relationships reach their breaking points, moral dilemmas intensify, and the series concludes with a mix of closure and ambiguity.
Season 3 begins with the Boundary becoming more aggressive and widespread, threatening to destroy the Risen if they attempt to escape Yoorana. It’s now clear that the Boundary is a manifestation of the natural order, seeking to correct the anomaly of resurrection.
The Risen—Kate, Kirstie, Charlie, Paddy, Maria, and Phil—each grapple with the reality that their time among the living is running out. They face personal dilemmas about whether to fight to stay alive or accept their inevitable return to death.
New Revelations About Dr. Elishia McKellar
Dr. Elishia’s death at the end of Season 2 sets the stage for more revelations about her experiments. Through her journals and scientific data, the Risen learn that their resurrection was not an accident but part of a deliberate attempt to bridge the gap between life and death. The process involved harnessing the energy of ley lines that intersect in Yoorana.
A new character, Dr. Nicola Heysen, is introduced as a scientist who had worked with Elishia. Heysen reveals that she has continued Elishia’s research and is determined to understand and control the process of resurrection, even if it means exploiting the Risen.
James’s Role as an Enforcer
James, once the Risen’s protector, undergoes a dramatic transformation in Season 3. He becomes an Enforcer, much like Vic and Phil before him, tasked with returning the Risen to death. The shift in James’s allegiance creates significant tension, especially with Kate, who must now fight to survive against her former husband.
James’s transformation raises questions about free will, as it becomes evident that the Enforcers are under the influence of the same supernatural force that controls the Boundary.
Key Characters
- Kate: Kate emerges as a leader among the Risen, determined to defy the Boundary and fight for her right to exist. Her dynamic with James takes center stage as she battles his newfound role as an Enforcer.
- Kirstie: Kirstie continues her quest for justice for her murder but begins to realize that her resurrection might not be about settling scores. Her arc shifts towards acceptance and reconciliation.
- Charlie: Charlie struggles with his unresolved feelings for his life in the 1920s and his place in the modern world. His journey is one of self-discovery, as he finds peace with his identity and purpose.
- Paddy: Paddy’s historical connections to Yoorana come full circle as he uncovers a shocking family secret. His arc concludes with a sense of closure about his legacy.
- Maria: Maria’s faith is tested to the breaking point as she faces the reality that her resurrection was not an act of God. Her final moments are some of the most poignant in the series.
Phil’s Redemption
Phil, initially introduced as a dangerous Enforcer in Season 2, undergoes a redemptive arc in Season 3. He begins to resist the force compelling him to kill the Risen, ultimately sacrificing himself to protect them. His transformation underscores the season’s themes of free will and redemption.
The Climactic Finale
The final episodes revolve around a desperate attempt by the Risen to escape the Boundary and find freedom. Dr. Heysen’s experiments inadvertently create a catastrophic surge of energy that destabilizes Yoorana, bringing the supernatural and scientific forces into direct conflict.
In the climax, the Risen face their ultimate choice: to accept their deaths and return to the natural order or to risk permanent destruction by resisting. Each character makes a deeply personal decision:
- Kate and Kirstie choose to fight against their fate, but their defiance comes at a cost.
- Charlie and Maria decide to let go, finding peace in their acceptance of death.
- Paddy’s choice is driven by his newfound understanding of his legacy.
James, grappling with his role as an Enforcer, ultimately breaks free from the supernatural influence. In a moment of redemption, he helps the Risen who wish to escape while making peace with those who choose to return to death.
The series concludes with a haunting yet hopeful note, leaving some questions unanswered but providing closure for the central characters.
Ending Explained
The climax of the series sees the Risen faced with an existential choice:
- Accept death and return to the natural order.
- Resist and risk total annihilation.
The Boundary—a supernatural force maintaining the balance between life and death—grows stronger, forcing the Risen to make a decision. Each character chooses based on their personal journeys and unresolved emotions:
- Kate: Fights to stay alive, determined to create a new life for herself despite the impossibility of her situation.
- Charlie and Maria: Accept their deaths, finding peace and closure in returning to the natural order.
- Paddy: Resolves his unfinished business related to his legacy and chooses to pass on.
- Kirstie: Fights against her fate, unwilling to surrender to the inevitability of death.
These choices underline the show’s central themes of agency and acceptance, demonstrating that the resurrection was not just about life after death but also about confronting unresolved issues and making peace with one’s past.
James’s Redemption
James, who becomes an Enforcer (a supernatural agent tasked with returning the Risen to death), ultimately breaks free from his role. In a critical moment, he helps the Risen who wish to escape the Boundary, signaling his redemption. His actions suggest that free will can overcome even the most powerful supernatural forces, a key takeaway from the series.
James’s love for Kate and his guilt over his role in the events lead him to act against the supernatural influence controlling him. However, his defiance does not come without consequences, as it marks the end of his role as a protector.
Dr. Nicola Heysen and the Science of Resurrection
Dr. Heysen’s experiments play a significant role in the finale, shedding light on the mechanics of resurrection. Her work with ley lines and energy fields reveals that the Risen’s return was a scientific anomaly rather than a divine intervention. However, her pursuit of control over the process leads to disastrous consequences, as her experiments destabilize the energy in Yoorana.
The scientific explanation of the resurrection clashes with the supernatural forces of the Boundary, leaving viewers to interpret whether the two are complementary or contradictory. The series intentionally blurs the line between science and mysticism, suggesting that both might be part of the same greater mystery.
The Nature of the Boundary
The Boundary serves as a physical and symbolic representation of the natural balance between life and death. It is a force that grows more intense as the Risen resist their return to death, ensuring that the laws of nature are upheld. The show portrays the Boundary as a neutral entity—neither good nor evil—but simply necessary for maintaining order.
The Boundary’s intensification in the finale signals that the Risen’s time is truly up, forcing them to confront their mortality and make their final choices.
What Happens to the Risen?
- Kate and Kirstie: Despite their resistance, their fate remains ambiguous. The show hints that defying the Boundary may lead to their complete erasure rather than freedom. This underscores the tragic futility of their struggle but also highlights their determination to fight for their second chance.
- Charlie and Maria: These two characters embrace their deaths, stepping back into the Boundary with dignity and peace. Their arcs are resolved with a sense of closure, as they come to terms with their lives and the impact they had on the world.
- Paddy: After uncovering his family’s secret and making amends, Paddy also chooses to return to death, completing his arc with a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
- Phil: Phil sacrifices himself to protect the Risen, marking his redemption. His arc underscores the series’ themes of free will and the potential for change, even in those who were manipulated by the Boundary.
Why Glitch Stands Out Among Supernatural Dramas
What sets “Glitch” apart is its ability to balance supernatural intrigue with deeply emotional storytelling. Unlike traditional shows focusing on ghosts or zombies, “Glitch” humanizes its resurrected characters, delving into their pasts, relationships, and moral dilemmas.
Takeaway from the Ending
The ending of Glitch is bittersweet, providing closure for some characters while leaving others’ fates uncertain. The show emphasizes themes of acceptance, redemption, and the eternal struggle to make peace with life’s mysteries. By blending science and spirituality, Glitch leaves its audience with a haunting meditation on mortality and the meaning of life.
FAQs About Glitch’s Ending
H3: Why did the Risen have to disappear?
The Risen disrupted the natural order of life and death. Their disappearance was necessary to restore balance and resolve the anomaly.
H3: What was the boundary and its significance?
The boundary was a supernatural barrier maintaining the balance between the living and the dead. It kept the Risen tied to Yoorana and prevented them from escaping.
H3: Was James Hayes alive at the end of the series?
James’ fate is ambiguous. His transformation and connection to the boundary leave his ultimate status open to interpretation.
H3: Will there be a continuation of Glitch?
As of now, there is no official confirmation of a continuation, but the show’s open-ended elements leave room for future exploration.
H3: What themes did the ending emphasize?
The ending highlighted themes of acceptance, the natural cycle of life and death, and the importance of confronting unresolved pasts.
