Ponies Finale Explained: Unmasking the Mole and Survival After the Fake Death
Peacock’s Ponies presented a series of intriguing twists — but how did the finale unfold after the mole was uncovered and a character’s death was reversed?
The series, which debuted earlier this month, tells the story of two secretaries in 1977 at the American embassy in Moscow who become CIA operatives following the mysterious deaths of their husbands. Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson headline the cast, which also features Adrian Lester, Artjom Gilz, Nicholas Podany, Petro Ninovskyi, and Vic Michaelis.
During the finale, it is disclosed that the CIA had a mole responsible for the deaths of Chris (Louis Boyer) and Tom (John Macmillan). Initially, Twila was informed that her husband, Tom, was the culprit, but it was later clarified that it was actually Chris who betrayed them.
The other twist? Chris, who was working with the KGB, is revealed to be alive. Creators Susanna Fogel and David Iserson shared insights about the conclusion.
“In our early discussions, some mentioned, ‘One of these husbands is alive, or possibly both.’ We recognize that this is inherent in the genre,” Iserson explained to The Wrap. “While some viewers may have anticipated this, what we aim to explore within a television format, where there’s more narrative space, is how characters navigate this revelation.”
Iserson and Fogel hinted at their intention for a three-to-four season arc.
“If successful, we aspire to produce several additional seasons,” Iserson shared. “We have a wealth of ideas for the story’s progression.”
Fogel, on the other hand, humorously added, “14 or 15 seasons. We’d like to bring us up to the present day, around 2026.”
In another interview, the pair hinted at potential plot developments.
“There are numerous possibilities. They believe they have the upper hand against Andrei, but he might reverse the situation on them. The appearance of a shampoo bottle at the end suggests they may still have one last move to play, as Susanna indicated. He escapes, yet not all hope is lost,” Iserson told TVInsider. “They’re held at gunpoint while the KGB takes documents from the CIA. The implications of how the KGB will utilize these documents, what they might discover, and the risks posed to American operations in the Soviet Union and globally are central to our storyline.”
Iserson further alluded to additional plot threads: “We have a significant blackmail operation that Bea has discovered. This operation is vast, allowing the Soviets to leverage influential figures worldwide, which presents intriguing prospects for our narrative. Dane has secrets; he is emotionally troubled, grappling with mental health issues and the guilt from Chris’s apparent death, only to discover that Chris is alive, which will undoubtedly impact him and expose vulnerabilities.”
Iserson wrapped up with, “Is he as aware as we presume? And what does Cheryl’s allegiance to the Soviets entail? There’s a critical moment between her and Ray, where Ray expresses he will trust her implicitly moving forward, a dangerous decision considering that Cheryl is deeply compromised and capable of severe actions. We are left contemplating why she turned and the ramifications of her choice moving forward. We have many themes to explore!”
Iserson did not dismiss the possibility of extending the narrative outside of Moscow, stating, “I don’t want to confirm or deny that. I believe Moscow remains the show’s core. However, there may be opportunities to expand further as we progress, but the essence will always be rooted in Moscow.”
Ponies is currently available for streaming on Peacock.
