What Truly Transpired with Jacob?

Alert: This article includes spoilers for “No Good Deed.”

Parting ways with your family residence is challenging — but when the home conceals potentially dangerous secrets, it becomes even more difficult.

This is the premise of the new Netflix series “No Good Deed,” featuring TV icons Lisa Kudrow, famously known for her role as Phoebe on “Friends,” and Ray Romano, who portrayed Raymond on “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

Created by Liz Feldman, her first project since “Dead to Me,” this dark comedy depicts the journey of Lydia (Kudrow) and Paul (Romano) Morgan, a long-married couple eager to sell the stunning Los Angeles house where they raised their two children.

“This show originated from my own search for a house,” Feldman shared with TODAY.com. “The idea began to take shape during the pandemic when we were all confined to our homes, which suddenly became everything to us. At night, I’d browse Zillow, dreaming of being anywhere but the place I was stuck in. That was the spark for the idea.”

As she explored homes, she noted that the process was inherently filled with drama. “There’s always a reason someone is selling their house, and it’s not always a positive one. I thought that was a rich basis for a show,” she explained.

In the series, the Morgans’ residence attracts nosy neighbors and eager buyers who are desperate to uncover everything about the property — especially the details surrounding the tragic break-in that occurred three years earlier.

Who ultimately claims the deed in “No Good Deed”? Read on to find out.

What happened to Jacob? The break-in at the Morgan residence, explained

The first twist: The break-in wasn’t an actual trespass — it was the Morgans’ son, Jacob (Wyatt Aubrey), trying to enter the house.

As Jacob pounded on the doors and windows, his sister Emily (Chloe East) mistook it for a break-in. This was understandable since her brother was dressed in a burglar outfit. He had begun robbing other people’s homes.

Thinking her life was in danger, she reached for the family weapon. For three years, Emily believed she had killed her own brother. The ensuing guilt and sorrow tore the family apart, creating distance between her and their parents.

Then comes a second twist, revealed in the finale. The bullet that struck Jacob didn’t come from Emily’s gun — it belonged to the Morgans’ neighbor, Margo Starling (Linda Cardellini).

It appears Margo and Jacob may have been involved in an illicit relationship (though Margo denies it). In a confrontational moment, Lydia confronted Margo, who would only admit that Jacob had merely had a “crush.”

However, there were likely deeper connections, particularly given how desperate Margo seemed to be in ensuring Jacob remained silent. Furthermore, Jacob mentioned they had been “in bed” the week preceding their final confrontation.

Jacob had resorted to stealing from neighbors, handing over the ill-gotten gains to Margo. On the night of his death, he ransacked Margo’s drawers and took everything with him.

As he departed, Margo seized her husband’s firearm and followed him home, threatening him to keep quiet. She fired as he attempted to get inside the house.

Meanwhile, his sister had also fired her gun — a reasonable reaction considering Jacob was dressed like a burglar. Since the family chose to keep the autopsy results sealed, they never uncovered the truth.

Who becomes the owners of the Morgans’ home?

Leslie (Abbi Jacobson) and Sarah (Poppy Liu) emerge as the winners — all thanks to a little bit of maneuvering.

Dennis (O-T Fagbenle) and Carla (Teyonah Parris) were also vying for the house and had even gotten their offer accepted. However, when Carla went into labor, her doctor — who turned out to be Sarah due to a last-minute change — informed her of the Morgans’ tragic history. Carla decided she would prefer a different home instead.

As the series concludes, Sarah is pregnant, and a new family has officially taken up residence in the Morgan home.

Do Lydia and Paul remain together?

In the finale, the couple reconnects and begins to navigate the emotional rift that had formed since Jacob’s death.

By the episode’s conclusion, they have also reconciled with their daughter. Their parents sit in the audience for her performance of a song about healing. At the same time, a light flickers — perhaps a sign from their son.

Kudrow and Romano, who have both been in long-term relationships, mentioned that they drew upon their personal experiences for their roles.

“Being part of a long-term marriage is central to this couple’s dynamic. There are ups and downs, and periods of poor communication,” Kudrow explains.

Romano shared that his own marriage and parenting experiences helped him connect with the character. “I asked myself, if this was happening to me in reality, how would I react?”

What becomes of the other characters?

Carla and Dennis do find a home, but it isn’t the Morgans’. They are preparing to construct a house on Margo and JD Campbell’s land after their original home was lost in a fire.

However, Carla and Dennis’s future is also fraught with complications. Dennis used the gift that Carla’s billionaire father provided at the birth of their child. Carla, who wishes to sever ties with her father, remains unaware and believes the money came from his advance on his third book — a source of potential tension for a possible Season 2.

As for Margo and JD? Their relationship appears to have ended — with Margo facing possible jail time. In her last scene, Margo, disfigured from the fire, is arrested. JD, on the other hand, seems to be thriving with a new job on a Western.

Cardellini, who spoke with TODAY.com, expressed her enjoyment for the “micro twists” present in Feldman’s work (she also starred in “Dead to Me”).

“Each time I read the script, there are these subtle twists that affect both myself and the other characters, contributing to the unfolding layers of individuals’ personalities and secrets,” she reflected.