‘Black Snow’ Ending Explained: Who Killed Isabel?

Welcome to the Ending Explained for Black Snow, a new Australian production by Stan starring Travis Fimmel. The series consists of only six episodes, and they offer a very interesting case that not only presents a murder mystery but also deals with themes such as racism, exploitation, abuse, faith, and even family violence. The entire story is set in the background of the Australian islands and in a place far away from the most common Australian settings like the outback or Sidney.

Black Snow doesn’t really offer a mystery that feels new and refreshing, but it is very well executed. As always, the end might bring a couple of questions, and it also shines a light on the plot elements that were more red herrings than anything else. So, while we can say that the ending is satisfying it still feels a bit undercooked, but it makes sense as there were many distractions on the way. This could be a bad thing but in this story is just part of it as the murder mystery is just the peak of an iceberg.

The following paragraphs contain spoilers for Black Snow Season 1. Read at your own risk.

Why Is Detective Cormack Interested In Isabel’s Case?

The story begins with the introduction of the opening of the time capsule. A place where kids put stuff from their lives so that they can open it in the future and reminisce about it. It is a very cute project, but for the people of Ashford, the opening of this particular time capsule will bring back tons of memories that people would prefer to delete from their minds. The memory in particular is the death of Isabel. The opening brings new light to the case, as it appears that Isabel knew she was in danger.

The case is reopened by the police, and detective James Cormack asks for him to be put on the case. It seems that Cormack has a personal interest in the case. We see he has a tattoo on his arm with the same date as Isabel’s death. What could be the connection? As the case progresses and James begins to make connections and establish relationships with the people in town, he reveals the truth to Hazel, Isabel’s younger sister. The truth is painful, but Hazel knows that is a pain that they both share, as they both lost a sibling when they were kids.

James explains that he had a younger brother named Richie. The day in question, he says, was Richie’s birthday, and after spending a day in the arcades, they were ready to watch a movie when their father arrived drunk. James decided to fight his drunk father, but after beating him, his father went to his mother next and beat her as well. James ran to his closet, where he knew his brother would be, and maybe because he was scared, Richie cut him with a knife. Then he ran away from home, and they never saw him again.

This is the connection James has with the case. It is very tangential, but at the same time, it seems to be very triggering for him that at the same time this was happening to him and his family, Isabel was also being killed. This makes Hazel trust him more, as they seem to be getting closer and closer to the truth. However, Hazel has her own secrets, and she has been threatened with the truth coming out since the first episodes of the series. What is Hazel’s secret? Could it be related to Isabel’s death in some way?

Who Killed Isabel?

As the story progresses, James realizes that the local police didn’t really make an effort in solving the case. No one, not even Isabel’s family, is telling the truth, and he finds it frustrating for sure. He follows clues that take him to an event that occurred close to Isabel’s death. The disappearance of two young islander boys. Because the boys were illegal, their disappearance was never reported, and Ezekiel, the person who was attached to them as their protector, is dead. Ezekiel knew Isabel, and the rumor was that they were dating, when in fact Isabel was only helping Ezekiel find the boys.

As the series jumps back and forth between past and present, we are introduced to Anton, Isabel’s teenage boyfriend. Anton seemed to be very much in love with Isabel, but they broke up just before her death, during a party. In the present, Anton seems to be a man with issues, he is always been scowled at by his father and beaten around as if he were still a teenager. It is weird, and James takes notice of this after Anton gets beaten, but he doesn’t want to reveal the identity of the attacker.

Later, it is revealed that the truth that Hazel was hiding is that Kal, her daughter, is actually Anton’s daughter as well. Hazel explains how, after Isabel’s death, the two became close, and then it just happened. They went on their separate ways, and she never explained who the father was. She was ashamed. However, Anton knows that Kal is her daughter and takes her away to reveal the truth to her. James and Hazel follow them, to the place where it is revealed that the two missing boys were.

You see, Anton’s father was the person who killed Isabel. During her investigation, she discovered that the rich people in town were exploiting workers just like the two boys, and that Anton’s father, pushed by his racism, and sense of entitlement, captured the boys and then killed them. Isabel saw this and, of course, she had to be eliminated. Since then, Anton lived under the boot of his father to keep the secret from going out. James arrests Anton’s father, and now Anton, for the first time in a long time, must decide for himself. A final funeral is held for Isabel, who can now rest in peace.

The series ends with James receiving news from his father in prison, as there is the possibility that Richie made contact with him. Could James find a way to reunite with his brother? Maybe we will see it in season 2.

While we are looking forward to the second season, maybe we can make some custom pins based on our favorite characters, such as Q-version comic-style Isabel, and add some of our designs, or we can make funny expressions of the characters in the show and print them on the pins, and add the classic lines of the characters in the show. 

Wearing them on clothes or bags will immediately attract people’s attention, and also attract a group of viewers who like the show like us, and we can discuss and look forward to the arrival of the second season together.