Average Joe season 1 ending explained: Who did Donna kill?

Average Joe season 1 is a dark comedy thriller that takes viewers on a wild ride of unexpected twists and turns. Directed by Robb Cullen and streaming on BET+, this ten-part series revolves around Joe, a seemingly average Pittsburgh plumber whose life takes a dramatic turn after his father's sudden and mysterious death.

What starts as a simple story of a family man mourning the loss of his father soon spirals into a complex tale involving hidden secrets, dangerous criminals, and a quest for survival.

Throughout the series, Joe’s life unravels as he discovers his father’s dark past, leading him down a path filled with crime, betrayal, and violence. The season finale leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, particularly with the shocking event where Donna killed her mother Tess.

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Who did Donna kill in Average Joe season 1?

As Average Joe season 1 progresses, fans learn about Benjamin Touch, one of Joe’s police officer friend's sad background. One haunting incident in Touch’s past involves his ex-girlfriend Tess and her young daughter Donna. During a night when he was heavily drunk, Touch left his gun unsecured; then the next day Donna stumbled upon it accidentally, killing her mother Tess.

Overwhelmed by guilt and terrified of losing his job, Touch staged the scene like it was suicide. This choice haunted him through life leading eventually to Donna taking her own life because she couldn’t handle the trauma associated with her mother’s death. The terrible moment comes when it is revealed that this psychological burden led to Donna’s demise making Touch indirectly responsible for two tragic deaths.

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What happens to Cathy in Average Joe season 1?

Cathy provides such a clear portrayal of how greed can lead to one's ruin. Throughout this series, Cathy becomes increasingly preoccupied with finding stolen money so she can have a better lifestyle. She becomes very greedy as she goes out on limbs while Leon reluctantly follows behind.

At the end of Average Joe season 1, Cathy’s desire for wealth leads her to find millions worth of heroin in Teddy's old hideout. Instead of getting the stolen money she hoped for, she sees an opportunity to make fast money by dealing drugs. However, things go awfully wrong when they meet some local drug dealers. That confrontation turns into a shootout and results in Cathy being shot to death.

Leon makes matters worse when he kills one of the dealers out of rage without realizing that the man in question is actually an undercover cop. This revelation sets up potential legal troubles for Leon in future seasons, and Cathy’s death serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition.

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More on Average Joe season 1 ending

The final episode of Average Joe leaves the audience with lots of unanswered questions, thereby creating room and a platform for a possible second season. After Cathy dies in a tragic incident and Nicolai’s underworld falls into disarray, Joe struggles to rebuild his life.

However, he is broken further when he discovers a note left behind by his wife Angela who has decided to leave him and take away their daughter Jenn for her safety. Angela’s departure is an effect of the violent world that Joe got caught up in which accentuates the tragedy brought unto their family.

The last part of the series is very suspenseful. As he contemplates how he arrived at this point after being left alone in his house, Joe begins to accept his new identity but before this can happen there comes a knock on the door to confuse viewers who is on the other side.

Is it now Leon who has been involved in killing an undercover police officer or someone else bearing news about Touch? The loose ending in Average Joe season 1 allows for more episodes where these puzzles may be solved.

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Interested viewers can watch Average Joe season 1 on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Bet+.

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