'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Lady in the Lake season one episode six arrived on Apple TV+ on August 16, 2024, with the first season's shortest and most complicated episode to date, leaving fans in complete disarray. The whole episode was about Maddie and her lucid dreams, which made it hard for the viewers to understand what was happening throughout the episode.
The official logline of episode six reads as -
"Arrests, confessions, and connections are made as Maddie comes closer to solving Cleo's murder."
Maddie had dreams about Reggie, Cleo, Tessie, and Allan. Her dreams once again wrongly hinted at Reggie being the man behind little Tessie and Cleo's death. She also had a dream in which she attended her funeral. From the latest episode, we learn a lot about Maddie's desires, her dreams, and her obsession with reporting Tessie and Cleo's deaths solely for fame.
Trending
Cleo Johnson who died in episode four of Lady in the Lake, makes a comeback in episode six, in Maddie's hospital room, hinting to the viewers and Maddie that she faked her death previously, to pay heed to a bigger agenda.
Why did Cleo fake her death in Lady in the Lake?
From the very first episode of Lady in the Lake, the visuals, the storytelling, and the plot hinted at one thing - Cleo Johnson is dead and she is the lady in the lake, who is narrating the story to Maddy aka Madeline Schwartz, 'The Baltimore Star.' However, the recent episode has changed it all, and now we know that Cleo was/is not the lady in the lake.
In the last few moments of the sixth episode, when Maddie's sleep breaks yet again, she sees Cleo in her room, who confirms to Maddie that she ain't dreaming. Unless Maddie is having a double dream or a dream within a dream, Cleo is alive and she faked her death in episode four, with the help of Reggie.
Cleo was a part of the team that was involved in the failed assassination attempt of Myrtle Summer. She was a threat to Gordon and his men as the culprits involved in the assassination were all caught. Officer Platt even came to Cleo to ask about the failed assassination attempt and Cleo revealed significant details to her, which would aid the investigation, thereby betraying Gordon.
On the show, when Gordon found out about Cleo being involved in the failed assassination attempt, he did not want to leave any loose ends. Therefore, he asked Reggie to take care of the matter. However, Cleo spoke to Reggie and convinced him to help her, so that she could win the numbers game, take the prize money, and go far away from the Gordon threat.
However, in episode four, we are made to believe that Reggie killed Cleo and dumped her body in the lake, although, there is no dedicated scene that shows him killing her. We only get to know that the authorities find her body, we are not shown on the show that Cleo is dead.
The latest episode shows Cleo alive and well, as she comes to Maddie, who is injured after Stephan's mother stabbed her brutally in the previous episode. On the other hand, Cleo's husband Slappy gets arrested for her murder, although he is innocent.
Cleo's resurrection means that she faked her death, to make Gordon and his men believe that she is dead. Gordon has been a menace to many throughout the years, and Cleo wants to expose him. By purging the black community of evil, Cleo hopes to save them.
Read more: Is Lady in the Lake based on a true story? Explained
How did Cleo fake her death?
Cleo Johnson faked her death with the help of Reggie, who was tasked to kill her. Perhaps, that is the reason, there is no dedicated scene that shows how he kills her. We only see Reggie dropping a body in the lake and later hiding in the boat. Before Cleo's disappearance, she had the best time of her life and while she was walking the streets with Slappy on Christmas, Reggie kept an eye on her.
Reggie was seen sobbing while he kept track of Cleo so that he could get rid of her. However, Reggie's sobbing before killing Cleo did not make sense at that point. With Cleo back in the picture, it is easy to put all the pieces back together. Cleo didn't die. It was Dora Carter, whose body was dumped in the lake. Dora could have died because of substance abuse, as she was a regular drug user.
Dora wanted to leave however, Reggie did not let her go away from him. Perhaps, she overdosed to deal with her depression and was later found dead. Reggie swapped Cleo's clothes with Dora's and dumped her body in the lake, instead of Cleo's. That is the reason why he was sobbing.
From the very first episode, Reggie has always been portrayed as a shady character, who was the first suspect in the eyes of viewers when Tessie died. However, we now know that Stephan and his mother were behind the Durst girl's murder. Reggie also has not killed Cleo.
Read more: Lady in the Lake Season 1: Full list of cast
Maybe the showrunners have a different plan for Reggie and perhaps there is more to know about his character than we already do. In the next episode of Lady in the Lake, Reggie could be seen conspiring with Cleo, to take down Shell Gordon. Reggie dropping the body in the lake, helping Cleo's son, and arriving late at Gordon's, hints at one thing - his salvation.
To know more about Cleo Johnson and her fate, watch episode 7 of Lady in the Lake, titled My Story, which will arrive on Apple TV+ on August 23, 2024. The official logline of the final episode reads as -
'Maddie is met with resistance when she tries spinning Cleo's story.'
Lady in the Lake is now streaming on Apple TV+.
