Channel 5’s creepy four-part drama The Cuckoo concluded on Thursday, sparking more division amongst viewers.
While some enjoyed the series, many took to social media to blast the “predictable” ending to the show.
The plot centred on the strange character Sian (played by Jill Halfpenny), who ended up staying with a family as a lodger, but her behaviour soon became bizarre and she was convinced teenager Alice (Freya Hannan-Mills) was her long-lost daughter.
While mother Jessica (Claire Goose) thought Sian’s growing friendship with her daughter was harmless, dad Nick (Lee Ingleby) quickly became suspicious.
The penultimate episode ended with Sian and Alice running off together, leaving Jessica and Nick panicked.
In Thursday's instalment, Sian had taken Alice to a caravan park and demanded she call her “mum”.
The Cuckoo viewers were left divided by the ending
Channel 5
Meanwhile, Jessica and Nick found out Sian had become convinced Alice is her late daughter, also named Alice, who died not long after being born.
When they finally tracked the two down, a frightened Alice was trying to escape from Sian, hiding behind caravans as she dangerously ran through the cliffside park.
Eventually, Sian, who had stabbed Nick in a moment of rage, ended up falling off the cliff, seemingly to her death.
As the family recovered from the ordeal, Sian was revealed to be alive and was seen knocking on the door of a new family before a young girl called Alice answered.
The Cuckoo concluded after four episodes
Channel 5
The twisty ending didn’t impress all viewers though, with many taking to social media to express their disappointment.
On X, one penned: “#thecuckoo Sian will go over the cliff bl***y obvious to be honest.”
“Well, it’s over, we made it through. Let’s never speak of it ever again. #thecuckoo,” another shared.
“#TheCuckoo Surprise, Surprise another sh***y ending,” another remarked, while someone else wrote: “Thank f*** for that! #TheCuckoo.”
“#TheCuckoo - so named because you'd have to be cuckoo to spend fours of your life watching such implausible and predictable tosh. Great scenery, though!” another complained.
“Absolute pish with a s*** ending to boot #TheCuckoo,” someone else commented.
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Jill Halfpenny starred as Sian
Channel 5
However, other viewers praised both the acting and the plot, with one stating: “@halfpennyjill #thecuckoo that was 1st class.”
“Actually that was quite enjoyable really #TheCuckoo,” a second added, while someone else posted: “#TheCuckoo was a show and a half. @halfpennyjill wow!!! For those who are saying why did Alice believe her. When you are confused, feel you don’t fit in, you are vulnerable so you can attach to what seems safe. It’s easily done, I speak from experience.” (sic)
Fans made similar comments during the previous three episodes, with some pointing out plot holes in the story.