The Charlatan Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?

What Happens at the End of The Charlatan?

A woman goes to a sideshow fortune-teller to have her fortune told, and is astonished when the man looks into his crystal ball and goes into great detail about events in her past that few people ever knew about. Shaken, she leaves and later tells her girlfriend about the incident. The girlfriend insists that she invite the fortune-teller to a party they're having at her house. What the woman doesn't realize is that the "fortune-teller" is actually the ex-husband she abandoned years ago, when she took their daughter and ran off with her lover. When the "charlatan" is invited to the party, he sees an opportunity to take his revenge on his faithless ex-wife.

George Melford's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Holmes Herbert (Peter "Count Merlin" Dwight)'s journey. Shaken, she leaves and later tells her girlfriend about the incident.

How Does Holmes Herbert (Peter "Count Merlin" Dwight)'s Story End?

• Holmes Herbert: Holmes Herbert's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Margaret Livingston (Florence Talbot): Margaret Livingston's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Rockliffe Fellowes (Richard Talbot): Rockliffe Fellowes's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of The Charlatan Mean?

The ending of The Charlatan brings the narrative to a close, though viewer reception has been mixed. The resolution of Holmes Herbert's story may not satisfy all audiences.