The Favourite (2018) Ending Explained

TL;DR:
The Favourite (2018) concludes with a twisted power struggle between Abigail Masham and Sarah Churchill for Queen Anne's favor, leaving all three women emotionally and physically broken. Abigail ultimately secures her position by poisoning Sarah and manipulating Anne, but her victory is hollow. The final scenes show Anne forcing Abigail to massage her gout-ridden legs, mirroring the cycle of exploitation. The film ends ambiguously, emphasizing the loneliness and emotional toll of power, with Anne surrounded by her 17 rabbits (symbolizing her lost children) while Abigail weeps in pain-suggesting no one truly wins in this game of courtly intrigue.

Detailed Ending Explanation:
The finale of The Favourite crystallizes the film's themes of power, manipulation, and emotional decay. After a brutal rivalry, Abigail (Emma Stone) outmaneuvers Sarah (Rachel Weisz) by exposing her treasonous letters and poisoning her, leading to Sarah's exile. Abigail then marries a wealthy lord and secures her position as the queen's new favorite. However, her triumph is undercut by the realization that she's trapped in the same vicious cycle as Sarah: Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) demands subservience, reducing Abigail to a literal footstool during their final scene. The power dynamic is laid bare - Anne, despite her frailty, still holds the ultimate authority, and Abigail's ambition has cost her autonomy.

The film's closing moments are steeped in melancholy symbolism. Anne, now isolated, clutches her rabbits (each representing a child she lost to miscarriage or stillbirth), while Abigail sobs in the hallway, her face contorted in pain as she kneels. This imagery reinforces the film's thesis: the pursuit of power corrupts and isolates. Abigail's tears suggest regret or physical agony (possibly from the earlier poisoning or the strain of servitude), while Anne's vacant stare hints at her awareness of being used. Director Yorgos Lanthimos offers no redemption, only the bleak truth that the system perpetuates suffering, regardless of who "wins."

Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers:
1. Does Abigail truly "win"?
- No: Her victory is pyrrhic; she's now enslaved to Anne's whims.
- Yes, but at a cost: She gains status but loses her innocence and freedom.
2. What do the rabbits signify?
- Anne's grief over her 17 lost children, emphasizing her vulnerability.
- A metaphor for how the court treats women-caged and commodified.
3. Why does Anne force Abigail to massage her legs?
- To assert dominance, showing Abigail's power is illusory.
- A cyclical repetition of abuse; the new favorite replaces the old.

Personal Opinion:
The Favourite is a masterclass in tragicomedy, with an ending that lingers like a bitter aftertaste. The performances-especially Colman's raw portrayal of Anne-elevate the film from historical satire to a haunting study of human frailty. The finale's ambiguity is brilliant; it refuses to villainize any character outright, instead showing how the corrupt system pits women against each other. However, the relentless bleakness might alienate some viewers. I admire its audacity, but the emotional brutality leaves little room for catharsis. It's a film that demands reflection, though its nihilism may not resonate with everyone.

Final Thoughts:
Lanthimos doesn't provide tidy resolutions. Instead, he dissects the futility of power through grotesque humor and pathos. The ending's genius lies in its irony: Abigail claws her way to the top, only to find the throne is a prison. Meanwhile, Anne, the queen, is a prisoner of her own trauma. The rabbits, the gout, the tears-all serve as reminders that in this world, power is a curse disguised as a prize. The Favourite leaves us with the unsettling question: Is any amount of control worth the price of one's humanity? The film's answer is a resounding, devastating "no."