The Purge season 1 finale recap: Brutal scene during Joe’s trial

The Purge season 1 finale displayed a raw animal sense of urgency during Joe’s impromptu trial before the infamous Sirens blared signaling the end.

This recap contains spoilers.

Let’s just start with the savage moment right off the bat, Penelope took out Joe’s eye with a screw. That makes both Miguel and Penelope taking out people’s eyes this season on The Purge and this one was even worse than Henry’s because Joe pulled the screw out. It was a scene reminiscent of the Hostel films as what was left from his eye dripped out brutally thought it didn’t decline his amped-up appetite to Purge in the least.

The Purge’s season 1 finale initially saw Joe calling out Rick and Jenna for their confessions, accusing Rick of tricking him through a loophole in his contract. In a flashback, Rick pandered to Joe’s ambitions by giving him the opportunity to secure a large complex for Purge night. Rick asked Joe if he’d done anything like this before, and Joe assured him truthfully that though he hadn’t he’d been waiting for the opportunity. Rick and Joe then shared a friendly beer together as Joe recalled Rick’s cousin.

Time jumps slightly where the audience finds the two post-job, and Rick claims Joe was negligent and gave shoddy work so he was letting him go. Joe pleads to be given a chance to fix things, just two days at least because it would ruin him and his credibility. Rick refused, and Joe soon demands to his the admin log which Rick declines as well. It becomes clear Joe is being screwed out of the job for other reasons and Rick won’t be paying him the money he is truly owed. Jenna sees Joe calling Rick smug, and that’s why he doesn’t hang out with his “blue-collar cousin” anymore.

In the present, Rick keeps denying when Jenna suddenly sees through Rick and with one look changes everything. Joe notices that Jenna doesn’t believe her husband either! Jenna tells Rick she doesn’t want the last thing she remembers him saying being a lie. It’s then that Rick admits “he took a bath” on the project and used a loophole to get out of his contract with Joe, indeed screwing him. When Rick keeps asking to leave Jenna out of it, Joe points the gun at her and says, “she’s going to be punished by association.” Rick pleads to let Jenna and they child go, so Joe gives a proposition to be fair since Jenna did not know… Jenna Purge Rick is the deal and then she’s free to go!

Jaw Dropping Cinematography

Joe hands Jenna a pistol after letting her loose while having a gun to her head, he says there’s one bullet just for Rick. Jenna points the gun at Rick, while Joe points the gun at Jenna’s head, stunning cinematography/camera work right there. Rick tells her to just do it, like Carl once did to Rick on the infamous Walking Dead scene where Negan tells Rick to cut Carl’s arm off. Jenna pulls the trigger… And it’s empty! Joe mocks Jenna for thinking he’d actually give her a loaded gun but says a deal is a deal.

Just when Joe is about to end Rick’s life, Penelope who had unraveled a loose screw Joe had missed while crafting the cage in a rush prior, takes Paige hostage. Penelope says it’s her right to Purge, and Joe is distracted and threatened by losing a potential Purging, so he enters the cage only to get the screw in his eye as the group escaped. It was one of those scenes where you literally have to look away it’s so unbelievably brutal to see that happen to someone.

Pete the Cop and Miguel fight their way through town

Rex attacked Pete’s car because of Miguel’s actions at the Carnival of Flesh, and soon the Carnival’s guards go searching for the duo. Pete convinces Miguel to handle the job stealthy on the attack since the guards think they’re on the run. Pete and Miguel handle the group with ease, Marine style and then head over to Thomas Paine High School where they encounter an escaping Rick and Jenna. There’s a short standoff before there’s an understanding they’re not there to fight them but to find Miguel’s sister. It’s then Rex bursts through the door and shoots Rick while getting shot himself. Rick passes soon after from two bullet wounds, Pete has shot himself in the leg but helps Jenna out.

A now one-eyed Joe locates Penelope and starts reciting a Purging monologue quote by Bobby Sherton, the man he’s been listening to throughout the season… Only to have Penelope finish the sentence for him. Penelope mentions how Good Leader Tavis played those Purge recordings to her followers so they’d understand Purgers.

Joe’s last Purge attempt ends in his own Purging…

Just when Joe is about to Purge Penelope, Miguel finds the two and shoots Joe. It briefly seems like it’s over but Joe manages to get up and fights the two effortlessly in hand to hand combat. However, Joe doesn’t get his chance to finish Purging because the Sirens go off, signaling the end of the holiday. Joe gives his gun to Miguel and says its over now, he’s a law-abiding citizen. He’ll be back next Purge to finish the job.

Miguel shoots Joe in the leg, as Joe responds, “What you’re doing is murder, Miguel!” He then kicks him into the water, leaving the door open for a possible return. Though Miguel tells Pete the Cop that Joe is dead when asked. Pete tells him that the gunshots were heard before the Sirens if he knows what he means…

The famous voiceover then returns with a quote to remember, “That’s the beauty of this holiday. The Purge night ends. But The Purge goes on and on! What you didn’t accomplish tonight? There’s always next year!”

Time forwards one year later where Pete, Penelope, and Miguel enjoy Whiskey at Pete’s Cantina. Penelope and Miguel then armor up to go save people on Purge night. Meanwhile, Jenna is holding her and Rick’s child as she watches Purge news…

As Miguel and Jenna drive away, Marilyn Manson plays the series into the episode’s credit roll. A fitting conclusion to season 1! No doubt this welcome surprise came from the singer’s connection to Purge series composer Tyler Bates.

Bates co-wrote and produced Marilyn Manson’s The Pale Emperor and produced followup album Heaven Upside Down along with a collaboration on John Wick’s soundtrack. Tyler Bates also toured with Marilyn Manson as lead guitarist. See you all in season 2 of The Purge!

Check out our interview with Pete the Cop himself, the one and only Dominic Fumusa!