The Final Episode of The Last Frontier Was Initially Different [Exclusive]

This story contains major spoilers for the first season finale of The Last Frontier. The chilly, Alaska-set drama reached a boiling point in its final episode, concluding a season filled with twists, secrets, and intense personal decisions.

Over the course of 10 episodes, the main trio not only exposed a deep government conspiracy but also confronted the consequences of the morally complex choices they had made, believing they were acting for the greater good. One of these pivotal moments was the plane crash in the opening episode that released dangerous convicts into the wilderness, a disaster orchestrated by rogue CIA agent Sidney Scofield (Haley Bennett). Although viewers learned this in an extended flashback during episode 8, the creators initially planned to reveal it at the very end.

Showrunner Jon Bokenkamp told /Film that the writing team considered saving the twist for the finale to maximize shock value. He explained, "I love a surprising ending, the kind that makes you say 'I did not see that coming.' But as a series, ending on that note felt gimmicky, like it was just a hook to get viewers back next season, rather than allowing the audience to process the fallout for a few episodes. That's why we decided to reveal it earlier."

At its core, The Last Frontier relies on clever storytelling and carefully placed revelations. The Scofield twist illustrates her decision to condemn her own lover, Havlock (Dominic Cooper), along with the other inmates, while keeping both characters and viewers in the dark for most of the season. She was sent by her CIA superior, Jacqueline Bradford (Alfre Woodard), to investigate the snowy crash site while deliberately keeping US Marshal Frank Remnick (Jason Clarke) uninformed.

Bokenkamp described the process of structuring this slow-burn reveal as both challenging and meticulous, but ultimately rewarding. The creative team worked to ensure that the audience could later revisit the season and recognize how Scofield's actions were carefully foreshadowed. "Everything all season built toward that revelation," he said. "On a second watch, you notice the clues, hear what characters are saying, and see that Sydney was always playing fairjust keeping critical information hidden, like a skilled spy."

While The Last Frontier can be both thrilling and frustrating at times, it remains faithful to its characters throughout. All 10 episodes of the series are currently available on Apple TV.

Author: Logan Reeves