The two episodes, originally aired back-to-back on USA Network on December 22, 2019, were both written and directed by series creator Sam Esmail.
Elliot wakes up in an abandoned lot following the explosion at the Washington Township plant, which is no longer there.
He goes to the alternate Elliot's apartment and hacks his computer, discovering a hidden drive filled with sketches of himself, Darlene, and the rest of fsociety.
Krista explains that the Mastermind must give control back to the real Elliot, but he refuses as the world collapses.
The real Elliot wakes up in the hospital, and is greeted by Darlene, who speaks the episode's title.
Based on the script's length, he decided to expand the film into a television show, but the series' ending remained that which he originally envisioned.
The finale became reassurance that when trying to live meaningfully in a hostile world, it's okay to be different from one's self-image by trying to be the best version of oneself.
"[3] Vox was touched by Darlene's role in the ending and the unexpected reminder of the human capacity to feel and love,[4] in which Elliot's capacity to convince himself of lies borders on farce and is stoppable only by Darlene's love, which elicits Elliot's best self.
[5] Reviewers underscored how the show had become less about hacking and rebellion than about Elliot's life and relationships (i.e., caring for each other).