The thriller series Dear Child has been streaming on Netflix since September 7th and is full of surprises. The story about kidnapping, abuse and murder begins with the escape of Lena, who was locked in a closed house by a psychopath and was supposed to play mother to the children Hannah and Jonathan. But the nightmare is far from over.
Over the course of a total of 6 episodes, the adaptation of Romy Hausmann’s best-selling novel surprises with numerous shocking twists and keeps the audience guessing. In the end, events and revelations come to a head. The most important questions and answers about the end of the Netflix series Dear Child can be found here clearly summarized and explained.
Warning, there are spoilers for the end of Dear Child:
Dear Child’s most important question answered: Who is the kidnapper?
Until the last episode, Dear Child, leaves us wondering who the psychopath is who is responsible for Lena’s kidnapping. His face was deliberately not shown to us for five episodes in order to let the audience speculate about his identity and possible suspects. In episode 6 there is finally the answer.
Watch the trailer for the Netflix series Dear Child here:
Dear Child – Trailer (German) HD
The series reveals that the kidnapper is named Lars Rogner (Christian Beermann) hears. He is the head of a security company that moved to Aachen over 12 years ago – after Lena’s kidnapping. Lars Rogner previously worked for a locksmith and came into contact with Lena Beck (Jeanne Goursaud).
The motive for his atrocities can probably be traced back to his childhood. He had no father and his mother ran away when he was a child. From then on, Lars grew up with his grandparents, but his wish for a perfect father-mother-child family remained unfulfilled.
By kidnapping Lena and ultimately other women, Lars Rogner tries to find a woman who… resurrected the image of his mother and founded the family with him that he never had himself.
What happened to the real Lena and who are the fathers of her children?
After Lars Roger helped Lena as a locksmith 13 years ago, he became aware of her and kidnapped her. At this point she was already pregnant by her boyfriend Flo (Max Woelky). While in captivity, she gave birth to his biological daughter Hannah (Naila Schuberth). She later gave birth to Jonathan (Sammy Schrein), Rogner’s biological son. Then Rogner impregnated her again. However, after the birth of her third child, Lena comes down with puerperal fever. Since Rogner doesn’t want to take her to a hospital, Lena and the child die shortly afterwards.
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The children need a new mother
Lars Rogner wants to complete his family again after the loss – including new Lena and new baby. He then kidnaps several women who become Lena’s replacements. Clothing, blonde hair and even a mark on the hand are adapted to the portrait of the first Lena. If they don’t comply, they will be killed. Jasmin (Kim Riedle) is the last “Lena” to be kidnapped.
Lars Rogner would have let Lena die after she was hit after the escape, but is persuaded by little Hannah to call an ambulance and let her escape: “I want to keep this mom“
At the end of Dear Child, the last mystery is solved
After Jasmin’s escape, Hannah and her dad put a plan in motion to bring the little psycho family together. They want to bring Jasmin/Lena back home. But she is already planning her revenge lures Lars out of his reserve with a fake pregnancy. Thanks to his camera surveillance, he knows that she armed herself with a kitchen knife.
During a stopover at the sea, a showdown occurs. After the knife is stolen from her, she fakes a fainting incident. As Lars leans down to her, she rams a shard of glass into his neck, which she previously hid in a sanitary pad in her underpants. Jasmin lets her tormentor bleed to death.
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Jasmin gets her revenge
Shortly before Lars Rogner dies, investigator Gerd Bühling (Hans Löw) arrives. With his last breaths, Rogner reveals to him, where the real Lena’s body is buried: at home. Bühling can finally close the case after 13 years. And Lena’s parents Matthias (Justus von Dohnányi) and Karin (Julika Jenkins) can begin to come to terms with their loss.
How does the ending of Dear Child differ from the original book?
The Netflix adaptation makes some changes to the original, but remains faithful to it overall. Some characters and events have been changed. But the ending remains the same. The most important differences between the book and the series we have summarized for you:
Will there be a second season of Dear Child on Netflix?
Dear Child is a miniseries. The six episodes completely adapt the original book and the plot is concluded at the end. There will therefore be no season 2. The series is in no danger of becoming another early Netflix cancellation.
If Dear Child becomes a big Netflix success, other thriller novels by author Romy Hausmann could be adapted as a series or film. Since her thriller debut with Dear Child, the two novels have been published Marta is sleeping and Perfect day.