WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS and GRAPHIC CONTENT ahead for Lady in the Lake episode 5.
Summary
Apple’s murder mystery seriesLady in the Lakechronicles the aftermath of Cleo Johnson’s death.Lady in the Lakepremiered on Friday, June 24, 2025, andopened to positive reviews, earning a 76% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.Based on the 2019 bestselling novel by Laura Lippman,Lady in the Lakestars Oscar winnerNatalie Portman in her first-ever leading rolein a television series. Portman leads an exceptionalcast inLady in the Lakewhich also includes rising star actress Moses Ingram as Cleo Johnson, future Superman David Corenswet as Allan Durst, and Mikey Madison, the star of this year’s Palme d’Or winnerAnoraas Judith Weinstein.
Thefirst two episodes ofLady in the Lakeintroduce Ingram’s character Cleo Johnson, a mother and hard-working model and bartender who leaves her political aspirations behind to work for the ambiguous club owner Shell Gordon full-time. This is before her ultimate death, which is depicted in the opening scenes of the series.Cleo’s death becomes a point of fascination for amateur investigative journalist Maddie Schwartz (Portman)who leaves her tepid family life as a housewife and works at the Baltimore Star newspaper.Lady in the Lakeepisode 4picks up whereLady in the Lakeepisode 3left off, depicting Stephan’s escape from prison and Cleo’s murder.
Lady in the Lakeepisode 5 titled “Every time someone turns up dead in that lake, it does seem to lead to you” finds Maddie deeply entrenched in her pursuit of finding Cleo Johnson’s true killer. More of Maddie’s backstory with Hal Durst is revealed and provides additional context for Maddie’s struggle with post-traumatic stress. Maddie’s determination places her on Shell Gordon’s radar, which poses a major threat to her well-being. Shockingly,Maddie faces a direct attack that leaves her fighting for her life at the end of the episode.
Hal forced Maddie to get a painful and illegal abortion
One of the biggest reveals inLady in the Lakeepisode 5 was something traumatic to Maddie that happened when she was a teenage girl during the late 1940s. As suggested in previous episodes ofLady in the Lake, it’s confirmed that Hal and Maddie had an affair while Maddie was dating Allan, Hal’s son.
Not only did Hal take Maddie’s virginity, but after he found out that she was pregnant with his baby, he lied to her and said he wanted to keep it but ultimately forced her to have a painful and illegal abortion. Hal told Maddie that she should be focused on her writing career as an excuse to convince her to get the abortion. It’s unclear in the episode whether Allan was aware of any of this, but he likely found out eventually.
9Cleo’s Body Is Discovered In 1967 After Maddie Called The DPW
It took more than a year to discover Cleo’s body
Some time has passed since the last episode ofLady in the Lakewhen Cleo was murdered on Christmas Day in 1965. Maddie responded to a letter as Mrs. Helpline at the Baltimore Star in 1967 that requested that some lights be fixed in Druid Hill Park. This led to Cleo’s heavily decomposed body being discovered in a lake fountain but a cause of death was unable to be determined, which istrue of the real-life Shirley Parker.
Maddie realizes that the park is exactly where Stephan was found. She gets a letter from a Bill Smith, which she realizes was a fake name, and contacts Stephan asking why he sent the letter and why he killed Cleo the night he escaped from prison. Stephan denies writing the letter or knowing Cleo, telling Maddie “Every time someone turns up dead in that lake, it does seem to lead to you.”
8Maddie Visits The Editor Of The Afro To Look Into Cleo Johnson’s Death
Maddie suspects that Stephan didn’t kill Cleo despite signs leading to it
After Maddie learns of Cleo Johnson’s death, she visits the editor of The Afro, which is considered a “black” newspaper, a reflection of the racial divides of the era the series takes place. Maddie is understandably not met with a friendly face, but the editor hands her a stack of newspapers that chronicle Cleo’s death which points Maddie in the right direction.
Despite her good intentions, Maddie still comes off as an outsider and someone who others don’t trust at face value, telling the editor that she lives in The Bottom in an attempt for credibility. Maddie gets what she needs and starts to do her own research on Cleo, suspecting that Stephan is not the killer even though he was in the park by the lake the same night she disappeared.
Shell Gordon’s Plan For Cleo In Lady In The Lake Explained: Why He Orders Reggie To Do THAT
In Lady in the Lake episode 4, the ruthless Shell Gordon (Wood Harris) tells Reggie Robinson (Josiah Cross) his plan for Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram).
7Slappy Causes A Scene At Cleo’s Funeral Service With Maddie, Shell, & Ferdie In Attendance
Slappy calls out Cleo’s parents for failing to protect her from Shell Gordon
In one of the most powerful scenes ofLady in the Lakeseason 5, Slappy speaks out against Cleo’s mourning parents and claims that they failed to protect her from Shell Gordon. WithShell, Reggie, Ferdie, and Myrtle Summer all in attendance, Slappy lets his voice be heard and announces that none of them did anything to protect Cleo and are refusing to point fingers at those responsible. Reggie and Ferdie try to calm Slappy down and escort him out of his own wife’s funeral. Maddie runs out after Slappy and learns about Lucille, the hairstylist that Cleo told to bet on 366. Slappy said Cleo never made bets because her father was a degenerate gambler, which raises Maddie’s suspicions.
6Maddie Visits Lucille At Her New Hair Salon & Is Quickly Brushed Off
Lucille seemingly used the prize money to open a new salon
Based on the information provided to her by Slappy, Maddie follows up with Lucille, who previously styled her hair. Lucille tells Maddie that her brand new salon doesn;t open for another week, which is a major improvement from cutting hair in her apartment like she used to. This is proof that Lucille cashed in on her bet while Cleo clearly didn’t make it out alive.
Slappy thinks that Cleo got murdered for betting on the rigged numbers pool, but if that was the case, why would Lucille be allowed to keep the rigged money, unless nobody else knew that Cleo told her the number? Regardless, Lucille quickly brushes off Maddie as she tries to gather information in the new salon, avoiding revealing anything about her deal with Cleo.
5Maddie Demands To Speak To Shell Gordon At His Night Club
Shell slyly avoids Maddie’s line of questioning about Cleo
When Maddie shows up at Shell’s nightclub, Reggie tries to run her away but she’s persistent, threatening to run a story that implicates Shell Gordon in the murder of Cleo through Slappy’s source. This is the first time that Maddie and Reggie meet in the series. Reggie still has a limp from the fall in the rowboat on the night of Cleo’s death, which Maddie notices.
When she meets Shell, he says that Reggie is a fish expert, which is a clue to him being at Stephan’s fish store. Shell also reveals that Dora left the club for bigger and better things. Maddie tries to get info about Reggie’s whereabouts on the Thanksgiving Day that Tessie disappeared on and also tries to get info about Cleo, but Shell is quick and defensive, giving her little to work with.
4Maddie Realizes She Purchased The Yellow Coat Cleo Was Wearing On Thanksgiving
This triggers her traumatic memories of her affair with Hal
Maddie discovers that she had purchased the dress off of Cleo’s back on the Thanksgiving Day that Tessie disappeared on. She returns back to her home to find the dress in her closet, which had the blood stain from the lamb she bought for her family, which triggered the traumatic experience she had with Hal. Several flashback scenes reveal that Hal adamantly wanted to have a baby with Maddie despite forcing her to get an abortion. Maddie is clearly overwhelmed and seemingly remorseful of ever having the affair with Hal. Maddie interprets this as another strange overlap between her and Cleo’s stories.
3Maddie Realizes That Ferdie Works For Shell Gordon & Can’t Be Trusted
Ferdie tries to warn Maddie not to dig any deeper
Ferdie comes through the back window of Maddie’s apartment as he usually does to find Maddie on the floor with all of her findings on Cleo Johnson. Maddie calls Ferdie out for not telling her about Reggie and his tropical fish collection, knowing that she was looking into Tessie Durst’s murder, which she would have found immediately suspicious. She suspects he’s on Shell’s payroll and asks him to leave. Ferdie seems like he’s trying to persuade Maddie to stop investigating because she doesn’t know what she’s getting into but ultimately can’t stop Maddie’s persistent force. He’s trying to be protective but Maddie has her eyes firmly set on the truth and whatever comes with it.
Who Killed Tessie Durst & Cleo Johnson In Apple TV+’s Lady In The Lake?
Lady in the Lake presents two killings — the murders of Tessie Durst and Cleo Johnson — in its opening episode, making for a compelling premise.
2Maddie Visits Stephan’s Mother & Reveals She’s Been In Contact With Him
Stephan’s mother can’t believe Maddie met with her son
At the end ofLady in the Lakeepisode 5, Maddie tells Stephan’s mother that Stephan broke into her apartment the day he escaped from prison. Stephan’s mother refuses to believe it and quickly becomes agitated, thinking Maddie is trying to use her to create a story. The scene quickly escalates as Stephan’s mother seems to have this delusional notion that Stephan tells her everything and is strictly obedient despite the dire circumstances he is in. Stephan’s mother was also in attendance at Tessie Durst’s funeral and was shown beating Stephan in an earlier episode ofLady in the Lake.
1Stephan’s Mother Stabs Maddie & Takes Her Own Life
Maddie passes out on the phone with authorities
In the most shocking moment ofLady in the Lakethus far, Stephan’s mother exclaims an antisemitic profanity and stabs Maddie in her lower abdomen. This is exactly where Maddie had the blood stain from the lamb in the first episode. Stephan’s mother drives Maddie into a bedroom, where Maddie stands in front of the door in terror. Finally, Stephan’s mother retreats, which allows Maddie to attempt to get to the phone in the kitchen. She finds Stephan’s mother dead from a self-inflicted wound. Maddie is able to call authorities but passes out on the floor before giving them any information at the end ofLady in the Lakeepisode 5.
Lady in the Lake
Cast
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY LAURA LIPPMAN, LADY OF THE LAKE IS A FICTIONAL DRAMA MINISERIES BASED AROUND THE REAL DISAPPEARANCES OF A YOUNG GIRL AND A WOMAN, COMING TO APPLE TV+. THE STORY CENTERS AROUND MADELINE SCHWARTZ, A DISSATISFIED 1960S HOUSEWIFE OF TWENTY YEARS WHO ENDS HER MARRIAGE IN SEARCH OF A LIFE WITH MEANING. MADELINE, BETTER KNOWN AS MADDIE, SEEKS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD - TO DO SO, SHE HEADS DOWN THE PATH OF AN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST AFTER SOMEHOW HELPING THE BALTIMORE POLICE FIND THE BODY OF A YOUNG GIRL IN THE LAKE, CLEO SHERWOOD. LADY IN THE LAKE HAS NOIR ELEMENTS AND EXPLORES STATUS AND RACE IN A MURDER MYSTERY IN A DIFFERENT PERIOD. THE SERIES HAS BEEN DELAYED DUE TO AN INCIDENT IN LATE 2022 BUT IS STILL SET TO COME TO APPLE TV+ IN THE FUTURE.
