No Good Deed may have started as a light-hearted tale about couples fighting tooth and nail to secure their dream home. But it quickly morphed into a gripping murder mystery. There are secrets hiding behind the walls of Lydia and Paul’s house. And it all boils down to who killed their son Jacob.
The Morgans, Lydia (Lisa Kudrow) and Paul (Ray Romano) decide to sell their family home. This is three years after their son Jacob’s tragic death. The potential buyers are Leslie and Sarah, Dennis and Carla, and JD and Margo. However, just then, the dark past starts bubbling to the surface.
As secrets come to light, we come to know that there is a murder involved. And the murder isn’t as straightforward as it seems. So, let’s get into this Netflix dark comedy and know more about the Morgans.
Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for No Good Deed. Reader discretion is advised.
No Good Deed: Season 1 recap
At first, the Morgans’ decision to sell their house looked like a simple fresh start. However, as the episodes progressed, we learned that Jacob’s death cast a long shadow over the family.
The couple initially framed his death as the result of a burglary gone wrong. Soon, though, we came to know that their daughter Emily accidentally shot her brother. She mistook him for a burglar trying to break into the house.
However, it was not that simple. In Episode 7, Paul discovered a second bullet casing from that fateful night. This hinted at the presence of another shooter, which set the stage for a finale that was as emotional as it was thrilling.
It all began with the entry of Paul’s estranged brother, Mikey. He showed up with blackmail on his mind. He demanded $80,000 and threatened to spill the beans about Jacob’s death if he didn't get his money.
Things got physical (and hilarious) when Mickey was knocked unconscious. The couple then held him hostage in a secret room.
Mickey eventually confessed that he had evidence related to Jacob’s death. And it was hidden in his apartment. When Paul retrieved the box, it contained a missing bullet casing that changed everything.
Emily’s guilt over her role in Jacob’s death resurfaced as she came across the evidence. It triggered painful memories from that night.
No Good Deed: Who is the real killer?
For years, the Morgans were convinced that Emily, in a panic, had accidentally shot her brother. They believed this because there was a single bullet casing that matched their 9 mm gun. But as the plot thickened, two crucial discoveries flipped the entire story.
First, there were two casings. One came from Emily’s 9 mm gun. Courtesy of Mikey, Paul's brother, another casing popped up, and it wasn’t from her weapon. He had squirreled away the evidence from the crime scene.
Mikey’s stash reveals a casing from a .40 caliber pistol. Lydia decided to reopen Jacob’s autopsy report—partly thanks to her suspicions about one of the house bidders, lawyer Leslie. Jacob’s autopsy confirmed a .40 caliber bullet had killed him.
It turned out the gun that killed Jacob had been photographed in an old picture of JD. He was one of the prospective buyers. So, we get to know that JD owned the murder weapon.
But JD wasn’t the killer. Jacob’s killer was Margo Starling. She is the neighborhood's resident femme fatale with a taste for luxury. Jacob likely got wrapped up in an affair with Margo. Even though she says, he just had a “crush” on her.
Jacob began showering her with stolen jewelry. He tried to play the big shot. But when the relationship fizzled, he decided to pull a Robin Hood. He stole back the gifts he had given her.
The drama reached its peak when Jacob told Margo he’d tell her husband about their affair. And Margo couldn’t have her golden ticket, aka JD’s wallet, revoked.
So, she grabs JD’s .40 caliber pistol. She chases after Jacob, and one shot later, Jacob is dead. Emily happened to fire from the 9 mm gun that same night. The Morgans thought Emily had done the deed. So, they buried the evidence to protect her. And Margo played innocent for years.
But karma is sweet, and it finally showed up. JD figured out his wife’s true colors. The law caught up with Margo, slapping her with an arrest for Jacob’s murder.
So, Jacob’s death was Margo’s doing. It was born out of her desperation to keep her secrets buried and her lifestyle intact. She may have had diamonds, but her moral compass was made of plastic.
The finale brought closure, albeit bittersweet, for the Morgans. The couple’s shared trauma brought them closer. It allowed them to finally heal and let go of the past. In the closing moments, the Morgans sold their house to Leslie and Sarah. They seemed to truly appreciate its history.
No Good Deed is all about suspense, heartbreak, and humor. Jacob’s story ends in tragedy. But the series leaves us with hope. Even in the darkest of times, redemption and healing are possible.
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