'Doctor Foster' Ending Attracts Over 7m Viewers... But Divides Fans

The reviews were mixed, to say the least.

After five edge-of-our-seat weeks, more than seven million of us watched the series two finale of ‘Doctor Foster’ on Tuesday (3 October) night.

*WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD*

According to overnight figures, 7.2m viewers tuned in, but despite the impressive ratings, the climax to the second series had decidedly mixed reviews from fans of the show.

Plenty of viewers loved the conclusion, which saw Gemma and Simon Foster’s seriously fed up and damaged son, Tom, run off...

What an ending. Unimaginable torture for a parent. #DoctorFoster

— DrivingMissDaisy (@MeesyTheMinxy) October 3, 2017

Loved #DoctorFoster - and such a solid message about the consequences of warring parents. Brilliant performances all round too. pic.twitter.com/7DiQN0X0IG

— Duncan Lindsay (@DuncanLindsay) October 3, 2017

Still emotionally wrung out from #DoctorFoster. Cleverly done - while we expected fireworks from Gemma or Simon the drama came from Tom

— Mummy Central (@Mummy_Central) October 4, 2017

Just finished #DoctorFoster. What an ending. Wow. Literally on the edge of my seat on the tube into wk (people were looking at me strangely) https://t.co/TRT8vqjLTR

— luciecave (@luciecave) October 4, 2017

However, some viewers admitted they were a bit gutted that nobody, you know, popped their clogs...

You know you’re a bit of a psycho when you’re disappointed that no one died #DoctorFoster

— Lauren☀️ (@lauren_caffreyy) October 3, 2017

#DoctorFoster It was great until Gemma didn't run down Simon. The rest was pants.

— John (@Capt_Smugwatch) October 4, 2017

Mmm not gonna lie . . . kinda wanted Tom to be dead #DoctorFoster #whattheeffiswrongwithme @BBC

— Take Heart (@TakeHeartUK) October 4, 2017

I don't want to come across all psycho here but I think I speak for all of us when I say...someone needed to die. #DontJudgeMe #DoctorFoster

— James Barisic (@jamesmb) October 4, 2017

I wanted some death in #DoctorFoster last night 😂

— Daniel Eaglesfield (@DEaglesfield) October 4, 2017

While others were left decidedly unimpressed, labeling the finalé “ludicrous”, “codswallop”, “overblown” and “shit”...

That Doctor Foster finale was a bit.. shit.

— Chelsea Farrelly (@x__Chelsea__x) October 4, 2017

What an awful ending to a brilliant series! Should have left it at season 1! #DoctorFoster

— su (@saranleech) October 4, 2017

#DoctorFoster I invested 5 weeks of my life for that ending?! I want a refund!!!

— Katie Turner (@MrsKTTurner) October 4, 2017

@jimmyrajackson sorry but Doctor Foster overblown rubbish the Bafta is long overdue for Cumberbatch!

— Caro (@1orac23) October 4, 2017

‘Ludicrous’ is exactly what is was #DoctorFoster @BBCr4today #r4today

— Sue Simmonds 🌹 (@sue_simmonds) October 4, 2017

This entire series of #DoctorFoster has been implausible, cringeworthy, preposterous codswallop. My God it's been disappointing

— Sarah Carson (@carsonsarah) October 3, 2017

Exclusive photo of the script for series 2 of #DoctorFoster pic.twitter.com/MXHpLDnJ2B

— Richard K Hornsey (@richardkhornsey) October 3, 2017

@BBCWomansHour #DoctorFoster was a ludicrous series too far. Aristotle was right - drama has a beginning, a middle and an END.

— Alan Newland (@newteacherstalk) October 4, 2017

#DoctorFoster: the worst finale since Lost and/or Dexter!

— Stephen Hanlon (@Hanlon_Stephen) October 4, 2017

The boy-goes-missing ending did throw up some inspired ideas for a third series of two of the BBC’s biggest dramas, though...

There's only one man who can fix this mess on #DoctorFoster pic.twitter.com/CRtewXhXtI

— Mia Anna (@miannanoel) October 3, 2017

Only one man can help now #DoctorFoster pic.twitter.com/vutBFKJ5zB

— Lorna Hughes (@lorna_hughes) October 3, 2017

Someone get this man on the case #DoctorFoster #TheMissing @BBCOne pic.twitter.com/seLsD5glVE

— Tom Precious (@tom_precious) October 3, 2017

Although, that particular TV mash-up might not be necessary...

#DoctorFoster if anyone wants to know,Toms fine hes my plumbing apprentice in york smokes a bit of weed now and then but apart from that

— popes (@bangerfingers) October 3, 2017

Others thought they could have done a better job than writer Mike Bartlett, and came up with their own alternative endings...

Anyway, #DoctorFoster should have ended with Gemma’s mum and dad watching her do a missing persons appeal on TV.
Mum drops tea cup. The End.

— Ian Hyland (@HylandIan) October 4, 2017

My idea for a better ending!! #DoctorFoster pic.twitter.com/I6ytvq3N0Q

— Shola (@SholaDogg) October 4, 2017

And as for *that* final scene...

Really felt like Suranne Jones was going to sell me life insurance in that final scene when she looked into the camera #DoctorFoster

— Kirk (@KirkcalvertKirk) October 4, 2017

Finally watched #DoctorFoster
What the hell was that ending? Why was she looking down the camera telling me to come home, i'm not her son

— emma (@_prxtego) October 4, 2017

There’s still no official word on whether a third series will ever materialise, although Mike Bartlett has admitted he hasn’t written it.

He said: “The BBC has never ever put pressure on us to do more and it’s not that sort of show. You could see that at the end of series one. There was just as many people going, ‘Don’t do a series two’. It’s because people care and I love that.

“There’s a lot of trust that we’d only do more if there’s a story and a reason. So there’s no pressure to do more.”

‘Doctor Foster’ is available to watch on iPlayer now.

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